“For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13, NAS)
In a recent message, Gary Hargrave used this scripture and what really stood out to me is that there are two things that need to happen when we hear a Word. First, we need to get over the barrier of receiving a Word through a human vessel, and second we also have to believe in that word for it to work in us.
If I don’t receive the Word as a true Word from God, and if I don’t believe it—and by “believe it” I mean that I actually have to do something with the word I just heard—it is as if nothing actually happened!
“For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. ” (Hebrews 4:2, NAS)
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