Do you want to listen to god speaking to you?
Introduction:
During His earthly ministry Jesus often concluded a lesson by crying out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Matt 11:15
He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Matt 13:9 The parable of the sower. Jesus said He who has ears to hear let him hear.
There are so many verses that says the same thing. Rev: 2:7
WHAT IS THE POINT OF THESE SAYINGS?
It is akin to saying “ What is being said is very important so you had better pay attention and listen.
Mark 4 23-25
“If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Vs24 And He said to them , “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.
Vs 25 “ For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
It illustrates that Jesus had a problem that often exists today.
Many people don’t listen.
Many don’t read the bible on a regular basis.
Many don’t come for Bible study. Thinking it is not important.
Many don’t wait upon God.
They just want things like “maggie mee.” Cepat di Masak sedap di makan.
God is speaking every day to us He wants us to listen.
The Bible describes 3 Types of Listeners.1. DULLNESS OF HEARING.
The “DULL OF HEARING”….Hebrew 5:11
Of whom we have much to say, and hard to
Explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
Paul said the Hebrew Christians were dull of
Hearing. Some of them keep behaving the
Same way they were before.
When you are dull of hearing there will be no change in your Christian life.
Hebrew 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
Hebrew 5:13- contd. Dullness of Hearing.
For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness for he is a babe.
God wants His children to grow in His word. He don’t want us to be baby Christian for ever.
If you are a baby Christian for ever there will be wolves outside there to sight track you from the word of God.
That is the reason we see so called Christians constantly sinning and doing all kind of nonsense and claiming to be Christian.
Mt 13:13-15
Isaiah wrote of such people and Jesus applied it to many in His day.
Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
Vs 14 “And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:
Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive;
Vs 15 For the heart of this people has grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing. And their eyes have been closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with the ears, Lest they should understand with their heart and turn,
So that I should heal them.
DULLNES OF HEARING- CONTD.
People are in such a condition because they are dull of heart.
This prevents them from:
UNDERSTANDING GOD’S TRUTH.
TURNING FROM SIN TO GOD
AND BEING HEALED(SAVED) BY GOD.
WHO WOULD WANT TO BE THIS TYPE OF LISTENER?
2. THOSE WITH “ITCHING EARS” 2 TIM 4:3-4
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
Vs 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENING IN MANY CHURCHES.
THEY JUST WANT TO LISTEN WHAT THEY LIKE TO LISTEN.
WHEN GRACE IS PREACHED THEY CONDEMN THESE PREACHERS.
THEY WANT TO LISTEN TO LAW AND GRACE SO THAT THEY CAN LIVE IN SIN.
3. THOSE WHO HEAR WITH “A NOBLE AND GOOD HEART”.LUKE 8:15
But the one that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.
Jesus was speaking about seeds that falls on good ground and bear much fruit.
All of us like to be in this category. If we have a noble heart and start hearing God’s word everyday in our lives we will have a Noble and good heart.
Your Daily quiet time with the Lord.
GET AWAY FROM THE NOISE AROUND.
TAKE YOUR BIBLE READ THE BOOK OF JOHN(BEGGINERS)
TAKE ONLY ONE CHAPTER- READ SLOWLY AND ASK GOD TO SPEAK TO YOU.
IF YOU HAVE DIARY WRITE IT DOWN. START TALKING TO GOD AS YOU TALK TO YOUR BEST FRIEND.
YOU WILL BE SURPRISED. HE IS TALKING.
IF YOU HAVE THIS FELLOWSHIP IN A REGULAR BASIS. YOUR LINE IS CONNECTED WITH GOD.
IN THE CHURCH.
IF THE PREACHER IS SPEAKING DO NOT TALK AMONG YOURSELVES.
HOW MUCH YOU LISTEN TO GOD’S WORD BEING READ OR PREACHED IS AS MUCH INDICATION OF YOUR DEVOTION TO GOD HOW YOU PRAY OR SING.
THINK OF HOW YOU WOULD LISTEN IF SOME GREAT PERSON WERE SPEAKING OR JESUS HIMSELF IS SPEAKING WOULD YOU PAY FULL ATTENTION?
OR WOULD YOU BE PAYING ATTENTION TO SOMETHING OR SOMEONE ELSE?
