Light On Your Feet

1. Da Vinci Inspiration

Leonardo da Vinci had once worked on a great masterpiece for a long period of time. There was a young student standing next to him as da Vinci worked, and the student watched the master work as the painting had evolved in front of him. The student was awed by da Vinci's technique and had been observing him in hopes of picking up some of the master's skill.

Just before finishing the painting, da Vinci turned to the student and gave him the brush saying "Now, you finish it."

The student backed away and protested that he wouldn't dream of touching the Master's work, but da Vinci said, "Will not what I have done inspire you to do your best?"

APPLY: As you read thru the Bible you sense the work of a Master. You can see Jesus in every book of Scripture. And you can see the message of Christ's coming in every stroke of the brush. Throughout the Old Testament you hear that: Someone is coming, Someone is coming! And in Gospels you can read: That Someone has come... Someone has come! And in the remainder of the New Testament we hear: Someone has not only come... But that He is coming again!

Throughout the Scriptures you get the impression that God has created this great masterpiece... and then -- almost like a still small voice in the back of your mind -- you sense that God has (in a manner of speaking) stepped back and handed us the brush.

2. The Greatest Command (Mark 12.28ff) is based on Deuteronomy 6.4ff

3. There are applications to this all over the bible -- It involves Listening and Acting

4. Romans 10.13-17

I. The Open Mouth

A. Confession of Trust/Faith

1. A Part of the salvation process -- Matthew 10.32

The word CONFESS in that verse is the Greek word "Homologeo". If you break that word down it is "homo" (the same) and "logeo" (to speak). Thus homologeo literally means "to speak the same thing".

When I "confess" that Jesus is Lord (as Romans 10:9 says I should) I'm agreeing with God. (Baptism/Mt. of Transfiguration/Peter's confession -- Matthew 16.16-17)

2. Confession Includes the Intent to Obey (1.5; Matthew 7.21-23)

B. Declaration

1. No Secret Disciples -- Romans 10.9-10

[Even Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus would declare him

2. Declaration of Necessary information -- Mark 16.15-16

When Henry Ward Beecher was a boy, he had a teacher at school who asked one of the boys in class a question which the boy answered.

The teacher became angry and told the boy he was wrong and commanded him to: "Sit down!"

The boy was obviously confused because he'd thought he'd answered correctly, but he sat abruptly down.

Several boys were asked the same question, they gave the same answer and promptly rebuked by their teacher.

Finally Beecher was asked to stand and answer the question. He gave the same answer and was commanded "Sit Down!" But Beecher held his ground and insisted that the answer was correct.

For a few moments the teacher stormed at him, but seeing Beecher wasn't going to give up he smiled and said:

"Well, boys, you were all correct, but Beecher was the only one sure enough to stand up for it."

II. The Attentive Ears

[T. Jefferson's The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth-- Words of Jesus were key to faith

A. Hearing Instructive Words (Mark 4.1-9 -- Parable of Sower and ears to hear)

1. Various Conditions of the Heart

2. Hearing on Various Levels

B. Hearing with Heart-felt Obedience

1. Tower of Babel -- Confused speech so people would not "Hear" one another -- Genesis 11.7

2. Abraham "Heard" Sarah's solution to their infertility problem -- Genesis 16.20

3. Joseph did not "Hear" Potiphar's wife and her advances -- Genesis 39.10

III. The Beautiful Feet

[The SOUND of beautiful feel -- we can recognize the sound of familiar people as they approach us -- it can be a good sound or a bad sound -- we recognize their gait

A. `Preparation -- Psalm 18.31-33

31 For who is God, but the LORD?

And who is a rock, except our God?--

32 the God who equipped me with strength

and made my way blameless.

33 He made my feet like the feet of a deer

and set me secure on the heights.

B. Direction -- Isaiah 52.7

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."

1. Walking with God as Enoch -- Genesis 5.22

2. Walking FOR God

a. Romans sent heralds ahead of Caesar announcing his coming

b. Synagogues sent "Shlichim" with good news