Have you ever thought about the fact that what happens in the natural is happening in the spirit. We are spirit beings after all. Recently I was listening to a friend of mine talking on the phone with a young woman who she was trying to help. This young woman has been dealt many blows in life. My friend was helping her to get the proper assistance she needed. Some of the details were taken care of, but in this process, I noticed something that happens in the natural was also happening in the spirit. The Lord began paralleling how the use of our phones and voicemail are much like how we treat His word, and our communication with Him. There were important phone calls from people that were responding to this need, but because this young woman had not set up her voicemail, she could not be reached. Here’s what I heard Holy Spirit saying:
- I am always speaking and desiring to communicate with you. I use My word, and many other multifaceted ways.
- There are some that have never set up their voicemail, although they have received their phone and it has full capability to provide this service. They don’t understand how to set it up, so they don’t try. Apply Matthew 13:18-19, “Hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.”
- There are some who have received their phone, are very excited about all its awesome features, get voicemail and all its other settings activated properly, but then keep forgetting to take it with them, or check to see who’s called, so they can’t really be reached. Quite often they end up missing very beneficial information, especially when it’s time sensitive. Apply Matthew 13:20-21, “He who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”
- There are some who have their voicemail, messages, ringtones, emails, and all other aspects of their phones in full operation. Their voicemail can be very full, but they do their best to answer every one. There’s a feature on their voicemail that dictates in writing what’s been said, because often it’s hard to hear the message that the person left. If they try reading it, it’s often quite distorted. They have all the latest and coolest apps out there though. They use them a lot. They may even have more than one phone. These phones can just be touched together and transfer information from one to the other. They are busy on them, texting, messaging, talking and quiet good at multitasking on them. They check them constantly. Apply Matthew 13:22, “He who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke out the word, and he becomes unfruitful.”
- There are some who have their phone, and understand how to use it properly, causing them to communicate well in their relationships with others. They steward their time well on it, using it as a valuable tool, understanding that when used correctly, there is much productivity that comes from it. They get back in touch with the people who have left voicemails, making sure that they heard the message correctly. Apply Matthew 13:23, “He who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces.”
God’s word says that His sheep hear His voice, and they know that it’s Him. They follow Him, and they don’t listen to the voice of a stranger. John 10:27.Ask Holy Spirit what kind of spiritual voicemail you have or don’t have set up with Him. He’s always saying something.
Luke 10:39-42, “She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone ? Therefore tell her to help me.’ And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But ONE THING IS NEEDED, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”Prayer: Lord Jesus, we want to be the good soil that You sow Your word into. We want to understand Your word, and to bear much fruit of Your Holy Spirit. We want to be like the grain of wheat that goes into the ground and dies, with our lives being resurrected into Yours. (John 12:24-26) Help us Holy Spirit to have the eyes of our understanding enlightened, every time You speak. We seek You diligently Lord, and even though You are gracious to always leave us voicemails, let us learn to fine tune our spiritual eyes and ears to grasp what You’re always wanting to say to us at all times. In Jesus name, amen.