HEARing God is not as difficult as it may seem. All we need is willing hearts and open minds.

4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
“Clean” doesn’t necessarily mean “godly.” Consider Luke 11:24-26. Let’s fill our lives with all things Jesus.

We started a new discipleship program at our church yesterday. We are breaking off into groups of 3 to 5 people and learning how to lead others in what is essentially basic training for Christians. We are using a book by Robby Gallaty called, “Growing Up,” and are treating it like a handbook.

Gallaty teaches the “why” and the “how” of basic discipleship. One of the tools he teaches is how to H.E.A.R. God. The acrostic stands for Highlight, Explain, Apply, and Respond (see Proverbs 1-29 for details). Let’s take a passage and H.E.A.R. it together,

¹⁸ And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. ¹⁹ Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you ^[c]always, to the end of the age.”

HIGHLIGHT- This passage is the last three verses of Matthew, chapter 28.

EXPLAIN- Jesus is giving His final charge to His disciples. They have trained for three years and they will soon be ready to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus explained what would happen next in John 16,

⁷ But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 
¹³ But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify Me, for He will take from Mine and will disclose it to you.

So, Jesus is leaving, but He promises that He will be with them. How? By the in-dwelling of His Spirit.

APPLY- This promise extends to us, as well. In Jesus’ priestly prayer in John 17, He says,

²⁰ “I am not asking on behalf of these alone, but also for those who believe in Me through their word, ²¹ that they may all be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

We are to help each other grow in spirit and in truth; we are to help our spouses, our children, our grandchildren, and our friends to grow, as well. We are to befriend our co-workers, our bosses, our neighbors, and anyone else that the Lord brings into our path. Then, because they are now friends, we help them grow spiritually!

The biggest application is for me to be a disciple of Christ myself. Then–and only then–will I be ready to lead others.

RESPOND- Abba, it’s a tall order that You have given. I don’t want to do it myself–I CAN’T do it myself. I need You to give me the desire and the power to do Your will. I trust You and will follow Your lead. Amen.