WORDS

PROVERBS 18:21 – DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE: AND THEY THAT LOVE IT SHALL EAT THE FRUIT THEREOF  (OR PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM SAYING THE WRONG THING).

PROVERBS 17:27a, 28 – HE THAT HATH KNOWLEDGE SPARETH HIS WORDS:

EVEN A FOOL, WHEN HE HOLDETH HIS PEACE, IS COUNTED WISE: AND HE THAT SHUTTETH HIS LIPS IS ESTEEMED A MAN OF UNDERSTANDING  (OR IT PAYS HIM OR HER TO KEEP THEIR MOUTH SHUT).

I HEARD FROM SOME SOURCE: EVERY PERSON HAS APPROXIMATELY 27,000 IN THEM TO SPEAK EVERY DAY.

I DON’T KNOW IF THAT IS TRUTH OR NOT, BUT SOMETIMES WE ARE AROUND THOSE, WHO SEEM TO USE ALL THEIR WORDS UP ON YOU AT ONE CONVERSATION.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

OF COURSE YOU DO.

WE DON’T REALLY MIND, THOUGH, IF IT IS EDIFYING AND UPLIFTING.

CREATION IS IN EXISTENCE BECAUSE OF THE SPOKEN WORD, OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.

ALL THROUGH THE FIRST CHAPTER OF GENESIS, WE READ: AND GOD SAID…

SO WE MUST COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WORDS ARE POWERFUL AND CREATIVE, WHEN SPOKEN.

WHEN ADAM AND EVE SINNED, THE FIRST NEGATIVE WORD WAS SPOKEN BY ADAM. ADAM SAID IN GENESIS 3:1 – I WAS AFRAID…

RIGHT THEN AND THERE , THE SPIRIT OF FEAR WAS SPOKEN INTO EXISTENCE.

SO, SOMETHING CHANGED IN OUR SPOKEN WORDS WHEN SIN CAME INTO THE WORLD.

WE ALREADY HAD THE POSITIVE WORDS; BUT HERE CAME THE NEGATIVE.

MATTHEW 12:37 – FOR BY THY WORDS THOU SHALT BE JUSTIFIED  (OR AQUITTED),  AND BY THY WORDS THOU SHALT BE CONDEMNED  (OR SENTENCED).

WHEN THE JUDGE SAYS, “GUILTY,” IT MEANS SOMETHING. WOULDN’T YOU AGREE?

WE CHOOSE WHAT HAPPENS AROUND US, AT TIMES, BY THE WORDS WE SPEAK ABOUT OURSELVES AND OTHERS.

AS WORDS ARE SPOKEN OVER US, WE CAN RECEIVE THEM OR REJECT THEM. 

BECAUSE WE LIVE IN SUCH A NEGATIVE SOCIETY, THOUGH, MOST PEOPLE ACCEPT THE NEGATIVE. I FEEL LIKE MANY OF YOU CAN RELATE TO THAT STATEMENT. I KNOW I CAN.

OUR CHILDREN HAVE WORDS FOLLOWING THEM WE SPOKE OVER THEM SINCE BIRTH, AND THEY REMAIN AROUND THEM, FOLLOWING THEM, WHEREVER THEY GO, UNTIL THEY RECEIVE THEM, OR REJECT THEM.

I HAVE HEARD, THAT SPOKEN WORDS ARE LIKE SOUND WAVES: AFTER THEY ARE RELEASED, THEY STAY IN THE AIR UNTIL THEY ARE PICKED-UP BY A RECEIVER.

IF WE COULD SEE IN THE SPIRIT WORLD, WE COULD SEE THOSE ACTUAL WORDS, SPOKEN OVER US, REMAINING IN THE AIR, FOLLOWING US AROUND: CURSES AND BLESSINGS.

OUR PARENTS DIDN’T, AND WE DON’T PURPOSE TO SPEAK CURSES OVER OUR CHILDREN. WE JUST DIDN’T KNOW WHAT WE WERE DOING.

