“Then He said to them, “’Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him’” (Mark 4:24-25).
Jesus calls us to carefully monitor what we really hear. This obviously includes gossip, profanity, slander and negativity; but this command is more about hearing the positive than it is about abstaining from the negative. We are given an invitation here into a type of hearing that causes radical increase into our lives. We are told that if we hear the right things, more will be given to us. However, if we fail to hear, then we will suffer loss of that which we already have. This is powerful and sobering to consider indeed.
Let’s look at another verse about the kind of hearing that is catalytic to our future and to the furtherance of God’s Kingdom. “Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him” (Luke 8:18). Jesus moves beyond discussing the contents of what we hear. He now tells us to develop a method to carefully hear. He says that it is not enough to simply hear something, but we must really hear it.
There are three things to conclude from the passages we are considering. First, we need to develop the habit of hearing the right things. Second, we must find a way to have an abundance of these words coming into our ears. Third, we need to develop the custom of hearing these words in an extraordinary manner – which is what would be termed as the hearing of faith.
The amount of our future resources is tied to our hearing. “With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given” (Mark 4:24). Here are some suggestions for increasing remarkable hearing (the hearing of faith):
Speak out loud God’s promises and make declarations of truth morning and evening (and throughout the day).
Take time to imagine these promises and declarations as true. “See” victory before it happens. This is one aspect of this higher level of hearing.
Remember recent prayers prayed (and declarations made). Verbally and specifically thank God for what He is doing in each thing prayed about or declared.
Know that every positive word heard is a seed of unlimited potential. Determine to be good soil for these seeds through enthusiasm, agreement, personally receiving the word and by proclaiming later the key words heard and received.
Ask God for revelation on what the hearing of faith is.
I urge you to reread and meditate on suggestion number four above. There is a gold mine in it if you can see it. Indeed, there are things being spoken around you right now that must be grabbed hold of. They might be nuggets spoken by a child or non- Christian. Or they could be new thoughts or dreams that you are muttering over yourself.
Start right now to allow the Holy Spirit to develop a high level of hearing in you. It is a key to where you are going.