Have An Ear Exam? What Hear Ye? Series

HAVE AN EAR EXAMINATION? WHAT HEAR YE?

By Wade Martin Hughes,Sr.; Kyfingers@aol.com

This is a three part series.

Illustrated sermon: You will need, a kitchen faucet, two glasses; light bulb, extension cord with bear wires on end exposed; Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street in a garbage can, and a mirror.

TEXT:

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God, and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

James 1:19 Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, and slow to wrath.

Luke 20:46 Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feast.

Psalms 26:3 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; TRY MY REINS ... and my heart.

1 Cor. 11:28 But let a man examine himself...

1 Cor. 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith, prove your own selves...

I. THE SPIRIT CRIES: WE NEED AN EAR EXAMINATION? WHERE IS THE LOST ART OF LISTENING?

TEXT: James 1:19 Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, and slow to wrath.

A. GRADUAL LOSS OF HEARING?

I took an old man to the doctor. While we were in the doctors office the old man complained he could not hear as well as he used to. The doctor said this is normal for an old man. But the doctor looked into the old man’s ear and said, YUCK!

It appeared that many years of wax build up had occurred. The doctor had the nurse pour a solution and very warm water in the man’s ears. And slowly big pieces of dried ear wax started breaking up and coming out of the man’s ears.

That day when we left the doctor’s office the old man said, IT IS A MIRACLE, I CAN HEAR SO WELL.

I guess that this ear wax and loss of hearing was so gradual that the man never even noticed.

CAN YOU HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SAYING TO YOU TODAY?

SEEMS SOME CAN HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO OTHERS MUCH MORE THAN WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SPEAKING TO THEM.

B. RECALL THE OLD SONGS?

Years ago we sang an old song,

I’LL BE SOMEWHERE LISTENING FOR MY NAME. (Unknown)

When the Savior calls, I will answer.

When He calls for me I will hear;

When the Savior calls I will answer,

I’ll be somewhere listening for my name.

I’ll be somewhere list’ning, I’ll be somewhere list’ning, I’ll be somewhere list’ning, for my name.

I’ll be somewhere list’ning, I’ll be somewhere list’ning,

I’ll be somewhere list’ning, for my name.

If my heart is right when He calls me, if my heart is right I will hear;

If my heart is right when he calls me, I’ll be somewhere listening for my name.

C. WHY CAN’T WE HEAR GOD’S SPIRIT?

My heart breaks today, for we are gradually loosing our hearing within the church?

Today the effects of very loud music is slowly deafening our young people?

President Bill Clinton had to start wearing hearing aids because he listened to loud music?

Seems families are not listening to each other? Divorce? Runaway?

How can you listen with your mouth running? I ponder why did God give us two ears and one mouth?

Maybe we can listen to the TV and CD’s and avoid listening to the hearts of those that we love and need to understand.

D. HEAR THE CRY FOR THE EASY?

Preacher make that sermon short, sweet and humorous.

I am thankful for the class room, but we need the UPPER ROOM to return to the church.

We must hear the heart of the Spirit of God. Church must be more than social clubs, super programs, and entertainment sources

E. I DON’T WANT TO HEAR THAT?

My oldest son was a small boy. I yelled at him and told him to do something.

I never got the response for which I had asked. I spoke again the second time, and he replied, Dad I never heard you the first time? How did he know I had spoken the first time if he had not heard me?

Have you ever noticed how in a big crowd a Mother can hear her baby cry, and know it is her baby? God knows your voice, and we should know the voice of Jesus.

F. CAN YOU HEAR GOD’S CALL ABOVE MAN’S DESIRES?

Did Jonah hear God say, GO to Niveveh? Sure, Jonah heard God’s plan, just Jonah had a better idea, his human plan? Isn’t God merciful to speak unto us a second time of His Divine Plan?