11.11.25 ~ Good Hearing
Good morning!
Last night's zoom call: B, requires A. A does not guarantee B. What does it take to be the Bride of Christ (Gen.24)
One of the most important concepts to keep in mind as we live the 'seed life' like Abraham (Gal. 3:29; Jn. 8:39) is to put ourselves within the context (language, setting and culture) of the audience receiving the Word. If you're like me, there have been times in my life when I have tried to self-justify my actions. For example,
“I have many things to speak/dabar and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard/shema from Him, these I speak/dabar to the world.” (Jn. 8:26)
Let's take the time to read the verse again, then ask yourself, “How would I understand this verse if I were hearing it from the Messiah's lips in 29 C.E.?” it's very difficult to determine what's being said without context, isn't it? Yeshua is having a lively discussion with the religious leaders of His day (Jn. 8). They say they are Abraham's seed because of their natural genealogy, but Yeshua denies that because their actions don't line up with their heritage.
First, let's remind ourselves of a simple bible truth: to hear/shema is to obey. So, when Yeshua says, “the things which I heard,” he also means “the things which I obeyed.” To hear without obeying is to have ears that are deaf. Yeshua is not talking about theological propositions or the mysteries of the cosmic beginnings. He is talking about hearing and doing the will of the Father. In our modern day, we have a lot of distractions that clog our ears.
Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built a house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. (Lk. 6:47-49)
Mr. Obvious told me a secret to life :-)...It isn’t always necessary to wring my hands, cry out loud, fall to the floor and beg God to please tell me what He wants me to do. He already told us. Doing what we already know is a precursor to discovering what we do not know. It would hardly have been possible for Yeshua to claim that He heard the Father if He were not obedient to all that the Father already revealed. That would be like trying to survey a piece of property without bothering to take any mathematics courses. First things first. Thank you Mr. Obvious.
Shema is connected to dabar (to speak). Hearing (obeying) and speaking go together in Yahweh’s world. Yeshua makes the connection for us. What is heard and obeyed becomes reality. His word manifest in us is the same as obedience to Him – and that is the proclamation of His message to the world.
Drum roll please...Do you want to be like Yeshua? (Rom. 8:29) In this aspect of discipleship, you know just what to do. You start by listening and doing. You do what you are told to do. Yes, I know that sounds so authoritarian, especially to citizens of a Greek-based individual rights, “free to do what I want” kind of world. But submission comes from bending my desires to the service of another master, which leads to His and our delight (Jer. 9:23,24)
Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me (1 Jn. 2:3-6), that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. (Jer. 9:23,24)
One of the ideas that thrills my heart the most is that Yahweh only tells us to do things that we can do and that are in our best interests. I'd say that's a pretty good bargain. By doing what we are told, by the One Who bought us (1 Cor. 6:19, 20; 7:23), we are able to speak to the world., verbally and with our actions. What we speak is life – the whole manifestation of who we are as obedient children to our heavely Father. What we manifest is His will in living reality. We speak volumes, sometimes without a single word. Hence, the ole expression, "actions speak louder than words".
It was not necessary for Yeshua to proclaim His authority and His divinity, His actions demonstrated both. If we want to be what Yahweh has in mind for us, we will have to start where He started, with hearing from Him. Only after shema becomes our way of life will we be qualified to deliver God’s message to others.
Let's be faithful in the little and He'll give us much! The Title of bride awaits the faithful doers :-) Enjoy the zoom recording.
Shalom
One of the most important concepts to keep in mind as we live the 'seed life' like Abraham (Gal. 3:29; Jn. 8:39) is to put ourselves within the context (language, setting and culture) of the audience receiving the Word. If you're like me, there have been times in my life when I have tried to self-justify my actions. For example,
“I have many things to speak/dabar and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard/shema from Him, these I speak/dabar to the world.” (Jn. 8:26)
Let's take the time to read the verse again, then ask yourself, “How would I understand this verse if I were hearing it from the Messiah's lips in 29 C.E.?” it's very difficult to determine what's being said without context, isn't it? Yeshua is having a lively discussion with the religious leaders of His day (Jn. 8). They say they are Abraham's seed because of their natural genealogy, but Yeshua denies that because their actions don't line up with their heritage.
First, let's remind ourselves of a simple bible truth: to hear/shema is to obey. So, when Yeshua says, “the things which I heard,” he also means “the things which I obeyed.” To hear without obeying is to have ears that are deaf. Yeshua is not talking about theological propositions or the mysteries of the cosmic beginnings. He is talking about hearing and doing the will of the Father. In our modern day, we have a lot of distractions that clog our ears.
Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built a house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. (Lk. 6:47-49)
Mr. Obvious told me a secret to life :-)...It isn’t always necessary to wring my hands, cry out loud, fall to the floor and beg God to please tell me what He wants me to do. He already told us. Doing what we already know is a precursor to discovering what we do not know. It would hardly have been possible for Yeshua to claim that He heard the Father if He were not obedient to all that the Father already revealed. That would be like trying to survey a piece of property without bothering to take any mathematics courses. First things first. Thank you Mr. Obvious.
Shema is connected to dabar (to speak). Hearing (obeying) and speaking go together in Yahweh’s world. Yeshua makes the connection for us. What is heard and obeyed becomes reality. His word manifest in us is the same as obedience to Him – and that is the proclamation of His message to the world.
Drum roll please...Do you want to be like Yeshua? (Rom. 8:29) In this aspect of discipleship, you know just what to do. You start by listening and doing. You do what you are told to do. Yes, I know that sounds so authoritarian, especially to citizens of a Greek-based individual rights, “free to do what I want” kind of world. But submission comes from bending my desires to the service of another master, which leads to His and our delight (Jer. 9:23,24)
Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me (1 Jn. 2:3-6), that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. (Jer. 9:23,24)
One of the ideas that thrills my heart the most is that Yahweh only tells us to do things that we can do and that are in our best interests. I'd say that's a pretty good bargain. By doing what we are told, by the One Who bought us (1 Cor. 6:19, 20; 7:23), we are able to speak to the world., verbally and with our actions. What we speak is life – the whole manifestation of who we are as obedient children to our heavely Father. What we manifest is His will in living reality. We speak volumes, sometimes without a single word. Hence, the ole expression, "actions speak louder than words".
It was not necessary for Yeshua to proclaim His authority and His divinity, His actions demonstrated both. If we want to be what Yahweh has in mind for us, we will have to start where He started, with hearing from Him. Only after shema becomes our way of life will we be qualified to deliver God’s message to others.
Let's be faithful in the little and He'll give us much! The Title of bride awaits the faithful doers :-) Enjoy the zoom recording.
Shalom
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