When God Speaks You Should Listen Series

Sermon Brief

Date Written: June 1, 2006 revised May 22, 2008

Date last preached: May 25, 2008

Where Preached: OPBC (AM)

Sermon Details:

Series Title: Our Great Savior!

Sermon Title: When GOD speaks…you should listen!

Sermon Text: Hebrews 1:1-3 plus READ PASSAGES HERE

1 Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2 In these last days, He has spoken to us by [His] Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe. 3 He is the radiance of His glory, the exact expression of His nature, and He sustains all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high Heb 1:1-3 (HCSB)

Introduction:

As you may well know… there is NOT much on TV that is truly worth watching. It’s just one ‘reality’ show after another… and let me ask you a question… what does reality, have to do with all these reality shows anyway!

Who is going to live on a deserted island eating bugs and risking malaria for 6 months to collect $1,000,000? Or how likely is it that someone is going to knock on YOUR door and ‘clean sweep’ your house, by building you a new living room and a new deck?

However, I have found that there are some compelling things on TV… the commercials… I just love commercials (well… at least some of them) I remember one certain commercial that was on TV when I was a young man… it was really a series of commercials that revolved around the same theme…

Usually it centered on 2 or 3 people in a busy airport… or at lunch… or some other busy place where there were a lot of people… these people were usually speaking about investments… and eventually one of the people would say… “Well, my broker is E.F. Hutton… and E.F. Hutton says…”

At that time in the commercial all noise would stop… all conversation would stop, all actions would stop, all traffic would stop… and EVERYONE would turn in listening to hear what E.F. Hutton had to say… leading us to believe that EF Hutton was the leading voice investments… The commercial would end by saying, “When E.F. Hutton speaks…people listen…”

Needless to say, EF Hutton sales, skyrocketed because it brought across the message that EF Hutton was THE qualified authority in investing…

Well the author of Hebrews starts this letter with the same idea in mind… What he is basically saying here is, “When God speaks, people should listen!”

In the 1st 2 verses alone, he uses the word ‘spoke’ and ‘spoken’ in reference to God. He is emphasizing that God has spoken and that people should listen to what God has to say…

In fact what the writer of Hebrews is implying is that we should push aside ALL other voices in our lives and concentrate on what God is saying… so this morning I want us to take just a few moments to look and see HOW God speaks in His words…

1. God Speaks in a Progressive Manner (v.1-2):

1 Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2 In these last days, He has spoken to us by [His] Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe. God spoke to people in ancient times

“…Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways…”

• The emphasis in v.1 is on HOW God spoke in ancient times… and the writer tells us that it was many times and in various ways…

• The expression ‘many times’ depicts God’s progressive revelation of Himself thru the years. The Bible records God speaking to the patriarchs, to Moses, to the prophets, and to the apostles…

• But God also spoke in various ways as well… God spoke in dreams, visions, and thru miracles, He relayed His message through prophets and priests…

b. But God also is speaking to people in this present time… “…In these last days, He has spoken to us by [His] Son …”

• God spoke His ULTIMATE Word… when Jesus came to earth! The opening statement of this book presents the uniqueness and supremacy of Jesus Christ.

• It tells us that in times past God’s speaking was not complete, but NOW that Jesus has come… God’s word… God’s message… is NOW a completed message because of Jesus!

But not only does God speak in a progressive manner…we can also see that…

2. God Speaks in a Crucial Manner (2:1-4):

1 We must therefore pay even more attention to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away. 2 For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding, and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment, 3 how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was first spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. 4 At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions [of gifts] from the Holy Spirit according to His will Heb 2:1-4 (HCSB)