Who Do You Listen To?
Occasionally I have a dream that is so real to me that it impacts my waking decisions. The inspiration for this sermon comes from such a dream.
In my dream I was preaching at a church. I was giving it my all and then I looked at all of the congregation, some were playing with their phones, some were having open loud conversations, and some were sleeping.
No one was listening to the sermon.
So, my question this morning is, who are you listening to?
Today we are assaulted by many voices. There are many different sources of advice and direction for our lives.
This morning I want us to look at some of the primary sources of where we get direction for our lives.
1. I believe that for the most people in America, we listen to ourselves.
As I became a young man, I use to ask my Dad for advice, with a disclaimer, I will listen to your advice, but I will ultimately decide whether or not I take it or leave it.
I believe at some lever, we are all like that, nobody knows what is best for me more than me…
But the truth is, that is a lie that Satan has placed in our hearts.
The word of God speaks to this in Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”
Why is that true? Because what we as individuals believe as right can be swayed by our passions.
a. Our conscience can direct our choices, but if our conscience is damaged, then our decisions will be flawed.
b. Our personal desires can drive us to make some pretty stupid choices: do I tell a lie to get ahead at work, do I take something that isn’t mine if no one will know, do I cheat on my taxes, and the list goes on and on…
c. Our lust of the flesh can drive our decision making ability; do I have sex before I am married, do I cheat on my spouse, do I act on a physical impulse or desire when I know it is wrong…
If we only listen to ourselves, then we are bound to make bad decisions that “end in the way of death.”
2. A lot of people listen to their friends. This can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on who your friends are.
One of my favorite scenes from “A Christmas Story” is when the kids are around the flag pole and the one kid issues a “triple dog dare” to the other kid to touch his tongue to the frozen flag pole.
Friends and acquaintances are not always the best source of advice. Especially if there is a triple dog dare involved.
I know, as a mature Christian, that if I ask advice from a worldly friend I will get worldly advice.
I also know that if I ask advice from a Christian friend, I will most likely get Godly advice.
Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.”
If you are heeding counsel from worldly friends, then you have a fool for a counselor. However, if your friend is a mature Christian, then what you receive from them is most likely “wise counsel.”
3. As I stated before, sometimes I ask my Dad for advice, and many people listen to the direction given by family members.
Really, the same advice given by friends also applies to family. If your family member is a Christian, you will probably get wise counsel.
But if your family member is lost, then you will get worldly advice.
There is one additional factor to consider when listening to family. If that person has, or does, hold a position of authority over you, you will be more inclined to take their advice no matter what the source of their “wisdom.”
4. Many people today listen to society for their direction or how to act and what to believe.
a. Maharashta state of India – throw babies off 45 foot temple to be caught in sheets. Believed to strengthen the child, make them courageous and intelligent, give them good luck. Practiced for 500 years.
b. Tibet – once common funeral practice to dissect the body of deceased and place parts on mountain tops.
c. In Kenya, Massai warriors commonly drink cows blood mixed with milk or directly from the vein
d. Satere Mawe tribe of the Amazon have a rite of passage for boys becoming men – place hand in glove filled with “bullet ants” for 30 minutes at a time, 25 times in a row.
e. In America, pledges to gangs must endure being “jumped” or beaten by the gang for a period of time as an initiation into the “family.”
Sometimes society has some strange ideas of right and wrong. Today our society is shaped by music, movies, and political correctness.
There are many in our society that want to shape our beliefs on everything from how we live, what we buy, and what we perceive as morally acceptable.
God’s word speaks of the society in which we live in Isaiah 5:20, “Woe to them who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.”
Be very careful when listening to society, it is almost always wrong.
5. Well, if we shouldn’t listen to society, then what about elected leaders?
Our politicians are a large part of what is wrong with our society today. Politicians are human, so they are flawed at the outset.
They can also be influenced by what they think will give them more power or get them elected. How many politicians do you know that have flip flopped on what seems to us to be a very serious issue?
A bus load of politicians were driving down a country road one afternoon, when all of a sudden, the bus ran off the road and crashed into a tree in an old farmer's field.
Seeing what happened, the old farmer went over to investigate. He then proceeded to dig a hole and bury the politicians.
A few days later, the local sheriff came out, saw the crashed bus, and asked the old farmer, "Were they all dead?"
The old farmer replied, "Well, some of them said they weren't, but you know how them politicians lie." (http://www.ahajokes.com/farm019.html)
There is a long list of candidates who have changed their positions on abortion, both ways, not because of doing what was right, but because they believed it would get them elected.
Sometimes our leaders do what they believe is right, regardless of the will of the people, regardless of what is lawful for them to do.
This is nothing new, look at Saul in I Samuel 15:23B, “Because you have rejected the Word of the Lord, He also has rejected you form being King.”
Explain the sin of Saul.
Even David, a man after God’s own heart, was not immune from the hubris and narcissism that comes with positions of authority.
So our elected leaders are seldom a source of sound leadership in how we should live our lives.
6. Well, what about our religious leaders? Well, that depends on what “religion” you are talking about.
Currently there are tens of thousands of men and women all over the world who are okay with committing genocide in the name of religion.
Oh, our politically correct politicians say they aren’t religious, but make no mistake; they are some of the most religious zealots on the face of the earth.
Thousands are being slaughtered in the name of Allah, Christians, Jews, homosexuals, even some sects of Islam.
Those religious leaders certainly don’t have the truth.
To the other extreme, we have the feel good churches who avoid talking about sin or hell. They always have a smile plastered on their faces and everybody is going to heaven.
Paul had some specific warnings about such churches in II Timothy 4:2, “Preach the Word, convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
Sound familiar? It should, it describes every “feel good” church in America today.
I John 4:1 says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
You must test, you must know who you are listening to when it comes to spiritual leaders.
If I ever say something, or you think I have said something that contradicts the Word of God, call me on it.
Anything that is said in a sermon, you should check it against the Word of God, no matter who is doing the preaching.
7. So, if I can’t trust myself, my friends or family, society or my political leaders, or even my spiritual leaders, who can I trust?
In a word, God… God’s Word alone can be trusted 100% of the time.
II Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Do you believe the Bible is the Word of God? Do you believe that it is inerrant and true?
Then why would you listen to, or take advice, from anyone who contradicted the sound Word of God?
If God is God, then everything contained in this book matters, its important and relevant for our lives.
God’s word is pure, it’s just, it’s right, and best of all, it’s for your good, that you “may be complete.”
There are numerous people and organizations in the world today saying “listen to me.” But there is only one source of truth, God’s Holy Word.
And the best part is that God supplies a built in interpreter.
Some people tell me that the Bible is difficult or impossible to understand. That’s because they are looking with eyes of the natural man.
God’s Word tells us the key to understanding in I Corinthians 2:14, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are Spiritually discerned.”
It goes on to say that if we want to understand scripture, we must have the mind of Christ. We receive the mind of Christ by believing in Jesus for our salvation.
Who are you listening to today? Are you listening to God, is the Holy Spirit speaking to you right now?
Do you have the mind of Christ; can you understand the things of God?
Oh, won’t you listen to God today?... Tune out the other voices, listen only to Him and he will guide your path.
