Exodus 20:18-21 English Standard Version

18 Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off 19 and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” 21 The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

Hebrews 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

When my wife wakes up each morning the first thing I want to know is if she has her hearing aides in and if they are working. Communication is primary in any loving relationship.

Yesterday we insinuated that some hear better than others. Some hear but do not understand, some understand but they have not heard from God directly. They depend on pastors and teachers to speak to God for them as in Exodus 20:19.

The point of Hebrews 4:2 is that if we do not have a relationship with God where we hear directly from Him, we will be unprofitable in our service to our God. We need to learn to use our faith to open our spiritual ears, no hearing aides are required.

Do not take this as a reproach. The foot has no ear but is essential in walking.

What does it mean to be profitable to God?

Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Since that is what He came to do, then bringing the lost into the flock and increasing the flock is what is profitable to God.

Jesus will not come again to collect His bride until His bride is complete.

If you are not the ear, you are still a member of the body of Christ.

“When I come again, will I find faith on earth?” Quote from yesterday.

Luke 18 English Standard Version

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

In other translations nevertheless is replaced with however or but. Only one translation uses the verbiage, “The question is;” in truth the use of any of those translations is pointless.

Pointless synonyms: otiose, purposeless, senseless, superfluous, wasted. worthless. lacking in usefulness or value. adjective. not having a point especially a sharp point.

What if Jesus had said “When I come again will I find faith on earth?”

The immediate question would have been “Are you leaving us?” Towards the end of Luke 18 Jesus tells His disciples for the third time about His death.

Luke 18:34 But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

I will come to the point: sometimes God hides meaning because we are not ready to hear it.

Sometimes God shares things with us that are not to be shared because while one or two of us are able to handle the truth, it may damage the faith of others.

Luke 1:20 “And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

When the time is right the words will come.