Heaven Taken by Storm — 3

Thomas Watson

Offering Violence by the Hearing of the Word

We may bring our bodies to the Word with ease, but not our hearts without offering violence to ourselves.  When we come to the Word preached, we come to a matter of the highest importance; therefore we should stir up ourselves and hear with the greatest devotion.

How far are they from offering violence to themselves in hearing who scarcely mind what is said, as if they were not concerned with it.  The come to church more for custom than conscience, "They come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as My people, and they hear thy words, but they will nt do them" (Ezek. 33:31).

The Word is to feed.  The Word judges men.

That we may, when we come to the Word, offer violence to ourselves and stir up ourselves to hear with devotion, consider:

• It is God that speaks to us.
• The weightiness of the matters delivered to us
• If the Word is not regarded, it will not be remembered
• It may be the last time that God will ever speak to us in His Word; it may be the last sermon that we shall ever hear.

— Heaven Taken by Storm

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