Day 83 “Two ears, one mouth, therefore, listen, and learn twice as long as you speak.”

Day 83

Matthew 10:5-8 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”

In the early '90s, there were a large number of evangelists, some well-known; others not so well-known, who received very similar visions from the Lord regarding the city of San Francisco in California. For each of us, the call was very simplistic and much like that as described in the preceding passage. We were told to go, do the bidding of the Lord, spread the gospel, preach, love, heal, and yes, even raise the dead, and so we did. In our case, however, we were not all aware that there were others who had received the same message, which only became apparent with time. It seemed at the time that no matter where I went, I was hearing people talk about the burden the Lord had placed upon their hearts for this area of the world.

For several years we, as a ministry, served faithfully, obeying the command of the Lord, and continually we received the same response. From the Churches in the city, the message was not received and, in essence, they felt that we were saying they weren’t doing their job rather than viewing us as a tool to assist them with their call. Therefore, the message, the blessing, and the fruit were largely left lying in the street rather than in the house of God. On the streets, the people, for the most part, spurned the message and the miracles; seeing, they did not believe and, therefore, they as well did not receive. After seven years, the Lord called us out of the city and has not released us to return, and He may never do so. In addition, most of the evangelists I knew of have done likewise, some before their time, but nevertheless, it is obvious that this city was given an opportunity which it, for the most part, has spurned.

The same can be said of the Jews at the time of this passage: they saw the miracles, they heard the message, and they chose not to receive the blessing of it, for whatever reason. No matter the reason for people spurning the gospel message, the outcome remains the same, and yet they do. My heart was broken for the people of San Francisco at one time, and now my heart is indifferent. I pray that our God’s heart has remained broken and that He will expand mercy to all of those who dwell there, and I am confident that this is true. However, I believe, because it is written, that those who have turned their back upon the gospel of Jesus Christ will not be protected from the wrath of God, and for them I pray repentance today.
Daily Prayer: Father for those who have heard Your words and spurned them I pray that You would give them ears to hear and eyes to see. Father that men would turn from the lies of this world and to the truth of You and Your salvation, In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Two ears, one mouth, therefore, listen, and learn twice as long as you speak.”

Pastor Gene Burroughs