Why don't we hear.

Why don't we hear may well be titled why don't we listen.

First, what we should hear.
John 8:47 John 10:27 18:37b

John 8:29b Jesus speaking, "...for I always do those things that please Him." I think we get so lost in the have to do's that we forget it's not about commandments, it's about a covenant that He made with us, like marriage is supposed to be a covenant, not a contract, and we enter into this covenant with God because we love Him, because he first loved us. So we do what we do not out of obligation, but out of love we want to do everything to please Him. So if we're not starting out with that, we're off on the wrong foot already.
8:31b & 32 " If you abide (Literal meaning to continue in a permanent state, because He doesn't want us up and down, in and out He wants us by His side at all times, because He knows the enemy) in My word, you are my disciples indeed. "And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
Jesus states it pretty plainly, there's no way to hear what the Father has for each of us unless we're abiding, listening, and believing, all through Jesus and what He did for us, and "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow after Me." (Luke 9:23)
Reasons we don't hear?
John 8:34b "...whoever commits a sin is a slave of sin." And notice He doesn't say is a slave to that sin, but simply a slave to sin. Sin wants to take root and grow, sin isn't happy to just take a little and be settled, it must have more and more until it gets all of us, and then we find ourselves hardening our hearts and not hearing Him any more, but it usually happens a little bit at a time, compromise by compromise.
There's two fathers, if Christ abides in us, He is our Father, if He does not abide in us, the devil is our father. John 8:37-58
Good news in verse 36; " Therefore if the Son makes you free you shall be free indeed." Then Jesus in verse 37b says of those who want to kill Him, they that don't know Him "because My word has no place in you." Then 38 defines the different voices, and who's father we are; " I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father." And in 41; "You do the deeds of your father." They claim their father is God, but Jesus replies in verse 42; "If God were your father you would love me." In 43; " Why do you not understand My speech" Because you are not able to listen to My word." 44: "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do." 45; "Because I tell you the truth you do not believe me." 47; "He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God."
That's it, if we're not of Him, we won't hear Him, and if we are abiding in Him, we will hear Him, because we are His sheep, and we will not listen to the voice of a stranger. (John 10)
John 10:1-5 The good shepherd comes in and leads His sheep and the sheep hear His voice; and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. And when He brings out His own sheep, He goes before them; and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.
Verse 9 says; "I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved..."
The devil only comes to kill, steal and destroy, but He has come to give life, and that they might have it more abundantly! Which father do we want to serve?
I love verse 16b of chapter 10, "and there will be one flock and one shepherd."
That's what I want to see, One Shepherd, the Good Shepherd, and one flock, that wonderful Body of Christ, that one that only listens to the voice of the Father! Wouldn't that be wonderful to see!

In all our ways let us know Him!

The word Acknowledge here in verse 6 is yada, it means to know...we must in all our ways know Him, so he can guide our ways, direct our path, so that His Word can be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, in Jesus name!

1 My son, do not forget my law,
But let your heart keep my commands;
2 For length of days and long life
And peace they will add to you.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 And so find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct[a] your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh,[b]
And strength[c] to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor detest His correction;
12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding;
14 For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,
And her gain than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand,
In her left hand riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who retain her.
19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth;
By understanding He established the heavens;
20 By His knowledge the depths were broken up,
And clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes—
Keep sound wisdom and discretion;
22 So they will be life to your soul
And grace to your neck.
23 Then you will walk safely in your way,
And your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror,
Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 For the LORD will be your confidence,
And will keep your foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,

“ Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor,
For he dwells by you for safety’s sake.
30 Do not strive with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy the oppressor,
And choose none of his ways;
32 For the perverse person is an abomination to the LORD,
But His secret counsel is with the upright.
33 The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the home of the just.
34 Surely He scorns the scornful,
But gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise shall inherit glory,
But shame shall be the legacy of fools.

The Word of God, walking in it!

Matthew 4

Satan Tempts Jesus

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”[a]
5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:


‘ He shall give His angels charge over you,’
and,


‘ In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”[b]

7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’”[c]
8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you,[d] Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”[e]
11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

And James 1:14 & 15 14: "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death."

It's sad, really sad, but He plainly says; "Man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." and "You shall not tempt the Lord your God." and lastly; "You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only you shall serve."
These are clear commands, and yet I've broken each one. These are ways out of temptation, and yet I feed my own flesh anyway, and then I'm led away as James says, "Enticed by my own desires." "Lord forgive me for not following Your words, forgive me for giving into my own flesh and so being led away, from You, from Your sweetness. You are so kind, and yet I let my flesh lead me instead of Your sweet Holy Spirit. Why do I replace your Spirit with another, please forgive me, cleanse me, let me live again in Your Spirit. Let me serve You only.
Jesus I give my self to You.
In Jesus Name," Amen.

In all our ways may we acknowledge You!

When we play in the flesh, or walk in the flesh, we are changing who God made us to be. Our flesh is never satisfied, it always wants more. We trade the natural for the un natural, we trade God's truth for a lie. We in effect give up what God has for us, and trade it in on our fleshly escapade. "Lord, help us not trade in Your truth for a lie. Let us not ignore Your Spirit when it tells us to stop. Let us in all our ways acknowledge You, so You can direct our paths. Those paths of righteousness that we are called to walk in for Your namesake. Let us be pleasing to You in our speech, thoughts and actions. Let us not leave Your Spirit behind in any way, in Jesus name, amen. "

Defend the cause of the weak

Verse of the day today: Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
Psalm 82:3-4
Oh Lord let us live this scripture, in Jesus name. Who else should we defend, oh Lord, save us, in Jesus name, amen.

Hanging on His every Word

We've heard the phrase hanging on His every Word, but we've never really applied it to God, until now! "Lord help me to hang on Your every Word. Every Word you speak, every Word You write, The Words You speak, let me hear, and follow, and obey." Imagine if we obeyed every Word He spoke, and imagine if we wanted too!
I woke up with a vision this morning of us hanging on every word of the Lord, and it looked like ledges build onto a hillside. The ledges jetted out, and you could walk on them and ascend. "Lord let us ascend, let us ascend to Your throne, The Throne of Glory, we want to dwell with You, we want to abide with You, spend our whole lives and every moment hanging on Your Words!
In Jesus name!
AMEN!

Outside the camp

Lepers were kept outside the camp, Jesus was crucified outside the camp. Some Christians today feel like the only place for them is outside the camp. The camp is the Body, a holy place that is this Body of Christ. Together being equipped by Christ to do the wonderful things He has equipped us to do. He alone is wise, He alone is God! God never intended us to be outside the camp, He wants us to be One even as He and the Father are One, that's what He intended! That's what He wants us to be, and who He made us to be. He is coming back for a bride without spot or wrinkle, and He is able to do this. Yes Lord, do this thing, please, in Jesus name.