The preacher stood behind the pulpit and shared what God had laid on his heart. All ears and eyes were attentive, especially the eyes of the small, deaf ministry sitting on the front, right side of the church.
As the pastor spoke, a deaf interpreter stood up to relay the message to the deaf congregation. He stood between the preacher and the deaf and did his best to let the deaf “hear” what was said.
The hearing and the deaf were soon moved. Every once in a while, a soft “amen” could be heard from the hearing congregation. Sometimes, a loud clapping-type sound emanated from the deaf section. It was from a non-hearing person slapping a thumbs-up fist into his open palm; it was the deaf sign language for “amen.”
On and on, the stirring message touched hearts, until an unusual thing happened to the sound system. It stopped. The soundman attending the system was perplexed. He interrupted the preacher to explain while he tried to fix the equipment.
Not wanting to halt the working of the Holy Spirit, the pastor continued what the Lord had him share. Although some in the front row could hear what was being said, many could not. The interpreter was still close enough to hear, so he continued relaying the heart-stirring message to the deaf.
While some soft “Amen”s could still be heard, the pounding of the loud deaf’s “Amen”s increased. More non-hearing people signed their amens in response to the message.
One deaf lady left her seat and almost ran to the altar steps to get alone with God and get things right with Him. Shortly, an older deaf man kneeled next to her; his face was wet with tears. The Holy Spirit was working in the hearts of those who “heard” God’s message to them.
However, those in the back of the church heard very little. Many looked to their neighbors with perplexed “what’s going on” looks on their faces.
There were no “amen”s coming from the back of the church, and little evidence of the Holy Spirit doing anything back there. However, a revival was going on in the church’s front, but those towards the back were not affected.
This fictional account illustrates what happens in good, Bible-believing churches during most services. Many hearing and non-hearing “hear” the message, but the “interpreter,” the Holy Spirit’s whispering to hearts is not heard, ignored, or purposely disobeyed.
Hardened, disobedient, and even unsaved hearts refuse to obey or do what the Holy Spirit has convicted them of. In so doing, the Lord’s “voice” is not heard by them.
Many in the service have heard what the Lord would have them do, and they do it. However, there are always some who wonder why others are excited about what was preached and are satisfied to continue daydreaming or on their cell phones while the message is delivered.
The Word of God, when preached or heard, will change lives and hearts. Unfortunately, many sin-deafened ears do not do what is laid on their hearts. After seeing that the Holy Spirit’s help is not obeyed, He decides to no longer speak to the person who is ignoring Him or is determined to do their own will rather than what God knows is best for them.
Are you attentive to the Holy Spirit’s attempt to interpret God’s will and way for you, or are you deaf to His prodding? Submit to His calling, or one day He may never give you the opportunity again.
“When men surrender themselves to the Spirit of God, they will learn more concerning God and Christ and the Atonement and Immortality in a week than they would learn in a lifetime, apart from the Spirit.” — Brown
