Chapter 55. How We Ought to Hear the Word
Chapter 55.
How We Ought to Hear the Word Use 1.
Since God and Christ speak to us in the ministry of the Word, let us come with different thoughts to hear it than we have done before. I recall mentioning earlier that the Word cannot be effective until we recognise the voice of Christ in it, as with Samuel. I will provide another text to illustrate the profound effect it can have on the hearts of men and women if they come to hear the preaching of the Word as the voice of God and Christ. This is found in Acts 10:33. There, you will see that Cornelius had sent for Peter to come to him immediately: Therefore I sent to thee, and thou hast well done that thou art come; now therefore are we all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
Here is a gracious disposition of heart in Cornelius, a soldier, and other soldiers and friends he had gathered. As soon as Peter arrived,
Cornelius said, "We are all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God, and we all will accept whatever you reveal to us from God as the Word of God." With such reverence and affection, they attended as though they were eager to understand the mind of God. This encouraged Peter, and when people behave with such reverence, it greatly encourages any preacher.
And then, as soon as Peter finished his sermon—or even before he had completed it—the text says in verse 44 that while Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all them which heard the Word. No wonder, as they came with such a disposition of heart! We are all here to know and hear what is commanded of God. With this
frame of spirit, the Holy Spirit fell on those who heard the Word, and the same will happen with you if you come with such a heart.
When you are alone before you come, say, "Oh Lord! That you would speak to my heart," just as it is written in Isaiah 2. There is an excellent speech for those who are about to hear, in Isaiah 2:2. It prophesies about the times of the Gospel and presents a noble resolution, an excellent attitude for people about to hear sermons:
Come ye, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord; to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.
"We are all here to hear what God will say to us." Whenever any truth is made known to you, you should receive it with such affection:
"God has revealed something of His mind to me today that I did not understand before." And when you hear of any sin being revealed, you should bless God and say, "The Lord has confronted my heart today." Think of it not as an evil but as a blessing that Christ would consider you.
If there is an exhortation to any duty, consider that God and Jesus Christ have exhorted you this day. You should regard it as though
God and Christ have been persuading and exhorting you. And if there is any word of comfort or promise applied to you, you should accept it as if God and Jesus Christ have spoken that word of comfort to your heart today. Oh! If you would come with such a disposition to receive everything from God and Jesus Christ, then you may expect the Holy Spirit to fall upon you.
No wonder that when people come out of habit, merely because others come, or for some other vain reason, they leave without feeling any work of the Holy Spirit. But those who come with teachable hearts may expect that the Holy Spirit will come and fall