LET’S CHANGE THE WORDS WE SPEAK ABOUT, OR OVER OTHERS. ASK GOD TO HELP YOU, AND HE WILL.

 

 

*WATCH FOR: WORDS PART II  

 

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THE PREACHER THAT QUIT

I KINGS 19:1-4 

AND AHAB TOLD JEZEBEL ALL THAT ELIJAH HAD DONE, AND WITHAL HOW HE HAD SLAIN ALL THE PROPHETS WITH THE SWORD.

THEN JEZEBEL SENT A MESSENGER UNTO ELIJAH SAYING. SO LET THE gODS DO TO ME, AND MORE ALSO, IF I MAKE NOT THY LIFE AS THE LIFE OF ONE OF THEM BY TOMORROW ABOUT THIS TIME.

AND WHEN HE SAW THAT, HE AROSE, AND WENT FOR HIS LIFE, AND CAME TO BEER-SHEBA TO JUDAH, AND LEFT HIS SERVANT THERE.

BUT HE HIMSELF WENT A DAY’S JOURNEY INTO THE WILDERNESS, AND CAME  AND SAT DOWN UNDER A JUNIPER TREE: AND HE REQUESTED FOR HIMSELF THAT HE MIGHT DIE; AND SAID IT IS ENOUGH; NOW, O LORD, TAKE AWAY  MY LIFE; FOR I AM NO BETTER THAN MY FATHERS.

ELIJAH THE PROPHET WHO HAD CHALLENGED THE PROPHETS OF BAAL, CALLED FIRE DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN, KILLED THE PROPHETS OF BAAL, PRAYED DOWN RAIN OUT OF HEAVEN. WHAT A VICTORY.

JEZEBEL THREATENS HIS LIFE, FEAR  GRIPES THE  MIND OF  ELIJAH. ELIJAH HAD BEEN SO BOLD WITH GREAT FAITH, BUT KNOW HE HAS FORGOTTEN THE POWERFUL RELEASE OF GODS POWER INTO HIS LIFE. 

THIS SPIRIT OF JEZEBEL BROUGHT FEAR, DISCOURAGEMENT AND CONFUSION UPON HIS MIND. ELIJAH LOST HIS VISION, HIS PURPOSE WAS FORGOTTEN. HE RAN FROM GOD, HE RAN FROM MINISTRY, HE RAN FROM JEZEBEL. HIS PURPOSE AS GODS MAN DIDN’T MATTER ANYMORE.

HE WAS FEARFUL, DEPRESSED, DISCOURAGED, DISILLUSIONED, FULL OF SELF PITY. HE LEFT HIS SERVANT BEHIND AND TOOK OFF.

THROUGH THIS EXAMPLE OF THE ATTACK ON ELIJAH’S MIND, I UNDERSTAND THE WAY SATAN ATTACKS AFTER GREAT SPIRITUAL VICTORIES. 

DISCOURAGEMENT IS ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE DEMONS IN THESE LAST DAYS. FEAR IS ITS SISTER.

I HUMBLY TELL YOU, I HAVE FELL UNDER THIS ATTACK MANY TIMES, AFTER  GREAT VICTORIES COME ATTACKS. DRY  SPELLS AND ATTACKS AGAINEST THE MIND.

I HAVE LEARNED TO REST, AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN I MINISTER TO OTHERS AND GIVE OUT THE ANOINTING ON MY LIFE, THAT I MUST PULL AWAY FROM MINISTRY AND BUILD UP MY INNER MAN THROUGH PRAYER, WORSHIP AND THE WORD OF GOD.  READ A CHRISTIAN BOOK, LISTEN TO TAPES OR CD’S ON FAITH. SERVE THE MASTER AS A GOOD SERVANT IN HIS PRESENCE. THE WAR WE ARE IN IS A SPIRITUAL WAR AND MUST BE FOUGHT WITH THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH. I AM CONVINCED  ELIJAH FELT COLD SPIRITUALLY, HE FELT LIKE GOD HAD DESERTED HIM. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE ANOINTING THAT WAS ON ELIJAH WHEN HE CALLED THE FIRE OF GOD DOWN ON THE SACRIFICE. HOW HE FELT WHEN HE PRAYED DOWN RAIN. NOW ELIJAH FEELS NOTHING. DEMONS ATTACK HIS MIND, HE FEELS DESERTED BY GOD, HE THINKS HE’S THE ONLY ONE SERVING GOD. DESERTED BY GOD HE TURNS TAIL AND RUNS, HE QUITS. HE HAD NO FAITH OPERATING, I HAVE BEEN THERE, CRYING OUT ACCUSING GOD OF NOT CARING. WE LEARN BY OUR MISTAKES. WE MUST KEEP THE FAITH AND CLAIM VICTORY REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE SEE OR HEAR.

