It seemed that the heaven was closed, that there was no way through, no answering voice, no sense of a listening ear; and with deep heart exercise about the matter you have been tempted to doubt the promise, question the faithfulness of God, raise questions as to the truth of His Word.
Newell wrote:
Paul does not ask a thing of the saints in the first three chapters of Ephesians, except just to listen while he proclaims a wondrous series of great, eternal facts concerning them.
Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.Isaiah 51:1
When you permit Him to remove all the safety-features of your personal life and when you dare to listen to His voice and dare to trust His Word implicitly – even when you don’t understand or when the very circumstances of life seem to thunder the opposite – then He’ll reveal His nearer presence to you, in a different way than ever before.
He listened to the Father’s voice – preferring to do the Father’s will than His own.
Sensitive Submission
Let us submit to the leading and the guiding of the Holy Spirit of Christ. Let us listen to the Father’s voice – preferring the Father’s will to our own. Let us submit to the Holy Spirit and be sensitive to His inner promptings, for in so doing the Spirit of God will abide in us as we abide in Him.
Raised Imperishable
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.
Believer’s Secret
Listen, do you want to know a secret…. ?
God has spoken to us in His Son – and it behoves us to listen carefully to His voice. Knowledge of the Holy is only truly translated to us through one medium – the glory of God is only fully expressed through the person of Jesus Christ.
Listen to Him, we are directed.
Listen, I have told you the open secret, discovered in the pages of Hebrews - a secret that will indisputably change your life!
Faith and Faithfulness
Remember, it all depends on faith and faithfulness. Do not fall short of the grace of God by refusing to listen to Him. Take heed of Israel’s shortcomings and loss – and be warned. Remember – He will change your heart if you just change your mind. But you must first be prepared to change your mind, and if you are… just let Him know.
Paul does not ask a thing of the saints in the first 3 chapters of Ephesians but just to listen while he proclaims that wondrous series of great and eternal facts concerning them.
In other words, love, petition, listening to the Father's voice, receiving the love and peace of the Lord Jesus, fellowship, are invoked in this knowledge. -A.S.
God’s Voice
Listen in the stillness of a soft wind of the Spirit’s breath. Hearken to the quiet whisper of His still small voice and cover your face with a mantle as you stand naked before the penetrating gaze of the almighty God, Who commands you to be holy for I am holy.
Lion and Lamb
As we look forward to that wonderful day when He comes to take us home.. as we listen for the last trump, knowing that He is at the very door..
The fruit of a life that looks to Christ in all things is one that walks as He walked. And Christ walked in spirit and truth by obediently listening to the Father’s voice. Christ lived a life in submission to the Holy Spirit – He lived a spiritual life.
Peculiar Famine
There are still a few watchmen on the walls crying 'prepare ye the way of the Lord', but there is one frequently overlooked warning to which we would be wise to heed:- a warning to apostate Israel, but one that can be applied to Church-age apostasy; a forewarning of a time of peculiar famine; a notice of great thirst in the world; a famine of hearing God’s lovely word – a scarcity of listening to God’s pure voice.
Prophetic Warning
The Word of God is true, vital, and more accessible than at any time in history, yet Amos warns of a time when people just don’t want to know and will not listen – and resistance to hear His voice and reluctance to follow His Word is rife today.
Amos calls it a famine of hearing God’s Word – a famine of listening to God’s voice.
Rebellious Apostasy
Seven times the Spirit warns the Church, 'he who has an ear... let him hear'. But too often ears are tuned to listen to the wrong voices, declaring a false gospel.
Hardened Hearts
Pharaoh is an example of a man who heard God’s truth but stopped listening.
Spiritual Truth
The truth expressed in this example is no different from today’s end times, for if truth is being presented and yet repeatedly rejected, God finally sends a famine – a famine of hearing God’s word – a famine of listening to God’s voice.
Perhaps you’re a one-such watchman on the wall crying, listen to the word of the Lord.
Many don’t want to listen to God’s voice.
But we can still join with Joshua and others that listened to the voice of the Lord: 'but as for me and my house we will serve to the Lord.' As for me and my family we will trust His word and listen to His voice.
Faithful Servant
You be faithful to hear to His word and listen to His voice and obey His command. You be faithful in your own way to feed on His Word so you can feed His sheep.
Learn to be still and wait on God, to be hushed in His presence and listen. Learn to wait upon Him for the unfolding of His will, for He knows the way you should take.
listen and “mind the checks.” Simply listen, obey and trust the Lord, even when it seems high folly to do so.
Listen for that still small voice of the Lord that whispers deep within the heart – and mind the checks !
Personally Taught
They witnessed His works, and they listened to the gracious words that He spoke. They observed His signs and were eye-witnesses to His many miracles and healings. They were personally taught as they sat at His feet – and they loved Him as their Master.
Personal Witnesses
These disciples knew Jesus as a Man and they were personal witnesses of all He did. These apostles knew Christ as God incarnate and worshiped Him as Saviour and Lord. They listened to the sermon on the Mount as Jesus taught of His coming kingdom. They were party to His discourses, warning of a coming time of tribulation and trouble.
But Christ clearly tells us we are not to carry burdens alone, whether they be our own aching load or the strains and liabilities of others. We have been called by the Lord to cast all our burdens on Him and we have a responsibility to listen to His voice and respond to His instructions, if we are to learn the secret of true and lasting refreshment and rest.
God will not compromise His Word just so that our reason can be satisfied, and if God has stated in Scripture that this is how it is, then we have no option but to listen to what God tells us in Scripture and put it into action.
to give or to withdraw what seems so good to us, in order to achieve His best for us – if we trustingly follow His leading; if we quietly listen to His voice.
Let us listen to His voice in those small decisions that we are so apt to take;decisions we make without seeking His skilful, loving guidance -decisions we are prone to take without listening to His gentle promptings.
The Father’s Will
Throughout His life, Christ listened to every word proceeding from the mouth of God.
It was His delight to obey His Father, and it was His joy to do His Father’s will... for He listened to His Father’s voice and He was guided by His Holy Spirit.
