I understand there should be a connection between our words and our faith. I also understand that the Bible says that “faith comes by hearing”. What does the Bible mean when it talks about “hearing”?
The connection between our words and faith in them can be illustrated by thinking of a blimp. The skin and structure of the blimp are able to hold the lighter than air gas that will raise the blimp into the air and over any obstacles, but without that gas inside of it the blimp merely rests on the ground. It doesn’t float anywhere. Only when the gas is pumped into the blimp does it rise.
The words we speak are like that blimp’s structure. They form a shape and have the potential to lift and float, yet it is the lighter than air gas – faith – that must be inside those words for them to rise above the obstacles. When I hear the term “faith-filled words” used, this is the mental picture that comes to mind.
Often we can read or hear something that inspires us and we desire to see it at work or happen in our own lives. We are inspired to think bigger, and to speak our desires. We receive inspiration. While inspiration is wonderful, it doesn’t necessarily carry with it a deep, strong conviction that what we are thinking and speaking of will come to pass. When we have that deep, strong conviction – a place where we are settled in our hearts on the issue – we are beyond just inspiration.
In the case of faith in God and His words to us, this place of deep, strong conviction – this place of being settled – comes not through inspiration, but by revelation. We can see that at work in a crowd who hears the preaching of the gospel – of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. All in the crowd hear the words spoken. Many are inspired by what they hear. Some will receive a revelation of what God’s love for them is, and receive an understanding of what that truly means to them. Those are the people who will respond to the gospel and receive the forgiveness and relationship that Jesus’s acts provided for them. Their revelation moves them to respond in faith to receive the gift of salvation.
“Hearing” In The Bible
As for all of those in the crowd we would say were hearing, the word used for “hearing” in Romans 10:17 (Faith comes by hearing…) carries the connotation of more than the mere sense or act of hearing audibly. It relates to the understanding of what is being heard and acting upon it. In Matthew chapter 13 Jesus spoke of this distinction:
13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear;
The Hebrew word “shema” is translated as “hear” in our English bibles, but carries a greater meaning than hearing audibly. In the Hebrew language there are far fewer words than in our English language, thus a word carries a deeper, wider meaning. In Hebrew it was understood that to “hear”, one heard audibly, comprehended what was heard, embraced it, and then acted in obedience to it. This is the picture of what Jesus was referring to when He spoke of hearing. In the verses above, there were people who heard, yet did not hear. This could be true because even though they heard the words that were spoken, they did not take the message or act upon it. They merely processed it audibly and mentally.
Most parents can relate to this, as they can tell their child to clean his or her room or do the dishes, and have the child acknowledge that they heard the request. Yet a quick check later finds that the room is still messy or the dishes are dirty. It could be said that the child was “hearing, but did not hear.” There was no embracing of what was heard, no action, and no obedience. We can speak God’s Word and have those sounds register in our ears and our mind recognize the words, but until we meditate on those words and have them come alive to us, they are really only sounds and words.
I can think of the many times that God’s Word has become alive to me at a deep level to where I had a strong conviction and became settled that it was the truth in my situation. From that place the words I spoke were not only what I was hoping to happen, they were what I was expecting to see happen. I wasn’t speaking things to convince myself. I was convinced and was speaking what I expected to see happen in my life. Those words became part of my thinking and I acted upon them.
How Do I Get To That Place?
So the question becomes, “How do I get to that place?” Each person is different, with their own strengths and weaknesses. There are thoughts or insecurities that I have and you may not have, and vice versa. We have to be honest with ourselves to see these things as they are and confront them. This puts us in a position to grow in God and overcome those hindrances.
With this, it’s vitally important to maintain our focus on who made the promises we are placing our trust in. Anyone can come and make a promise to you. Which promises will you believe? The ones from those you have faith, or trust in. This is the key to receiving your requests from God. We see this truth in the life of Sarah:
Hebrews 11:11
11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
Sarah had earlier laughed when she heard that she was to become pregnant in her old age (Gen. 18:13-15). Yet along the way she went from laughing at the thought to inspiration, and then to revelation. She became settled in her heart that God was not only able to do what He said, but was going to do it for her. She considered Him faithful, and trusted Him to make it happen in her life.
She started off laughing, shaking her head and considering all of the physical reasons she could not have a baby. She was hearing, but only sounds and words. Yet as time passed she reflected on things God had said and done over the years for Abraham and herself, and she became inspired that having a baby might be possible for her. As she continued to reflect on and speak of these things, the revelation of God’s goodness and faithfulness to her took root in her heart, and she came to a place where her trust allowed her to conceive a baby and carried him to term. She received the promise that God had made to Abraham and spoken also to her.
Just as Sarah did, we must speak what God has said over our own situations, and remind ourselves of who He is to us. We can speak what God has said, then speak of who He is. Our faith is in He who made the promise. Our focus is to trust Him to be who He said He would be, and to do what He said He would do. As we apply ourselves to this, our revelation of Him will grow. As we obey what God has spoken to us by His written word and by His Spirit, we will have “ears that hear”, and we will see God move in our lives.
