The Importance of Hearing the Word of God

By Harold Bigham

    The initial step in obeying God’s plan of salvation is to hear the Word of God. Hearing an instruction is logical in any area of life whether on the job, in school or in service to God. Before one can follow through a certain task, he must be told what the task is. Likewise, God through his Word has instructed man what to do to be saved through the medium of preaching. The alien sinner hears the Word and then makes a decision to obey it or to be in rebellion to it. Today there is mass confusion toward how God instructs man in regard to salvation. Some falsely teach a “Direct Operation of the Holy Spirit” upon the heart of a sinner while others state “an Angel told me” or “God spoke to me,” thereby eliminating the need of hearing God’s Word. Let us not be the type of hearers like those who stoned Stephen in Acts 7:54 or hearers like the Pharisees in John 12:36-43. God commands that we “Hear and observe to do it” (Deuteronomy 6:3). The kind of hearing that God approves has the attitude, “Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.” Samuel (1 Samuel 3:9-10) and Noah (Genesis 6:13-22; 7:5) are great examples of the right kind of hearers.

    Why is hearing the Word of God so important? Why is it critical to hear “Right” and not hear “Wrong”? Let us notice some important facts about hearing the Word of God.

    1. We must be careful who we hear. We must hear Christ. “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matthew 17:5). He has complete authority in spiritual matters. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18-20). We hear Christ through his Word. He, through the inspired writers of the New Testament, has instructed man specifically what to do to obey him. We are not to hear the commandments of men. “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:8-9). We are governed by the New Testament today. We are not under the Old Testament as a source of authority.

    2. We must be careful how we hear. Not all hearers are the same and not all hearers are obedient. Note the four kinds of hearers in the Parable of the Sower.

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:11-15)

We as hearers of God’s Word have a responsibility to test what we have heard. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

    3. We must understand that hearing is a must in order to be saved.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 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? 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:13-17)

The Eunuch did not fully understand what he was reading and desired Philip that he would sit with him and explain the Scripture to him. Philip taught the Eunuch, and the Eunuch heard and obeyed the Gospel (Acts 8:26-39).

    4. We must understand that Hearing only will not save us. It must be combined with action.

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” (James 1:22-25).

 We are not to be forgetful in our hearing. When we hear the Word of God and build upon what we have heard, then we are wise builders.

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27)

    Friend, hear and obey the Gospel of Christ today!