The Benefits of Hearing After Listening
Mark 4:23 "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." 24] And He said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. 25] For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."
Listening and hearing are not always the same thing. While listening is a function of our auditory organs to detect sound waves that register in our brain, hearing is a function of our will to understanding what is being said. The fact is: Many people do not hear in many areas of life spiritually, vocationally and relationally. Listening is a natural, physical ability, but hearing must be cultivated through training one’s heart and mind to grasp what is being said.
Many scriptures declare the important of hearing. Faith itself comes by hearing; “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” (Rom. 10:17) Hearing is much more important than most people imagine. Hearing is obviously a necessary component in communication. Where our walk with God is concerned, hearing is all important:
- How you hear will determine the quality of your life
- How you hear will determine your level of authority and responsibility in life
- How you hear will determine the measure of God’s anointing on your life.
Jesus said that one must have “ears to hear.” This indicates one’s willingness to hear instruction and direction. Jesus invites everyone, in one way or another, to hear and know Him, but He lets our response determine the degree of understanding and fruitfulness we experience.
"And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48] He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day .(John 12:47)
A lack of hearing, or hearing the wrong things, will cripple your ability to walk in the full blessing and opportunities of life. However, hearing and doing God's Word brings many benefits:
- Hearing determines aptitude (ability) “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
- Hearing determines attitude (state of mind), "Take heed what [or how] you hear...”
- Hearing determines altitude (height) "With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given."
