Seven Letters, Seven Churches, Same Concluding Admonition:
In Revelations chapters 2 and 3, the Lord Jesus dictates seven different letters that He wanted John to write and send to seven different churches. The contents of each letter were different, but He concluded each letter with the same admonition, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” – Revelations 2:7, 11, 17, 29; Revelations 3: 6, 13, 22.
“
Let him hear” – STRONG’s G191 – akouo
– To attend to, consider what is or has been said
This was not a new message that Jesus was sending to the churches. While He was on earth preaching and teaching, he had taught this to his disciples: “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” – Matthew 11:15; 13:9; Mark 4:23; Luke 14:35. This is how the Amplified Bible states it: “He who has ears [to hear], let him be listening and let him consider and perceive and comprehend by hearing.”
Jesus also taught that growing and bearing fruit was dependent primarily on your ability to hear and understand that which was heard. In the parable of the sower’s interpretation, Jesus explains that when anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in the heart – Matthew 13:19 – lest they should believe and be saved – Luke 8:12. Our deliverance and growth begin with our ability to hear and understand, our ability to attend to and consider what is being said.
Jesus further taught His followers to be careful or take heed to what they hear AND how they hear.
WHAT YOU HEAR – Mark 4:24
When you read God’s words, spend time in prayer, or are worshipping him through song, do not take what you are hearing at face value. Pay attention to what you are hearing. Give what you hear thought and meditation. In so doing, more [instruction, wisdom, understanding, revelation] will be added to you.
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. – KJV
And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you—and more [besides] will be given to you who hear. – AMPC
Then he said to them, “Be diligent to understand the meaning behind everything you hear, for as you do, more understanding will be given to you. And according to the depth of your longing to understand, much more will be added to you. – TPT
When you read God’s words, spend time in prayer, or are worshipping him through song, do not take what you are hearing at face value. Pay attention to what you are hearing. Give what you hear thought and meditation. In so doing, more [instruction, wisdom, understanding, revelation] will be added to you.
HOW YOU HEAR – Luke 8:18
Jesus not only taught His followers to pay attention to WHAT they hear, but he also taught them to pay attention to HOW – the manner in which – they hear.
Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. – KJV
So pay careful attention to your hearts as you hear my teaching, for to those who have open hearts, even more revelation will be given to them until it overflows. And for those who do not listen with open hearts, what little light they imagine to have will be taken away. – TPT
So be careful how you listen; for whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a longing for truth], even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him. – AMP
How then should we listen?
1. Not just to the words that are coming out of the mouth.
2. Not to our flesh-led hearts because “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” – Jeremiah 17:9
3. To the Spirit of God; hear what the Spirit is saying. This was what Jesus modeled while He lived on earth. He spoke only what the Father told Him to speak.
“ … I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.” – John 8:28.
“For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.” – John 12:49
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” We are the church! Did you hear that?
Time for Action: Our growth goal for this week is to be more intentional about listening:
1. Listening to the word of God.
2. Listening in our prayer time.
3. Listening in our interactions with others.: not just listening to what is said/done on the surface but listening with hearts opened to the Holy Spirit so that He can teach us what the occasion requires and how to respond.
DIG DEEPER: Blog Post – Tactical Disposition: LISTEN UP!