Scriptural Truth
Over 160 times Paul directs and redirects our attention to this vital, positional truth, and when the Spirit of God grabs our attention so unmistakably, we should listen.
Spiritual Maturity
God also desires that we are faithful and diligent in our prayer-life for He knows that prayer is a beautiful channel of heavenly grace and spiritual maturity that is poured out in abundance upon those that sit at His feet, listen to His voice and trust in His word.
He listened to the lovely words that poured like healing oil from His lips and agreed:- never a man spoke like this man, and they wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.
First Love
Israel were commanded to HEAR their faithful God and to LOVE Him. Likewise, the Church are to LISTEN to our Lord and LOVE Him with our whole being.
Eternal Truths
These vital truths are for our learning and were played out in the time of Nehemiah. They are still true today and need to be fastened in our hearts and secured in our mind. Let us without reservation listen and love… listen to His voice and to hear His word – encourage each other to fall in love with our Lord, all over again.
Faithful Servants
Remember to listen to the word of the Lord and trust Him in all things To trust in His faithfulness and let God fight our battles.
God and King
It is the personification of God Who is the One for Whom I should be listening. It is my Saviour and Lord, my God and my King Who demands my contemplation. It is my beloved Bridegroom for Whom my heart should be aching – that I may know Him more – that I may love Him better.
more interested in looking for an event and listening to calculations.
Many are anticipating the event instead of watching, listening – and yearning for their coming Lord.
Jesus of Nazareth
Philip KNEW the man, Jesus of Nazareth. He knew He was the son of Mary, brother of James and Jude. He watched this performer of miracles with incredulity and he listened to the lovely words that poured like healing oil from His lips and agreed that: never a man spake like this man, and they wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.
Downward Spiral
Yet the downward spiral of those that follow in the path of Demas is outlined here:- Demas loved the world and forsook the path of a disciple. This man is one that stopped waking God’s way to listen to Mr.
A Praying Man
Israel was God’s nation, who was to listen to the word of the Lord and obey His voice. They were also commanded to love their faithful God with all their mind and strength.
There are many in the Church that do not love the Lord with all their heart and mind. Some have failed to listen to His voice and have left their first love – the Lord Jesus, and like Nehemiah, we too need to pray for the Church – to intercede on their behalf.
Servant of God
Nehemiah began his prayer declaring the faithfulness of his covenant-keeping God. He acknowledged God’s greatness, and His willingness to hear His peoples’ cry. Nehemiah prayed day and night in earnest trust that God would listen and hear him – and his intense intercession was for his own nation, the people of Israel.
He maintained close fellowship with God; His food was to do His Father’s will; He listened to the guidance of the Spirit and laid aside His glory for a season. The Lord Jesus Christ learned obedience through the things that He suffered.
We can never get this knowledge of God merely by reading, by listening, by attending meetings.... You may understand it all by mental apprehension, know the terms and the verses, and use them but what about the dynamic of this thing?
If we listen in the stillness till our hearts begin to respond to what He is thinking and feeling about the matter in question, whether it concerns ourselves or others, we can, from that moment, begin praying downwards from the Throne, instead of praying upwards from ourselves. -L.T.
Listen to God’s Voice of instruction: this is my Beloved Son, hear Him. Obey God’s Command to resolutely stand, and to stand, and to stand firm... and having done all… to stand.
Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says. (Revelation 3:22 GW)
There is a time when we must sweep our books aside, when we must shut ourselves up from the voices of men, when we must get quiet with the Lord and listen, and more, we must seek to cultivate, by the grace of God, the ear that is always open to the Lord even when all the other sounds are around us.
It is difficult, yet not impossible, that in the raging of the street and the rush of business life the Lord should say something; but He will only speak to those who recognize the value of listening to the Lord and who are giving Him His place of silence to speak when possible.
and Paul warned and instructed of the need for maturity in the Christian life. Obedience is the most important exercise in the Christian life: obedience to His Word; listening to His Voice – compliance His Commands. And instruction on spiritual maturity in the body of Christ, is the focus of most of Paul’s messages to the Church of God. Paul tells us that: he that is spiritual judges all things..
In Acts 17 we are told to search the Scriptures daily.. and we are to listen to the voice of God in our heart, for the Spirit of Truth will guide us into all truth.
What I say is: listen, take note; and then go to your final authority Who is in you if you are a child of God, and ask Him to corroborate the truth or to show otherwise.
Shine a ray of sunlight in every smile; every word; every deed; every prayer; every act of kindness; every trifling service; every listening ear; every gift – every little encouragement.
Listen and Apply
How sad to consider the consequences of regressing from spiritual maturity to spiritual immaturity.
May we who have ears to hear what the Spirit says in His Word, listen carefully to all that He says – and to apply it in our lives, as we grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Others perhaps thought it to be pretty good, but the crisis when listen to me, men and women who are in ministry, or contemplating it the whole turn came upon the recognition of this principle, this principle of the Cross when, with the door closed, I said to the Lord am finished in all ministry, I am never going to preach again unless You do something now.
The Lord is ever listening to all the words we speak and the thoughts of our hearts.
Wonderful Comfort
Is this not a wonderful comfort to know that God is ever watching His own – guarding us from danger; directing the way that we take; listening to our whispered prayer and hearing our humble worship?
Generating Centre
We are expected, by faith, to listen to His Word and to accept His explanation, for Jesus is the only medium, the only link – the only channel to the Father.
Trust Versus Doubt
And yet, Isaiah the prophet identifies the one who walks in darkness and has no light as the on who does not reverence the Lord or listen to His voice..
Rebellious Heart
Israel is a prime example of a people that heard but did not listen – until they reached a point of prideful rebellion, where Jesus had to say: hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive Matthew 13:14 and Isaiah 6:9.
Pharaoh is another example of a man who heard but did not listen, and Pharaoh, in prideful rebellion..
hardened his own heart against the truth until…the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh – and he hearkened not unto them… Exodus 9:20 (Pharaoh didn’t listen to the truth of God’s Word through Moses)
It is possible to read books by the score, and to listen to the most faithful and blessed ministry for years on end, and yet never know the Lord Jesus as a present loving Object in heavenly glory.
