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
Newsweek had an article on Religion and Street Gangs. They interviewed a Pentecostal preacher named Rivers. When he first moved into this neighborhood, Rivers sought out a local drug dealer named Selvin... and that drug dealer gave Rivers a lesson in why God was losing to gangs in the battle for the souls of inner city kids.
"Selvin explained to us, 'I'm there when Johnny goes out for a loaf of bread for Mama. I'm there, you're not. I win, you lose, it's all about being there.'"
c. All-inclusive message -- Romans 1.16-17
C. Action -- Walk to Remember
1. God Remembered Noah -- Genesis 8.1
a. Not mental reminder
b. Action -- rescue of Noah
c. Rainbow reminder -- God remembers and keeps his covenant
2. We Remember Our Creator -- Ecclesiastes 12.1
3. We Remember the Covenant with Jesus -- Luke 22.19
4. Remembering is Trusting -- Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 20.7
1. Good News-Bad News
a. Princess Diana's Death
Sunday Morning August 31 1997 we awoke to the news that seemed to rock the world. It was the death of a Princess. Millions watched as news reporters described in great detail the events that caused the death of Princess Diana. Updates told every late breaking tidbit of information. The world sat hungrily in front of their TV sets to hear the latest in the death of Diana. For over two weeks the news hour was filled with reports on this tragedy. A man would have to been living under a rock not to know about the princess. The zeal in reporting this news was riveting.
If all the time and money that was spent on letting the world know about the Princess of Wales was spent on letting the world know about the Prince of Peace Billions would know of the savior's love. Millions would be saved there would be a great revival in the entire world.
b. Malaysian Airliner shot down on 7.17.14
c. Hamas Vs. Israel
d. US-Mexico Border
e. Lots of Bad News, We need GOOD News
2. The Pattern
Hear Listen Understand Do
3. An Offer from God -- Deuteronomy 11.13-15
"It shall come about, if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul, 14 that He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, that you may gather in your grain and your new wine and your oil.15 He will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.
