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pastor2022
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Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 671
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 Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 10:17 am Post subject: Ears That Do Not Hear |
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Ears That Do Not Hear
But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears
so that they could not hear. Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to
hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by
His Spirit through the former prophets.
Zechariah 7:11,12
How do we account for the fact that many do not "hear" the message of God? Out of all the thousands who personally heard Jesus speak, for example, relatively few believed Him to be speaking the truth, and out of those few even fewer actually did anything about what they said they believed. All heard the same words, but not all responded in the same way. Was the message not clear enough? Was it not sufficiently convincing? Are some individuals by nature simply incapable of understanding?
These are ancient questions that go far back into the history of our world, and they have to do with the freedom of our will. The long and short of the matter is simply that we sometimes abuse our freedom in such a way that our "hearing" ceases to function. We decline to hear God because His word is not agreeable to us.
To one of His less-than-receptive audiences Jesus said, "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. . . . I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you" (John 5:39,40,42). Some of these individuals were lifelong experts in the contents of the Scriptures, yet for all their detailed searching of the Scriptures they had not found the correct answers to their questions. They had not really "heard" what they had studied so scrupulously, and Jesus did not mince words as to the reason why: Their intent was not honest.
But before we criticize people who fit this description, we need to ask whether our own hearing is as honest as it needs to be. If we fail to keep ourselves open to God's message and to listen with a real intent to obey, then we will lose the ability to recognize the truth even when it is clearly and convincingly presented to us. "Therefore," said Jesus, "take heed how you hear" (Luke 8:18). |
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lone-traveler
Emperor of the Universe
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 6342
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 11:00 am Post subject: |
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Hi Pastor2022,
good post.
But what does Jesus mean when he says he speaks in parables and to some it is given to hear and others not?
Are only some given ears and others are blocked?
Or are all ears truly open and just choose not to listen?
you wrote:
| Quote: | | Was the message not clear enough? Was it not sufficiently convincing? Are some individuals by nature simply incapable of understanding? |
Mat 13:10 ¶ And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Mat 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Mat 13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Mat 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Mat 13:16 But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 13:17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous [men] have desired to see [those things] which ye see, and have not seen [them]; and to hear [those things] which ye hear, and have not heard [them].
So then the reason why some hear and some do not hear, is for the sake of fulfilling prophecy?
So that the scriptures will be found true?
or not broken?
Was it their fault they didn't hear or see or understand? Or was it so God's word would be established and found to be true?
Thinking about Pharaoh and the hardening of his heart..
It was God's will that Pharaoh wouldn't heed him. And so God hardened Pharaoh's heart to prove through Pharaoh that God was God and not man..
So then if God does things to prove that he has power over everything even our ears and eyes and understanding, then how can we be at fault if it is his will for us to be found faulty?
If someone is led into a pit and falls therein, and God comes and pulls him out of that pit...only to find that it was God that led that one into it in the first place so that man could see that it is God which puts us in the pit and takes us out of the pit...
then how can one be found guilty when they fall in the pit that God set there for him to fall in?
Will God justify that servant for falling in and being plucked out..because he was doing what the Lord planned for him to do?
If those who were not given to understand the parables, all understood the parables..then the prophecy of Esaias would not have been fulfilled. Thus making the prophecy and the scripture bare false witness against itself.
So for God to prove that all prophecy comes from him, then all prophecies must be fulfilled according to how he spoke them.
So then where is any fault found?
Not in God, for surely his prophecy which he spoke came to pass, and so it was proven true.
and how can it be in man, in whom God used to fulfill his truth with?
hugs pastor2022,
you know me..
just thinkin..
hugs
Lone |
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pastor2022
Moderator
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 671
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| Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 2:08 pm Post subject: |
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Hey, sweetie!
I think the answer is found in that during the time Jesus was ministering on earth, people had the opportunity to hear God Himself in human flesh with them. However, they were not interested in the Messiahship that He was offering but in the preconceived idea of a Messiah. That is, they were only interested in what they wanted to hear. I think that is true for a lot of people today. They only want truth that is truth to them. Not necessarily what is the truth.
For us today, we, as Christians, have the Holy Spirit to guide us into truth with the word of God. Yet, then why do so many have so many versions of what that truth is? That is the question that has been asked for 2000 years I guess.
