Are You Listening

I was troubled in my spirit because, over the years, I had been hearing of many who were leaving their church. My question to “The Church” then became: Are You Listening (part 1).

 More specifically…

 

I had heard of many people who were dealing with very serious issues in their personal lives and when they had reached out for help they were; (amongst many things said)…quoted some scripture verses, and/ or told to go listen to a specific message; but the people that they tried to reach out to didn’t seem as if they really cared or seemed inconvenienced. It didn’t seem to them that anyone had time for them. These people left their church feeling very unloved and still dealing with their situations; and had not received their answers, nor the help that they so desperately sought for.…and so began earnestly praying and seeking The Lord about this.

The Lord answered my prayer concerning this particular question Sunday morning @ 10:30 am ~ January 31, 2016; while sitting in church.

What He gave me was an instant download of not just this Word; but He went on to reveal, expound and explain it, in greater detail.
In simple terms…

There are those who: have answers within themselves.

Those answers are there because they understand Him and have gotten to know His ways. How He thinks and feels about a matter; also what He would say and do in a particular matter or situation. They hear His voice and have learned how to listen and be Spirit led, and because they have spent time in His Word and with Him; they have  trained to hear His Words. They’ve learned how to receive answers not just for themselves; but if they will allow God to use them to hear and know for others; thereby speaking into another person’s life.

These are the ones He called “stronger than others”.

• 2Ti 2:15 KJV
  (15) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
  
• (Col 3:16 KJV) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Then there are those: who are asking questions and seeking help from others.

Sometimes they have no idea what their answer is, or maybe they do, but need confirmation, encouragement, understanding and / or someone to clarify what it is they think their answer is. However, the people whom they did reach out to; were too quick to offer out “pat” answers, and little else; in the area of real help and answers were being offered.

These quick “pat” answers He said, “Were scripture verses / and or advice given; but that “the wrong scripture verses used and / or wrong answers were given for that persons particular situation”. The person who was listening to the one seeking help or advice didn’t wait and check in with Him and see what HE had to say about their particular situation; therefore the ones seeking help were leaving offended, hurt, grieved, lonely and feeling unloved. This was due to feeling like no one wanted to take the time to sincerely help them find their answers that they were searching for. They were searching for someone who would take the time needed to: listen, give TRUTH, Godly counsel / advice, encouragement, pray with and /or agree with them in prayer.

This does not excuse them from still being responsible before God for doing their own praying, studying and searching the scriptures out for themselves and their own answers from The Holy Spirit. EVERYONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WORKING OUT THEIR OWN SALVATION! However, we all at some point in our lives have needed help and have sought the advice of others.

• Pro 15:23 KJV A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
  
• (Pro 18:4 KJV) The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
  
• (Pro 18:14 KJV) The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
• (Pro 18:19 KJV) A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

So, Are You Listening

You see…With His Stripes ye are healed (Isa 53:5) is a scripture verse and is true; let the weak say I am strong (Joel 3:10) is also in The Word and is a scripture verse; but knowing how to answer someone and what specific answer someone needs, is where Gods people have been in error. Because what you said to them or scripture you quoted to them; may not be the scripture verse or answer that God wants you to say to them.

(Heb 4:12 AMP) For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

What will be your answer

Each individual person knows what they are thinking and feeling and what is in their heart. The only way for a person to be shown another one’s heart; what they are truly thinking and feeling is; if, THE HOLY SPIRIT reveals it to them. This is because, God is the ONLY one who truly knows what that person needs!!!

Therefore, The Word / scriptures is the answer, but listening to the Holy Spirit, just means that you are listening to Him on what He wants you to say or do for them and allowing the gifts to be used as His Spirit wills. This is what connects our faith and their faith to receive the desired outcome; which is what The Word says about it. Many of His Children will not take the time to be THAT help and allow the Holy Spirit time to speak to them when someone comes to them for THIS help.

1Co 2:10-13 AMP
(10) Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man’s scrutiny].
(11) For what person perceives (knows and understands) what passes through a man’s thoughts except the man’s own spirit within him? Just so no one discerns (comes to know and comprehend) the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

So I challenge you today…ARE YOU LISTENING to what the Holy Spirit has to say???  Much Love and Prayers Carol Helmick