Hearing and Listening to the Word of God

Hearing and Listening to the Word of God

Weekly, Christians gather to hear the word of God read, taught, and preached (well, at least they ought to desire to attend weekly worship!). But, do they hear? Do they listen? Have they been taught how to hear and listen? Or, more importantly, do they know how to prepare themselves to hear and listen to the very words of the Living God? What follows are some suggestions for believers in order to prepare themselves to listen to and hear the word of God.

Weekly Preparation

The importance of preparation before coming to church must not be overlooked. It would benefit believers to prepare throughout the week to hear from God and not merely on Sundays or when they walk into the church. Begin by praying for your pastor (and teachers) throughout the week (Rom. 15:30-32; 2 Thess. 3:1) Ask the Lord to bless him and illumine his heart and mind so that he may bring God's word to God's people. Pray for the growth and understanding of your pastor. Pray that your pastor remain faithful to the word of God and that God would strengthen him against attacks, discouragement, apathy, and depression.

Prepare Physically

You, the hearer, must also prepare yourself physically to hear from God. Be well rested so that you may be attentive to the preaching of the word. Pray for yourself that the Lord may grant you alertness and the ability to hear and understand the word of God. You may also prepare by lessening your routine on Sunday mornings by making preparations for the church the night before. You may prepare food and clothes ahead of time to avoid being rushed in the morning. This saved time then could be used to pray and focus upon the Lord.

Prepare Personally

Next, believers may prepare by being excited and expecting to hear from God through his word. Anticipate hearing from God. Pray that you will be challenged, convicted, and changed. Pray for clarity of thought, the removal of distractions, and peace of mind so that you can focus on the word of God and not the cares of this world. Be prepared to be confronted by the living God.

Prepare Spiritually

Listeners expecting to hear form God through the preaching and teaching of his word must repent and confess known sin. This restores fellowship between God and the believer. Believers may also pray for purity of heart and the illumination of the Spirit in order to not only hear, but to also understand and apply.

Pay Attention

To listen and hear effectively, do not look around. Focus intently on the preacher and his message. Do not engage in idle or worldly conversations before the service. This takes the focus off of the Lord and is terribly distracting and irreverent. Be a good steward of the short amount of time that you are blessed with to sit under the word. Take advantage of the gift that you have to hear the word proclaimed. Do not take this for granted. Another suggestion is to take notes. This will enhance your listening skills and study.

After the Service

The service may only last for an hour, but the time that you have afterward is much greater and could prove very profitable if used rightly. Reflect on what was said. Read and reread the passage of Scripture that was preached and read any notes that were taken. Discuss the sermon with family members or a friend. Pray that the Lord will apply his truth to your heart. Finally, make it a point to think about the sermon throughout the week. Do not hear it and forget it.

Search the Scriptures

After the service and sometime during the following week, read and study the text further. Read other passages that relate to the one that was preached. Compare the sermon with the word of God. Make sure that the pastor is handling the word accurately. This is not judgmental or even negative. No, listener, you are responsible before God. So, take notice of what is being spoken from the pulpit. Seek to apply the truth of God to your heart and life. Or, better yet, seek to apply your life to the truth of God.

Sadly, we are no longer good listeners. We are a visual people. That is to our detriment. We need, no we must become listeners again! We must train ourselves, prepare ourselves to hear and listen. Christians have got to ignore distractions and hang on every word that proceeds from the mouth of our great and glorious God. This is a discipline. Disciplines are not easy. They take hard work and effort. But, we serve a powerful God and by his grace and for his glory he can transform us and mold us into good listeners. Oh Lord, give your people ears to hear!