Stop: Listen: Wait
Simply put, don’t trust in your own intuition. Don’t be influenced by the ranting of others. Simply trust in the Lord and wait for His soon return. When we put our trust firmly in Him, God can work in and through us. When we are impulsed to react on impressions, we block His workings. If minds are distracted and hearts are distressed because the Lord delays... wait.
Knowing Jesus
What an astonishing few years the twelve disciples had as they walked with Jesus. They thought they knew their Lord as they walked with Him and listened to Him..
However, we do need to be willing to LISTEN to His voice, whether it is internal or external - and we do need to respond when we receive prompting from His written Word so that we do not fall: For where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counsellors there is victory.
The truth of the gospel that Peter taught on that day, caused over 3000 men of Israel to repent of their sins and to be born again into the newly formed Body of Christ. But Peter was to astonish these fledgling believers, and those that were listening to his teaching even more, by announcing that this same Jesus was not only resurrected from the dead as David foretold, but He had ascended into heaven in power and great glory and been exalted by God to sit at His right hand where He is now seated on God's heavenly throne.
When God speaks, His children should listen, take note, learn the lesson He is teaching, hide his instruction in their hearts, and apply His truth in their lives.
We may not have been party to this unique transfiguration experience and heard the audible voice of God instructing us to hear Him, but we have the opportunity to listen to the voice of our Father every day of our lives, as we listen to Him speaking to us through the vast treasury of truth that is contained in the holy Scriptures.
He knew that neglecting the Word of the Lord was a recipe for disaster and like Mary of Bethany, he learned the one thing that was needful, to listen to the voice of the Lord and to meditate upon all that He has said day and night.
But on this occasion, David was caused to contemplate His great Creator, as he watched the mighty flashes of lightning and listened to the great thunderclaps as they declared the glory of God, for the vast expanse of the natural universe shows forth the work of His mighty hands.
Should not we who are His children, made in His image, and born of the Spirit, humble our hearts before Him and bow our ear to listen to the whisper of His still small voice, as He speaks to us His Words of comfort and guidance?
As the Babylonian military leaders and soldiers were preparing to march against Judah, planning their siege against Jerusalem, and agreeing their battle strategies, the children of Judah and Benjamin refused to listen to Jeremiah's pleading cries to escape the wrath to come.
Although the Lord warned Jeremiah that the people would not listen to his words, remember their covenant with God, or return to the old ways of righteousness, this weeping prophet was faithful to his calling: Thus says the LORD, he declared, Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls.
This is not a one-time strengthening, but a moment by moment reliance upon Him, until we are increasingly able to act upon His guidance, as we learn to listen to His voice saying: This is the way, walk in it.
These citizens experienced God's wrath when fire and brimstone rained down on the rebellious citizens who refused to listen to the truth and escape from the Lord's inevitable judgement: God condemned these cities to destruction and reduced them to ashes, making them an example to all who would live ungodly lives.
Eli had become 'spiritually impaired' and did not realise it was God Who was calling the boy so persistently, but finally he instructed Samuel to return to his bed and answer, Speak Lord, Your servant is listening.
This time the young man quickly responded, Speak, for Your servant is listening.
What an opportunity those foolish Pharisees missed, when they refused to listen to the truth and believe on the Son, Whom the Father raised from the dead - for in the Son are the words of eternal life and He gives life to whomsoever He wishes.
What refreshment these simple words have bestowed on many little lambs who have listened to the voice of their Good Shepherd; that Great Shepherd of the sheep Who opens His arms wide to embrace all who will trust in His name.
We are permitted to listen into a heavenly conversation where Satan accuses Job of only being faithful to the Lord, because of the riches he has received from God, rather than love for his Creator.
While God shows no favouritism between rich and poor, because salvation is a free gift of grace to whosoever will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, James does seem to imply that God extends special favour towards those that are poor, in respect of the riches of this world: Listen, my beloved brothers, he writes, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
Not only were the apostles among the many eye-witnesses of the resurrected Christ during those 40 days between His Resurrection and Ascension, but the crowds in Jerusalem who were listening to the blistering truth from Peter's discourse that day, had themselves been spectators to all that had transpired on that momentous Feast of Passover, only fifty days before when the sky turned black for three hours and the veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom - giving all who will believe on Him forgiveness of sin, life everlasting, and access to the heavenly throne of grace.
Our job is to listen to what the Spirit says to us, for the one that is submissive to the promptings of the indwelling Holy Spirit is that one who will be guided into the truth of the glorious gospel of Christ and be given godly wisdom and discernment in every aspect of our lives.
Mary of Bethany is found on three occasions simply sitting at the feet of the Lord Jesus, communing with her Saviour, listening to His Word, looking to Him, learning of Him, loving to be with Him, and pouring out her worship to Him.
Work that we do for the Lord is good and profitable, but it must be combined with worshipping at His feet, looking to Jesus, listening to His Word, and seeking that deep and intimate communion with Him that Mary found as she sat at His feet and looked to her Saviour.
Jesus explained to the Jewish leaders and those that were listening that although the greedy tenants thought that by killing the son and heir they would inherit the vineyard, they were mistaken and would be severely punished by the rightful owner.
But their concern was heightened as they listened to the parable of the landowner knowing that Jesus had exposed their secret conspiracy to kill Him.
When God speaks should we not listen to His voice? Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, 'I am the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way you should go.'
He will be one of your countrymen and you shall listen to Him.In this later verses, it is the Lord, Himself who speaks and says to Moses, I will raise up a Prophet from among their countrymen like you.
As we continue to read this passage, we find that his song of praise changes into practical instruction on the fear of the Lord and of taking to heart the truth of His Word: Come, you children, listen to me, David declares, and I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
We are to listen closely to the words of wisdom that are contained within its pages and direct our hearts to understand and apply all that the Bible contains.
It was getting near to the time of his death and Samuel had already given his farewell speech to the nation where he reminded the people: If you will fear the Lord, serve Him, listen to His voice, and not rebel against the command of the Lord, then both you and also the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God.
But, if you will not listen to the voice of the Lord, and rebel against the command of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you as it was against your fathers.