ELIJAH COULD SEE THE PROPHETS OF BAAL BUT COULDN’T SEE THE DEMON’S ATACKING HIS FAITH.

AFTER GREAT  SPRITUAL VICTORIES WE NEED TO REST OUR MIND AND BODIES, YOUR SPIRIT CAN BE STRONG AND YOUR BODY TIRED, THIS WILL MAKE YOU WEARY IN WELL DOING.

JESUS PULLED AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE TO PRAY AND SEEK THE FATHER, HE RESTED AT TIMES IN THE PRESENCE OF THE FATHER. HE WAS IN A HUMAN BODY HE COULD GROW TIRED.

MARK 6:31

AND HE SAIN UNTO THEM, COME YE YOURSELVES APART INTO A DESERT PLACE, AND REST A WHILE FOR THERE WERE MANY COMING AND GOING, AND THEY HAD NO LEISURE SO MUCH AS TO EAT.

ELIJAH HEARD THE STILL SMALL VOICE OF GOD ON A SECLUDED MOUNTAIN.

ELIJAH’S MINISTRY IS NOT OVER YET. HE  AND MOSES CAME DOWN ON A MOUNTAIN IN ISRAEL AND TALKED TO JESUS ABOUT HIS SUFFERING IN JERUSALEM. ELIJAH WILL BE ONE OF THE PROPHETS THAT WILL PREACH ON THE STREETS OF JERUSALEM IN THE 1ST PART OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. FOR  THREE AND ONE HALF YEARS HE WILL PREACH THAT JESUS IS THE JEWISH MESSIAH WHO CAME AND WAS CRUCIFIED FOR  THEIR SIN. HE WILL PREACH JESUS CRUCIFIED AND RESURRECTED. AND THAT HE IS COMING AGAIN TO SET UP HIS KINGDOM ON EARTH. HE WILL DO MIRACLES AND CALL DOWN FIRE OUT OF HEAVEN. 144,000 JEWS WILL BE SAVED AND PREACH THE GOSPEL. ELIJAH WILL BE  THE FORERUNNER OF THE RETURN OF KING JESUS TO JERUSALEM. THE MINISTRY OF ELIJAH WILL BE SEEN AROUND THE WORLD BY TELEVISION AND INTERNET, PREACHING THE GOSPEL.

DOESN’T SOUND LIKE THIS PREACHER STAYED QUIT. NO ELIJAH IS STILL IN THE MINISTRY WAITING FOR HIS PULPIT AGAIN, TO PROPHESY TO KINGS AND PREIST AND TO ALL THE LOST THE KING IS COMING, KING JESUS.

CAN I TELL YOU THAT YOUR MINISTRY IS NOT OVER EITHER, YOU ARE JUST GETTING STARTED. GOD IS NOT THROUGH WITH YOU. THE GIFTS AND CALLING OF GOD IS WITHOUT REPENTANCE. STIR UP THAT POWER THAT IS INSIDE OF YOU, LET THE ANOINTING OF GOD REFRESH YOU AND GIVE YOU NEW VISION.                     

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WORDS PART III

EPHESIANS 4:13 – LET NO CORRUPT COMMUNICATION PROCEED OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, BUT THAT WHICH IS GOOD TO THE USE OF EDIFYING (OR BUILDING UP), THAT IT MAY MINISTER GRACE TO THE HEARERS.

