Beyond Hearing: How to Truly Receive the Word
By Gregory Toussaint | February 9th, 2026
At the pinnacle of this gathering is the reading and teaching of the Word of God. Yet, how often do we find ourselves merely hearing the words without truly receiving them? A profound difference exists between the two, a difference that can determine whether we leave a service empty-handed or spiritually transformed.
To truly receive the Word of God is to move beyond passive listening to active, heartfelt engagement. Unlocking a deeper, more meaningful connection to the divine message involves three essential secrets: respecting the Word, receiving the Word, and responding to the Word.
Respect for the Word
Before we can receive, we must first respect. Respect is the foundational attitude we must cultivate. When the Word of God is being read or taught, it is not a time for distractions, private conversations, or scrolling through our phones. It is a moment that demands our full and undivided attention. A simple yet profound gesture of respect, as highlighted in Nehemiah 8:5, is to stand when the Word is read. Just as we stand for a judge entering a courtroom or a president entering a room, this act of standing signifies our reverence for the presence of God Himself, who is manifest in His Word.
"And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up." (Nehemiah 8:5, NKJV)
This physical act of standing is more than just a tradition; it is a powerful reminder to our own hearts and minds that we are in the presence of the Holy One. It prepares us to receive the message that is about to be delivered, shifting our posture from passive observers to active participants.
Receiving the Word
Once a foundation of respect is established, the next step is to actively receive the Word. A crucial distinction exists: we hear with our ears, but we receive with our hearts. It is entirely possible to sit through a service, hearing every word, yet leave unchanged because the message never penetrated our hearts. To bridge this gap between hearing and receiving, four key qualities must be cultivated.
1. Receive with Hunger
Matthew 5:6 tells us, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." This spiritual hunger is the first secret to receiving the Word. When we come to a service with a deep-seated desire to hear from God, we create a spiritual vacuum that draws the anointing from heaven. This hunger is not a passive state but an active preparation of the heart. It begins the day before, as we pray and ask God to speak to us. When we arrive with this sense of anticipation, we are primed to receive, and we will not leave empty.
2. Receive with Attention
In a world full of distractions, focus is a precious commodity. When the Word is being preached, we must be "spellbound," as Luke 19:48 describes the crowd listening to Jesus. This means intentionally setting aside thoughts of our bills, our work, our personal struggles, and the endless lure of social media. By giving our undivided attention to the message, we create a clear channel for the Word to enter our hearts and minds. This intense focus allows the message to resonate deeply within us, rather than bouncing off a preoccupied mind.
3. Receive with Pleasure
Finding delight in the Word is also vital. Mark 12:37 notes that "the large crowd listened to him with delight." For those who are truly blessed, the Word of God is not something to be endured but something to be enjoyed. When we approach the teaching with a sense of pleasure and anticipation, our hearts are more open and receptive to the message being shared.
4. Receive with Faith
Finally, we must receive the Word with faith, not just in the message but also in the messenger. The Thessalonians provide a model for this attitude. They received the message "not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe" (1 Thessalonians 2:13, NKJV). When we view the preacher as a vessel chosen by God to speak to us, we are less likely to get caught up in critiquing the delivery and more likely to receive the divine impartation. The Word of God is not merely information; it is a conduit for life-transforming grace, and faith is the key that unlocks its power.
The Active Response: Responding to the Word
The final secret to truly receiving the Word is to respond to it. This response is not a passive acknowledgment but an active, multifaceted engagement of our whole being.
1. Your Voice
One of the most powerful ways to respond is with our voice, by saying "Amen." This simple word is an act of worship toward God, an act of consent to the Word being spoken, and an act of encouragement to the preacher. There are even different types of "Amens" for different seasons: a short "Amen" to cut short a difficult season, an elongated "Ameeeeeeen" to prolong a season of blessing, and a repeated "Amen! Amen! Amen!" to multiply the blessings in our lives.
2. Your Body
Our bodies can also be instruments of response. Nehemiah 8:6 describes the people lifting their hands, bowing their heads, and even falling prostrate in worship. These physical postures are not empty gestures; they are outward expressions of an inward reality of reverence and surrender. Even the act of standing, as the Spirit moves, can be a powerful response to the Word.
3. Your Will
Ultimately, the most important response is the engagement of our will. After Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost, the crowd was "cut to the heart" and asked, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37, NKJV). This question is the culmination of the entire process of receiving the Word. It moves us from the realm of hearing and feeling to the realm of doing. The true test of whether we have received the Word is whether it changes how we live. As Joshua 1:8 reminds us, it is in the doing of the Word that we find prosperity and success.
Discussion Questions
A distinction is made between hearing with the ears and receiving with the heart. Can you recall a time when a message moved from your head to your heart? What was that experience like?
Saying "Amen" is an act of worship, consent, and encouragement. How does your vocal participation (or lack thereof) in a service impact your own experience and the experience of those around you?
The ultimate response to the Word is to ask, "What shall we do?" Think about the last sermon you heard. What was one practical action step you could have taken in response to the message?
There are different kinds of "Amens" for different seasons. In your current season of life, which "Amen" resonates with you the most, and why?
