Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.
Proverbs 18:2
Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way.
Acts 19:8-9
Anyone who's ever had a build up of earwax [like I awoke with today] will know how it impairs the ability to hear externally. Conversely, everything going on inside your mouth is amplified. Breathing, swallowing coughing is exaggerated out of all proportion.
When we block out the God's Truth on a consistent basis, that's what happens to us spiritually.
Gradually, all we are capable of hearing is our own opinions and views.
In the above extract, Paul talked about Jesus persuasively, but some hearers stubbornly didn't want to accept - they blocked out the truth of the gospel.
Then they became antagonistic, rejecting the message - spiritually deaf.
My nearest and dearest is quick to point out my own "stubbornness", to my shame.
God forbid that I get so entrenched in my own way of thinking and doing things that I become deaf to God's Way!
This world is so confusing, sometimes it is hard to tell right from wrong. Situational ethics are the norm.
That's why Jesus taught us to pray YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE.
We're so out of kilter with God's Way of life, we need Him to override our own warped opinions.
Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
When my ears get blocked, I need to put in special oil for a few days in order to soften the wax and have it washed from the eardrum.
Spiritually, we need the oil of the Holy Spirit to soften the hardness of our hearts, and give us renewed spiritual hearing.
Prayer
Father God, please overcome my spiritual deafness, pour in the anointing oil of the Holy Spirit and unblock my spiritual hearing. Have Your Way Yahweh.
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