ALL OF US NEED TO BE BUILT-UP OR EDIFIED. OUR FAMILY MEMBERS NEED TO HEAR WORDS COMING FROM OUR MOUTH’S THAT ARE BLESSINGS AND NOT CURSES.

TIMOTHY IS PAUL’S SON IN THE SPIRIT. LISTEN HOW HE BUILDS TIMOTHY UP.

II TIMOTHY 1:13 – HOLD FAST THE FORM OF SOUND WORDS, WHICH THOU HAST HEARD OF ME, IN FAITH AND LOVE, WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS.

TO TIMOTHY, MY DEAR BELOVED SON: GRACE, MERCY AND PEACE, FROM GOD THE FATHER AND CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.

FAITH, BEING THE POSITIVE, OR BLESSINGS; AND FEAR BEING THE NEGATIVE, OR CURSES: LISTEN TO THE FOLLOWING VERSES:

II TIMOTHY 1:3-5 – I THANK GOD, WHOM I SERVE FROM MY FOREFATHERS WITH A PURE CONSCIENCE, THAT WITHOUT CEASING I HAVE REMEMBRANCE OF THEE IN MY PRAYERS NIGHT AND DAY;

GREATLY DESIRING TO SEE THEE, BEING MINDFUL OF THY TEARS, THAT I MAY BE FILLED WITH JOY:

WHEN I CALL TO REMEMBRANCE THE UNFEIGNED LOVE THAT IS IN THEE, WHICH DWELT FIRST IN THY GRANDMOTHER LOIS, AND THY MOTHER EUNICE; AND I AM PERSUADED THAT IN THEE ALSO.

TIMOTHY HAD A GRANDMOTHER AND A MOTHER, WHO LOVED HIM, AND INFLUENCED HIS LIFE.

THAT PERSON THAT IS PRAYING FOR YOU AND INFLUENCING YOUR LIFE, TO SERVE GOD, AND HIS PURPOSE FOR YOUR FUTURE.

MAYBE THEY ARE PRAYING, “DON’T GIVE-UP ON HER, LORD: MAKE HER SWEET, JUST LIKE JESUS.”

SOME OF YOU ARE REALLY HURTING BECAUSE OF THE THINGS SPOKEN OVER YOU IN YOUR PAST, AND EVEN NOW, YOU STILL HEAR THOSE WORDS, FOLLOWING YOU, AND SCREAMING OUT AT YOU.

THE FIRST THING YOU NEED TO DO DO, IS GIVE IT ALL TO GOD; AND THE NEXT STEP IS TO FORGIVE THAT ONE WHO HAS HURT YOU WITH THEIR WORDS OR IN ANY WAY.

THIS MAY SEEM STRANGE TO YOU, BUT TO BE FREE, THIS HAS TO TAKE PLACE.

YOU MAY EVEN NEED TO FORGIVE YOURSELF FOR THOSE CURSES YOU HAVE SPOKEN OVER YOURSELF OTHERS.

MAYBE, YOU MAY NEED TO ASK THEM TO FORGIVE YOU, AND THAT FROM NOW ON, YOUR WORDS TO THEM ARE LIFE, AND BLESSINGS.

DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE…     PROVERBS 18:21

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THE TRIED

BEING TRIED IS NOT THE EASIEST PART OF BEING A CHILD OF GOD.

WE ARE TRIED MANY TIMES BY THE USE OF FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, CHURCH MEMBERS, AND ENEMIES OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.

WE ARE TRIED BY OUR OWN IMAGINATIONS GOING WILD.

WE ARE TRIED BY BY OUR REACTIONS TO CERTAIN SITUATIONS.

WE ARE ALWAYS ON THE BATTLEFIELD AS WE SERVE THE LORD. BUT WHAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER IS, I SAMUEL 17:47b – THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S.

WE DON’T HAVE TO FIGHT OUR BATTLES.

TRIALS COME, MY FRIEND, THEY COME.

