BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

Continued from page 8 Fish came from all over the Sea of Galilee, jumped into that rotten net, and it broke. Peter had to signal for his fishing partners to bring another boat and some more nets to haul in the catch. Although the fishing trip ended in success despite Peter’s unbelief and disobedience, he personally didn’t catch a single fish. Instead, he ended up falling down at Jesus’ knees and saying, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (verse 8). Apparently, Peter learned his lesson that day because the next time Jesus told him to go fishing, he listened. He didn’t argue at all, even though the second fishing plan Jesus came up with was more outlandish than the first. It involved fishing with an unbaited hook instead of a net, and getting tax money out of a fish’s mouth. (See Matthew 17:27.) That might have sounded preposterous to anyone else, but Peter didn’t care. He inclined his ear and believed what Jesus said. In Mark 4:24, Jesus encourages us all to follow that example. He says, “Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.” In other words, if you want to hear (and keep on hearing) what God is saying to you, instead of measuring it with doubt, measure it with faith. Instead of saying, “Yeah, but...,” say “Yes, LORD, I’m listening and I believe!” Eat Right and Keep Practicing “But sometimes I can’t tell if it’s really God I’m hearing, or if it’s just me and my own thoughts,” you might say. Then sharpen up your spirit by practicing your listening skills. Make it a part of your daily routine, especially as you’re reading The WORD, to draw your attention to what’s going on in your inner man. Put your hand over your heart and practice listening on the inside, rather than just listening on the outside. You should also strengthen your spirit by nourishing it with words of faith. (See 1 Timothy 4:6.) Stop spending so much time feeding your carnal mind by watching all kinds of ungodly things on TV. You’re not going to hear God’s voice while you’re sitting there listening to people on television cuss and take His Name in vain. So turn that junk off and open your Bible. Listen to some good faith preaching. Spend more time meditating on God’s written WORDS and practice doing what Proverbs 4:21-24 says: “Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.” This has always been God’s system. Ever since He created mankind in the Garden of Eden, He planned for us to hear His WORDS, receive them and meditate on them until we believe them with all our hearts, and then speak them so He can bring them to pass. Jesus lived this way when He was on earth. He said, “The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works” (John 14:10). That’s the process of the kingdom of God. It works all the time for anyone who will follow it. Satan can’t change it, either. All he can do is change the words. So that’s what he does. He tries to get access to your life by getting you to listen to him and say what he says. Don’t let him succeed. Make a once-and-for-all decision to attend to The WORD of God. Incline your ear and listen to His voice in your spirit. Declare by faith, “I open my ears. I hear the voice of the Good Shepherd and a stranger’s voice I do not follow. I’m tapping in every day to what He’s saying. I’m living in the faith lane!” V ********************************** Points to Get You There: Faith On the freeway at rush hour, everyone wants to be in the fast lane. But in life, it’s being in the faith lane that counts. Here are a few points to help you get there: 1) Listen to God’s WORD not just with your physical ears but with the ears of your heart. Revelation 3:20: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” 2) Put God’s WORD first in your life. Proverbs 4:20: “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.” 3) Make an irrevocable commitment to do whatever He tells you to do. John 14:15: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” 4) Don’t argue with God. Simply believe what He says. Mark 4:24: “Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.” 5) Every day practice listening on the inside for the voice of the Good Shepherd. John 10:3: “The sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.” NOV '13 : BVOV : 9

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