Messianic Good News

06/08/2020

Is there only one event in the New Testament spoken of as 'the end'? i.e. the end of the mortal age? Or does the New Testament speak distinctly and predict more immediately the end of the Old Covenant era, and of Israel under that Covenant?
If prophecy describes two ends and we read them as one, we are waiting for events that have long passed, and may misinterpret present-day phenomena either as serving Divine purpose or as a portend of imagined things to come. We may also place ourselves incorrectly on the time-line of history and fail to discern the Lord's voice and burden for us now. Blinded by misguided expectations, we may even promote 'the lie' or inadvertently support the very forces that are bent on our destruction. In this part 3 of a series: "Is this the end?" Kevin Daly examines the meaning of the destruction of the temple:

To the Jews were given, ‘the adoption as sons … the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised’ (Rom. 9: 4-5). For the one and ...

30/07/2020

Will the Lord Jesus come back to the mortal earth to reign here for a thousand years before we enter eternity? How will the glorified Christ whom the apostle John could not even bear to look at, live once more in the midst of sinners and be humiliated and defeated by a universal uprising at the end of that period? This is the first part of study of the most important Scriptures with a view to honing our discernment and fostering uniformity in our understanding of God's revealed plan and purpose in these unsettling times. Some will find the subject matter, approach and interpretation familiar; others will be exposed to these for the first time; yet others will find them in conflict with views they have long held and cherished. May the good Lord who prayed above all for the unity of his saints bring about a convergence of understanding at this critical hour - http://www.messianicgoodnews.org/satan-bound-for-a-thousand-years/

06/06/2020

Tribute to Peter Cohen
22/06/1956 - 23/05/2020

It is customary among the Jews to append the letters Z”L to the names of their departed righteous teachers. The letters stand for “zichrono li’vracha, ” which in English means “of blessed memory”.

This morning I pay tribute to Peter Cohen z”l – of blessed memory.

Read full tribute -

http://www.messianicgoodnews.org/tribute-to-peter-cohen/

14/02/2020

In spite of the irony of the above photo, (people retaliating with a sling and stones, reminding us of David against the giant), for what it is worth, I dedicate this article to those vulnerable, pacifist Palestinian Christians who are indeed betrayed by bigoted, racist, Zionists, who are on the off...

13/03/2019

Dear Friends of MGN,

Just another reminder that I have founded a new ministry with more of a global focus (than the present specialised focus of MGN).

I am hoping that this new ministry will enable, encourage and stimulate lively interaction and participation.

I welcome comments, suggestions, questions, recommendations to deal with particular topics - and yes, even friendly debate.

The ministry is quite broadly based upon Ephesians chapter 2:15-16
God's purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two (Jew and Gentile), thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

The ministry is called: The New Humanity Project.

Please visit the web site at: www.thenewhumanityproject.org and subscribe to my Blog.

I look forward to interacting with you and request that you share the links to the web site and specifically to the Blog articles with your contacts and friends.

May the Lord give to us spiritual wisdom and understanding and depth of knowledge in Jesus Christ our Saviour and King.

Yours in Christ
Peter Cohen

God's purpose was to create in the Messiah one new humanity out of Jew and Gentile, thus making peace. Read more... Subscribe Your Email Address Your Email Address

11/02/2019

Dear friends of Messianic Good News,

I have been one of the directors of MGN for the last 20 years or so.
I believe the Lord is guiding me to broaden my focus with a more global vision.

Towards this end, I am forming a new ministry which I will gradually be launching over the next few weeks, it is called, THE NEW HUMANITY PROJECT.

God's purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility (Ephesians 2:15).

We are being called to the obedience that comes from faithfulness to the King of kings (Romans 1:5). We are called out darkness into his wonderful light to be ONE holy nation, under God's sovereign rule through faithfulness to Jesus our King (see 1 Peter 2:9).

