Are You Listening?

June 21, 2009 Evening service

Text: Matthew 17: 5: While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

The voice out of the cloud was saying, “Listen to him”.

So I want us to ask our selves, are we listening to the words of Jesus?

Can we say we are really listening and doing as he said to do?

Do we really listen to God, or even each other for that matter?

When we were getting the lines painted on the parking lot when the coating was new, the former Pastor was all excited about something he was telling and then asking questions. The paint contractor said, “Whoa, slow down, you’re talking faster than I can hear.”

There is a claim made by a health industry organization that the human mind can think 4 to 5 times faster than we can speak. So, that could mean if I preached about 120 words a minute you all could be thinking 500 words which could lead to boredom, yawning, and nodding off.

Have you ever told someone something you thought was important only to have them very casually use “Yeah” and break into their own subject which is totally different from what you were talking about? Have ever wanted take someone by the shoulders and ask: “Are you listening to me”?

The medical profession calls it Attention Deficit Disorder, or AD&D. They even treat folks for it. Some children have to be put on medicine to be able to pay attention in school. I wonder! Is it really that” Could it be that they are exercising the example set before them at home and maybe even in Church?

Have you ever told someone something in fine detail about a subject only to hear him or her declare another day that you never ever told them any such thing? Alzheimer’s?

I wonder? Isn’t it really because we in our rush, rush, hurry up society and have forgotten the beautiful art of LISTENING? If we love someone the way Jesus told us to, we will listen.

Are you listening? Jesus used the word HEAR 67 times in the Gospels.

Did we listen when Jesus said not to be self-righteous?

Mt: 13:13: Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Good people with the best of intentions and sincerity do not really listen to the word of God, because they have been taught different things than what God said.

They are searching for secret things in the word with the hopes that they will be accounted more worthy than most Christians.

Are we listening? Did we listen to Peter when he said there is no private interpretation?

Friends, in this time of trouble and worldwide persecution of Christians, if we are not listening to Jesus now, we may miss it all. One more time; this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. LISTEN TO HIM!