They inform us of those things that displease the Lord but they also detail the things that honour Him - and we are exhorted to listen attentively to all that the Spirit tells us through His Word.
And so Paul asked the challenging question, Tell me, those of you who want to live under the Law: are you really listening to what the Law says?
Tell me...those of you who want to live under the Law: Are you really listening to what the Law says?
No surprise that Paul sought to hammer home the freedom we have in Christ by challenging these legalists with the question: Tell me, those of you who want to live under the Law: Are you really listening to what the Law says?
Finally, our Lord rebuked these blind leaders of the blind with a prolonged and scathing accusation of their lawlessness, and He issued a terrible warning that judgement awaited them if they continued to refuse to listen to His message.
In this chapter, the Lord urges His people to listen diligently to His voice, for His Word will not return to Him void of fulfillment.
If only they would hearken to His voice and listen to His Word, they would have all they needed for life and godliness.
He is slow to anger and desires to restore to them the joy of their salvation - but they must listen to His voice, hear His word, partake of what is good, and delight their soul in the abundance of His blessings.
Wicked men were instructed to abandon their evil ways, and listen to His voice.
All who listen to His voice will be blessed beyond imagination, for eye has not seen and ear has not heard the wonderful things God has prepared for those who love Him.
John was the human voice (PHONE) and Jesus was the incarnate Word (LOGOS).Sadly, Israel as a nation did not listen: We will NOT have this Man rule over us, was the national cry at His First Coming.
Firstly, God wants to maintain personal communion with His people and is ready and willing to listen and respond to our prayers, encouraging us to intercede for sinner and saint alike.
Vows are strongly discouraged in Scripture, and the story of Jephthah illustrates the foolishness of making vows to the Lord, which is why we are discouraged from making oaths – for none of us know whether or not we will be able to fulfil them.However, God in His grace did listen to Hannah and granted her request, and she brought forth a beautiful son called Samuel – whom she gave back to the Lord.
Perhaps if these comforters been spirit-filled counsellors who listened to Job's pain rather than becoming prosecuting attorneys, their interaction with their friend may have been different and we would not have gained so great an understanding of the spiritual war continuously raging in heavenly places, or the way God deals with man in the heavenly realm.
The psalmist made it clear in his prayer that he would listen obediently to the Lord's instructions, knowing that God, in His grace, would speak peace to His people.
These three men witnessed, the Son of Man coming in His kingdom, and heard the voice of God saying, This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!
We are not to submit to the yoke of slavery which Christ removed when we were saved, and we do this by believing the truth of His Word, and not listening to the lies of the enemy or unbiblical teachings from false prophets.
But being saved by grace through faith and clothed in Christ is not the end goal but the beginning of our new life in Him, and every day we should strive to know Him more, to love Him better, to listen to His voice, to obey His Word, and to develop an ever-closer relationship with Him. This demands a singleness of purpose, a sole objective – one determined aim.
The letter to the Church at Thyatira followed a similar pattern to most of the other churches, commendation of any good work, followed by the condemnation of any ungodly customs they had embraced, before exhorting the whole church towards improving their ways with a promise of reward for those that have ears to hear Christ's urgent call, and listen to all that the Spirit is saying to the churches.
A promise was given to the faithful little remnant in Thyatira, who listened to His voice, obeyed His instruction, and held on to what they had: To the one who overcomes, I will give His power over the nations.
And although there may be times when we disobey Him or follow our own whims and wills, He will direct us in the way we are to go if we will but listen to His voice, respond to His call, and work the work that He has prepared for us to do, in His power and for His greater glory.
Jesus knew from the beginning that His Messianic claims would be rebuffed by Israel, even though the people enjoyed listening to His teaching and were fascinated by His miracles.
Most men did not listen to the appointed representatives through whom the eternal, omnipotent God chose to communicate His astonishing plan of salvation.
The return of Nehemiah and his courageous stand against all opposition while rebuilding the wall, contributed to their resolve to return to the Lord their God and so: Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month.
What a spectacle that must have been to see the people of God standing before this Ezra, listening intently to the reading of the Law of Moses on this first day of the seventh month.
The New Testament lists many eye-witnesses, occasions, and numbers of believers who verified Him to be resurrected as they handled the glorified wounds in His body and listened to His reassuring voice as His opened the Scriptures in their very hearing.
As we consider that God has given us all we need for life and godliness in Christ, in Whom are hidden ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, may we be careful to discover more of His character, to walk in His ways, to listen to His voice, and obey all that the spirit says to the Churches.
All of us who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ will be despised, rejected, persecuted, and killed because of Christ Who came to pay the price for the sin of the world and gave His life as the ransom price for whoever would believe on His name - but how few have ears that really listen.
In all our day-by-day dealings, we are to remain submissive to His leadings and obedient to His corrections, trusting His Word, listening to His voice, and depending on Him alone.
Crying out to the weak-willed inhabitants of Shechem, the brave young Jotham shouted, Listen to me, lords of Shechem, and may God listen to you.
When Jotham escaped the massacre and stood on the mountain and shouted, Listen to me, O men of Shechem, that God may listen to you, he was calling them to account before the Lord for their actions.
John spent over three years of his life with Jesus, listening intently to His gracious words, astonished by His amazing truth, watching Him attentively as He fulfilled the prophetic Scriptures, and beholding His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
He had witnessed His perfect character, listened to His words of wisdom, seen many proofs of His divine person, and along with Christ's other disciples, Philip had been taught about Christ's holy, heavenly mission.
After a period of national fasting, individual repentance, prayer, and the confession of their sin (and those of their Jewish forefathers), the entire Jewish nation stood up as one, to listen to the public reading of the Law of Moses and to give heed to the nation's priestly leaders who rehearsed a national prayer of praise and thanksgiving before the Lord.
When God says anything it is important that we listen, but He felt it necessary to repeat His heavenly origin and emphasised the truth that He not only gave them bread but He is the Living Bread Who had come down out of heaven.
Surely this truth should rejoice our soul through time and into eternity and should prompt us to tell forth this truth to the next generation and all who will listen?
It may even be that we are called to simply sit at His feet and take time to listen to His voice.