BUT WE SHOULD REMEMBER: TRIALS ARE LIKE A TUNNEL. THEY HAVE A BEGINNING AND AN END. WE CAN SEE LIGHT AT THE END OF A TUNNEL. BUT WHILE GOING THROUGH A TUNNEL, THERE IS DARKNESS BEFORE THE LIGHT.

BUT AS CHRISTIANS, WE HAVE THE SENSE THAT WE ARE STILL MOVENG FORWARD, NO MATTER HOW DARK IT MAY SEEM.

THIS IS LIKE THE TIMES WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF BEING TRIED. WE REALIZE HOW POWERFUL THE GRACE OF GOD REALLY IS: HOW HE IS IN CHARGE, BECAUSE WE HAVE NO STRENGTH OF OUR OWN.

OUR TRUST CANNOT BE THE FLESH; FLESH WON’T HELP: IT HAS TO BE GOD WHO IS CARRYING US THROUGH.

PSALM 66:8-12 –  O BLESS OUR GOD, YE HIS PEOPLE, AND MAKE THE VOICE OF HIS PRAISE BE HEARD:

WHICH HOLDETH OUR SOUL IN LIFE, AND SUFFERETH NOT OUR FEET TO BE MOVED.

FOR THOU O GOD, HAST PROVED US; HAS TRIED US AS SILVER IS TRIED

SILVER, ACCORDING TO ANCIENT METHODS, REQUIRED A PROLONGED PROCESS OF REFINING BEFORE IT COULD BE PRONOUNCED PURE.

SO YOU COULD SAY IT THIS WAY, “YOU, THROUGH A LONG PROCESS, HAVE PURIFIED US WITH FIRE.”

VERSES 11,12 – THOU BROUGHTEST US INTO THE NET; THOU LAIDEST AFFLICTION UPON OUR LOINS. THOU HAST CAUSED MEN TO RIDE OVER OUR HEADS; WE WENT THROUGH THE FIRE AND THROUGH  WATER: BUT THOU BROUGHTEST US OUT INTO A WEALTHY PLACE. 

THE MEANING IS, YOU CRUSHED US DOWN UNDER A HEAVY WEIGHT, OR LAID GREAT BURDENS ON OUR BACKS. MEN CAME AGAINST US TO HARM US, BUT IN THE END, YOU BROUGHT US OUT INTO WEALTH AND GREAT ABUNDANCE, A PLACE OF REFRESHMENT, A PLACE OF LIBERTY.

VERSES 16-20 – COME AND HEAR, ALL YE THAT FEAR GOD, AND I WILL DECLARE WHAT HE HATH DONE FOR MY SOUL. I CRIED UNTO HIM WITH MY MOUTH, AND HE WAS EXTOLLED (OR CELEBRATED) WITH MY TONGUE.  

IN ALL THESE VERSES, IT SEEMS THE PSALMIST HAS BEEN THROUGH A TERRIBLE TRIAL. HE BEGAN TO PRAISE GO WITH HIS MOUTH AND TELL OTHERS HOW GOD BROUGHT HIM OUT.

BUT GOD DID MORE THAN JUST BRING HIM OUT OF HIS TRIAL, HE MOVED HIM INTO A PLACE OF REFRESHMENT, A PLACE OF LIBERTY, A PLACE OF BLESSING.

HE WAS ELEVATED INTO ANOTHER LEVEL WITH GOD BY THE PASSING OF THIS GREAT TRIAL.

I BELIEVE THIS HAPPENS TO US AFTER WE HAVE BEEN TRIED.

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LISTEN

MANY OF US HAVE MUCH TO SAY; SOME MORE THAN OTHERS.

WE WANT TO BE HEARD.

LORD, HELP US TO LISTEN; HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SPEAKING TO US, AND REALLY HEAR WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY.

WHEN SOMEONE IS TRYING TO SHARE THEIR HEART WITH US, WE SOMETIMES RATTLE-ON, GIVING ADVICE, WHEN WE ARE NOT REALLY HEARING WHAT THEY ARE SAYING.

GUILTY? WELL, SO AM I.

WE WANT TO SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS FOR THEM.

