Thursday 31 January 2013

To hear Jesus only or not to hear only ?

Did God say it in His words that we should hear Jesus ONLY Luk 9:34-36?
I agree that we should hear Jesus only. But do we just hear only ? That is a big question worth exploring, because
  1. Jesus has told us not to just hear only but to do His words and commandments.
  2. However, many preachers today tell us to 'hear Jesus only' but it is to hear them only
  3. they may tell us to hear Jesus only so that they have no need to do or keep any God's laws and commandments
  4. they may tell us to hear Jesus only, but when it comes to giving, they tell us to give them only
  5. God did say, 'Hear Him..' but God did not say 'Hear Him only or only those who say 'Hear Him only'. Don't hear any law and prophets.. Don't hear any law and commandments." No, God has given us the law to hear His words and not to hear from any men or preachers the preachers who change His words and commands.Did God say, 'Hear Jesus only?' and 'Don't hear any God's laws and commandments?" No, many preachers could have added their own words and interpretations not to hear God's laws and commandments because they hate to hear from God's laws and commandments.  
Luk 9:34-36 KJV  While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.  (35)  And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.  (36)  And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen. Have you read the above? 
If you have read the Bible verses above, you will know that God did not say hear Jesus only so that you do not have to hear His laws. No, on the contrary, God wants us to keep His laws and commandments. God commanded the disciples to hear Jesus because Jesus would keep His commandments. Joh 15:10 KJV  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

Did God say it through some weird incidents that we should hear Jesus ONLY ?
I love to play piano. However, if one day, the piano next to me suddenly played by itself while I was preaching to thousands of people in my church, would I immediately interpret that God was speaking and confirming what we would like to preach or hear only? No, we don't imagine and conclude rashly that God did say, "Hear Jesus on ly?" just because the piano played by itself the five distinct notes: "Do Re Mi Fa So". Please think, Can I argue that it must be God speaking to me just because I could interpret it very well and because the voice of God for us to 'hear Jesus only" has exactly the five different notes ?
"Hear  Je     sus    On   ly " 
"Do     Re    Mi     Fa    So"
No, we don't interpret it that way. We don't interpret that God has spoken the words by adding our own words,  interpretation, and imagination, even though we may know that it is a 'miracle' or a supernatural incident which we cannot explain. If we are responsible preachers,
  1. we would hunt for the real evidence and dispel any foul play created by those who want to make us look like a fool. Do you know that the piano can be made to play by itself easily with our modern technology today?
  2. we would reason, If God could speak the words in audible voice to the disciples in Luk 9:34-36 "..hear him", God can do the same too. Why does He need to speak to us through the piano which may cause more confusion? With just the five notes, people can argue with us and say that God wants us to:
    "Go and hang yourselves"
     "Do   Re    Mi     Fa    So"   
Yes, I know it is very rude to say this, but I just want to show you that it is much ruder to interpret God's words in any fashion we like when God did not say it. We must never make weird, radical, or rude interpretation like either one of above interpretations without any proper study on God's laws, God's commandments, and sound doctrine. Otherwise, our doctrine cannot save:
  • 1Ti 4:15-16 KJV  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.  (16)  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Are you saved if you would just want to hear only or hear radically ?
Radical grace preachers will argue, "You have misunderstood Paul doctrine. He would never say that we are saved by doctrine. We are saved by radical grace and by radically hearing Him Only. In radical grace, it does not matter whether our doctrine is sound or not. We are saved if we are Christians. The important thing is to know that we are saved by grace radically. Sound doctrine or the knowledge of sound doctrine can puff up and become the law which will finally bring the curse of the law to us and it will put us under its bondage of pride and self-righteousness .."
I will tell them, How can you do right if you do not believe right? Can the people do right if you don't preach right ? How can you say that the study of sound doctrine is not important ? Yes, I believe that we are saved by grace and that God will not penalise us for any minor mistakes in our doctrine or theology about Him or Christ. We are still saved if are wrong in the minor things; we don't major the minor. But are we still saved if we are radically wrong ?
Many radical grace believers, who believe God in a radical fashion, show us that they are not hesitant about any mistakes at all (whether they are major or minor). Their radical grace or radical belief could have deceived them even when they are radically wrong in their belief or sin. Are they still saved if they are radically wrong in God's doctrine, God's principles, God's laws, or God's commandments ? I doubt so. I would advise the believers, If you have received the grace of God through repentance to believe and to have God's laws in your hearts (Heb 8:10), please don't give it away by taking in the radical grace philosophy. Don't trade in for their radical grace and lawlessness even if it can prosper you or heal you. Be contented with God's grace in His words:
  • 2Co 12:9-10 KJV  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  (10)  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Radical grace may look more attractive and more glorious; but if you examine it more carefully, it could be well hidden with tares, lawlessness, rebellion, or the satanic desire to be like 'gods' - the same desire as the serpent who wanted to be like 'god' too: 
  • Gen 2:16-17 KJV  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  (17)  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die... (3:4-5) And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:  (5)  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
  • Mat 13:24-26 KJV  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:  (25)  But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.  (26)  But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
  • Rev 14:11-12 KJV  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.  (12)  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (Yes, we would need a lot of patience to keep God's words and commandments and to reap God's harvest in the end time).
  • Rev 14:14-16 KJV  And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.  (15)  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. (16)  And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

