PART II — BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HEAR

When God Speaks, the Church Must Listen

Revelation 1:3

“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy…”

There is a difference between sound entering your ears and truth entering your heart.

A person can sit in church every Sunday and still not hear God.

A person can listen to hundreds of sermons and remain unchanged.

Jesus repeatedly said:

“He who has an ear, let him hear…”

Why?

Because spiritual hearing requires more than physical ears.

It requires an attentive heart.

1. GOD IS SPEAKING TO THE BODY OF BELIEVERS, THE CHURCH

Revelation chapters 2 and 3 contain messages to seven churches.

And after speaking to each church, Christ repeatedly says:

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Notice:

“What the Spirit says.”

Jesus Christ was speaking to churches nearly two thousand years ago, yet the Holy Spirit continues speaking through those same words today.

To Ephesus:

Return to your first love.

To Smyrna:

Remain faithful through suffering.

To Pergamos:

Do not compromise with the world.

To Thyatira:

Do not tolerate corruption.

To Sardis:

Wake up!

To Philadelphia:

Hold fast!

To Laodicea:

Repent of lukewarmness!

Believers, are we listening?

2. HEARING GOD REQUIRES SPIRITUAL ATTENTION

Jesus said in Matthew 13:15:

“For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing…”

One of the greatest dangers facing a believer is not necessarily that God stops speaking.

It is that we stop listening.

The world is loud.

Entertainment is loud.

Social media is loud.

Politics is loud.

Money is loud.

Our ambitions are loud.

Our worries are loud.

But the voice of God is calling His Church back to holiness.

We need to quiet the voices of this world and ask:

“Lord, what are You saying to me through Your Word?”

3. PROPHECY SHOULD PRODUCE REPENTANCE

When God reveals what is coming, He is giving humanity an opportunity to repent.

Second Peter 3:9 says:

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise… but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

God’s warnings demonstrate His mercy.

Before judgment came upon Nineveh, God sent Jonah.

Before the flood came, Noah preached righteousness.

Before Jerusalem was judged, prophets warned the people.

And before the final judgments described in Revelation, God has given humanity His written Word.

Why?

Because God calls sinners to repent.

Prophecy is not merely information.

Prophecy is an invitation.

Come to Christ.

Turn from sin.

Receive salvation.

Be reconciled to God.

4. HEARING ABOUT CHRIST’S RETURN SHOULD CHANGE OUR PRIORITIES

Imagine that you knew with absolute certainty that Jesus Christ would return very soon.

Would some things suddenly become less important?

Would you pray differently?

Would you forgive someone?

Would you witness to someone?

Would you repent of a hidden sin?

Would you spend your time differently?

Would you take worship more seriously?

Would you read your Bible differently?

The return of Jesus Christ should not merely affect our theology.

It should affect our daily life.

First John 3:3 says:

“And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

Biblical hope produces holiness.

5. CHRIST IS STILL CALLING

Revelation 3:20 says:

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock.”

What an extraordinary picture.

The Lord of glory stands knocking.

The One whose eyes are like a flame of fire knocks.

The One whose voice is like the sound of many waters knocks.

The One who holds the keys of Hades and Death knocks.

And He says:

Open the door.

Do not harden your heart.

Do not ignore His voice.

Do not assume that tomorrow belongs to you.

Hebrews 3:15 says:

“Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”

Closing

The question is not:

“Has God spoken?”

God has spoken.

The question is:

“Are we listening?”

Listen when He corrects you.

Listen when He warns you.

Listen when He comforts you.

Listen when He calls you.

Listen when He commands you.

And listen when Jesus says:

“I am coming quickly.”

Blessed are those who hear.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, give us ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. Break through every distraction, every hardened place, and every compromise in our hearts. Give us grace to receive Your correction, believe Your promises, and respond to Your voice. Keep us awake and watching for Your return. Amen.

Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!