Ears to Hear What the Spirit Is Saying
Ears to Hear What the Spirit Is Saying

Ears to Hear What the Spirit Is Saying

As we read Jesus’ messages to the seven churches that existed in John’s day, there are some very unique points we can glean. First of all, each message is written unto the angel or “messenger” (which is how “angelos,” the Greek word for “angel,” can also be translated) of each church. This “messenger” needed to be receptive to this word and then faithfully deliver it to the church. What a responsibility rested upon this person! Intellectual ability, eloquence and charm, abundance of sermon outlines, or even an unlimited source of information could make the messager more effective. Emailing the “messengers” of the other six churches in order to find out what the Spirit was speaking to them would do nothing more than frustrate his ability to “hear”! This “messenger” had one single responsibility and that was to have “ears to hear” exactly what the Spirit was speaking to the church with which he was associated.
This same thought leads us to another speculation concerning the responsibility of the members of these seven churches. It was very important for them to know which church they belonged to. Imagine if Mr. Smith from the Ephesus church just so happened to be visiting some friends at the Philadelphia church. He would have heard a very encouraging message. In fact, he may even be tempted to call up several of his fellow Ephesians and say, “Hey, guys, you should have been over here a the Philadelphia church! What an awesome message!” Yet, being a member of the Ephesian church, the food his spirit and soul really needed was a serious message about repentance and the urgency of returning to first love and first works!
Several more important points are revealed as we discover that each of these seven messages is suffixed by two key phrases:
(1) “he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” and;
(2) “to him who overcomes” 
 (See Rev. 2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:26-29; 3:5-6; 3:12-13; 3:21-22).
First of all, while we are told that it is the Spirit speaking to the churches, it sounds like Jesus! During His time on earth, Jesus said that He only spoke the words which He heard the Father was saying (John 12:49-50). In fact, Jesus told His disciples that if they have seen Him, then they have seen the Father (John 14:9-10). So, now that Jesus has  gone to heaven, the Holy Spirit works in much the same way. Jesus foretold this:

But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to Me by taking from what is Mine and making it known to you” (John 16:13-14).

This is exactly what is taking place in these two chapters of Revelation. It is the Spirit speaking, but it sounds just like Jesus! How awesome is that! Furthermore, in each message the Spirit is “taking from what” belongs to Jesus and is “making it known” to each church. In other words, in the Spirit’s message there is a unique revelation of Christ that each church needed in order to overcome the specific problems or struggles they were up against.
Now we can understand why it is necessary for each to “messenger” to bring to his church-family the Word that the Spirit is speaking to that church. If this message is faithfully delivered and the members of that church-family have “ears to hear” the message, then the obvious result will the ability to overcome any difficulties or short-comings that are besetting them. Furthermore, there is a unique reward promised to those who so overcome!
Having “Ears to hear” is no longer an individual listening in. We are living in the Church Age. Listening is a “church-thing”! Each “church-family” is a integral part of the Church. Just like the seven church-families in Revelation, we, too, need to tune in and hear specifically what the Holy Spirit, is saying to our unique church-family. This is how we overcome!

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