"Who Are You Listening To?"
Genesis 3:1-5
Last week in the Marriage & Couples class we looked at how we “approach” our marriages, how we relate to our spouses… (Based on Genesis 3…) And it got me to thinking… When we communicate; what are we saying, but more importantly, who are we listening to…? We need to understand what communication in its most basic really is (communication= sender, receiver, feedback)… So the question remains: “Who are we listening to…?” It’s an important question, because you’ve got to be careful about whom you listen to… Who you let speak into your life… Who you let ‘give you a word…’ (Why…?) Because listening to the wrong people will mess you up…
- Joshua @ Ai
- Samson & Delilah
- Judas & the Pharisees
(Trying to say…) There is a danger in listening to the wrong people… When you listen to the wrong people, it can and will lead to grave consequences…
I. INCORRECT RESPONSE (v 6) [1 Jn 2:15-17]
- She was moved by what she saw
- The thing that moved her also motivated her to act
- She invited others to engage in her response
II. INHERENT (Natural) RELATION (v 7) [James 1:12-18]
- They became immediately connected with their sin
- They had knowledge of what they had done
- They attempted to cover up what they had done
III. INSTANT REGRET (v 8-13)
- They couldn’t stay in His presence because of
their sin
- They understood the depth of their mistakes
- They began to make excuses for what they had
done
IV. ESSENTIAL REMEDY (2 Chron 7:14)
We need to understand that God gives a remedy for our sinful situation… In essence, He makes a way out of no way, but there is a caveat to His remedy…Look at what He says… (Text…)
“If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land…” (Amp)
“If my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I’ll be there ready for you: I’ll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health…” (Msg)
He uses what I call an “if, then statement…” (conditional statement…) IOW, you’ve got to do something in order for God to move on your behalf… (You missed it…) God is not moved by your condition, but He is moved by your desire and your willingness to change or correct your condition or situation… IOW, how bad do you want a turnaround in your life…? Are you willing to stop listening to everybody else and start listening to the voice of God…? Are you willing to start obeying those whom He decides to speak to you through…?
The text says… “If…Then” Can I just tell you this morning that:
If you belong to Him… You ought to heed His Word…
If you belong to Him… You ought to do His Will…
If you belong to Him… You ought to obey His commands…
If you belong to Him… You ought to welcome His presence…
If you belong to Him… You ought to worship His Name…
If you belong to Him… You ought to lift Him up…
