“So then faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).
The Part 1 of this piece emphasized that we must create time to hear the Word of God so that we can have faith come into our lives. If you do not give yourself the opportunity to hear the Word of God, then you are not ready to build your faith.
However, experience has shown us that there is active hearing of God’s Word and there is passive hearing of the Word. A passive hearing of the Word will not help your faith grow. Rather an active hearing of the Word of God will make the Word burn in your heart and urge you into doing the Word.
There have been times when you have approached God’s presence, fellowship with others and moments with God with a heart that is already made up. You may find yourself in God’s presence using your mind, your reasoning or intellect to explain away things, or listen to the Word with various bias, presumption or beliefs. When you place yourself in this manner in front of God’s word, the Word will not penetrate your heart.
At some point in my life, I was no longer regular to Church. But then I noticed that the times I went, I became very sensitive to the Word. As it was being read, it burnt like fire in my heart, and I would literally look around and wonder if anyone else was hearing what I was hearing. This experience taught me that sometimes we get so used to hearing the Word and it no longer comes to life or makes any meaning to us.
Rather, faith cometh when our hearing of the Word of God is with an open, broken, contrite and receptive heart. For, “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart: and he will save the humble of spirit” (Psalm 34:18). “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple” (Psalms 119:130).
“Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:11-13).
“I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ” (Galatians 3:5). Hence, faith has been described as the vehicle that carries the power of God. It is ultimately God’s power that makes great works, signs, wonders and miracles become manifested and come into reality.
“What gives life is God’s Spirit; human power is of no use at all. The words I have spoken to you bring God’s life-giving Spirit” (John 6:63). Hence, it is the Holy Spirit of God that gives life to God’s Word and only then is our spirit quickened to burn with love for God’s Word and to manifest it in our lives
“And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the true word of God–the word which is now at work in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
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