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What does it mean to ‘hear God’s Word’?

Reading the Bible is a start, however we still may have a problem…
For God’s Word is not a text book, it is His love-letter to mankind, God is trying to speak to your heart and mind… Only God’s Holy Spirit is able to reveal His truths to you.
(SEE: John 14:26…  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.)

For example, secular minds struggle with what Apostle Paul wrote about 3 heavens…

From 2nd Corinthians 12:2-4 (ESV) I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. (3) And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— (4) and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.

— This captures the attention of people, including those with an occultic mindset…

Let’s assume someone asked you about the multiple heavens that Apostle Paul was writing of, (1st., 2nd., and 3rd… maybe more?) …choose how you would answer them.

1/ O – We should debate our ideas and then take a vote on which we would go with.

2/ O – We should dismiss this as an unimportant idea, and let anyone think what they want.

3/ O – We should pray and search the Bible for answers to this question.

— If you chose #3/ – Here are scriptural references to these “heavens” found in the Bible…

• The upper atmosphere… Genesis 1:20 (KJV) And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
• The universe: Genesis 1:14 (KJV) And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years…
• God’s dwelling: Revelation 19:1 (KJV) After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God…

We, as born-again Christians, need to understand that God can only truly speak to us as we search the Bible, God’s Word, and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truths therein…
That is why we always open our studies, with a prayer for His guidance…

— Today, in the Book of Matthew, we read that Jesus told His disciples three times of how He was going to be arrested and killed when He goes to Jerusalem;
First in Matthew 16:21-23  From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.  (22)  And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”  (23)  But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

(Cont’d on next page)

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Then in Matthew 17:22-23  As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men,  (23)  and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed.

And a third time in Matthew 20:17-28 (ESV) And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them,  (18)  “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death  (19)  and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

— Jesus was trying to prepare His disciples for the trauma that was to come…
(It is important that we understand they have not yet been given the Holy Spirit to dwell within them, that happened after Jesus ascended bodily into heaven after His resurrection.)

However we read that right after these warnings of His sufferings… (Vs.20) Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something.  (21)  And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”  (22)  Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.”  (23)  He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”  (24)  And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.  (25)  But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.  (26)  It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,  (27)  and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,  (28)  even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Q1/ Any thoughts as to why the disciples didn’t ask more about Jesus’ prophesied death?
– (Perhaps seeing how He rebuked Peter the first time in Matthew 16:22-23? …KRK.) ___________________________________________________________________________

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Q2/ Also, after His warnings, what do you receive from the words of Jesus in Vs. 20-28?

Vs.20-21 A mothers desire to promote her own?____________________________________

Vs.22 Human bravado?________________________________________________________

Vs.23 An interesting statement of the roles in the Trinity?____________________________

Vs.24 Pushing yourself forward brings irritation?____________________________________

Vs.26-28 See how God values humility and service to others?__________________________

– Even as Jesus walked with man, we see the need of the Holy Spirit for understanding. – (Discuss this need.)

(Til next time… In Christ, KRK)