Let us be ready to hear His still small voice in whatever situation or circumstance of life we find ourselves, and let us trust His Word implicitly, for He knows the way that we should go if we are simply willing to listen to His voice.
Sarah with Abraham, Rebekah with Isaac, Rachel with Jacob, Ruth with Boaz, and the Shulamite woman with her beloved shepherd, are all precursors of the Church and Christ: Listen!
we read expectantly as the love-story begins to unfold: Listen!
When Jesus summoned the crowd to come and listen to Him and made His astonishing demand... that anyone who wanted to follow Him was to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him... we find that this requirement was recorded immediately after Peter had pronounced his divine revelation from God.
Jesus is the anointed of God, and it was to Jesus that the Father directed our attention when His voice thundered on the holy mount, This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased, Hear HIM – listen to HIM - look to Him.
But Isaiah is not left under any such illusion as to the reception he will receive, for the Lord tells him, Go, and tell this people, 'Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.'
Many decades of rebellion and disobedience had caused Israel to become a people who listened without hearing and looked without understanding.
I take delight in Him. Listen to Him, was the heavenly command.
Listen to Him and keep on listening to Him was God's clear direction to the three disciples on the holy mount, and it is His clear direction to us and to all who are looking for His any day return.
The promise of Christ's return still stands today and the solemn instruction to Listen to Him, and to keep on listening to His voice and reading His Word remains as important as ever, for the days is at hand when Christ will indeed return to set up His Millennial rule on earth and reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Let us be diligent to listen to all He says and to apply it to our lives, and let us comfort one another with the truth of the glorious gospel of grace, knowing that Christ died for our sin and rose again so that whosoever believes on Him will not perish but have everlasting life.
He listened, he heard, and he responded to Christ's reply and began to understand the shocking truth - that it was GOD, and not man that he was fighting.
How important that like Paul, we listen, hear, and respond to Christ's call in our own life.
Let us, like Paul, be ardent admirers and reverent worshippers of the Lord Jesus, and let us soak all we do for the Lord in humble prayer, as we listen to His guiding voice in our hearts, praying, Thy will not mine be done.
Others, like Jonah, can be resistant to God's claim on their life and be unwilling to listen to His voice, heed His commands, and share the good news of the gospel of grace.
Godly comfort was an important provision for the early Christians, but they had to learn to listen to His voice and carry out His instructions.
The early Christians had to learn to listen to the leading of the indwelling Holy Spirit, for when His gentle voice is heeded, He brings comfort, inner calm, and a peace that passes our human understanding.
Moses foretold His coming and commanded the people of Israel to hear Him and to listen to Him because He would speak to Israel on behalf of God, and He would converse with the Almighty as man's representative.
May we be ready and willing to learn the lessons that God would teach us as we read His Word with open eyes, a teachable spirit, and a heart that is ready to listen to His voice and delights to do His will.
They have closed their eyes; otherwise, they might see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I would heal them.' And so, for the third and last time in his ministry, we hear Paul's scathing rebuke: Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen.
Paul's imprisonments, both in Rome and elsewhere, did not hinder him from testifying to the truth of God's Word to whosoever would listen.
The incorruptible Word of God abides forever and is able to discern the inner heart and motives of every man - even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit. The incorruptible Word of God is able to discern the very thoughts and motivations of the heart, and we should listen to all that it says.
The Lord was teaching His people truths that would save their soul, if they listened to His voice and obeyed His command, for He said to them: If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD.
They are to train us to trust God's Word and listen to His leading and guidance.
May we have the humility of heart and a teachable spirit that is ready and willing to listen to His voice, trust His Word, obey His command, and do only those things that honour His name.
It must have been hard to be a Jew listening to Paul declaring that a real Jew is not one that is descended from Abraham but one who manifests a godly life and that true circumcision is a matter of the heart and not in the cutting of the flesh on the 8th day.
How important, therefore, that we heed the sombre warnings given to us by the writer to the Hebrews; that we consider Christ, listen to Him, and give heed to all He has said.
And if the perfect Law taught that every transgression and disobedience would receive the just penalty of death, how vital that we listen to God's final revelation in Christ, Who Himself paid that price on our account.
Although an invitation is offered to all who will listen, a grave and terrible warning is extended to those who reject God's offer of salvation, and will finally be confined to the Lake of Fire.
May we take to heart this simple instruction from Paul and not turn a blind eye to those that are bereft and bereaved. May we be ready and willing to honour those widows who are 'widows indeed', and be mindful of any older people we know who would benefit from a gracious word, a listening ear, or a kind deed.
You must listen to Him in everything He will say to you.
When God raised up for Israel a Prophet like Moses from the house of Judah as promised, they refused to listen to Him and ignored Moses' command to: Give heed to everything He says.
As with so much that is recorded in Jewish history, there are many lessons to learn and much reason to honour the Lord, listen to His voice, and obey His Word.
Noah did everything according to the Word of the Lord, but despite his urgent warning, few (if any) listened, unaware that the waters of judgement would come like a thief in the night and sweep them all away.
Noah deserved death as much as every other sinner, but he heard God's call, listened to Him, obeyed His instructions, and built an ark for the saving of his family.
May we listen to God's call, trust His Word, obey His command, and respond to His voice when we hear Him say, COME unto Me all ye who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest for your soul.
The incomparable privileges we have in Christ, the benefits of our heavenly inheritance in His coming kingdom, and the glory that is ours in Him, are accompanied by a severe warning for those who refuse to listen to His Word and obey His voice: Therefore, since we received a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.
In Deuteronomy, God promised that if Israel listened to God's voice and obeyed the covenant they made with Him, then they would be blessed among all the peoples of the earth - however, they would be punished for their disobedience.
John had been one who had walked with Him by the way, listened to His teachings, seen the signs and miracles Jesus had performed, witnessed His tender-mercy and loving compassion, and had been empowered to carry out mighty signs and great wonders in His holy name.
The people of Zechariah's day and every generation onward are being warned not to repeat the terrible mistake made by their forefathers, who ignored similar warnings from earlier prophets: They did not listen or give heed to the Lord.