IN COUNSELING, WE ARE TOLD NOT TO MAKE A QUICK JUDGMENT THE FIRST TIME SOMEONE DISCUSSES THEIR PROBLEMS WITH US. LET THEM HAVE TIME TO HEAR THEMSELVES SPEAK IT OUT.

SOMETIMES, WHAT THEY HEAR FROM THEIR OWN MOUTH SOUNDS SILLY TO THEM AFTER THEY PUT IT IN WORDS. OCCASIONALLY, THEY SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEM BY WHAT THEY HEAR.

WE ARE TO LISTEN, SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND THEIR HEART IN WHAT THEY ARE  REALLY WANTING TO SAY WITHOUT STATING IT.

SOMETIMES, IT IS SO HARD TO SPEAK IT OUT.

A LISTENING EAR IS OF GREATER IMPORTANCE THAN A THOUSAND WORDS UTTERED TO THE PERSON DESIRING COUNSELING.

IF WE LISTEN, WE WILL HEAR.

EVERONE NEEDS A LISTENING EAR AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIFE.

I BELIEVE IF PARENTS WOULD LISTEN INSTEAD OF LECTURING THEIR TEEN, THEY WOULD LEARN A GREAT DEAL FROM WHAT THEY ARE NOT SAYING. THEY WILL BEGIN TO OPEN-UP AND SHARE THEIR HEART, AND FEARS WITH YOU.

DON’T GET SO BUSY THAT YOU CAN’T HEAR THEM. IF THEY OPEN-UP TO YOU, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE ABLE TO GUIDE THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

TEENS REALLY DO WANT THEIR PARENT’S APPROVAL; AND EVEN IF THEY SAY THEY DON’T WANT ATTENTION, THEY ARE ACTUALLY SAYING TO YOU, “I WONT ASK FOR IT, BUT I WILL DO ANYTHING I HAVE TO DO TO GET IT!”

MOST PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT A MATTER; THEY JUST WANT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL SOMEONE WHO WILL LISTEN.

AT TIMES, THEY HAVE THEIR MINDS MADE UP PREVIOUSLY, ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO BEFORE THEY GET THERE, THEY JUST WANT TO SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE.

WHAT THEY ARE WANTING TO SAY, COMES OUT AFTER A WHILE, OR AFTER A FEW TIMES OF TALKING ABOUT IT. THEY START TO FEEL AT EASE WITH YOU AND SHARE WHAT IS ON THEIR HEART.

HAVING SOMEONE TO LISTEN IS OF GREAT VALUE TO A TROUBLED SOUL. IT COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE COMMITTING SUICIDE, AND NOT COMMITTING SUICIDE

WE JUST DON’T KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO LISTEN.

TRY THIS EXPERIMENT: WHILE CARRYING ON A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE; STOP TALKING, AND LISTEN.

THE WORD LISTEN IS USED ONLY ONCE IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, IN ISAIAH 49:1. IT IS A HEBREW WORD: SHAMA (SHAW-MAH’), WHICH MEANS TO HEAR INTELLIGENTLY, CAREFULLY, ATTENTIVELY. IT ALSO IMPLIES OBEDIENCE.

IN FIRST KINGS 8:30 – SOLOMON ASKED GOD, …AND HARKEN THOU TO THE SUPPLICATION OF THY SERVANT, AND THY PEOPLE, ISRAEL, WHEN THEY SHALL PRAY TOWARD THIS PLACE: AND HEAR THOU IN HEAVEN THY DWELLING PLACE: AND WHEN THOU HEAREST, FORGIVE. SOLOMON USED: HEARKEN, HEAR,HEAREST.

ALL THREE WORDS ARE DEFINED THE SAME AS THE WORD, LISTEN: TO HEAR CAREFULLY, INTELLIGENTLY, AND ATTENTIVELY. SO, LISTEN AND HEAR MEAN THE SAME IN THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE, AS WELL AS OUR MODERN LANGUAGE.

SO STOP TALKING, AND LISTEN, AND YOU WILL SEE GREAT RESULTS.

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