Mankind is unique among God's creations, possessing a voice that, when combined with our mind, allows us to articulate instruction and communicate with precision. This voice is a powerful means of connection, conveying intimacy, character, and emotion, as seen in the relationship between Christ and His sheep, who recognize and trust His voice for safety, security, and love. The voice of God is a profound force, often linked with thunder in scripture to illustrate its power, as when the Israelites at Mt. Sinai were terrified by His voice delivering the Ten Commandments, shaking them to their core. Though we cannot literally hear His voice today, we perceive it through creation, which declares His glory, and through His written word, the preaching of His truth by ministers, events of providence, and our conscience. He expects His children to hear, understand, and apply His word immediately, not delaying repentance. The connection between voice, words, power, and spirit is vital, as Jesus declared that His words are spirit and life, carrying transformative power. However, hearing alone is not enough; we must believe and yield to His voice. An unwillingness to listen or allow God to reign over us hardens the heart, making it insensitive to His call and hindering our relationship with Him. The warning in Hebrews is clear: even as our ancestors refused to hear God's voice out of fear or disbelief, we too can stifle His voice by clinging to our own desires, risking separation from Him. Faith arises from hearing the voice of God through a duly ordained messenger, a preacher sent with His message. This faith, which saves, comes from believing and accepting the message Christ preached, which He received from the Father. The voice of God is present in creation, His word, His prophets and apostles, and His ministry when they align with His truth. Our salvation hinges on yielding to this voice found in His word, for as Jesus said, His words are spirit and life. Rejecting or hardening ourselves to them prevents us from possessing the faith of Christ, which is essential for life.

Hearing God's Word is urgently needed for a life of faith. In Hebrews 3:15, we are urged to hear His voice today, not merely to listen to the sound, but to grasp and understand what God desires us to learn. This hearing is essential, as Hebrews 3:17-18 and 4:2 emphasize, presenting a continuous solution to the weakness of faith in the lives of the converted. God commands His people, who already know Him to some degree, to return and seek Him, not to establish a relationship, but to deepen intimacy with His will. The importance of hearing is further highlighted in Isaiah 55:1-3, where terms like "listen diligently," "incline your ear," "come to Me," and "hear and live" symbolize spiritual nourishment. Jesus Himself declares in John 6:51 that He is the living bread, and in John 6:63, He affirms that His words are spirit and life. Thus, hearing God's Word is akin to eating spiritually, a vital act of faith that sustains us. Romans 10:17 concludes that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ, underscoring that salvation by grace through faith depends on this act of hearing. Matthew 17:5 reinforces this urgency, as God commands from the cloud to hear His beloved Son, in whom He is well pleased. This hearing requires concentrated listening, comparing scripture with scripture, and meditated understanding to build a living faith that acknowledges God's sovereignty over our lives.

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by means of the word of God. Jesus Christ, during His ministry, repeatedly commanded His followers to listen, emphasizing the importance of truly hearing the message. This charge to listen appears eighteen times in His teachings, underscoring that mankind often fails to heed God's word. The scarcity of faith on earth today, as prophesied by Jesus when He questioned whether He would find faith upon His return, reflects how few truly listen to and live by God's word. To the end-time Church, His primary exhortation remains to listen, acknowledging the distractions and appealing arrangements of the world that divert attention from God's message. In the Old Testament, the prophet Jeremiah lamented that for twenty-three years, the people of Judah did not listen to God's warnings, leading to their defeat and captivity. Their refusal to listen resulted in societal disruptions and suffering, mirroring challenges faced today. God offered healing if they would repent, but their dismissal of His word as inconsequential, due to a lack of faith in His sovereignty, brought dire consequences. Listening to God's message is vital because it is through those who hear and believe that God's summons comes and His work is done. The authority of God's word in our hearts and minds determines whether we translate it into practical application. If we truly see God as the sovereign ruler of creation, deeply involved in our lives, we are more likely to listen and obey when He speaks. This recognition of His authority underpins our faith, enabling us to trust and act upon His word amidst life's challenges and distractions.