I want to show you that this life-style of hearing God’s Word as daily bread, of having the Holy Spirit speak to us daily and personally, was the life-style of Jesus Himself. He didn’t merely preach it, he practiced it. In the Prophet Isaiah, chapter 50, verses 4 through 7, there’s a beautiful prophetic picture of the earthly life of our Lord Jesus, of His ministry, and in particular, of His ongoing daily relationship with God, the Father. And this is what it says, Isaiah 50, verses 4 through 7:
“The sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, [This is Jesus speaking.] to know the word that sustains the weary. [You know Jesus was able to speak that word that sustained the weary. Now how did it come? Listen:] He awakens me morning by morning, awakens my ear to listen like one being taught. [That was the secret of Jesus, that God woke his ear every morning, that every morning He heard His Father’s voice speaking, guiding Him, giving Him direction and instruction and strength for the day. He goes on:] The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back. [And here’s a very clear, prophetic picture of Jesus.] I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I hid not my face from mocking and spitting. [Why was Jesus willing to go through with all that He went through? How was He able? How did He receive the strength? The answer was by hearing the Father’s voice. Every morning He heard from His Father before He communicated with human beings. Then He goes on:] Because the sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.”
So you see, Jesus began each day listening to the Father. And here are some of the results that followed from His listening to the Father like that each day. First of all, He had words of encouragement for others. Secondly, He received personal direction for each day, Himself. Thirdly, He received obedience. You know hearing God’s voice produces obedience. Fourthly He received strength to go through all that He had to go through. He needed more than human strength. He needed supernatural strength and He received that through hearing the Father’s voice. Fifthly, He received determination. He said, “I’ve set my face like a flint, I’m not turning back. All that came to Jesus through hearing the Father’s voice and hearing God’s voice will do the same for us as it did for Jesus. We need to cultivate that habit of letting the Lord waken our ear each morning that we may hear His voice first thing.
Father, I want to pray the prayer of Jesus: Please give me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. Awaken me morning by morning, awaken my ear to listen like one being taught. Open my ears, and help me to not be rebellious. Because You help me, I will not be disgraced. Help me to set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. In Jesus’ Name, amen!