It means that their outward behaviour is an indicator of whether or not they listen to their own, inward conscience and respond appropriately - or whether they ignore the inner sense of right or wrong and disregard the promptings of the heart.
He lived among a generation of Jews that would be catapulted headlong into a terrible time of tribulation, because they refused to listen to the truth of God's Word.
All judgement has been given into His hands, and in the first few chapters of Revelation, Christ is extending a warning to Christians in this age of grace, to ensure that our consciences are right with the Lord, that we wake up and return to our first love, eschew every kind of evil, hold fast to His Word of truth, and that we listen to all that the Holy Spirit says to the churches.
Since the Cross, ALL who believe, both Jew and Gentile, are redeemed by Christ's shed blood as a completed action - and today we are living in the last days which is why Paul said, NOW is the day of salvation, and reminded the Corinthian Christians that God had said, 'At the right time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.' Listen - NOW is really the 'right time'! NOW is the day of salvation.
Sadly, these legalists seek to return believers to pre-Cross slavery under the Law, instead of living in the post-Cross freedom under grace - which is why Paul quoted Isaiah in his epistle to the Corinthians when he wrote: We also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain - for He says, 'at the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.'
The sole aim in our life on earth is to glorify God through the Lord Jesus Christ and in consideration of all the faults and flaws of His apostles, what a joy to hear Christ words of commendation: I am glorified in them, for if Christ was glorified in the lives of His imperfect disciples with their many failings and frailties, the Lord may also be glorified in our lives, if we will but listen to His voice and obey His commands.
The Bible talks a lot about hearing and listening, and very frequently it links wisdom with those that listen and credits discernment to those that hear.
Peter's sermon combined various biblical prophesies with the truth of the gospel of Christ, and he challenged the assembled company by saying: Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a Man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know.
His signs, His wonders, His message, and His ministry, were foretold by prophets of old, and His heavenly mission and Messianic claims were authenticated through His words and actions, and Peter reminded the crowd of these things: Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, was a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs, which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know.
Every one of the seven Churches in Revelation were instructed to listen... and pay close attention to ALL that the risen, ascended, glorified Lord Jesus had to say to ALL the Churches. Each Church was given some important information, which is vital to our individual spiritual growth and our collective Christian witness.
What a gracious God we serve, that even when we fail in our devoted service or become waylaid by the mounting pressures we inflict on our own Christian service, He is ready and willing to warn us of our failure, to encourage us to listen to God's voice, to instruct us to put our priorities in order, and to command us to return the Lord Jesus to His rightful place in our lives. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches, is a warning that every Christian should consider on a daily basis.
He learned to listen to His Father's voice and did only those things that He heard from His Heavenly Father, for His food was to do the will of the One Who sent Him and to accomplish His work.
No doubt, on that first day of the week, they rejoiced to have Paul in their midst and doubtless listened intently to his message and ministry, until the hour of midnight.
It was the first day of their new year (the feast of trumpets), and the apostate nation of Israel stood in the city square and started to listen to Ezra the priest reading the Word of the Lord.
As they listened God's Word being read to them, this errant nation as one man realised how far they had wandered from their God.
Like Israel, we should listen to the Word of the Lord, for faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
We too need to be like that little group of faithful elders that listened to Paul's passionate preaching on the shores of Miletus, when he reminded them to be unafraid of teaching the truth and encouraged them not to shrink back from witnessing of Jesus, both in public places and private homes.
Peter also reminded these men of Israel that Moses had prophesied that a Prophet from among their brothers, would be raised up and they must listen to Him.
You and I will not be called on to write sections of the New Testament or undertake the ministry to which Paul was called... but like him, we can all respond to God's call on our lives, listen to His voice, obey His instruction, and heed His call - so that like Paul we can fulfil the good work that God has prepared for us to do - to His greater praise and glory.
Unbelief is the one sin that God cannot forgive - for those who do not believe are condemned already, because they refuse to listen to the Holy Spirit's convicting work.
May we listen daily for the trump of God and the voice of the archangel, when the dead in Christ shall be raised incorruptible, and we who are still alive will be changed into His likeness in the twinkling of an eye.
Let us not resist the rod and staff of our Saviour, but listen to His voice and trust His leading when He steps into our busy lives and calls us to turn aside and rest awhile in the green pastures to where He has brought us.
The loving-kindness and long-suffering of the Lord is beautifully expressed in this little verse, but the final part of Isaiah's utterance is very disturbing: BUT they would not listen.
But despite their great privileges and precious promises they would not harken to the Word of their God, listen to the warnings of Isaiah, nor change their ways when admonished by other prophets of God.
As we consider the rebellion of Israel in the book of Isaiah and their refusal to listen to the Word of the Lord, each one of us should challenge our own heart and consider our own response to the Word of God.
Do we listen to His voice or shut our ears to His leading and guidance?
May we be like the Samaritan woman, who came to Jesus, listened to His Word, and chose to drink deeply and daily of the living water that is ours by faith.
Because of the glories contained in the gospel of Christ, Paul does not get discouraged, even when those that he is teaching choose not to listen to the good news, but reject the truth of God's amazing grace.
Paul knew that there was a reason that many refused to listen to the gospel of God's grace.
History not only illustrates God's long-suffering mercy towards His people but also records Israel's ongoing infidelity and their incredible fall into apostasy, for we read: But My people did not listen to My voice.
Like Abraham, we were saved by faith, called out of the world, credited with God’s righteousness, promised an inheritance, and are travelling along the path of life towards the goal of our calling. We are now to live our life by faith – listening to His voice, trusting His Word, obeying His instructions, believing His promises to be unquestionably true.
Solomon taught his own children to pay attention to gaining insight into subjects of importance and to cultivate friendships with the older generation, who have a lifetime of wisdom and experience to impart to the youth... to those who are wise enough to listen!
Let us occupy until He comes and tell all who may listen to the glorious truth of the gospel so that more can be part of His Bride, welcomed into His presence, and always be with Him.
Too often dreams, visions, spiritual experiences, or the prophetic utterances of others, take precedence over the Word of truth, endangering the spiritual well-being of those who listen to them.
