Fine Tuning

1. [Use a Portable Radio -- scan for favorite channels

a. Many stations from which to choose

b. My youth -- WAPE (TKAAM); WPDQ

2. We often appeal to God to hear us

a. Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. Isaiah 37.17

b. I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;

incline your ear to me; hear my words. Psalm 17.6

3. God also says that we should hear HIM -- Isaiah 55.1-9

4. We are like walking receivers to receive what we can hear

I. Be Careful WHAT We Hear (Mark 4.24)

A. Many Voices are Calling for Our Attention

1. Some are obviously bad -- I will not set before my eyes

anything that is worthless. Psalm 101.3

2. Some are Good -- BSA; Little League; etc.

3. One is best -- Isaiah 55.3

Incline your ear, and come to me;

hear, that your soul may live;

B. The Many Voices Constantly Broadcast

1. 24/7 -- Local and Satellite; no more sign on and off

2. Remember, God is constantly calling to us

a. Sinai Tradition -- God called in all languages and only Israel responded

b. Pentecost -- Languages

c. We choose correctly -- Joshua 24.16

II. Be Careful HOW We Hear (Luke 8.18)

A. Our Connection Affects Our Hearing

1. We Need Power -- HS is our power connection to God

2. We Need Speakers -- Ears to Hear

3. We Need an Antenna [Pics of TV Antennas

4. We Need a Tuner for Clarity

a. Mothers and their children's voices (and vice versa)

b. Shepherd and sheep

B. Our Attitude Affects Our Hearing

1. Biblical "Hearing" is for obedience -- we own the words in our hearts and lives

2. Sometimes we hear just enough to prove a point or argue; act arrogantly

3. Sometimes we hear just enough to be dangerous with the scriptures

4. Sometimes we hear just enough to practice "cheap grace"

5. Why do you study the Bible?

For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel. Ezra 7.10

C. Our Timing Affects How We Hear

1. God has perfect timing -- Galatians 4.4

a. Bethlehem (prophecy and fulfillment)

b. Jesus at Age 30 -- Mishnah -- vigor of one's occupation

* Rise to level of incompetence -- Peter Principle, named for Laurence J. Peter

* Not all were rabbis; all were students

c. DBR and Passover; Unleavened Bread; and First Fruits

2. Circumstances prepare us to hear (Romans 8.28)

a. Travel Timings -- Ethiopian (Acts 8); Saul (Acts 9)

b. Worship Times (Riverside) -- Acts 16 (Synagogues, etc.)

c. Difficult times -- Midnight -- Acts 16 (Jailer)

d. NOW --

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6.2) -- People in the bible did not eat a bite or sleep a wink until they had obeyed God

1. We are a product of hearing.

[Two men were walking down a crowded sidewalk. Suddenly, one of the men commented, "Listen to the lovely sound of that cricket!" But his friend could not hear the sound. He asked the man how he could hear the chirping of a cricket amidst the sounds of traffic and people. The first man, a trained zoologist, said that he had trained himself to hear the sounds of nature. He then dropped a coin on the sidewalk whereupon a dozen people turned and looked at him. "We hear what we listen for," he said.

2. Whom are you hearing?

3. What are you hearing?

4. How are you hearing?