Be Careful What You Hear

Mark 4:21-24 The Parable of the Lamp

When Jesus was in the world, He was the light of the world, John 8:12. Now He tells us, the Believers, we are the light of the world! Jesus tells the parable of the lamp on the stand to encourage His followers to stand out, to be an example and not to hide away. To be a light in a dark world!

In this parable Jesus is identifying the Believer’s as those who have been given divine truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how we are to proclaim this truth to others!

If a lamp is hidden, it would hide the light and it’s purpose would not be fulfilled. Jesus states we are to let our light shine for others to see!

If you truly love Jesus, you will not be ashamed to tell others! If you are in relationship with Him, others will see it. Strangers will know there is something different about you. They may not know what it is, but are drawn to talk to you, open up to you about their challenges, want to come closer to you. This relationship and time spent with Jesus in fellowship will radiate from the inside out! As a lamp you want your light to shine. We are to bring to light or reveal the secrets of God’s kingdom and how it works. We help others understand the gospel, Jesus, and God’s Kingdom principles!

Jesus warns us as you share the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and do good for others, the sins of those around you will be exposed or revealed. A lamp doesn’t try to expose sin. It naturally reveals what’s in the room. It shows what’s in the darkness. Many people do not want to walk in the light because their things will be seen. This is why the Lord says, we cannot put the lamp under the bed but on the lampstand, so that people can see. The Church is the light in this world. If we don’t shine, people cannot see God! The problem is that many people do not listen. Others listen but do not understand. They are confused.

The Bible has told us, there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed. What has been done in secret, will come to the light. People do so many things and put in secret places but God will make all to come out to the light so people can know what has been done.

Pay close attention to what you hear! Listening to those who teach God’s Word accurately. Reading Christian books that explain God’s truths. Finding a good Bible teaching church or ministry, one that helps you understand biblical truths! Be passionate about it. Be purposeful!

Jesus also says to pay attention to ‘how’ you hear! What is God actually saying, not what you want Him to say.

In 1 Kings 19:11-13, The prophet Elijah was in prayer waiting for God to speak. God used Elijah to do great and mighty things but now he was running, scared and in hiding. He ran to a cave to wait on God to speak!

After Elijah sees the wind blowing, Elijah says to God, God here I am. Elijah proceeds to hear different sounds, (verses 11, 12), “a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces, an earthquake and then a fire.” But the Bible says clearly, the Lord was not in those sounds. Elijah was afraid and focused on self. He was too emotional to hear God.

My wife shared that a long time ago missing a turn one night while driving a long distance and without a GPS or cell phone, how she became panicky! Worried and fearful, she called out to God but realizing later, she could not hear Him due to her emotional state.

So, it was with Elijah! After it becomes quiet, suddenly Elijah hears the Lord’s voice calling for him. The Bible then says, at this point the Lord speaks and gives instructions. For example, the Bible tells us of the signs of the Second Coming of the Lord. One sign is earthquakes in many different places, or the Bible describes the earth groaning or signs happening in the atmosphere. These are signs of the Lord’s coming but the Lord has not come back yet. This is what Elijah was experiencing, but God Himself was not speaking in those things nor does He bring them.

Therefore, many may pray a lot but do not take time to listen to God and thus miss His instructions. Some do not want to listen. They want to do what they think is right. It is much better to listen than to talk!

When you get much, much will also be required of you to give out. The Lord will put much in you and when you receive you give out. This is where He was completing the parable of the lamp. The Believer is God’s lamp (vessel) and the light (word) is in you! We need to listen from the Lord. What the Lord will tell us. People miss a lot for what God is doing.

Then Jesus says, the closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given. As you grow in your understanding you will experience more joy even in hard times, more peace in the midst of your storms, a stronger more confident walk with God!

In contrast, for those who pretend and are not listening, even what he has will be taken away.

Moses Wafula