Hear the Cry
Gen. 4:8-9
Gen. 4:8-9 “Now Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let’s go out to the field.’ And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Where is your brother Abel?’ ‘I don’t know,’ he replied. ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’”
Am I my brother’s keeper? A question we have to ask ourselves this morning.
Ezekiel 3:16-19 "At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked man, `You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself."
I believe this verse is for the Christian! - We have a message to deliver!
• Do you know any wicked men? Any destined for a Christless eternity?
Well, you need to know that: You are your brother’s keeper - Biblically.
Some examples from nature:
• A blue jay had a broken bill, but he was fed by a companion bird.
• A gorilla in a zoo with a splinter in finger, removed by his mate.
• A wounded elephant was supported by two others as they led her to safety.
• And the good Samaritan saw a need, and he met it.
We are our brothers keeper! - 911
ILLUS: "I was burned, and tired, He had an agenda and He led me. As long as he was willing to lead me I was willing to follow. If he would have stopped leading I would have just say down under the quay and who knows if I would have survived." - survivor of Twin Towers disaster.
• Because someone responded to the pressure of responsibility to "do the right thing!"
• He ministered to his wounded brother!
We too must be involved in ministry.
• We have a job to do! - The wounded and dying are all around us!
• They are under the sentence of death - You and I have the message of freedom!!
• Get your eyes and expectation off yourself! - Focus on the task!
• Ask God to help you!
Four things that God wants you to hear this morning!
1. Hear the Cry From Without .
• Confusion and turmoil of the world.
• We start here because were all acquainted with it.
• Until one day we heard a voice of peace and we were drawn to it.
A. It’s a garbled sound. Chaotic and undiscernibly!
ISA 57:20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud. 21 "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."
People pictured as the tossing (troubled) sea - chaotic, restless, foaming, etc.
We can read the newspapers or watch the news any day and hear of troubles,
tragedy and heartaches. The Lord says "there is no peace for the ungodly."
JER 49:23 "Concerning Damascus: "Hamath and Arpad are dismayed, for they have heard bad news. They are disheartened, troubled like the restless sea."
Life is filled with bad news. People are hurting.
Is. 1:5 "…Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted. 6 From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness-only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with oil."
The needs of people around us are unspeakable. And our world is on a collision course with eternity - an eternity without Christ!
B. It Is A Cry of Hopelessness .
ECC 5:15 "Naked a man comes from his mother’s womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand. 16 This too is a grievous evil: As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind? 17 All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger."
• Without Christ only hopelessness - Nothing to look forward to -
• Spend your whole life for what purpose - and at the end nothing?
JER 8:20 "The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved."
• So hopeless - We need a savior, we need help.
ACTS 16:9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
• A cry from without for help!
Mankind needs help - Without God’s help we get everything messed up.
• Save the whales - abort the babies.
• Prohibit prayer in schools - ban the Bible.
• Allow pornography and honor the gays.
Garbled and hopeless
You Must Hear The Cry From Without!
You must also…
2. Hear the Cry From Above .
A. The Voice of God.
• God speaks to us through His Word.
• What is the message He wants us to hear?
Ez. 8:31 "…get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!"
• It’s a message of life. - It’s a message of new beginnings.
DT 30:19 "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live."
• It’s a message of certain judgement as well. And a choice to make.
MK 9:2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
MK 9:7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"
The Cry from Above, the voice of God says listen to…
B. The Words of His Son .
• What did Jesus have to say about His primary purpose?
Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
• That’s you and me He is seeking - but not just you and me but others also.
• He seeks, looks intently - He is seeking still -
• We may be safe but that didn’t change His occupation.
• If we want to know Him we must join with Him in His search.
JOHN 4:35 "Do you not say, `Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest."
• He calls us to join Him
• If we care to hear - it is a cry for laborers!
• That’s you - that’s me! The call is not to someone else!
• "Open your eyes" He says "look at the fields"
• What are the fields He’s called you to work in? Are you?
• Or are you focused only on yourself - your needs?
• The cure for in inward focus is an outward focus.
He’s done the hard work!
JOHN 12:32 "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."
