How can we avoid becoming "dull of hearing" in our faith journey? Hebrews 5:11—The Warning in Plain Sight “We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing.” What “Dull of Hearing” Looks Like • Familiar words of Scripture feel routine, no longer stirring the heart • Conviction fades; sins once resisted are now tolerated • Teaching drifts by untested and un-applied (cf. James 1:22–24) • Spiritual discussions hold little interest, yet worldly chatter captivates • Growth plateaus, leaving the believer dependent on spiritual “milk” (Hebrews 5:12) Roots of the Problem • Neglect of daily, prayerful Bible intake (Psalm 119:11; Matthew 4:4) • Crowded schedules that drown out quiet listening (Mark 4:19) • Pride that resists correction (Proverbs 12:1) • Selective obedience—hearing without doing (Luke 6:46) • Influences that itch the ears rather than pierce the heart (2 Timothy 4:3–4) Commitments That Keep Our Ears Open • Open the Word daily, expecting God to speak; faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17) • Meditate, not just read—pause, ponder, personalize (Joshua 1:8) • Obey promptly; understood truth becomes retained truth (John 13:17) • Cultivate a teachable spirit—invite counsel and correction (Proverbs 19:20) • Guard inputs: music, media, conversations that dull sensitivity (Philippians 4:8) • Gather consistently with believers for expositional teaching (Hebrews 10:24–25) • Serve actively; ministry exercises the senses “trained by practice” (Hebrews 5:14) • Pray for illumination—“Open my eyes to see wondrous things in Your law” (Psalm 119:18) Supporting Scriptures to Sharpen Our Hearing • Deuteronomy 6:4–6 — Hear, love, and keep His words close • Proverbs 3:5–6 — Trust and acknowledge Him in all ways • Matthew 13:15 — Hearts grown dull block healing truth • Revelation 2:7 — “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says” • James 1:19 — Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger A Portrait of Mature Listeners • Discernment that distinguishes truth from error (Hebrews 5:14) • A growing appetite for “solid food” of deeper doctrine • Joy in receiving both encouragement and rebuke from Scripture • Consistent transformation evident in speech, choices, and attitudes • Readiness to teach others, multiplying what has been heard (2 Titus 2:2) Remaining alert requires intentional hearing. By treasuring Scripture, obeying swiftly, and guarding our inputs, we keep our spiritual ears sharp and our hearts alive to God’s voice. |
    |