Hearing, Seeing, and Believing

If there is one thing that is certain it is this; neither God nor His Word has changed!  The Gospel was, is, and always will be a powerful truth that is meant to be heard, seen, and believed.  Whenever the Gospel is preached it should produce a visible manifestation of the power of the Holy Spirit that will move people to believe what it says. Jesus declared that the people could believe that He was the promised "One to come" by what they heard and saw. Jesus links the preaching of the Gospel with the visible demonstration of God's power as a foundation for believing. In this post I will share with you three truths as they relate to hearing, seeing, and believing. (Luke 7:19-22)

1.  People Long For Truth And Its Power

In Matthew 13:16-17 Jesus states that the longing in the hearts of the "prophets and righteous men" of old was to see and hear what Jesus' followers saw and heard. The wonderful thing is that nothing has changed in that people today still long to hear the truth of the Word of God. I believe that people not only want to hear the Gospel, but the want to see its power. Too many Christians have settled for a powerless Gospel that is far short of what Jesus has given to us.

2.  People Become Energized Most By What They Have Experienced

In 1 John 1:1-3 John the Beloved said the things we preach and teach that are the most effective are the things of God that we have both heard and seen with our eyes.  People tend to be energized most by things they have experienced firsthand. Educators tell us that students retain information best if they hear aloud the words they are reading.  The Lord's message becomes more deeply rooted in those who both hear and see the Gospel in action in their lives.  Tweet This It is easier to believe when you have heard it from God;s Word and have also seen its manifestation.

3.  The Word Must Be Accompanied By A Demonstration

In John 3:31-33 Jesus said His testimony concerning God the Father was of things that He Himself had both "seen and heard" in heaven. There are many churches today that are content to just preach the Gospel and hear the Gospel, but without the accompanying demonstration of the Spirit's power. People both heard and saw Jesus' ministry in action, demonstrating God's ability to save, heal, deliver, and bless.

Seeing and hearing is a consistent pattern of how Jesus and His disciples preached the Gospel. An example of this is found in Acts 8:5-8.  Philip preached Christ in Samaria, but he also ministered divine healing to the sick and cast out demons.  In verse 6 it says the people of Samaria "paid close attention" to Philip's preaching when they saw the miraculous demonstration of God's power. Seeing the Gospel declared with power, with healing, and with miracles, opens people's hearts to "hear the Lord's voice."

The Gospel is to be seen as well as heard.  Paul declared that "my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).

Are you ready to hear, see, and believe?

-- Pastor Temple