Listen Like Jesus

There is one aspect of Jesus that we want to learn today - to LISTEN... to listen carefully to the Word of God. So that we can understand His heart and His will for us.

Jesus said in John 8:28-29

"...I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him."

And again in John 12:48-50

" 49 For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."

Jesus has been listening to His Father. He knows what He wants. He knows His will. He does what He says.

Jesus wants us to know how important it is to LISTEN to God. To hear what God is saying. The seeds, Jesus explain later (v.18ff.) represents the Word of God. Are we really listening to His Word? At the end of this parable, Jesus says: "He who has ears, let him hear." (v.9).

In the book of Revelations, the Lord spoke to John in a vision. Eight times He repeated this line, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

(1) LISTEN INTENTLY

It is very important for us to really LISTEN to what God has to say. Jesus Himself listens and obeys the will of the Father. His heart is a listening heart.

- In this parable, Jesus says of us have hearts like the hard road - we refuse to let the Word in. We reject everything that is said.

- Some are like the rocky places - we hear but we do not allow it to take root. We enjoy hearing sermons but will not allow the Word to change us. We want to continue our own ways.

- Others may be like the thorny patch - we are distracted by many other noises. Too many things in life compete for our attention, and we do not really pay attention to what God says.

- Lastly, there are those who are like good soil. They are attentive and focused. They are ready to hear God’s voice.

The one who truly listen, remembers. The Word will take its effect in his life and he will grow and bear fruit. The one who do not listen, even with repetition, he won’t get it. The problem is not with the seed – the seed is the same in all four grounds is the same. The problem is not with the Sower – He is the same Sower in all 4 scenarios. The problem is with the RECIPIENT.

The problem is not with the radio, not with its speakers – it is with the tuning. You did not tune to the right frequency. You’re hearing noises – the noises from this world. You’ve tune God out of your life. You did not pay attention to His Word.

No wonder Jesus has to emphasize, “He who has ears, let him hear.” (v.9).

FLYING A PLANE DOWN

Robert and his pilot friend Wesley went for a flying trip from Indianapolis to Muncie, Indiana, in June 1998. During the flight, his pilot had a heart attack and slumped over the controls. He was dead. The Cessna 172 single-engine plane began to nosedive and Robert grabbed the controls. He got on the radio and pleaded for help.

Nearby were two pilots who heard the call. Mount Comfort was the closest airport, and the two pilots gave Robert a series of instructions, climbing, steering, and the scariest part, landing. The two-experienced pilots circled the runway three times before this somewhat frantic and totally inexperienced pilot was ready to attempt the landing.

Emergency vehicles were called out for what seemed like an approaching disaster. Witnesses said the plane’s nose nudged the center line and bounced a few times before the tail hit the ground. The Cessna ended up in a patch of grass next to the runway. Amazingly, Robert was not injured.

He said later, “I listened intently and followed every single instruction as carefully as I can. My life depends on it.

Imagine what would take place in our lives; we listened to and obeyed the Word of God with the same earnestness. Blessings and our life depends on it.

When these seeds of God’s Word are thrown our way, what do we do? When was the last time we gave God a portion of our undivided time, so that we could truly listen to Him?

Jesus did so very often. Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Jesus often went off to a solitary place to pray. If Jesus felt the need to do so, why don’t we?