A popular saying today is: “I’d rather SEE a sermon than HEAR one any day.” One local so-called church had on their sign: “The Christian Is the World’s Bible.” As clever as that may sound, it is not true. God’s Word is still The Bible to be read, heard and heeded by all. God’s Word is still His power, the only power He uses to save. I pity the poor ignorant person who says such things for they obviously have never heard the Word of God preached in power. Scripture says: “The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation.” Scripture says: “Faith cometh by HEARING,” not by seeing. The miracle of the new birth cometh by the “Word of truth,” not a vision, sign, fleshly experience, or observing the works of a seemingly devout Christian. Scripture says, “In Whom ye also trusted AFTER THAT YE HEARD THE WORD OF TRUTH, THE GOSPEL...” (Eph. 1:13). So then, the power of God, new birth, faith, life, joy, peace, wisdom, yea all things, cometh by HEARING!
However, I want to be like John the apostle on the isle of Patmos, I want to both HEAR AND SEE CHRIST! John said, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and HEARD behind me a great voice”... “And I turned to SEE the voice that spake with me...and I SAW...” (Rev. 1:10-12). Upon hearing the Word (voice) of God with such power and glory...“as of a trumpet,” what did John then see? HE SAW CHRIST! He saw the Son of God crowned with glory and honour...in His majesty and splendor, and He feared and fell before Him! John saw the true Christ as He is, not the imagined Jesus, who is standing outside in the rain wanting in... NO, NO! John saw the Mighty Master, the Reigning Ruler, the Sovereign Saviour, High and lifted up, higher than the angels, “Far above all principality and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named (even Satan), not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under His feet” (Eph. 1:21-22). Is it any wonder that John fell at His feet as a dead man?!
Scripture says, “The hearing ear and seeing eye is of the Lord” and so both go together when God’s Word is proclaimed with the power of the Holy Ghost. Everyone who truly hears the Word of God in power will also “see Christ as the Son of God with power” (Rom. 1:4). Though they do not hear Him with the physical ear, nor see Him with the physical eye, yet with the ear of faith they hear His voice, and with the eye of faith they see His glorious Person and work. -- Paul Mahan
Paul MahanPaul Mahan has been pastor of Central Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, Virginia since 1989; preaching the Gospel of God's Sovereign Grace.
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