• He is supernaturally drawing men today -
• But we are His hands - We are His feet
• If we do not go - how will they hear?
RO 10:14 "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Jesus met and loved broken people:
• Woman taken in adultery, - Blind Bartimaeus
• The father whose son had a demon - Mad man of Gadarenes
Jesus calls out to broken humanity:
• Come unto me and I will give you rest,
• I am the bread that came down from heaven
• I am the door - If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink.
Jer. 1:7-8 "You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD
• Do not be afraid of their faces. He is with us.
You Must Hear the Cry From Above
The cry from above is from heaven, but tragically we must also…
3. Hear the Cry From Below .
A. A Voice in Torment .
LK 16:22 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, `Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’"
Jesus said come unto me and drink!
LK 16:25 "But Abraham replied, `Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’"
B. A Request Denied.
LK 16:27 "He answered, `Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’29 "Abraham replied, `They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30 " `No, father Abraham,’ he said, `but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 "He said to him, `If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ "
• Moments after his death he wanted to be an evangelist!
• But it was too late
God doesn’t want men and women to go to hell. He’s done everything He can to prevent their judgement. He still does it today.
Jesus wanted us to hear the Cry From Below! So He pulled back the curtain of death to give us a view of the afterlife for the unbeliever. The rich man’s words are tragic and full of emotion.
Therefore we cannot be passive!
• There is a Gospel to Believe!
• A Savior to Receive!
• A Heaven to Gain!
• And a Judgement to Escape!
Without & Above
You Must Hear The Cry From Below
Now I want you to listen with your hearts…
4. Hear the Cry From Within .
A. The Gentle Voice of the Spirit .
REV 2:7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
That’s you, that’s me - and the Spirit of God is saying something this morning!
• What is the Spirit saying? - And how do I hear?
• We’ve been studying prayer on Thursday nights
• Holy Spirit ministers to our hearts as we wait before Him.
• He speaks to us in various ways:
• He speaks through an impression
• He speaks by laying something on our heart
• He speaks through the scriptures
• He speaks with a still small voice
But we will only hear if we get alone with God. Expose our heart to the scriptures. And listen in deep humility.
And if were paying attention we’ll hear Him say as Isaiah heard Him say…
ISA 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
The Spirit of God is still asking that question this morning. We know that!
The only unknown in the equation is…
B. The Response Of Our Heart .
• Will we respond like Cain? -
GE 4:9b Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don’t know," he replied. "Am I my brother’s keeper?"
• Or will we respond like Isaiah? -
Is. 6:8b"And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
When was the last time you told someone about Christ? - PAUSE
God is not willing that any should perish. You are His servant. Let Him minister through you. Who are the people for whom you should pray? Determine to touch them for Christ. Make a list. Keep it current!
You must hear the cry from without, above, below, within!
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says… - Rev. 2:29
NOTES
Hear The Cry
Genesis 4:8 "Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let’s go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don’t know," he replied. "Am I my brother’s keeper?"
Am I my brothers keeper?
Ezekiel 3:16 "At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me: 17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to a wicked man, `You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself."
1. Hear The Cry From .
A. It’s a sound.
Isaiah 57:20 "But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud. 21 "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."
B. It’s a cry of .
Ecclesiastes 5:15 "Naked a man comes from his mother’s womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand. 16 This too is a grievous evil: As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind? 17 All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger."
Jeremiah 8:20 "The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved."
2. Hear The Cry From .
A. The of God.
Ezekiel 18:31 "…get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!"
Mark 9:7 "Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"
B. The of His .
Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
John 4:35 "Do you not say, `Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest."
3. Hear The Cry From .
A. A voice in .
Luke 16:22 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, `Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 25 "But Abraham replied, `Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
B. A denied.
Luke 16:27 "He answered, `Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29 "Abraham replied, `They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30" `No, father Abraham,’ he said, `but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 "He said to him, `If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ "
4. Hear The Cry From .
A. The voice of the .
Revelation 2:7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Isaiah 6:8 "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
B. The of our .
Genesis 4:9b "Am I my brother’s keeper?"
OR
Isaiah 6:8b "Here am I. Send me!"
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
