Faith (part 2)

Hearing Is Essential

This is a principle and key element in the spiritual life and a walk of faith. We must “hear” what God says about something first in order to believe and then subsequently receive those things we are believing for. Look with me in the book of Acts.

Acts 10:3-6 (NKJV)
³ About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!” ⁴ And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. ⁵ Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. ⁶ He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”

Acts 11:13-14 (NKJV)
¹³ And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, ¹⁴ who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’

This angel appeared to Cornelius and told him what to do. Notice the detail that the angel gave to Cornelius…

• Send-don’t go yourself
• Men- not women, not boys
• Simon-specific person
• Surname Peter
• Lodging – not a permanent residence
• Simon-specific person
• A tanner- not a blacksmith, or jeweler etc..
• House is by the sea- not in the middle of town
• He will tell you what to do-speak words to you

Here is a question for you…If the angel gave all this specific detail to Cornelius, why didn’t the angel just tell Cornelius himself what he must do. Simon was just going to tell Cornelius words. Why didn’t the angel tell him the words? The angel was already telling Cornelius words. Are some words different than other words?

When someone tells you something, they are using words to tell you. That may sound simplistic but it just the reality. When someone talks or says something, what they are doing is using words to communicate the ideas and thoughts that they have so that others can hear and understand. In order to understand one must first hear the words. This is what Paul said in Romans 10:14.

Romans 10:14 (NKJV)
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?

He lays out the progression of faith here. First there is preaching or speaking words, then hearing- the words spoken, then believing- those same spoken words, and then calling on the Lord. How can anyone call on the Lord or use their faith, if they don’t first believe and how can they believe if they don’t first hear, and how can they hear if no one speaks. It all comes down to words, words, words. Words are important.