The New Humanity Project is a collective initiative requiring the faithful obedience of all Christians, so please join this ministry project as we humbly submit to the Holy Spirit who will make Jesus' prayer into a reality (see John chapter 17) - that we may be one, just as He and the Father are one.

Please email me at this email address (and copy it to your contacts list):

[email protected]

Please visit the new website, which is starting out small and simple, but you will be able to participate and watch it grow from its launch. Save it and bookmark it. (Please email me and in due course I will arrange a subscriber list for blogs etc. as I have several encouraging, challenging, informative articles lined up.)

www.thenewhumanityproject.org

Please pray for this project to grow. Pray for the unity of Christ's Church that we may speak as one people with one voice.

You are invited to join the Project and to become actively involved.

Yours in Christ
Peter Cohen

11/10/2017

The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) BY PETER COHEN

The feast of tabernacles is rich with symbolism for believers in Jesus the Messiah. It speaks to us of the past, the present and the future – of the past because it recalls our deliverance from slavery; of the present – because it reminds us that we are sojourners; and of the future – because it foreshadows the celebration of the great spiritual harvest at the end of the age.

The feast of tabernacles is rich with symbolism for believers in Jesus the Messiah. It speaks to us of the past, the present and the future – of the past because it recalls our deliverance from slavery; of the present – because it reminds us that we are sojourners; and of the future – because it for...

22/09/2017

ROSH HASHANA By Peter Cohen

Rosh Hashana literally means head of the year. The Biblical designation of this feast that is celebrated as the start of the new year is Yom Teru’ah (Day of trumpets):

“On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets” (Numbers 29:1).

One would normally expect to celebrate the start of the new year at the beginning of the first month of the year. Why then is Rosh Hashana celebrated at the start of the seventh month of the Jewish year? The seventh month was considered more sacred than all the other months, partly because of its significance as the sabbatical month in which the great feasts of Yom Kippur and Sukkot occurred and partly because it marked the commencement of the civil year 1. (Jewish sources maintain that the distinction between the ‘civil’ new year and the ‘sacred’ new year dates from Moses, but others have suggested that it only dates from the return from Babylon).

The seventh month is thus both the end of the sacred calendar and the start of civil year, but let us reflect on the words of King Solomon concerning our endless toil and striving to live holy lives: ‘What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end’ (Eccles. 3:9-11).

Only when we come to realize how all the feasts of Israel have been fulfilled in the Messiah, can we begin to fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Jesus said, “I am the beginning and the end” (Revelation 22:13). In Him we learn the spiritual significance illustrated in the ancient feasts of Israel which prophetically foreshadowed what the Lord intended to accomplish from beginning to end through Christ our Redeemer.

The Scriptures tell us quite clearly that the first month of the year is Nisan, the month in which the Israelites were delivered out of Egypt and in which the Passover is celebrated:‘The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, “This month (Nisan or Abib – which means Spring) is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year”’ (literally the head month of the year).

Jesus represents the Lamb of God whose sacrificial death sets us free from sin (John 1:29), fulfilling the meaning of Passover. By faith in him we receive the Holy Spirit and the Law that is written upon our hearts – the fulfilment of Shavuot (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:26). He fulfilled the prophetic meaning of the feast of trumpets, warning the people of pending judgement and calling the people to repentance, and he became the scapegoat to bear our sins – by shedding his own blood he atoned for the sins of the whole world – thus fulfilling Yom Kippur (Leviticus 23:27 and 17:11). He tabernacled among his people, fulfilling the prophetic meaning of Sukkot (John 1:14). Each one of the feasts typified and pointed to the spiritual reality that is revealed in Jesus our Messiah.

The first month Aviv (Spring), (which figuratively represents the beginning of new life), commemorates our deliverance from bo***ge to sin in this world. Unless we have been set free from our slavery to sin (which leads to death), the atonement in the seventh month has no permanent value and we remain trapped in the endless cycle that the continual sacrifices of the Old Covenant represented – a constant reminder of our bo***ge to sin (Hebrews 10:3) and of the fact that effective redemption could only be accomplished through the Messiah. Jesus is both our Deliverer and our final atonement. The Messiah is the Prophet like Moses who delivers his people from bo***ge to sin (Deut. 18:18), but he is also the end of the Law for all who believe.

