Hear your way to a New Season!

INTRODUCTION

Do you know it is God’s will for you to prosper? God wants you to prosper in your marriage, in the way you raise your children, your health, your business God wants you to prosper in every area of your life, but if we want to prosper we need to know God’s way of prospering us. How does God prosper us? The Bible tells us in 3 John 2:

3John 1:2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

To prosper the first thing you need to know is that you are God’s Beloved. Do you know what beloved means?

Agapētos: Thayer Definition: 1) beloved, esteemed (God has set value on you, to prize; to set a high value on; favorable opinion of you, dear, favorite, worthy of love), favorite, worthy of love. This is how God sees you

Ephesians 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved

We are made acceptable to God and we are placed in the beloved. God could have said, we are made acceptable in Christ, but He said, acceptable in the beloved because He wants us to know we are beloved. Why is this important to know you are the beloved? When Jesus was baptized the Bible tells us, the heavens opened and God the Father said:

Luke 3:22“You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased

Straight after that amazing moment Jesus goes into the wilderness and the devil tries to tempt him by saying:

Luke 4:3 “If You are the Son of God…”  The devil wanted Jesus to question the love of God. God just told Him, you are my beloved Son, and the devil says to him, if you are the son of God… Do you see the devil dropped the word, beloved? The devil dropped the beloved, because he knows if he reminds you that you are the beloved, whatever he brings against you can’t succeed. When you know you are God’s beloved, son or daughter nothing can stop you. You are not God’s beloved because of what you do, or did. Jesus already did everything. He is God’s beloved, but God put us in Him, God put us in Christ. We are in Christ, when we are born again and that is why we are accepted in the beloved. We don’t boast but we know that it is not because we do everything right but it is God’s grace that has made us accepted in the Beloved. And what God said to Jesus He is saying to us today: ‘’this is my beloved Son, my beloved daughter in you I am well pleased.’’ You are God’s beloved.

Studies have shown that every child has a heart cry for their father’s approval. Something happens when a father says to his boy, “Daddy is so proud of you.” Or when a father says to his girl: “You will always be Daddy’s favorite girl.”

God the Father showed His approval of His Son —

Matthew 3:17 “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased

Now, you may think that God would naturally say that of Jesus, but not of us. The truth is that Jesus came for us and as us. He died for us and as us. He was our substitute. He received the approval of the Father for us and as us. He came as our representative, and that is God’s Word says that we are “accepted in the Beloved”! God wants us to know that we are His beloved and that He is well pleased with us. God sees us as His beloved because He has made us accepted in the Beloved. He wants us to wake up everyday knowing that we are His beloved, that we are unconditionally loved and that God approves of us. The more we know how much we are loved and treasured by God, the more we can expect good things to happen in our lives. Because we are His beloved we can expect to be healthy and whole. When we realize that we are the objects of God’s love, instead of becoming easily frightened or threatened by anything or anyone, we become confident that we will win every fight of life. That is how our heavenly Father wants us to live. So because of what Jesus did on the cross of Calvary we can live today confident that we are God’s beloved! You are God’s beloved. 3 John 2 then says because you are beloved, I pray, you prosper, in ALL things. Not some things but in ALL things. Most of the confusion about prosperity and abundance comes because people don’t understand and define prosperity from a Biblical perspective. Critics often say watch out for that “health and wealth gospel” all they are focused only on material blessings. Firstly, there is no such thing as the ‘health and wealth gospel’. There is only one Gospel, it is the Gospel of grace and peace, but the gospel RESULTS in health, wealth and peace! Wherever the gospel goes, society has improved – prosperity reigns. This is God’s will for all believers: that we prosper in ALL things! So the misconception is that people think prosperity is all about believing God for a big house or a Mercedes. God’s prosperity includes a financial blessing but that is only a small part of what the abundant life is all about. God wants to provide His children with abundance financially, but the Lord wants to bless us with good health…strong relationships…peace of mind…victory over addictions…and an intimate relationship with Him. God wants to bless us in every possible way: in our spirit, soul, and body…in our finances, marriages, children, health, and spiritual lives. So prosperity is so much more than just things, it is being prosperous in every area of your life and it is God’s will that you prosper.  So know today that you are God’s beloved, know today that God wants you to prosper in every area of your life. Is that not good news? Pastor if that is true then why are we not prospering Pastor? Good question I am glad you asked. The Bible tells us; we prosper AS, in accordance to, in line with, with the measure of the prosperity of your soul. So the big question is. Is your Soul Prospering? Only as your soul prospers will you experience prosperity in your health, in your marriage, your children, your work, your finances and every area of your life. Your soul needs to prosper. Today many people hear the Word of God, and yet they have no benefit from it. This means it is possible to hear that God wants you to prosper but it seems it is not useful to you, and it doesn’t change you. Many of God’s children hear what Jesus did for us on the cross of Calvary but they do not walk in any of the blessings that He has paid for us to enjoy.  Why is that? Let’s see what God’s Word says:

