The Power of Hearing.

Act 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, which shook the prison to its foundations. At once all the doors opened, and the chains fell off all the prisoners.

The prison is not a place of joy or celebration, prisoners live the most miserable of lives because their freedom is constrained and they can neither be fruitful nor dominate in such a state. The prison is a place of silence, prisoners retreat deep into their minds to reflect and catch up with the available sweet memories that will keep them from going insane. It is therefore a mystery that Paul and Silas sang hymns and the prisoners listened. The mystery is that by listening to the songs, they automatically became partakers of the freedom that was purposed for the apostles.
(Rom 10:17) So then, faith comes by hearing the message, and the message comes through preaching Christ. By listening to the psalms being sung their faith was kindled and they were set free. Such is the power of hearing.

But why do many people hear and yet get no positive results?

Like Gideon in Judges 6: 13 who heard all the wonderful news the fathers told about God, but still continued to ask for signs in order to be double sure. Many believers have seen miracles, signs and wonders; they listen to the word of God, obey the precepts therein and yet they are not living a triumphant life in Christ. Why?
God is not at fault, it is as a man who wanted to watch a favourite TV programme, and made sure he was seated in front of the TV set at the right time but refused to switch on the TV. Can one blame the broadcast station for not transmitting the programme? No.

In the same vein, every believer must know that the Bible is not to be read like a newspaper and sermons are not in the same category as News broadcast. One holds the Power for effective change while the other is mere fleeting and ever changing information.

The prisoners heard and what they heard culminated in their freedom. What about you? Are you ready to be set free?