If we celebrate the feasts according to tradition without understanding how they typified God’s redemption through the Messiah we still cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. If we fail to respond to the blast of the shofar on the Day of Trumpets (Yom Teru’ah) – figuratively speaking of the call us to awaken from our slumber and repent of our sins – we remain dead in our sins. We are trapped in an endless cycle and never enter God’s rest. Like the first generation of Israelites who were delivered from bo***ge in Egypt, no sooner have we experienced the mighty power of God to deliver us from sin than we begin to grumble and crave the things that enslaved us (Exodus 16:3).

We may begin the new year with all sorts of good intentions but unless we have been set free by the Deliverer we remain enslaved to our old sinful way of life, without the atonement for sin through the shedding of blood as required by the Torah (cf. Lev. 17:11). We strive in vain to attain righteousness by observing the Law, but unless the Lord writes his Law upon our hearts, as he promised to do through the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:33), we will forever be toiling in vain to attain everlasting righteousness.

Jesus the Redeemer sets us free from slavery to sin. His death was the final atonement for sin. Only through faith in him is the endless cycle broken and we find rest for our souls. The Rabbis continue to heap heavy burdens on the people (cf. Matt. 23:4), striving to achieve their redemption through good works, but everlasting righteousness comes only through faith in the Messiah. In his wisdom Solomon said, “I have seen the burden God has laid on men…”. But Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).

This is the true Sabbath rest planned for the people of God in which we rest from our own works and enter God’s rest (Heb. 4:9). Figuratively, it represents the eighth day, the end of the cycle and the new day of salvation that the Lord has made (Psalm 118:24). This is the day of the Messiah in which we receive eternal life through the final atonement. ‘Therefore, if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!’ (2 Corinthians 5:17). This is what we endeavour to proclaim – the Good News of Jesus the Messiah!

At the end of Jacob’s hard toil he blessed Joseph in the name of the angel who had redeemed him from evil (Gen. 48:16). It is only through the Revelation of Jesus the Messiah that we may ever fathom what God has done from beginning to end. It is only through him that we may have eternal life. Jesus prayed,
“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

May you enter His rest and may your name be inscribed in the Book of Life through faith in Jesus the Redeemer of Israel!

Footnotes:
1. A. Edersheim – “The Temple – its Ministry and Services as they were at the time of Christ”.

07/06/2017

DYING WITH THE INVISIBLE GOD
by Peter Cohen

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies, and the one who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25)

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death (1 Corinthians 15:20-25).

When God created man and put him in the Garden of Eden he gave him this command; “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die” (Genesis 2:16-17). However, the deceiver downplayed the real threat of death by suggesting to Eve, “You will not certainly die,” (Genesis 3:4).

After man sinned and death became a reality, the deceiver took mankind captive through their fear of death. Yet to this day, sinners still often try to ignore the death sentence that hangs over their heads.

Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them (Romans 1:32).

Jesus came to break the stronghold of death over humanity.
Since the children have flesh and blood, Jesus too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil — 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death (Hebrews 2:14-15).

The truth is that people are already dead in their sins and transgressions in that they are cut off from fellowship with the living God. Only through faith in Jesus, by which we are counted as having died to sin, are we set free and reconciled to God.

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:5-11).

While most people cling to this sinful life in the flesh, they might actually long to die if they could perceive the unimaginable glory that awaits those who have died in Christ. However, it was revealed to the apostle John that when man’s frustration and suffering in this fallen world reaches an unbearable peak, quite mysteriously people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them (Revelation 9:6)
If people are not able to die then nor will they be able to be raised from the dead to new life in Christ. It can be compared to a caterpillar who refuses to give up its life as a caterpillar by spinning a cocoon: it would not be transformed into a butterfly but would die as a worm. Either we count ourselves as having died with Christ, which sets us free from sin and raises us to new life, or we die in our sins and remain cut off from the Lord for eternity.