 

TEXT

Hebrews 4:1-3(NKJV) the Promise of Rest¹Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. ² For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them,[a] not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.³ For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’”[b]although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

 

TEXT VERSE

Hebrews 4:2 ² For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them,[a] not being mixed with faith in those who heard it

This passage tells us there was an entire generation of Israel, who heard the Good News, they heard that God was bringing them into a land where they would drink from wells they did not dig, they would eat from vineyards they did not plant, and live in houses they did not build. They were on the brink of entering the land, but they failed to enter the land because the Bible tells us: the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it

So last week I told you, Pastor Michael said that 2018 is a New Season for us. I believe that. It is a New Season, but whether we possess the promise of a New Season depends on whether we mix the promise with faith in God or not. Once again everything that we receive from God is by Faith. We are saved by Grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). We are healed by faith in the Name of Jesus (Acts 3:16), Jesus Christ our Lord said to many people who were healed, your faith has made you well (Mark 5:34, 10:52, Luke 17:19) In fact the Bible tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6)

 

HOW FAITH COMES

Maybe you’re thinking, Pastor I hear you, I need Faith. What if I don’t have faith? Well firstly, don’t stay without faith or simply complain:’’ Pastor I don’t have faith’’ The Bible clearly tells us, how faith comes:

Romans 10:17 NKJV So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

If you study the Word ‘’God’’ here, you will see that it is translated from the Greek Word ‘’ Christos, meaning Christ.

Romans (ESV) 10:17 so faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

In other words, faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ. Faith doesn’t come when we hear about the law; it doesn’t come when we hear a list of do’s or don’ts that we have to fulfill, or if we hear of how we have fallen short of the laws perfect requirements. Faith comes when we talk about the person and work of our Lord Jesus. Faith comes when we hear despite knowing that we have failed, we hear that we can still receive the abundance of Grace and Gift of Righteousness through Jesus and when we start to live the victorious life.

Romans 5:17  For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

Jesus is the author and the finisher of our faith.

Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,

We don’t try to get faith, by focusing on faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing- hearing and hearing and hearing and hearing the Word of Christ. God wants us to focus on hearing! How do we keep hearing the Word of Christ? In the context of this verse (Romans 10:17) it is not talking to us about God Speaking to us in our hearts personally.

Rom 10:14 how then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

Do you see that? The Bible makes it clear that faith comes by hearing a preacher who brings the word of Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:21 for after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

It says it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Save: Sozo: Means to ‘’ save, heal, preserve, rescue. God’s method seems so simple and foolish, and yet this is how God chose for us to receive His blessings and miracles. A preacher simply preaches the Gospel of Grace and the result is this: People are saved. They are sozo’d, they are healed, preserved, rescued. We preach Jesus and faith is imparted as people listen. We preach the power of the cross, and people are healed from there afflictions.They are set free from anxiety, attacks and rescued from addictions that has bound them- all this happens as the Word goes forth!It is no wonder, people followed Jesus everywhere to hear Him.

Luke 5:15  However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.

They came to hear and then be healed. That is the blueprint of God. We hear teaching and preaching and we are healed. The Bible tells us:

Matthew 4:23  And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

Beloved, it doesn’t matter what your affliction is or what challenge is tormenting you, they all have to bow before the Name of Jesus because He is:

Ephesians 1:21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

As we keep hearing preaching about our Lord Jesus get ready for your miracle to happen.

