DO YOU HEAR?
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” —Rev. 2:7
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ” (1:1) is addressed to “the seven churches which are in Asia,” seven representative churches of that time. Each church is addressed and evaluated by name in chapters two and three, and each of the seven addresses conclude with a plea and a promise. The promise varies from church to church, but the plea is identical in each case: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” And it is important to note that while the addresses are presented to the church in general, the appeal is made to individuals within the church. As with preaching today, the message goes out to everyone in the assembly, but it must be heard and heeded individually. Given a sound message, its impact will be made only if someone is listening.
The messenger here is the Holy Spirit of God. No greater preacher ever addressed the church. And what is true of this message (to the church of Ephesus) is true of the whole Word of God to the church in general, throughout the ages of church history. We are instructed through the apostle Paul that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works [II Tim 3:16-17].” And through the apostle Peter that “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost [II Peter 1:20-21].” Wherever the word of God is preached, however gifted the speaker may or may not be, the Spirit of God has something to say to the church. When the Bible speaks, God speaks!
The implication here is that not all in the “churches” are going to hear what is really being said. “He that hath an ear, let him hear…” Certainly all the members of the church had “ears.” But not all had hearing ears. The problem is reflected in the best of churches, to say nothing of the world at large. God is speaking, but not all are listening. Jesus said of His congregation on one occasion, “…this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them [Matt. 13:15].”
God’s ultimate message to the world and the church is His Son. This is confirmed in the first chapter of Hebrews: “God, Who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son…” More precisely the ASV renders the last clause, “In His Son.” When Christ the Savior came, He brought a message. On the occasion of His transfiguration “there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him [Mt. 17:5].” That is important, and Jesus said often, in conjunction with His teaching, “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” But larger even than the message He spoke is the message He is.
If you want to know what God is like, watch Jesus Christ. He said, “He that hath seen Me hath seen the father.” If you want to understand holiness, watch the Lord Jesus. He Himself said, “I do always those things that please [the Father.]” Pilate, the Roman governor said three times during His trial, “I find no fault in Him.” (See John 18:38, 19:4, 19:6) If you want to know the price and power of sin, behold Christ on the cross where He became “sin for us.” The price of sin is seen in His suffering and death, and the awful power of sin is revealed in His anguished cry, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” The message? Sin brings eternal anguish and eventuates in separation from God. If you want to know the power of God’s deliverance, witness the resurrection of the Son of God and His eventual return to the right hand of the Majesty on high. He is the message!
Here, if I may so speak reverently, is God’s great audio-visual of the gospel. It is not a sermon to be delivered in abbreviated form on Sunday morning, then hid between the covers for the next seven days. It is a Life to be received by faith and lived out “twenty-four seven times three sixty five” through those who “have ears to hear.” It is not a creed to be recited, but a great drama to be displayed on the stage of life for all to hear and see, so they may understand the Message of God; and this in the church, which is His body. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches!” Do you have an ear for God!?
For His glory and our good,
"Pastor" Frasier
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