Jesus said, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins” (John 8:23-24)

The gospel is foolishness to the minds of unbelievers but it is the glorious truth that sets the believers free from sin. What is man, O Lord, that you are mindful of him? We are as a worm. But in Christ though we die yet shall we live and be raised in glory. From the womb, to the tomb - and from the tomb to glory, we will never be shamed and never die again, for through faith in Jesus we have seen the invisible God, we walk with him - and we die with him through his death on our behalf.

For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living (Romans 14:7-8).

His great strength is indeed made perfect in our weakness. God is not a man that he should lie. But God became a man that he should die. He lowered himself and became like a worthless worm to die for our sins. He, who is the exalted King of glory, endured the mocking of evil men and gladly went to the cross naked and humiliated to bear our sins. Are we prepared to live for him who died for us? Are we prepared to die for him who lives for us at the Father’s Right Hand?
Mockers sneered at him while he hung on the cross, dying for their sin: “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the king of Israel! If he comes down now from the cross, we will believe in him! He trusts in God – let God, if he wants to, deliver him now because he said, ‘I am God’s Son’!” (Matthew 27:42)

If it was up to sinners, they would refuse to die. Jesus prayed for the cup of his suffering to be removed if possible but he learned obedience through suffering and was obedient even to that of dying on the cross. The one criminal while dying on the cross next to Jesus, admitted his own guilt and that he was deserving of the sentence of death. If we don’t die to sin - through faith in Christ - then neither can we be raised to new life by the Holy Spirit. Are we prepared to take up our crosses, to know him, to see him as he really is in his glory, to walk with him as Enoch did - and to die with him as Peter eventually did?
Those who try to find their lives in this world - and who cling to their miserable sinful lives, will lose their lives in the world to come. But those who take up their cross and demonstrate genuine faith in which they are prepared to die with Christ are already counted as having died with him and they will be spared the second death - and will be raised to eternal life and their bodies will be transformed into his glorious, immortal body.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bo***ge to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God (Romans 8:18-21).

Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him (2 Timothy 2:11-12).

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants (Psalm 116:15).

Indeed, the death of the righteous is precious in God’s sight. But the one who tries to exalt himself and justify his sinful life, will be brought down low in death and will be put to shame. Be exalted my God and Saviour.

31/05/2017

WALKING WITH THE INVISIBLE GOD

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:8-9).

Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away (Genesis 5:24).

We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. (1 John 2:3-7).

Although we inhabit a physical body through which we express ourselves, our speech and gestures are controlled by our thoughts which originate within our minds. It is extremely complex how thoughts form and are lodged in our minds before they can be expressed through actions and speech. (Not everyone is rational - and not everyone acts in harmony with the truth).

However, as Christians we may offer our minds and bodies to be fully possessed by the invisible God through His Spirit – so that His thoughts and desires become our own. We can learn to renew our minds with the knowledge of the word of God, which includes taking our own thoughts captive as a discipline of bringing our minds under the control of the Holy Spirit rather than the spirit of the age in which we live.

Jesus gave them this answer:"Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. (John 5:19).

Is it conceivable that we, like Jesus, may eventually say that we only do that which has been inspired by our invisible Father in heaven – in other words, that we only do that which we see our Father in heaven doing? Or, to put it another way, we only do that which we perceive to be the perfect, pleasing will of God, trusting that he has prepared specific good works for us to do in his name in the confident knowledge that he perfectly equips us to do his will. It is only our own neglect, that stands in the way.

