Take Heed How You Hear
Stefan Silver
Haifa Israel
June 12th 2009
At 13:10 Israel time, on Thursday the 4th of June U.S President Barak Obama gave an historical speech at the Al Azhar University in Cario. This was a much anticipated speech as the exact content was not known or publicized prior to its reading, however many speculated in advance the issues he would speak on and what the message behind the words he spoke would be. I do not intend to write about the exact content of the speech and how I agree or disagree with it, but about the spirit behind this content and how as believers we need to guard ourselves from being swayed by such words. I also do not mean to criticize Obama, but to simply use his speech to show how words can seem wonderful for a moment when hearing them, but when taking a step back, and examining them from a biblical perspective, these words are not only empty, but they go completely against the word of God. I recommend you to take a look at the speech or read it (it can be downloaded from the internet). Reading it is a little different than seeing President Obama deliver it, because of the very eloquent way in which he speaks that makes if even the more attractive and “tingly to the ears”. Here is a link to the written text, and I am sure that with little difficulty you can also find a recording on ‘You Tube’ or other sites. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/us/politics/04obama.text.html
I am merely 25 years old. I am not considered to be anything special in the eyes of man whatsoever. I have no academic degree, not very much life experience and not enough of anything to be listened to in this world. However I do have a pair of eyes that I see rather well with, a pair of ears that I hear quite well with and I have the spirit of the living God of Israel living inside me. This alone is enough to be able to discern the words that we are exposed to, in the world and also in the body of Messiah. The picture that I saw while hearing the President speaking was one of Babel 2. At the tower of Babel YHWH dispersed the sons of Adam and confused their languages because they desired to be in one accord with each other and to ‘build ourselves a city and a tower whose top is in the heavens; make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the earth.’ (Gen 11:4)
First of all notice that they are rebelling against YHWH’s commandment to multiply and fill the earth. Also notice the way they spoke – us, we, ourselves – it is all about them and what they want, not about what YHWH wants, and when we are in relationship with Him what is it that we are told to pray? … ‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’ It is not about us and what we want, it is about Him and what He wants. Throughout the speech, the President kept mentioning the fact that we can make peace, we can bring the religions together and we can live together in harmony. He put a lot of emphasis on having interfaith meetings where Christians, Muslims and Jews can come and be able to worship ‘god’ (not God, but some other god) together. He spoke of the peace that we are to seek between the religions, conveying the message that there is more than one way to God and that all of the religions are good. The mention of peace was not only mentioned on the context of religion but in general. Using very a persuasive manner and impressive words, Obama – who is known to be an extremely good speaker - spoke of reuniting the world, especially between the Muslims and the west.
The word of God however says the exact opposite. Yeshua Himself spoke these words Matt 10:34-36 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’ and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' (NKJ) Yeshua is not being mean here or wanting to bring discord, but He knows and understands that there is one way, and one way only to the Father and that is through Him. He also knows that few find this way and that is a narrow and difficult way to walk, and because of this way that is called Yeshua, that goes against everything the world represents and teaches, there will be a sword rather than peace, and discord rather than unity. In Revelation 2:2 we are told of the ‘Ekklesia’ (meaning ‘chosen ones’, or ‘assembly’ or ‘community’. This is the Greek word that was translated in English to ‘Church’) in Ephesus who tested those who called themselves apostles and found them out to be liars. In 1 Thes 5:21 Shaul HaShaliah (the apostle Paul) says “Test all things; hold fast what is good.” We see from these two verses that we are to test everything that we hear, even from within the body. Those who stand up and speak in the congregation, those who teach – each of us are to test what it is they are saying and if we find fault to bring it to surface, just as the Ekklesia of Ephesus did. How much more then should we be testing and examining things that are said by those who are not of the body of Messiah, lest we find ourselves being led astray from the one true path.
It is easy to get wrapped up in wonderful speeches and teachings that sound good and make us feel better about ourselves, and many times are even backed up by scripture, but when we have the Spirit of God living in us and by knowing His true character we can separate the true from the false. This is simply a call to be alert. The Lord calls us be alert in His word. In the many parables that Yeshua spoke and also in the teachings of Paul, we are told to be awake, to be alert, to watch and pray so that we do not fall into temptation, so that we are not led astray and so that we know the times in which we are living. Let us test all things and hold fast what is good, so that we may continually walk after the Good Shepherd and not find ourselves going astray.