DOES GOD HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY?
Are We Listening?
Illustration: Listening Devices
Stethoscope For listening beyond the surface at the vital organs of the human body. Are we trained to listen beyond the clutter of our everyday noise to hear the vital heartbeat of God?
John 8:47
47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
(NIV)
We live in a world that has forgotten how to listen, Worse yet we live in a place were God is ignored and his word Is considered old news and not relevant. It is our fault that God is considered irrelevant. God is not the one who is out of touch it is us that need the adjustment! We live our traditions and they think that god is old. We want to honor God with our traditions but instead we build alters that embarrass Him (disciples at the transfiguration) Us with steeples and crosses. And annual things. Our traditions have set barriers between the world and God. WE want to remember moments. GOD want to make memorable moments. We live in the success of the past God lives in the reality of the Now! His Name Is “I AM” Not “I Was”
God Has something to Say to Us but we will not listen to Him.
Jer 29:11-14 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."
Does God Answer Us?
Yes!!!!
Isa 65:24 Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.
We are invited to listen to him!
Isa 34:1 Come near, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all that comes out of it!
We are called out to by Him
Jer 7:13 While you were doing all these things, declares the LORD, I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer.
When We Listen WE:
Can Know he Hears Us;
Ps 17:6 I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.
Ps 4:3-4 Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him.
Can Know He Saves Us
Ps 18:1-3 I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.
Can Gain Instruction
Isa 28:22-26 Now stop your mocking, or your chains will become heavier; the Lord, the LORD Almighty, has told me of the destruction decreed against the whole land. 23 Listen and hear my voice; pay attention and hear what I say. 24 When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually? Does he keep on breaking up and harrowing the soil? When he has leveled the surface, does he not sow caraway and scatter cummin? Does he not plant wheat in its place, barley in its plot, and spelt in its field? 26 His God instructs him and teaches him the right way.
Jer 33:2-3 "This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it-- the LORD is his name: ’Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’
Learn Righteousness
Isa 46:12-13Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are far from righteousness. I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel.
Through training
Zech 13:9 This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ’They are my people,’ and they will say, ’The LORD is our God.’"
Know You Are Safely and Securely HIS
John 10:24-30 The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given the to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.I and the Father are one."
“The Holy Spirit Gives Clear directives Today. God Is personal. He wants to be intimately involved in your life. He will give you clear guidance for living. You may say that has not been my experience. You need to base your understanding of God on scripture and not experience.” Henry Blackaby
When We Fail to Listen WE:
Are Rebellious
Isa 30:9 These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the LORD’s instruction.
Find Discipline and Possibly Ruin
Matt 10:12-16As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you.If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.
I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Isa 65:11-14 "But as for you who forsake the LORD and forget my holy mountain, who spread a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you for the sword, and you will all bend down for the slaughter; for I called but you did not answer, I spoke but you did not listen. You did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me." Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "My servants will eat, but you will go hungry; my servants will drink, but you will go thirsty; my servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame. My servants will sing out of the joy of their hearts, but you will cry out from anguish of heart and wail in brokenness of spirit.
Will Harm Ourselves
jer 25:7 "But you did not listen to me," declares the LORD, "and you have provoked me with what your hands have made, and you have brought harm to yourselves."
Grieve God
Jer 13:17 But if you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly, overflowing with tears,.
Will be in Bondage
because the LORD’s flock will be taken captive
Risk not being Heard
Zech 7:13 "’When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,’ says the LORD Almighty.
How Do we Listen What Is Our Listening Device?
Be Still God Speaks Through the Holy Spirit
The story of Elijah and The wind.
IKing 19:11-1311 The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
All these items were familiar to him but he could not hear the voice of the Lord until he listened.
Be Active in Prayer
Isa 51:1-2 "Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn; look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was but one, and I blessed him and made him many.
Be In the Word Of God
2 Tim 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Be Looking for His activity around us.
In Jer 29:11-14 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity.
Be Patient
Ps 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Stethoscope is a special instrument though. It is for listening beyond the surface at the vital organs of the human body. Are we trained to listen beyond the clutter of our everyday noise to hear the vital heartbeat of God? Do we stop to listen and hear the instruction that will make our lives much more enjoyable and livable?
If you are not able to hear the Voice of God then you are like the person Jesus referred to in John 8:47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."(NIV)
You need To stop what you are doing and respond to the voice of God calling you today.