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF HEARING

You see the importance of coming to church and hearing the Word of God preached, and to buy messages and keep listening to sermons being preached? We don’t realize what the Word preached does in our lives. Let me say to you this morning, if you do not have the habit of listening to sermons, you have been robbed. God has given us such a simple and powerful way of receiving His blessings, if we don’t make use of it we are allowing ourselves to be robbed. The good news is it is never too late to start. We can ask God for something that Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived asked for.

1 Kings 3:9 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

Solomon asked God for an understanding heart. In the Hebrew he asked God for a ‘’shama’’ or ‘’hearing heart, a heart that listens. Solomon didn’t ask for health, he didn’t ask for wealth, he asked for a hearing heart, a heart that listens, and this pleased God so much that He even gave Solomon what he didn’t ask for: ‘’ riches and honor’’

1 Kings 3:13 And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days.

When we ask God for a hearing heart, a heart that listens to His Word being preached, He will not only give us a wise and a hearing heart, but so much more. Our Lord Jesus also emphasized the importance of hearing. Jesus said many times: ‘’He who has ears to hear, let him hear!’’(Matthew 11:15, 13:9, Mark 4:9, Luke 14:35) In the book of Luke we also saw how Jesus went to the house of Mary and Martha, Martha complained about her sister to Jesus because she was working so hard and Mary was just sitting at her feet, listening, hearing the Word preached and taught by Jesus. Listen to what Jesus said to her:

Luke 10:41⁴¹And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. ⁴² But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

When we do the ‘’ one thing’’ that is needful, we will not be like Martha-worried and troubled about many things. But what was the one thing that Mary chose?

Luke 10:39 AMP She had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was continually listening to His teaching.

What was Mary doing? She was hearing and hearing the Lord’s teaching. Faith comes by hearing (present tense) not by having heard (past tense). This brings us back to Hebrews 4:2: Why did the Israelites fail to enter into the Promised Land? We saw how they word they heard was not mixed with faith, it also says notice the word ‘’heard’’ in the past tense. It is not enough to have heard. We need to be hearing, and hearing and hearing- present tense, continuous tense. If you are wondering why you are not getting (present continuous tense) healing, blessings, miracles and deliverances, may I say to you that you might not have been hearing and hearing and hearing (the present, continuous tense) the Word of Christ? If you feel like you don’t have faith for the breakthroughs for the New Season that you desperately need, it is not too late. Start hearing sermons that are full of Jesus and I promise you Faith will come! Don’t miss church, buy the cd’s listen to the Word and faith will come. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that because you have heard a few sermons about God’s Grace you know all about it. It is not enough to HAVE heard. We need to listen over and over again. Each time you hear, you will get fresh revelations. As you hear your faith is being built because the Word is food for their faith. Just like you cannot live on the memory of what you ate last week, and you have to keep eating, food for your faith comes by hearing and hearing. If a sermon speaks to you get it, and listen to it again and again. The more you listen to it, the more you meditate on it, the more you get out of it. You will miss things if you only listen to a sermon once.

 

UNDERSTAND HOW THE ENEMY OPERATES

Would you like to see how the devil operates when it comes to the Word of God and faith? In the Parable of the Sower, Our Lord Jesus tells us what happens when we hear the message preached.

Mark 4:14, 15 ¹⁴ the sower sows the word.¹⁵ and these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.

You see the Bible says: Immediately. The moment a person hears the Word of God, Satan comes immediately to take away the Word of God that was sown. Satan does not want God’s Word to stay in our hearts for even a day, because he knows how powerful the seeds of God’s Word are once they take root. As long as the Word does not take root, look what happens when trials come our way:

Mark 4:17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.