Man in his rebellion, refuses to listen to the truth, for as Scripture says, fallen man is conceited and understands nothing.
Let us not listen to the lies of the enemy, but prove our faith in HIM and stand fast on the word of TRUTH, by asking God for all we need and expecting Him to answer.
It teaches us that God is ready to listen to the man or woman who acknowledges their sin and reminds us that God is willing to re-establish sweet fellowship with His children, if they confess their faults to Him.
His prayer demonstrates God's willingness to listen to the private prayers of individuals, as well as the collective intercessions of the people of God.
The Lord had given them dominion over the whole earth and everything in it, but instead of trusting His Word, they listened to that old serpent - called the devil and Satan.
However, when the Lord God reiterates a truth, it is because He wants to emphasise a matter and we would do well to listen to the Word of the Lord and to read, mark, learn, inwardly digest, and take to heart all that He has to teach us and to apply it in our life.It was the Spirit of God that moved over the face of the earth, in the beginning, to bring light and life to a darkened world.
They were to listen to the Lord, trust His Word, and obey His instructions, so that their faith might grow when victory was complete.
We are to listen to His voice and to trust in the Lord in every circumstance of life, even when the difficulties we face seem to tower over us like the walls of Jericho - and then we are to act on our God-given instructions that are found in the Word of God.
Sadly, the majority were unwilling to listen to the prophets' call and refused to obey God's commands.
For those who would listen, their ears would hear a word behind them, saying, this is the way, walk you in it.
All that He desires of us is that we listen to His voice, hearken to His word, trust in His love, rely on His sufficient grace and let the love of Christ guard our heart... so that every step we take may be directed by Him – for our eternal benefit and for His greater glory.Christ is the Way and Christ is our Guide.
He is the Rock of our salvation - our Defence and our Deliverer, but the enemy has set traps on the left and laid snares for us on the right, as he pummels our ears with doctrinal falsities and entices us away from the highway of holiness, with tempting ‘treats’, deadly doubts and ungodly desires.Let us learn to listen to the Word of the Lord and hearken to His voice behind us - leading us, guiding us, directing us, and telling us which is the way that we should go, so that we are not tempted to turn to the right hand nor to the left – but keep our eyes on Jesus and our ears ever open to His still, small voice of love.
In this beautiful passage we gain a little glimpse into Christ's worldwide sheepfold that is the Church, where believing Israel and believing Gentiles are brought into one-fold with one Shepherd: And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one Shepherd.
Let us get to know the Lord Jesus more and more each day as we listen to His voice, look to Him, and follow His guidance.
A parable is so much more than an earthly story with a heavenly meaning, for Israel had ears but did not listen to the Word of the Lord, and though they had eyes, they neither saw nor understood the enormity of His gracious message.
However, when the Holy Spirit fell in great power upon all those who were listening to the message of salvation at the house of Cornelius, Peter was able to open his mouth and proclaim with confidence and conviction: I most certainly understand now that God is not One to show partiality.
At the moment, we are passing through life not quite understanding why certain things are taking place in our lives - but if we are prepared to listen to His still small voice and follow His gentle commands, we will all one day gaze in awe and wonder at the whole, magnificent tapestry of life... of which we are one small part.
Instead of repenting of their sin, listening to His teaching, obeying His Word, accepting Him as their Messiah, and proclaiming Him their rightful King, He was rejected by His people who cried instead, We will not have this man rule over us.
The life of faith filters our thoughts, actions, attitudes, and words, through the holy Scriptures, as we listen to the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit, follow His directions, and trust in the Lord with all our heart.
May we find comfort in the life and times of Joseph and guard ourselves from the sort of parental favouritism or sibling rivalry that is evident in this verse... and may we be quick to listen to all the Lord has to say to us, wise in the things that we share with other people, and careful in the words we say and the attitude we display.
May we be ready and willing to listen to His voice, believe His Word, and submit willingly to His will, and may we always remember that His ways are higher than our ways and be careful to say, Thy will not mine be done.
So Eli sent him back to bed - twice - but eventually realised what was happening and told Samuel that if He was to call again, Samuel was to respond and listen to all that God had to say.
Samuel!' And Samuel replied, 'Speak, for Your servant is listening.' The words that God spoke to Samuel that night were words of shock and horror.
Samuel was ready and willing to hear the Word of the Lord, and responded with words that many others have uttered down through centuries of time: SPEAK LORD, Your servant is listening.
The Lord is no respecter of persons, and the eyes of the Lord continue travel to and fro, looking for a man or woman who has a listening ear, a trusting heart, and a willing spirit that is ready to say: Speak Lord, your servant is listening.
Both men and women, rich and poor, Jew and Gentile, are all people whom He will use if they are ready to listen and obey His voice and trust in Him with their whole being.
For much of His life Jesus worked as a carpenter in obscurity, in the little town of Nazareth, learning how to sit obediently at His heavenly Father's feet, as He humbly listened to His voice and was willingly guided by the Holy Spirit.
Let us never forget that the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to ALL who believe and let us share the truth with all who will listen - so that many who kneel before Him will do so willingly, and joyfully confess Him as Saviour and Lord - to the glory of God the Father.
At the start of his ministry, Jeremiah had been warned that the people would not listen to his message, and the guilt of the nation stands in stark contrast with the innocence of this solitary prophet of God.
It was then that the Lord Jesus uttered this chilling statement, If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone were to rise from the dead.
When the Lord Jesus told these proud, religious men, If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead, His message held a profound and eternal truth, that continues to resonate down the corridors of time.
JESUS HIMSELF would soon walk to the Cross as the ransom price for the sin of the world HE HIMSELF would die and He would rise from the dead, as prophesied by Moses and the Old Testament prophets... but Jesus knew that if these proud Pharisees would not listen to the truth spoken by Moses, the Prophets, and His own Messianic ministry - they would not even be persuaded when HE HIMSELF rose from the dead.
The victory Christ gained at the Cross is our victory too, but do we listen to His instructions without believing His Word, like the leaders of Israel who listened to His Sermon on the Mount but did not hear what He said?