Love ya' sister! |
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atoz
Emperor of the Solar System
Joined: 28 Jun 2007
Posts: 4189
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| Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 5:16 pm Post subject: Re: Ears That Do Not Hear |
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| pastor2022 wrote: |
.....
How do we account for the fact that many do not "hear" the message of God?
.....
Are some individuals by nature simply incapable of understanding?
To one of His less-than-receptive audiences Jesus said, "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. . . . I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you" (John 5:39,40,42).
.....
But before we criticize people who fit this description, we need to ask whether our own hearing is as honest as it needs to be. If we fail to keep ourselves open to God's message and to listen with a real intent to obey, then we will lose the ability to recognize the truth even when it is clearly and convincingly presented to us. "Therefore," said Jesus, "take heed how you hear" (Luke 8:18). |
Great again, P2022!
It's simple:
No man can come to JC nor come to understand JC or come to hear JC or come to have the ears to hear or come to have the eyes to see --until and unless God draws them to JC.
John 6:44.
And HOW does God draw us to JC?
By Love.
Jeremiah 31:3.
So those that do not understand or did not understand did not and do not---only because they were not called by God to understand at that or at this time.
So; 'Father forgive them: they don't know what they are doing.'
Luke 23:34.
And since they were not called to understand about Love, even after scrupulous study, they were were already unwilling and therefore also already incapable of understanding, --- they had to be dishonest in intent of heart: it's automatic.
So when they did disagree with anything JC said, it was double disagreement!
And when they did agree, they did not quite understand what they had agreed to: they were still disagreeable in attitude, they still had that disagreeable attitude of hatred for who God loved.
All of us who still hate the dishonest whom or any word that God loves are in the same boat: since God loves both the honest and the dishonest, Mt 5:44-48,
my first dishonesty in heart,
my first unwillingness to obey,
my first wilfulness to disobey,
my first incapacity to obey,
my first deafness, my first blindness, my first senselessness
is to hate any liar or any word
while at the same time claiming that I honestly love God ONLY as honest or as everything!
1 John 4:20
I can only hear or see or sense HOW God wants me to hear or see or sense,
I can only have the ear to hear or the eye to see or the sense to sense
when I obey God and follow His example and love all words:
for then, no matter what words I hear or see or sense
or no matter who is speaking,
HOW I am hearing what I am hearing
and
HOW I am hearing who I am hearing
is in Love,
is with the ears of Love or with the eyes of Love or with thr Sense of Love.
In the Love for all words which Love automatically makes HOW we hear or see or sense to be In Love,
and auto gives us ears to hear, the eyes to see, the sense to sense what God means no matter when or what or where or how else He speaks, His speech ALWAYS being ONLY in Love, Eph 4:15,
atoz |
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atoz
Emperor of the Solar System
Joined: 28 Jun 2007
Posts: 4189
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| Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 5:20 pm Post subject: |
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| lone-traveler wrote: | Hi Pastor2022,
good post.
But what does Jesus mean when he says he speaks in parables and to some it is given to hear and others not?
Are only some given ears and others are blocked?
Or are all ears truly open and just choose not to listen?
......
hugs pastor2022,
you know me..
just thinkin..
hugs
Lone |
xlnt, LT!
in Love,
atoz |
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lone-traveler
Emperor of the Universe
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 6342
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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sometimes I just don't want to listen..
like when my sshhh...mo in law..comes visitin..
and it's not because I don't love her..just she makes me umm..
so sometimes I just have to:
in love..so I don't get too grumpy..
so sometimes deaf ears can be a blessing in disguise.. 
hugs
lone |
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pastor2022
Moderator
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 671
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| Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 5:58 am Post subject: |
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I can uderstand that, not about MIL as I had the greatest in the world. But my wife's sister and her husband do the same to me. They, thankfully, live about three states away so we only see them maybe twice a year. Funny thing is, she lived with us for four years before she got married but after that, wow! Now, she gets on my wife's nerves and stresses her out and that gets to me BIG time! But I put up with them for the sake of my wife and father-in-law who lives one street over from us. Hang in there sweetie, this too shall pass! |
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lone-traveler
Emperor of the Universe
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 6342
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:17 am Post subject: |
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Hi Pastor2022,
that's the problem..that's all she talks about is "passing on"..you know what I mean?
wills, and how we going to distribute everything, and who's getting the furniture and the dishes..and and..