Are you radically right if you hear only ?
However, you could be radically wrong even if you think that you would just hear Him ONLY ! Why ?
1. Many radical grace preachers argued vehemently that, when God told them to hear Jesus only, God wanted them to hear only.

2. But God's words in the Bible showed us that God does not want us to hear only; He wants us to hear Jesus by doing His will, His words, and His commandments:
  • Luk 8:13-15 KJV  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.  (14)  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.  (15)  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
  • Mat 7:21-24 KJV  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (22)  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  (24)  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  
  • Luk 6:46-48 KJV  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?  (47)  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:  (48)  He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood (false doctrine) arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. (Hence, Jesus said clearly that He would not just want us to have right believing, right faith, right miracles, right preaching, or right confession only; he wants us to have right doing with His words too, because right doing would prove that we are His true disciples on the rock of salvation.)
3. Now the choice is very clear
Do you hear the radical grace preachers or God's words in the Bible? If you are still not convinced, just ask those who preached "Hear Jesus only", How do we hear Jesus? Will Jesus suddenly appear in our dream and tell us, "Hear me and now these are the words for you" ? or do we hear any preacher who tell us, "Look, I have this vision, this dream, or this voice .., from His Spirit yesterday, and these are His words .. " Of course not. We hear Jesus by hearing God's (written) words. Some may still argue, "Why must we hear the written words of God when we can hear the voice of Jesus from our dreams or from the anointed preaching of our preachers ?"  I will tell them, If you really hear Jesus, you will not hear only or to hear from anyone who tells us to 'Hear only, you will hear and do': 
a. Jesus told us not to hear only
I will tell them, God told us to hear Jesus (not the preachers). But Jesus said, If we hear Him, we must hear God's written words and commandments: 
  • Mat 4:4 KJV  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 
  • Mat 19:17 KJV  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 
  • Rev 22:13-14 KJV  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  (14)  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 
b. Jesus told us not to hear the anointed preachers who preach against God's laws and commandments (or who preach just to hear only). 
  • Mat 7:21-24 KJV  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (22)  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  (24)  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
  • Luk 6:46-48 KJV  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?  (47)  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:  (48)  He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood (false doctrine) arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. (Hence, Jesus said clearly that He would not just want us to have right believing, right faith, right miracles, right preaching, or right confession only; he wants us to have right doing with His words too, because right doing would prove that we are His true disciples on the rock of salvation.)
  • Mat 24:4-26 KJV  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  (5)  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.  .. (11)  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  (12)  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. ..  (23)  Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.  (24)  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  (25)  Behold, I have told you before.  (26)  Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
Hence, when God told us to hear Jesus, He did not tell us to hear only. He told us to hear Him and do His words (which is to obey Him). To obey Him, we must hear and do His commands. God did not say hear Him 'only'; the word 'only' was added by you, so that when the people will hear Him only,they will ignore the written words of God or God's commandments, and finally hear you only.

If we hear only, we could be hearing from the false preachers
Of course, there is nothing wrong to preach Jesus or to hear Jesus. However, if a preacher would just tell us to hear only, he is not hearing from Jesus. It's because Jesus has said if we hear Him, we would not just hear Him or hear His words only, we would do His words also. Jesus has emphasized it in many of His words:

  • Mat 7:15-24 KJV  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  (16)  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? .. (21)  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (22)  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  (24)  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: (Jesus has told us to do the will of the Father - ie. to do His commandments. It is not necessary just doing many wonderful works for the Lord and preaching His wonderful name. False prophets would do many things in the name of the Lord without doing the will of God.)
  • Mat 5:18-19 KJV  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.  (19)  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
  • Joh 14:21-30 KJV  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.  (22)  Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?  (23)  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.  (24)  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.  .. (30) Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.  (31)  But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
  • Luk 8:11-15 KJV  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.  (12)  Those by the way side are they that hear; .. (13)  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, .. (14)  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, ..  (15)  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience ... (18)  Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.  
I can understand a believer's ignorance if he has never read the Bible but he was enthusiastic about hearing and following Jesus only. However, if an 'enthusiastic' preacher would preach 'hear Jesus only', 'do not hear from God's commandments', and 'do not hear from others', but always claim that he could hear from Jesus supernaturally, he could be saying 'Hear him only'. He could be saying deceitfully like a false prophet even though he said that he was not a prophet. Please think, If we do not read the Bible and do not hear from God's commandments, how can we hear from Jesus? We could only hear the false prophets who claimed that they could hear from Jesus !