DOES NOT THE PROCLAIMATION OF GOD’S WORD DESERVE AS MUCH ATTENTION?
WHEN THE PREACHER IS SPEAKING LOOK AT THE PREACHER.
THIS GREATLY AIDS YOUR CONCENTRATION.
LOOKING ELSE WHERE MAKES IT EASY FOR YOUR MIND TO WANDER.
CLOSING YOUR EYES MAKES IT EASY FOR YOU TO NOD OFF.
THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD LISTENING.
I HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO PASTOR PRINCE TEACHING AROUND 8-9 YEARS. EVERYDAY ONE SERMON. AFTER LISTENING TO HIS SERMONS MY LIFE CHANGED.MANY WONDERFUL THINGS HAPPENED.
MATT 13:16-17
BUT BLESSED ARE YOUR EYES FOR THEY SEE, AND YOUR EARS FOR THEY HEAR.
FOR ASSUREDLY IS SAY TO YOU THAT MANY PROPHETS AND RIGHTEOUS MEN DESIRED TO HEAR WHAT YOU HEAR AND DID NOT HEAR IT.
ESSENTIAL TO SAVING FAITH.
GOD HAS ORDAINED THAT WE BE SAVED THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST. (ROM 1:16-17)
SUCH FAITH COMES THROUGH PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL, OFTEN INVOLVING LISTENING TO A PREACHER.(ROMAN 10:14,17)
ONE REASON FAITH IS OFTEN LACKING IS BECAUSE PEOPLE SIMPLY ARE NOT GOOD LISTENERS.
THEY MISS OUT ON THE EVIDENCE IN GOD’S WORD WHICH PRODUCES FAITH.
JOHN 20:30-31
LISTENING TO GOD MAKES US BEAR MUCH FRUIT.
IN THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER THE ONLY KIND OF SOIL(HEART) CAPABLE OF BEARING FRUIT WAS THE ONE WHICH LISTENED PROPERLY. LK 8:15
TODAY THE SAME QUESTIONED IS ASKED ARE YOU LISTENING TO GOD’S WORD AND BEING SERIOUS TO LISTEN TO HIM TALKING TO YOU?
IF YES THAN YOU WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT.
BEARING FRUIT COMES FROM “UNDERSTANDING” THE GRACE OF GOD.
COL 1:6
WHICH HAS COME TO YOU, AS IT HAS ALSO IN ALL THE WORLD AND IS BRINGING FORTH FRUIT AS IST IS ALSO AMONG YOU SINCE THE DAY YOU HEARD AND KN EW THE GRACE OF GOD IN TRUTH.
THE MORE WE KNOW THE GRACE OF GOD IN OUR LIVES WE CHANGE.
WE DON’T DO THE THINGS WE DO BEFORE.
WE ARE EXCITED TO BE LISTENING TO GOD.
WE WANT TO DO THINGS FOR GOD WITHOUT TELLING.
WE WANT TO BLESS PEOPLE AROUND US.
WE WANT THE WHOLE WORLD TO BE EVANGELISED.
AMEN.
To be blessed in what we do.
That is my goal and the church goal in presenting these thoughts on listening.
For it all begins with listening in the proper way.
2. How important then is listening?
When it comes to listening to God very important! (all the other appointments cancel) (Isaiah 59 1-2)
It is essential for the good of our soul!
3. Is there ever a time when God does not listen?
Yes, when our sins are between us and God.(Isa 59:1-2)
But we can take care of that problem by receiving God’s Mercy.(Isa 55:6-7)
TODAY THAT MERCY IS OFFERED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST,GOD’S SON. AND GOD SAID: “THIS IS MY BELOVED SON. HEAR HIM!” LUKE 9:35
CONCLUSION:
HAVE YOU HEEDED HIM BY OBEYING HIS WORD? OR DOES THE FOLLOWING CRY OF JESUS APPLY TO YOU…?
BUT WHY DO YOU CALL ME ‘LORD,LORD,” AND DO NOT DO THE THINGS I SAY?”
LUKE 6:46
COME FOR BIBLE STUDY.
COME FOR PRAYER MEETINGS
COME FOR SUNDAY SERVICE.
