ACCIDENTAL OR INTENTIONAL LISTENING? CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Matthew 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? Kind of famous words! To hear is a very complex action involving the ears and the brain.
Hearing is a great everyday miracle that we just take for granted… seems sound waves enter the funnel of the outer ear and turn into the auditory canal and strike the EAR DRUM. The three smallest bones (THE HAMMER, ANVIL AND THE STIRRUP) in your body are behind the ear drum, and they vibrate and hit a small snail shaped fluid filled structure called the COCHLEA. The cochlea has small hair like nerve endings that move and detect sound waves. The brain translates the sound waves into meaning…
WHAT CAN WE HEAR? SEEMS WE TEND TO HAVE SELECTIVE HEARING? ARE WE TRAINING OUR EARS?
Many years ago my Grandmother Hughes had hearing aids. When there was a crowd around her, she would turn her hearing aids off. Mom said Grandma could hear a whisper if it was something you did not want her to hear? CAN YOU HEAR? WHAT CAN YOU HEAR?
Seems there can be 20 babies around and the baby momma can detect her own baby’s cry? A mechanic can hear something wrong in a car? A heart doctor can hear something abnormal in a heartbeat? A lung doctor can hear lung issues? SEEMS WE CAN TRAIN OUR EARS TO HEAR WHAT WE DESIRE TO HEAR?
We may not hear it but there are all kinds of listening waves all around us. Humans can hear certain sound waves. We know dogs can hear high sound waves that we cannot hear. Whales, dolphins and other animals can hear sound waves from over 100 miles away. There are TV signals, radio signals, cell phone signals, WI-FI signs, GPS signals, Bluetooth signals, even micro-wave ovens send out signals.
WHERE IS THE QUIETEST PLACE IN THE USA?
James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
Do you want to guess where the quietest place is found in the USA? Ok, I can tell where the NATIONAL RADIO QUIET ZONE IS… The quietest electronic area in the USA is: GREEN BANK, WEST VIRGINIA. The population is small, the mountains seem to shield the radio waves away, so Green Bank, West Virginia is known as the QUIETEST AREA in the USA. This makes GREEN BANK the perfect place for the GREEN BANK OBSERVATORY.
THE GREEN BANK OBSERVATORY TELESCOPE HAS TO HAVE A QUIET ZONE FROM SOUND WAVES TO LISTEN TO THE MOVEMENT AND PULSARS OF GALAXIES IN DEEP SPACE. So the government has established a 13,000 square mile area to prevent radio wave interference. There is a sensitive instrument that is larger than a football field that allows scientist to listen to the sounds millions of miles away. TO HEAR IN THE DISTANCE ONE MUST HAVE A QUIET AREA FROM WHICH TO LISTEN CLEARLY.
DO WE LISTEN TO GOD? DO WE LISTEN TO GOD’S WORDS? FAITH COMES BY HEARING… Can we find time to get alone and listen to God? His Holy Spirit has lessons to teach us.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
CAN WE HEAR GOSSIP AND TEMPORAL SOUNDS AND REFUSE TO LISTEN TO ETERNAL SOUNDS? DO WE HAVE A LISTENING PLAN… ACCIDENTAL OR INTENTIONAL LISTENING?
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
We must realize how important it is to focus our ears and eyes on ETERNAL ISSUES… To listen is best accomplished when we make room to hear and listen carefully.
*ACCIDENTAL: NO PLANS, UNEXPECTED, CHANCE.
*INTENTIONAL: DONE BY PLANS, DELIBERATE, VOLUNTARY AND WILLING.
Acts 28:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
THE CHURCH IS IN A SICK, SAD AND HOPELESS CONDITION. ELI THE PREACHER WAS OLD AND OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY. SEEMS WHEN THE PREACHERS REFUSE TO LISTEN TO GOD THE CHURCH BECOMES BACKSLIDDEN.
ELI HAD 2 PREACHER SONS THAT WOULD NOT LISTEN TO GOD.
HOPHNI AND PHINEHAS KNEW WHAT WAS RIGHT… THEY REFUSED TO LISTEN TO THEIR PREACHER- DAD AND THEY REFUSED TO LISTEN TO GOD’S CORRECTION. They were stealing offerings that did not belong to them. They were having secret meetings with women. HOW SAD THAT HOPHNI AND PHINEHAS REFUSED TO LISTEN? Eli knew he should correct the sinning preacher sons but his hearing was distorted because they were his sons.