Such perfect obedience is desirable but is it really possible? Is such obedience something that we can really attain through discipline and obedience? Can we really completely surrender our own will and mind to the Holy Spirit who lives in us? Of course there will be many teachers who would not like to set such a lofty goal which they perceive to be too high and unattainable either for themselves or for those whom they presume to instruct in the way of holiness. The reluctance to pursue perfect holiness is perhaps because it may lead to discouragement and despair since we are prone to become so easily entangled in sin. A creature that is born into - and accustomed to - captivity, is not easily set free. Those who frequently stumble and give in to temptation may prefer to settle for mediocrity and compromise than to pursue a life of holiness and faithful obedience, excusing themselves on the grounds that we are all only human and that we remain sinners “saved by grace”. However, the more we realize our human weakness, the more we begin to trust in the power of the Holy Spirit working within us.

“I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” (Ezekiel 36:27).

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law… 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-25).

I will suggest that even our stumbling may be the very thing that provides learning and discipline for us as we grow in the knowledge of our Saviour and learn to keep in step with his Spirit. He disciplines those whom he loves and if we are loved by him, we will learn to respond quickly to his discipline which is intended to produce righteousness in us. The accuser, who accuses God’s children night and day, will always try to convince us that to live a holy life is impossible while we live in this body of flesh.

But if we are led by the Holy Spirit then it means that we are already walking on the perfect path of righteousness – so perfect that he will even use our weakness and stumbling to work even more perfectly for his good and purpose – because our own weakness will also keep us from becoming proud and self-righteous, so that in turn, we show patience and grace with others who are also learning to keep in step with the Spirit.

Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time (Daniel 11:35).

The only absolute obstacle on the path of holiness would be our own stubborn or slothful disobedience, our own neglect, our own unwillingness to repent and get up whenever we may stumble. We are assured that in all things, God will work for the good of those who are called according to his purpose and who humbly obey him.

We often think that there are other hurdles in the way and that it is all the external hindrances that get in our way, but God makes a straight path and calls us to walk on it. Jesus said his burden is light and his yoke is easy. The trials we may face are not obstacles, on the contrary, they are designed to bring us to maturity. God is sovereign and in perfect control of all of our circumstances. We may think that the distance is just too far to go- but how far could ever be too far when the goal is eternal life and glory in Christ? And death is not the end of the road, on the contrary, it is the gateway to immortality and greater glory. To live is Christ and to die is gain – so we are assured that we cannot lose the fight of faith.

24/05/2017

HEARING THE INVISIBLE GOD

This cartoon illustrates in a humorous way a prevalent condition of many in the church whose minds are so conformed to the pattern of the world and so preoccupied with an information overload that it blocks out the still, quiet voice of the Lord. It requires a spiritual discipline to be able to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.

I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants— but let them not turn to folly (Psalm 85:8).

For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain (2 Peter 1:16-18).

How do we hear the inaudible voice of the invisible God? How do we train our spiritual ear to hear what the Spirit is saying? Our minds are bombarded with so much information, much of it trivial and meaningless - and even much which is evil and misleading. How does God speak and how can we hear?

Perhaps the biggest obstacle is that many people are carnal-minded do not really want to hear the Lord speak because their sinful lives are at enmity with his Spirit. They pretend to seek God but they only want to know him as a benefactor who will remove all their hardships and grant them success and prosperity.

For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them (Isaiah 58:2).

The people of Israel were often inclined to listen to false prophets who would say exactly what they wanted to hear rather than the truth that the Lord was trying to tell them. Long before the coming of the Messiah the Lord spoke through the prophet Isaiah of how the people would be inclined to harden their hearts so that they would not (and could not) hear God speaking to them through Jesus the Messiah.

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” 9 He said, “Go and tell this people: ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ 10 Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed” (Isaiah 6:9-10).

Even among those who have come to believe in Jesus, the apostle Paul prophesied that many would depart from the truth and sound teaching. When people harden their hearts through compromise with sin and the unbelieving world it is impossible to remain faithful and to hear the Lord.

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

The evidence that people are genuinely hearing and listening to God with humble, penitent hearts is when they heed the word of Jesus the Messiah through whom God is calling people out of darkness and religious pretense into the light and the truth.

The disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” 11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it” (Matthew 13:10-16).

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? (Hebrews 2:1-3).