That is why the Bible tells us to fight the good fight of faith. The fight is not against Satan directly but it is the fight to believe what God has given us. We fight to walk by faith and not by sight. When we are in faith the devil is defeated. Every temptation to get us into stress and worry is the devils attempt to knock us from our place of faith in Christ. Fear causes us to focus on all the problems we can see, all around us, we hear of problems in the News, problems in our lives, and problems at work. Faith helps us to focus on what God sees, faith sees beyond the bad news, beyond the physical symptoms, or any giant that is in front of us. The Word of God tells us that:

2 Corinthians 4:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Can you see the negative financial report; can you see the troubling situation in your marriage or the sickness in your body? I have good news for you, it is temporal. Anything we see is temporal. The Word which we cannot see is eternal, that’s why, when the devil attacks us we need to fight back with

Ephesians 6:17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

If you are battling with anxiety or the doctors have diagnosed you with a paralyzing condition, it is not enough to have heard:’’ By His stripes we are healed’’ If you are going through a financial difficulty or your business is struggling to stay afloat; it is not enough to have heard:

Proverbs 10:22 the blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.

We need to keep hearing and hearing until His promises take root in our hearts, and when that happens:

Mark 4:20 NLT ²⁰ And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

When we hear by faith and the word takes root there will be a harvest!

 

HOW TO KEEP HEARING

It doesn’t matter what your area of need may be, if your mind is weighed down by worries and cares, the best thing you can do is to saturate yourself with God’s Word. Keep on hearing and hearing. When you drive to hear listen to a sermon on your car radio, when you have lunch, while you are eating listen to a sermon being preached, make time to listen to sermons about Jesus. There is something powerful and anointed about the preached word. Whether we are Pastors, business people, lawyers, homemakers we need to be daily washed by the Water from God’s Word. It is a fight to make time daily because we all have distractions and demands pulling on us. But when you settle in your heart, ONE THING IS NEEDED, you will make sure you prioritize your time with Him. As we take the time to wait on Him we will see what happens:

Isaiah 40:31 but those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

As you take the time to listen and wait on the Lord, He will renew your strength and cause you to run and not be weary, to walk and not faint!

 

GOD WORKS MIRACLES BY THE HEARING OF FAITH

Maybe you think how is it possible to receive a miracle just by listening?

Galatians 3:2, 5 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—⁵ Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Supplies in verse 5 in the Greek are continuously ongoing. In other Words, He who is constantly supplying you the Holy Spirit and constantly working miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith? Wow what a thought. Everyday God is constantly supplying us with the Holy Spirit and constantly working miracles among us- not by the Works of the law, our own efforts, but by the hearing of faith. It may seem simple but God works miracles by the hearing of faith. God is constantly supplying us with miracles, our part is to let Go, listen to His Word and let the supply flow.

 

CLOSING

Perhaps you are thinking simply hearing can’t help me, my situation is hopeless. There was a man in Lystra whose situation looked hopeless. The Bible says he was a cripple from his mother’s womb. He might have even given up hope of ever being able to walk, since the bible tells us:

Acts 14:8 and in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked.

But do you know what happened? Listen to this hear this:

Acts 14:9, 10 this man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.

Paul and Barnabas were preaching the Gospel and the man heard Paul Speaking. This man didn’t just hear once, the tense there is imperfect tense, this means he was a habitual hearer of Paul’s preaching, and heard continually the preaching of the Gospel. He kept on hearing and hearing, and hearing and hearing, and hearing and hearing. He kept on hearing and one day, as he was listening to Paul, Paul saw that he had faith to be healed, he has such faith that Paul said to him, stand up straight to your feet, and the man immediately got up. In an instant this man received his miracle, in fact the man didn’t just stand, he leaped and he walked! We all want to be at Acts 14:10 where the miracle happens, we want to be at the place where the sickness and disease is no more, the tumor is gone; the debt is paid, but let’s take a step back. How did the man have faith to be healed?

Romans 10:17 Faith comes by hearing and hearing and hearing…We don’t know how the man continually listened to the word preached, all we know is he kept on hearing. So if you have not received your breakthrough yet, it is time to keep hearing until your heart is full of faith. No matter what situation you may be facing, there is a miracle for you with your name on it. And it will come to you as you keep on hearing the Word of Christ. So hear your way to a New Season, hear your way to being prosperous.