What Have you Been Hearing?

“So then Faith comes by hearing…and hearing by the Word of God” Romans 10:17

My husband gets tickled at me as he watches me grab bits and pieces of conversations all around the room. Problem is I just get bits and pieces. I may hear two or three words, but then if I don’t hear the whole thing I may perceive a whole different story than was actually spoken. Later I might ask him about the $90,000 house to find out that particular conversation revolved around 90 people not $90,000!

There is much to listen to in this world. Even the weather channel no longer deals strictly with weather. You can find politics and other stories if you watch for very long. And when it comes to reporters, even those who are considered conservative will wander over into views that aren’t really that conservative. So much information, only two ears and throw in muffled talk and muted voices and you could make up your own version of most any story.

When it comes to faith, though, we don’t have to take other peoples’ word for the truth. They may be speaking the truth, but for us faith comes by hearing and that hearing should be coming straight from the Word of God. Our best quality of information gathering comes when we go straight to the Word of God for our information.  There are many “channels” of faith talk, but we must always sort through the Word of God for ourselves – straight to the source – to make sure we’ve heard things right.

What have you heard?  Maybe you heard that you are useless, castoff, done for. You may have been given a piece of information that said you don’t fit in, you don’t have the right criteria, you are less than. You may have thought you were hearing correctly when the sentence of judgment came past your ears. Those things don’t feed your faith because they don’t line up with the Word of God. Unless you go straight to the source and find out the truth for yourself, you will be destined to live in the darkness of untruth and half-truth.  Partial information hinders your walk, maims your life and keeps you fettered on the sidelines, unable to break the chains and run free.  

Oh beloved, faith comes by hearing! Hearing the Word of God! Hearing the truth about you! You are not less than, you are more than. You are not beaten down, you are an overcomer.  You can dance free from any chains that seek to bind you by others’ words because you are free in Christ! It doesn’t matter what others say, because it’s not about them. Keep your ears attuned to God’s Word and watch as your faith grows and grows. And when your faith grows your fears subside.  It doesn’t matter what the enemy says, for you don’t have to listen to a word he speaks. He is a liar and the father of all lies. Get that  - the father of, the originator of – all lies. Anything that is spoken about you or over you that doesn’t line up with the Word of God is not a word of faith. You may need to repeat the Word out loud over the lies that come your way or the half-truths that threaten to derail your faith, but lies cannot stand in the presence of Truth.

Every Word of God holds true. The more you hear the truth, the stronger your faith will be. The stronger your faith is, the better your hearing becomes. Eventually you will begin to cast out the things you hear in the background as you discern the difference. God loves you and that’s the truth, backed by the Word of God, and He’s for you – which is another truth backed by the Word, so that you can live with clear hearing and strong faith and that’s what God has for you all the days of your life.

Luke 11:28 Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.

Matthew 4:4 But He replied, It has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

Psalm 119:89 Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.

John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

Psalm 119:38 Establish Your word to Your servant, As that which produces reverence for You.

Psalm 138:2 I will bow down toward Your holy temple And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name.

You ARE On a Need To Know Basis!

Kids are so inquisitive. They seem to pick up on the very things you try to talk about in private. Their ears perk up more on the quiet whispers between adults than anything else. Ask them to clean their room, close the door, turn down the music or do their homework and they’re often oblivious.




I can remember asking my own parents for more information and mother hushing me. I can remember my ow...n kids inquiring and telling them never mind. I often remember hearing people say and may have used the phrase myself, “You’re on a need to know basis and you don’t need to know!”



Unlike kids, who don’t really need to know everything, believers are on a need to know basis and they do need to know everything! They need to know the Word of God, so they can live not just exist. With the entire counsel of the Word of God, children of the Heavenly King know how to live, how to manage, how to fight and how to win. Not only that, they need to know desperately what it means to be a child of God and just what all is available to them as His children.



Believers need to know that the entire Word of God is true. We need to know that the council of God is right for their life. We need to know that the precepts of the Lord are pure and that they will enlighten the eyes of our understanding. We need to know that the ways of the Lord are right and will keep us walking close to Him. We need to know that the Love of God is always available to us, along with His mercy, grace, and peace. We need to know that we receive our strength from waiting on the Lord.



We need to know how to walk in blessings, how to live in security and how to shine the light of the Gospel for others to see. We need to know that every single Word of God is written so that we may be strong and invincible, victorious over our enemies.



Oh beloved, what do you need to know this morning? What are you wrangling with? What have you heard? You may have gotten a bad report, been told wrong information and become discouraged, disappointed, fearful or worried. Those feelings are not from the Word. God tells you this morning that regardless of your circumstances, which are always temporary, He has a plan for your life and it is wonderful. His plan was settled for you before the foundation of the world so that when you could not see beyond your troubles you could rest on His Word and delight in Him no matter what. Run to His Word, read it all and live by it for that will bring you the Truth in the midst of a perverse generation that knows nothing about the Bible and lives in exact opposition to it.



God will always help you. He will either help you out or help you through. Regardless of your circumstances God is with you. His Word is His bond and you need to know this day, He loves you and He’s for you and that’s the most important thing you will ever know.



Psalm 119:89 Your eternal word, O LORD, stands firm in heaven.



Psalm 119:45 And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts.



Psalm 19:8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.



Philippians 2:15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,



Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to Him for protection.



John 8:32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free



John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.