If it was once in awhile..well, I could handle that. But EVERY WEEKEND.. 
I understand the urge to want to have everything "settled" but that's one subject I have a VERY hard time dealing with.
I lost my mom and my grandmother in 96'. My brother in 99'. I don't see my dad much..we kind of drifted apart and he got a new life..which is good. I'm happy for him.
My daughter livers 1200 miles away and I get to see her now about once every 2-3 years.
So all I really have local is my in-laws. Nothing they wouldn't do for you..and worry.. they call me every other day..you ok? do you need anything? we'll be over tomorrow..
They're in their 70's. and I know they worry about stuff. I worry too, I just don't like talking about it.
So I kind of close my ears and just nod my head up and down ..yup, yup..
And they don't listen either. They keep bringing things over to the house. My hubby and I are trying to do some remodeling and everything is everywhere. So I say, hold on to whatever and when I have a place to put them, then bring them over..k?
NOOOOO.. look what we got for you.. 
I tell ya, sometimes parents are worse than kids.
But I love em, yes I do..they just drive me
coo coo.. 
You have a wonderful Christmas!
Hubby is coming home today..YEEHAW..been a few weeks. And we're just staying home and having a little dinner and just resting..(i hope.. )
I'm debating on whether I'm going to go with him this time or just keep staying home till spring.
I don't like traveling in the winter time, but sometimes sitting home not knowing what's happening on the road is worse.
There was a lot of accidents on the roads yesterday. Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, all across I-40..
and that's how he was heading home. Last night he was leaving texas I-40..I talked to him this morning..I was very relieved..
I hope no one here got caught in any of that. And my prayers to those and the families of those who did.
You ALL be careful during these holiday seasons..
I worry about you. If you can't see the road, then stop driving, take a break till the visibility clears.
Better to have a late christmas than no christmas at all..
All my heart..
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Lone |
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atoz
Emperor of the Solar System
Joined: 28 Jun 2007
Posts: 4189
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| Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:48 am Post subject: |
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| lone-traveler wrote: |
........
so sometimes I just have to:
in love..so I don't get too grumpy..
so sometimes deaf ears can be a blessing in disguise..
hugs
lone |
And LT,
those kind of deaf-ears still hear,
and
that kind of ignoring still pays attention!smile
Like 2 Cor 12:10,
even when we are deaf, we still hear,
and
even when ignoring, we still pay attention!
In the Love that
makes us fuzzy-warm whem cold,
and
makes us still-chill when hot,smile
atoz |
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pastor2022
Moderator
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 671
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| Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 11:29 am Post subject: |
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Lone,
Well we made it to my daughter's house safe and well. LOT'S of traffic on I20 going to Dallas but not too bad once we got on 69 and 380 towards McKinney. Very cold here but otherwise ok. We brought my wife's dad with us for the holidays. He and my wife will stay for another week with my daughter and I will go back this Friday or Saturday and then come back to get them the following week.
I know what you're going through with your in laws. You love them but they sure can get on your last nerve sometimes!
Hope you and your dear hubby have a restful and blessed Christmas. You take care of yourself and remember that I love you. God bless. |
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lone-traveler
Emperor of the Universe
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 6342
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2007 7:27 am Post subject: |
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MERRY CHRISTMAS
Have a wonderful day everyone!!
Hugs
Lone |
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Silver Surfer
King Kong
Joined: 12 Jul 2003
Posts: 2587
Location: Hayden, Idaho, USA
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| Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:30 am Post subject: Re: Ears That Do Not Hear |
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| pastor2022 wrote: | Ears That Do Not Hear
But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears
so that they could not hear. Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to
hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by
His Spirit through the former prophets.
|
Was that not the problem in Noah's time ?
And yet, that problem is to be repeated again, just before Jesus Christ comes again......
Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
The refusing to hear the Law of God, is very commonplace in todays Christian world
The Bible tells us that history, is to be repeated !
God is trying to bring the Christian world back.....into keeping the Law of God, while satan is at WAR against God's Law, convincing the average Christian that total obedience to God's commandments, are not really neccessary to gaining eternal life. |
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