Most of us have been on a bridge. A bridge is a parcel of property established to get us from one place to another. Well, one of the greatest ways to your mind is your ears. That is not the only bridge to the mind, but according to Romans 10:17, it is one of the most productive ways. Why? Because that is how faith comes – by hearing. Faith for whatever we need on any given subject comes by hearing what The Word of God has to say about the subject under discussion. The quickest destination to get my mind renewed is to hear what God has to say (Romans 12:2).

It is amazing what people allow themselves to listen to these days. They instinctively attend a church where the person behind the sacred desk continually tells them that they can't make it in this poor ole' miserable world we are living in. On a personal note, I've learned that if it does not build faith in me, I will not listen to it, or read it. I have read a number of books over the years, and my approach to any book I may read is, if it doesn't tell me who I am, what I have, or what I can do 'In Christ,' I won't waste my time. If someone has the attitude about me that I am an “ain't,” instead of a “saint,” they won't get much of an audience with me. Now, if I have changes to make, so be it. After I've been made aware of the changes that I need to make, and I move to make them, I get on with my life. Why? Because I have very discriminating ears. I learned a number of years ago, that if I don't take responsibility for what I am hearing, I have no one to blame, but myself. Bottom line I hang out where I am celebrated — not tolerated.

If Romans 10:17 means anything, we must be very discerning over what we are hearing, and what we are speaking.

Romans 10:17 (KJV)
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Notice the progression in this verse. First of all, The Apostle Paul is taken with the fact that faith comes. He then lets us know how it comes. It comes by hearing, and hearing, which connotes that we must continue hearing the Word of God. Did you notice that he didn't say that faith comes by having heard? No, faith comes by hearing; and hearing; and hearing; and hearing, add infinitum. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing; and hearing; and hearing. Faith does not come by having heard. This means we will have to keep hearing; and hearing; in order for our faith to be mature, strong, and accomplishing the desires of our heart.

Beware! of the person that says, “ I've heard that already.” Chances are they missed something in the process of hearing. A great deal of the time their attitude is I want to hear something new, when much of what they have heard, has not produced for them everything that is thinkable (Ephesians 3:20). The best way I know how to explain it to you is this way. Many of us have had a good steak before. Now, because we have had the steak, we don't quit eating steak. No, we eat a good steak every chance we get. It is the same with any food that you enjoy. At any given time, you eat that food any chance you get. That is the same with the Word of God in relation to hearing and hearing. The Word of God is faith food. You should partake of it every chance you get. When you feed your faith, you are starving your doubts.

TAKE HEED WHAT YOU HEAR

Mark 4:24 (KJV)
And He said unto them, “Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.”

As previously stated we should have very discriminating ears. One of the most prolific statements used in the New Testament is found in Mark 4:24. In my humble opinion according to this scripture, where we are legal in using discrimination. In fact, if we don't discriminate when it comes to what we are hearing, we will be driven from pillar to post endeavoring to find our way in life. If we are not discriminating when it comes to our ears, the world, the flesh, and the devil will take advantage of us. I want to give you the Anthony N. Wade's Expanded Translation of the first part of verse twenty-four.

Mark 4:24a (Anthony N. Wade's Expanded Translation)
And Jesus said to them, “Be very discriminating, when it comes to your ears…”

TAKE HEED HOW YOU HEAR

Luke 8:18 (NKJV)
“Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

I will never forget the day I discovered Luke 8:18. It was obvious to me that it was saying something, somewhat different than Mark 4:24. I thought they were diametrically opposed to one another. So, I asked 'The Holy Spirit,' what was meant by the difference in the two verses. First of all we must realize that different personalities were writing the accounts. They both were 'Holy Ghost' inspired, yet the view was a little different. My encounter with 'The Holy Spirit' made a difference from that day until this. This is what He said to me. “Anthony, how you hear it , is what you heard.”

He went on to explain to me that the attitude I have when I hear about any given subject in the Bible, is what I heard about that subject. This is what I mean: We can't afford to think we know it all especially when it comes to Biblical truths. We must remain teachable – humble, when it comes to truths that we know precious little about. Some people when they hear about some subjects in the Word of God close themselves off, as if they know everything there is to know abut that subject. Therefore, the attitude they have determines what they hear. AWM

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