Ears to Hear, Eyes to See
Hi Friends,
I hope all is well. I have two visions to share with you today, both of which are to encourage us. One is about listening to God’s word and to hear what He would say to us, and the other is about seeing things from His perspective .
The Visions
The Tank Top Shirt
In this vision, I saw a t-shirt that had been sewn, in a very haphazard way. It was a tank-top: sleeveless with a scoop neck. The edges were bound with a non-stretch fabric that was inappropriate for a knit shirt. The binding was a cotton poly bias tape that was not applied well. The ends where they lap each other were not turned under properly. There was a slit in the front of the shirt from the neckline down several inches that was unfinished. There was also a tail of serged stitches left hanging on the center of the t-shirt. Even if the shirt was finished properly, it would still be unattractive because of the fabric selected. Basically the shirt was a mess and should be tossed. There was nothing about it that was worthwhile. The materials were miss-matched in color and it was not worth the time involved to fix it.
We will come back to this vision, but first I will share the next vision and its meaning:
The Ear
I saw an ear clogged with greenish grey fibers. It resembled a premixed fiberglass resin that has short fiberglass fibers throughout the mixture. This is commonly called “kitty fur.” It is used to make repairs to fiberglass, or to fill holes.
There is no doubt that this represents ears that cannot hear. Fiberglass is tough and dries extremely hard and is highly durable. Fiberglass boats, and trailers last for decades, for they do not break down easily like wood that rots or metal that rusts.
This vision has a simple message: “Unplug your ears and listen!”
How often do we read in the Bible that people refuse to listen to what the Lord has to say? In the book of Revelation, which is addressed to the seven churches in Asia Minor, we hear the Lord asking for those who have ears, to pay attention, to hear, and to do what he is instructing. He repeated his message to listen, and said the following to each of the churches:
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 2:7
The Lord commended the churches for what they were doing right, but also included what they still lacked or needed to change. Often they were told to repent. The following are just a few notes concerning each church and what the Lord was asking them to do or to change:
To the Church of Ephesus:
“…But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent…He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” Revelation 2:4-5,7
To the Church of Smyrna:
“…Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” Revelation 2:10-11
To the Church of Pergamum:
“But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 2:14-17
To the Church at Thyatira:
“But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works…He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 2:20-23, 29
To the Church at Sardis”
“‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent…The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:1-3,5-6
To the Church at Philadelphia:
“Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:10-13
To the Church at Laodicea:
“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked…Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent…The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:15-17, 19, 21-22
It is important to listen. The entire book of Revelation was given as a prophecy regarding the ending of the Old Covenant Age with the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, ending the sacrificial system of the blood of animals and inaugurating the New Covenant Age. Now in the New Covenant Age, we as believers are reconciled to God by the blood of Jesus, and God has made his home in the believer’s heart by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit! Hallelujah! God’s dwelling is now with man! This is something that God had desired ever since he had shut the door to the garden of Eden!
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. Revelation 21:3
It is important how we listen, and to whom we listen. God’s will is not necessarily what we have been taught by our churches which have been greatly influenced by Greek philosophers, religious traditions, and the world view. We have to read his word, and ask God to take off the blinders and tinted glasses that have shaped our views of God, and of our faith. We need to spend time with him for he said:
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3
Jesus also spoke to the crowds in parables. So that only those whose hearts are inclined to God would hear.
Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?”
He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled:
‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’
But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. Matthew 13:10-17
Jesus, holds us accountable for the things we see and the things we hear. Jesus brought correction to the Pharisees on one account regarding what they “saw” or claimed to see. It was after they had thrown a blind man out of the synagogue, whose eyes were miraculously healed by Jesus.
Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.”
Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked Him, “Are we blind too?”
“If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.” John 9:39-41
So what causes us to to see and to hear, and prevents others from being able to see and to hear? The prophets of the Old Testament spoke to the people and to leaders of various nations, and most often to Israel who would refuse to listen. They preferred to listen to the false prophets and not heed God’s warnings. We see several things that hinder their ability to hear and obey:
To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot listen; behold, the word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it. Jeremiah 6:10
Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house. Ezekiel 12:2
Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” Isaiah 6:10
I also will choose harsh treatment for them and bring their fears upon them, because when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, they did not listen; but they did what was evil in my eyes and chose that in which I did not delight.” Isaiah 66:4
And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the rules that I speak in your hearing today, and you shall learn them and be careful to do them. Deuteronomy 5:1
“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not. Jeremiah 5:21
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. Ecclesiastes 5:1-2
It seems that the ears that do not hear come from the connection they have with a heart that is rebellious, foolish and without understanding. Without an interest in God, there is no desire to listen. If there is no fear of God, then no importance is given to his words. The idea or message that comes from God is ignored. These hearts and dull ears belong to those who are spiritually dead. God knows our hearts, and who will listen and who will refuse. It is only in God power that we can turn to him and see, hear and obey:
But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear. Deuteronomy 29:4
This verse reveals to us that God alone can open the eyes, the ears and the hearts, of unbelievers so that they can receive his gift of life and become born again. These next two passages are important for we see that our job, as believers, is to intercede for the lost, making a way for them to find Jesus and to find life.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:44
If no one can come to the Son unless the Father draws him, and no one comes to the Father except through the Son, then we need to pray! We need to pray that God draws these people to Jesus, so that through him, they can be reconciled to God!
