ALWAYS LOOK PAST THE SURFACE

It is essential for a Christian to engage his spiritual mind (the mind of Christ) when reading or listening to a word from God. In fact, we should be expecting God to show us light and speak to our hearts at all times and in all situations.


God's truths are spiritually understood. Don't just read, read with your heart. Don't just listen, listen with your heart. This is true whether it is teaching, preaching, personal witness, exhortation, correction, reproof, edification (training in righteousness) or music.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
(16)  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
(17)  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Look for the enlightenment of God. Listen for the voice of God. It takes time to be holy. It takes concentration to be spiritual. It takes dedication to grow in grace.

1 Corinthians 2:5-13
(5)  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
(6)  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to naught:
(7)  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
(8)  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
(9)  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
(10)  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God.
(11)  For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God.
(12)  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
(13)  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

As a pastor, I know that most people never get a real grasp of what I try to communicate, because they are not listening with their hearts. However, God not only wants people to get the message He is sending through the messenger, He wants the hearers to hear beyond what messenger says.

Matthew 13:15-16
(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.
(16)  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Matthew 13:43
(43)  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Acts 28:26-27
(26)  Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
(27)  For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Launch Out and Hold Fast,
Pastor David L. Gould