The healthy church constantly seeks God while the unhealthy church is spiritually deaf and blind. This isn’t a new concept to understand. The Scriptures reveal this primary ingredient repeatedly. In Jesus’ seven letters to the churches (through John) in the book of Revelation, we hear the same words in every letter “Whoever has ears let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Jesus issued the invitation to know Him using the condition “hears my voice” to create fellowship.

”Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:20 NIV)

Jesus also said that not hearing His voice is a clear sign that you do not belong to Him.

“Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” (John 8:47 NIV)

The prophet Isaiah was commissioned to bring truth to those who were spiritually deaf and blind.

“He said, ‘Go and tell this people: Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving. Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” (Isaiah 9:6 NIV)

The unhealthy church tries to interpret Scripture without hearing God’s voice. Ironically, they pray to God as if He were the one who needs advice and counsel. Their leaders fall prey to all kinds of false doctrines because they refuse to seek God and hear from Him.
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