  • ** Please be careful of how you hear and what you hear, not just who you hear
  • Mat 17:5 KJV  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
  • Luk 8:18 KJV  Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
  • Joh 8:47 KJV  He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
  • Joh 14:24-25 KJV  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.  (25)  These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
  • Mat 13:7-9 KJV  And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:  (8)  But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.  (9)  Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
  • Mat 13:40-43 KJV  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.  (41)  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;  (42)  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  (43)  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
  • Mar 7:15-16 KJV  There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.  (16)  If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
  • Luk 14:34-35 KJV  Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?  (35)  It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Jesus did not say, Hear only; He said, Hear , Receive, & Do
If I said, "He that has brain to think, let him think". Does it mean that I want him to think only? No, If anyone has a brain to think, he can certainly think and it is meaningless to ask him to think only. Hence, if I asked anyone who can think to think, it means that I did not just want him to think only; I want him to do more than thinking only or to think better. Hence, Jesus knew that those who have ears to hear can hear too but He spoke with the Hebrew understanding that those who could hear, must not hear only; but receive (perceive), know, understand, and do more than just hearing Him only.
  • Mar 4:20 KJV And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
  • Luk 8:8-11 KJV  And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear( He showed us that there are 2 types of 'hearing'. The 1st word 'hear' is a physical hearing with the ear - hath + ears = hear. Hence, when He said 'hear' the second time in 'let him hear', He did not want the disciples to hear with their ears only; He wanted them to hear with the cross in their hearts too - ie. hear + t = heart = hearing, knowing and doing) ..  (9)  And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?  (10)  And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.  (11)  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God ... (21) And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
Hence, when Jesus told the disciples to believe in Him, He did not want them to believe with their minds only or change their minds only; He wanted them to believe with the cross in their hearts too - ie. Repent, Believe, and Do:
  • Joh 3:7-21 KJV Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again .. (16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life .. (21) But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
  • Mar 1:15 KJV And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
  • Rev 22:13-14 KJV I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. (14) Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Hence, we will tell the radical grace preachers, How can we preach believe only, easy believism, cheap grace, or vain sayings that keep God's commandments by thinking of Jesus only or beholding Jesus only. Many may argue, "We are preaching the gospel that Paul preached; not cheap grace or the teaching of Jesus which was under the law and obsolete. Jesus has passed the 'baton' of preaching His gospel to Paul who knew how to preach better than Peter and the rest of the Apostles."
I will tell them, Really? Probably, you think that you and Paul could preach better than Jesus too? Yes, you may think that the gospel which focuses on grace or think of grace only, faith only, believing only is more attractive to the sinners, but you've disobeyed the Lord and twisted His words. Jesus did not command us to preach the gospel that is more attractive; but the gospel that He preached. In fact, Paul and all of us are commanded to preach the gospel that He preached, and His words, commandments, and warnings will never become obsolete:
  • Mat 28:19-20 KJV Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 
  • Luk 24:45-47 KJV Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, (46) And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: (47) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  
  • Luk 21:33-36 KJV Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. (34) And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. (35) For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. (36) Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Today we will hear only the written words of the Lord Jesus
However, if we want to preach that we should hear Jesus only, we should preach that we will hear only the written words of Lord, not any twisted words spoken by the radical grace preachers or false preachers. Yes, in the past, we may hear from the sky, from the stars, from the heaven, from the prophets, from the donkey, from the stone.. etc because God did command them to speak. But today we must hear from Jesus or the words which He had already spoken or taught us with. We will no longer need to hear new teaching or new doctrine from anyone or any preacher who tells us that Jesus spoke to them too, in their dreams, in their visions, in their spirits, or in a still small voice. Jesus has already spoken and sat down with the Father in heaven:
  • Heb 1:1-3 KJV  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,  (2)  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;  (3)  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Why did Jesus sit down? Like what some preachers said, Jesus has finished it all and He rested. The next time He comes again, He will not teach or preach again; He will judge. (Please see, "We do not preach only looking or hearing Jesus; we preach doing the will and the words of the Lord too" in my previous post.)

  
How do we hear from God?
See video - http://youtu.be/K3Fz3rJJ2CE?t=2m10s


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