May we have an understanding heart and a listening ear to hear all that the Spirit says to us through the Word of truth, and may we rejoice that no matter what difficulties we may encounter in life or what problems may come our way, God has scheduled every day of our lives for His greater glory and our eternal benefit - and is transforming us, day by day, into the image and likeness of Jesus.
He resisted temptation, learned obedience by the things He suffered, and lived a perfect life by depending on His Father, listening to the guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit, standing on every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God, and praying without ceasing... in thanksgiving and praise.
Rather, let us listen to God and sit at His feet so as to gain a deeper knowledge of God and closer walk with Him - for Behold, God is exalted in His power; and there is no teacher like unto Him.
Hearing and recognising the voice of our good, heavenly, caring Shepherd, comes from listening to His still, small voice attentively, hearing the Word of God repeatedly, and trusting the truth of all that He says – trusting the gracious words that proceed from the mouth of our great Shepherd of the sheep, for He has promised that none shall pluck us out of His hand.
We must carefully listen to all He says and trust all that He does, even when we don’t understand.
They were to listen carefully to the content of this epistle and they were all charged, He who has an ear... let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
There is much in the Bible that calls the people of God to listen to the Lord, to heed His Word, to pay attention to all that is written in the Scriptures, and to act on it.
And the same exhortation is extended to the Christian Church for, like Israel, we must listen to a truth, know the truth, and apply the truth - for the truth will set us free.
When a Christian is commanded to hear what the Spirit is telling us, we should exercise our free will and choose to listen, hear, follow His command, and carry out His will.
How often are we engaged in a conversation or are listening to a programme, but 'switch off' to the droning voice of another without hearing what they are actually saying?
How often do we listen to a preacher or hear someone reading the Scriptures, yet fail to truly hear what is being said or take to heart the message we have heard?
Or, if we were to receive a telephone call from a beloved friend, we would listen closely and enthusiastically to all they had to say.
How much more should we listen to the Word of the Lord and hear what the Spirit of God has to say to us as members of Christ's Body?
Each letter is able to speak to us if we are ready and willing to listen to His voice.
He is the Alpha and Omega of all grace and truth: Those who know God will listen to us speaking His Word of truth, but those who are not from God will not pay heed to us.
Those that seek to compromise the gospel of Christ deny both the fundamentals of the gospel of grace and the truth of God's Word, and they will not listen to the truth.
Jesus Christ is the truth from God and any 'truth' that does not line up with the truth of God's Word is spawned from a spirit of antichrist; a spirit of error that is rooted in the world, a spirit that is not from God, and a spirit that will not listen to the truth.
However, as their disobedience grew, so their former glory faded, yet they refused to listen to any prophetic warnings and would not repent of their wrongdoing or return to God and trust in His deliverance.
At the right time, the Messiah would come and those who believe on Him would never be confounded or ashamed, while those who refuse to listen to His voice, align themselves with the world, and choose to remain blind and deaf to His Word, would be utterly crushed by it.
He listened to God's voice, he followed God's commands, and he carried out the work God called him to do.
No matter where God places us, may we, like Nehemiah, listen to God's voice, follow His commands,and diligently carry out the work that God has called us to do, knowing that He Who started a good work in us is faithful to complete it.
Those who listen to Christ are able to hear what God Himself is saying but: Those who reject Him reject the One Who sent Him.
Not everyone listened to Christ's words, and not everyone paid attention to the message of the seventy, but those who believed on Him were given the right to become sons of God.
Those who accepted the message of the seventy, not only listened the words of Jesus but also to the Father Who sent Him.
The Church of Christ are ministers of the New and better Covenant and anyone who listens to us and heeds our words, not only listens to the Lord Jesus but also is listening to the Father in heaven Who sent Him.
The anger of the Lord is such that Isaiah calls on the heaven above and the earth beneath to bear witness to the Lord's accusations against His rebellious people: Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; for the LORD speaks, we read.
When Saul set out to persecute believers in Damascus he was a proud, religiously minded man who was dead in trespasses and sin and at enmity with God, but after his encounter with Christ, he listened, he responded, his spiritual eyes were opened to the truth of the gospel, and Saul was wonderfully saved by grace through faith in Jesus - the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world - the sacrifice for sin including your sin, my sin, and the sin of ALL who turn to Him in faith.
Generations of Christians have been encouraged to pay heed to the promptings of God's voice and to listen to what the Spirit says to them - both as individuals and collectively.
The idolatrous church at Thyatira, the dead Christians in Sardis, and the tiny church at Philadelphia who were witnessing revival in their ranks, were all called to task, to a greater or lesser degree, about the importance of turning from evil, putting Christ first, and listening carefully to what the Spirit of God was saying.
These important seven letters were written for believers down through the ages, including Christians of our own age and generation - and we are called to listen to the leading and guiding voice of the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God Who challenges each one of us to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, as outlined in Scripture.
Day by day, may we listen to all that the Spirit of truth says to us through the Word of God.
In the time we have left on earth, may we not be those that listen to the mockers, scoffers, and despisers, but hold fast to the more sure word of Scripture as we look forward to the day when our faith will be made sight.
We read: The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day, and there was no day like that before it or after it when the Lord listened to the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel.
Let us seek to walk in spirit and truth, to submit to the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit, to listen to His voice of truth, and to trust in His Word of wisdom.
We are not to drift through our Christian life in a careless and carnal way, but rather we are to give close attention to entering into God's rest by resisting temptation, by listening to His truth, by applying His Word, submitting to the Holy Spirit, and by being utterly dependent upon our Lord Jesus Christ.
To Adam, God said, Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you.
In this verse, Moses gives the listening congregation his concluding exhortation, which is a call to total commitment to the Lord their God, all the days of their life: And now, Israel, Moses concluded, what does the Lord your God ask of you except to fear the Lord your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul?
He reminded them that the self-dependent unbelief, spiritual pride, and rebellious attitude of the previous generation had angered God, and their survival as a nation demanded total dedication to the Lord and an utter commitment to trust His Word, obey His commands, and listen to His voice.
James is encouraging us to pay careful heed to the Word of God, to listen intently, inwardly digest, and meditate on the Word of God: For faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
Men of Israel, he cried, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs, which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know.