So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. 10 That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ 11 So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’” 12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness (Hebrews 3:7-13).

As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” 16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief (Hebrews 3:15-19).

Who were they who heard and rebelled? Many people, like King Saul, delude themselves into thinking that they do hear the Lord and that they also respond in faithfulness, when in fact they are so reckless in their self-confidence, pride and self-righteousness that they do not respond in true faithfulness, but in presumption. They may indeed be hearers of the word but they are not doers of the word. Genuine faithfulness is proven through obedience in response to the word of God.

We must see to it that we do not have a sinful unbelieving heart like those who, although delivered from their slavery in Egypt, yet did not believe the good news by combining it with faithfulness and they perished in the desert without entering the Promised Land.

Listen to the Lord and you will draw near to Jesus. The gospel message is a two-edged sword bringing both salvation and condemnation - salvation to those who believe and eventual condemnation to those who hear but still stubbornly refuse to believe.

The Lord said through Moses that when the Messiah comes he will speak the very words of God after which the people would be held accountable for their unbelief. Neglectful ignorance of the truth is not innocence - many people choose not to listen and not to hear. After God raised Jesus from the dead and the gospel has been proclaimed throughout the world all people are without excuse.

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” 32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject” (Acts 17:30-32).

Jesus said, “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason’” (John 15:22-25).

God has spoken through Jesus Christ - and all people will be held accountable. Therefore, we must listen, hear and respond in repentance and obedience.

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe (Hebrews 1:1-2).

Those who hear and obey are also called to be faithful ambassadors of Jesus Christ, therefore, let us not add to the meaningless noise and confusion in this world by uttering idle words, but let us be still, hear from God and speak according to his word. God still speaks through his faithful, redeemed people who are the light of the world.

Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me” (Luke 10:16).

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this:Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:19-22).

Jesus said, “Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God” (John 8:47).

Jesus’ words have the power to impart eternal life and to raise the dead: “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live” (John 5:24-25).

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will sn**ch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27).

God hides himself from the proud, arrogant and sinful minded people who choose to remain in darkness and who deliberately block their ears to his word. They are the kind who will easily be led astray by false prophets who presume to speak in the Name of the Lord. But whoever confesses their sins and seeks God in humility - will intuitively hear God speaking to them and they will be drawn to Jesus through whom they will find life and be set free from sin and death. As Jesus said, “It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.” (John 6:45-51).

When the LORD spoke to the people at Mount Sinai they were overcome with fear and asked that God would not speak directly to them again but rather to speak through Moses as a mediator. “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die” (Exodus 20:18-19).

And Moses told the people how God would speak to them through the Messiah, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. 16 For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, ‘Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.’ 17 The Lord said to me: ‘What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. 19 I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name (Deuteronomy 18:15-19).

God again spoke audibly when he told the people to listen to his Word spoken through Jesus his son.

Jesus took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.) 34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen (Luke 9:28-36).

On another occasion, shortly before the crucifixion, God, the Father, spoke in an audible voice testifying to the glory he had given to Jesus, who is the very Word of God among us in the flesh:

Jesus said, “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 27 Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. 30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die (John 12:25-33).

Although Jesus the Messiah came at the appointed time, fulfilling all the prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah, many Jews who reject him, still claim that they are waiting for the Messiah to come. The fact that they have missed his coming is evidence of God’s judgment against them - they have failed to believe in him on account of self-righteousness and national and religious pride even though they have been scattered throughout the world.

When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” 4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see:5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me” (Matthew 11:3-6).

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” 16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. 18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world” (Romans 10:14-18).

We have an awesome responsibility to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many may hear the good news, but not all listen and obey and combine it with the faithfulness it requires and offers.

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed (Hebrews 4:1-2).

(Some translations say, “because they did not combine the message with faith”. In other words, as James taught, they did not demonstrate genuine faith by responding with obedient actions.)

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Revelation 2:7).
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Revelation 2:11).
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Revelation 2:17).
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Revelation 2:29).