Opening the Gates of Heaven Perry Stone

same minister on the same night, and all four will hear a different emphasis or receive the same message four different ways. This is because some have true hearing ears, and others have natural ears that are spiritually closed. I have had conversations with a group of people in one room, and after I left the room, several in the meeting would discuss the conversation. I would hear things repeated that had been filtered through the perception of the hearer and not actually said by the speaker. This is why it is important to have not only clean ears but also spiritual ears that are in tune with God’s truth. Humans filter information through the filters of our upbringing and traditions. This is how we select the type of preaching, worship, and even the style of music we hear. Often we filter out what we should be hearing and hear what we should be filtering. The Pharisees were notorious for being the kings of the ear filter. They only heard what agreed with their doctrines and traditions, and they rejected anything that was in conflict with their upbringing. Jesus spoke in parables that at times were difficult to interpret. However, Christ gave the reason by saying, “Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand” (Matt. 13:13). Truth can never change your spirit if your ears have shut the door. The area of touch involves feeling. I grew up in a full gospel denomination where there was great freedom in the