Barnabas Bulletin ~ 0185
SEEING AND HEARING IN THE SPIRIT
The Christian life is dependent upon our being able to receive revelation by the Holy Spirit of Who Jesus is. Jesus can only be truly known by the Holy Spirit revealing Him to us. In John’s Gospel Chapter One we see how John the Baptist, Andrew, Simon Peter, Philip and Nathanael all received revelation of Jesus. It came about as Jesus ministered through seeing and speaking to them by the Spirit. He gave them words of knowledge of who they were, etc.
John the Baptist did not know Jesus until he saw the Holy Spirit as a dove descending upon Jesus. This was not seen by natural eyes. And in seeing Jesus with the eye of the Spirit he knew Who Jesus was and is. John then declared: “And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God” (v. 34). When Jesus saw and met people for the first time He spoke revelation of who they were into their lives. This so impacted them that they received a revelation of Jesus and then knew Who He was in their midst. This kind of seeing and hearing by the Spirit impacted and changed their lives. Andrew found his brother, Simon Peter, and exclaimed: “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). The result was that Simon Peter was brought to Jesus. On his very first meeting with Jesus, Simon receives a revelation word from Jesus: “You are Simon the son of Jonah (John).You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone) (v.42).
The same principle was applied when Jesus found Philip. Just two words, “Follow Me” from Jesus to Philip did something within Philip that he went and found Nathanael and exclaimed: “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote ~ Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (v. 45).
The conversation between Jesus and Nathanael reveals to us the importance of our seeing and hearing Jesus. Again, on His first meeting with Nathanael, Jesus gave him a word of knowledge as to the condition of Nathanael’s heart. Nathanael was so impacted by that, that he exclaimed: “How do You know me?” Jesus replied and gave him more revelation knowledge that amazed Nathanael. The effect was that Nathanael suddenly realized Who Jesus was (and is). Jesus went on to tell him that if he continued to believe, then he would “see greater things than these . . . most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man” (v. 51).
The same happened in John 4 when Jesus spoke to the woman at the well. He gave her a word of knowledge about her life and marriages that she was instantly changed and became an evangelist. It brought about the salvation of her whole village!
It is important for us to realize that we do not receive the things of God through the natural mind. The natural, logical way of thinking cannot comprehend the things of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 2). Jesus taught: “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). It is a totally different way of receiving the right kind of knowledge. From Genesis to Revelation the Bible is all about what we see and hear in the Spirit. The voice of God to us reveals the truth of God and His purposes for our lives ~ both for now in the present, and for our future. That is why it is essential that we hear the voice of God. Jesus said His sheep hear and know His voice (John 10). Jesus spoke these words to us: “the sheep hear His voice; and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. And when He brings out His own sheep, He goes before them; and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice” . . . “I am the Good Shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own” . . . “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (v. 3-4, 14, 27).
THE WORD OF THE LORD IS RIGHT!
It is so important that we heed the words and voice of Jesus. He is “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6) and whatever He speaks is the very truth. He desires to speak with every one of us, so do not make excuses. Cultivate a listening ear so you can receive all that He has for you. I am so glad that I first heard the voice of God at 17 years of age; then at 18 He spoke to me and gave me the call of God for my life. I have been walking in those principles that He spoke to me way back there ever since. The result is that today we are touching multiplied thousands of lives around the world with the Message that Jesus gave me. I have proven many times over that “the word of the Lord is right” (Psalm 33:4).
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Jesus is still speaking today, and desires that every Holy Spirit-filled believer in Jesus Christ knows the experience personally of hearing His voice.
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If we do not recognize how and when God speaks to us, how will we know His will for our lives?
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Let us encourage one another to cultivate a greater sensitivity to the voice of God, for it is vital that we are hearing Him in this day.
I have been reminded again of this Scripture: “Son of man, look with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and fix your mind (“set your heart”) on everything I show you; for you were brought here so that I might show them to you. Declare to the house of Israel everything you see” (Ezekiel 40:4 & 44:5).
The effectiveness of all Christian Ministry is directly related to how much we are able to “see and hear and know” by the Holy Spirit “the things that God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9-12). It comes from personal relationship with the Living Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. What a challenge we all have to listen more to Him; but what a privilege to know those things that are “freely given to us of God”. Be encouraged to be open for all that God has for you in this hour. Jesus says: “Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:36-37). We are always the better for having heard personally from God! Amen. God bless you abundantly.
Bible Reading: Psalm 29 Revelation 1
Prayer: “Dear Lord, I come to You in the Mighty and Powerful Name of Jesus Christ, asking that You will help me to be much more sensitive to Your voice. Please help me to have those ‘eyes to see and ears to hear’ what You are speaking today. I want Your will to be done in my life; and I realize that I can only truly fulfil Your will in my life as I listen to Your voice and see Your plans and purposes for me. Thank You, Lord, for hearing my prayer. In Jesus’ Name I pray these things, Amen.”
The Gospel Faith Messenger Ministry, New Zealand. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.