We need to also ask the Lord, if we have plugged up our ears by our waywardness, and our willfulness. The Lord may be speaking to us about a matter that needs change. We are not perfect. Only God is perfect. Even believers can be selfish, and self-absorbed. We can be so busy we have no time for God. We can be so independent, that we want to call the shots, and assume that we can take care of ourselves and have no need of God in a particular matter. We can also be afraid of God’s input, for he may make certain demands on our time, our money, or our priorities, and we are not ready to hear it, or obey his command. Our hard hearts keep us from responding to him in obedience and in love. Jesus said:
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15
I believe that we already know what God is speaking to us. There are certain things that we want to control and somethings from which we are not ready to part. It may be a relationship that needs reconciliation, a job, commitment or pastime that hinders our relationship with the Lord. Whatever the Lord is showing you, we need to be obedient, and say “Yes,” to God, and trust him with the details and the outcome.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
Now, Let us return to the first vision:
The T-Shirt
In the vision of the t-shirt that was poorly designed and poorly fabricated, we see that there was no reason for it to exist. It was a totally failed project. I believe that the t-shirt makes me think of failure in general. Are our lives like this shirt that seems to have no purpose and no reason to be?
Without God we have no compass, no direction. We become self-directed, attempting to please everyone, especially the VIP’s in our lives, or to please no one but ourselves. With no connection to God, people try to create their own purpose, and their own life plans. They are busy trying to be successful in the eyes of the world. They are willing to cowtail to others who might be instrumental in their success. Many live for the approval of others. They want to look good, and appear confident, so they take their cues from other successful people. They follow social media influencers, emulate the social elite, and the wealthy. It is all about appearances: wearing the right styles, toting the proper name brands, and wanting to be seen and envied by others. They want the appearance of a confident, successful person: well spoken, well dressed, and fit. They want to drive an expensive car, and be seen at the best restaurants, clubs, spas and places of entertainment. They speak of their children’s accomplishments as their personal badge of honor. They speak of their expensive pastimes, vacations, and ambitious pursuits. They speak of their life’s work and achievements. But God is not impressed with our pride, and our inmost thoughts of grandeur, and that we are better than others. This is nothing but sinful and shameful in the Lord’s eyes.
This reminds me of the Pharisee, who justified himself before God, comparing himself to a tax collector and sinner.
The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’
But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:11-14
So instead we pray:
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
These are lost people. They do not know what they are doing. They do not have the Holy Spirit that leads them in the truth. They do not know that there is true freedom when we live for God. We no longer move through life with reckless abandon or fearful apprehension. We no longer live and make our decisions based on the world’s values, and our sinful desires.
“But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:16-17
When we see those who are so full of themselves, full of ambition, full of greed, full of everything that is not God, let us speak to them about the Lord. Let us pray for them that the Lord will draw them to Jesus and that they will be set free of the treadmill to which they are chained. They have no idea that they can have freedom in Christ. They can rid themselves of pride, fear of failure, fear of man, having to please others or having no love for anyone except themselves. They do not realize that trying to live up to the world’s expectations is a form a bondage. They need to be spiritually free. No matter what the sin, and what the lifestyle, whether rich or poor, young or old, healthy or sick, everyone needs Jesus. He is the author of our faith. He is the one we can trust. He is faithful and true. He is the healer , the deliverer, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. And he loves us all!
If you would like to have the spiritual freedom that he alone can give, then Let us pray:
Jesus,
I give you my hard heart, my dull ears and my blind eyes that I have used to keep you from my life. I ask that you forgive me of all my sins and my willful and harmful desires. I recognize that you died on the cross for my sins, and that you rose again promising new life to those who give themselves to you. I surrender my will to yours, and I ask that you write my name in the book of Life. I know that through repentance that I am reconciled to the Father and that as I am committing to you this day, you will give me the Holy Spirit to indwell me, to lead me into all truth, and to guide me in your ways. I ask that you help me to live for you and to bring your name honor and glory. I also ask you to open my spiritual eyes, ears and heart to receive all that you want to give me and show me. I am willing to commit to you now and that someday as I depart this life in the body, I will be joined to you in heaven for all eternity. Thank you Jesus! In your precious name I pray! Amen!
I would like to suggest to you to prayerfully look for a Bible based church that preaches and teaches truth rather than “feel good messages.” Join a Bible study that believes in the gifts of the Spirit where you can receive ministry, counseling and deliverance. Find a church that is filled with honest, humble and loving people that treat all people with love and respect. Remember that Jesus said, you will know them by their fruit:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Ask the Lord to lead you to a church family where you can grow and mature in God and in his word. And keep waiting on the Lord, for he will speak to those who earnestly seek him! Let’s listen to what the Spirit is saying to us. We are the church. We are the bride of Christ. He wants to commune with us. Let us be willing to just spend time with him. We become like the company we keep. Let’s keep company with Him!
God bless you. Please share this post with others!