WHY DO WE AS GOD’S PEOPLE REFUSE TO LISTEN TO THE WORD OF GOD AND CORRECT WHAT IS WRONG…???
1 Samuel 2:22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. 24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD'S people to transgress. 25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.
HOW SAD IS IT TO BE RAISED IN A PREACHER’S HOME AND KNOW ABOUT GOD… BUT HOPHNI AND PHINEHAS NEVER TOOK TIME TO LISTEN AND TO KNOW GOD IN A PERSONAL WAY… Listen? THEY KNEW NOT THE LORD… TEARS, they refused to listen.
1 Samuel 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.
Let us go to the funeral home and pick out 4 caskets. (Eli, Hophni, Phineh, and Phinehas’ wife) all die the same day… their EARS COULD NOT HEAR, THEY REFUSED TO LISTEN… GOD SPOKE.
1 Samuel 4:17 And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.
18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
ICHABOD--- THE GLORY OF GOD HAS DEPARTED… WHY CAN’T GOD’S PEOPLE LISTEN?
I HAVE GOOD NEWS YOU CAN USE IF YOU CHOOSE… SOME MAY ACCIDENTLY REFUSE TO LISTEN BUT GOD HAS A PLAN THAT STARTED WHEN ONE WOMAN WENT TO CHURCH AND LISTENED AS SHE PRAYED… ELI THOUGHT SHE WAS DRUNK… BUT GOD WAS RAISING UP A MIRACLE PLAN… TO LISTEN…
God refused to allow the LIGHT AND LAMP OF HIS WORD GO OUT. GOD HAD A PLAN TO USE A LITTLE BOY. HANNAH HIS MOM LISTENED TO GOD AND HER SON… SAMUEL WOULD LEARN TO LISTEN TO GOD… AND RAISE THE STANDARD HIGH. GOD RAISE OUR EARS TO HEAR…
1 Samuel 3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; 3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
GOD HAS DEAF PEOPLE THAT REFUSE TO LISTEN. SAMUEL KNEW THE ORDER WAS ELI FIRST… GOD HAS TO FINE TUNE THE LITTLE BOY SAMUEL’S EARS TO HEAR WHAT THUS SAYS THE LORD GOD… LISTEN, BOY, GOD IS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO LISTEN…
1 Samuel 3:3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; 4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. 5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. 6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. 8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
HANNAH NEVER KNEW THAT DAY WHEN SHE PRAYED WHAT GOD WAS GOING TO DO WITH THE ANSWER TO HER PRAYER… SAMUEL WOULD HEAR GOD…
SPEAK LORD, I AM LISTENING--- I DESIRE TO HEAR THE PLAN AND WORD OF GOD…
1 Samuel 3:9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
PLEASE, MAY THE LORD GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB… GOD RAISE UP PEOPLE THAT WILL LISTEN AND HEED THE VOICE THAT IS SPEAKING IN THESE LAST DAYS… MAY WE LISTEN NOT BY ACCIDENTAL LISTENING PATTERNS… GOD TEACH OUR EARS TO BE SO SENSITIVE TO THE SPIRIT OF GOD THAT WE INTENTIONALLY LISTEN TO THE HEART OF GOD.
1 Samuel 3:10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. 11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. 12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. 13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
CAN WE RECOGNIZE THE PERSISTENT UNFAITHFULNESS OF GOD’S PEOPLE TO LISTEN?
Ezekiel 14:12 The word of the LORD came again to me, saying, 13 Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:
Ezekiel 14:12 (NKJV) The word of the LORD came again to me, saying: 13 "Son of man, when a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it; I will cut off its supply of bread, send famine on it, and cut off man and beast from it.
Ezekiel 14:12 (MSG) GOD's Message came to me: 13 "Son of man, when a country sins against me by living faithlessly and I reach out and destroy its food supply by bringing on a famine, wiping out humans and animals alike,
Ezekiel 15:6 (NKJV) "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem; 7 and I will set My face against them. They will go out from one fire, but another fire shall devour them. Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I set My face against them. 8 Thus I will make the land desolate, because they have persisted in unfaithfulness,' says the Lord GOD."
CONCLUSION: HOW SAD ARE THE WORDS PERSISTANT UNFAITHFULNESS? People are from the RIGHT FAMILY --- seems they think they are always right… that compound the plan with blind stubbornness? What do we have to do to listen?
2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Are we going to accidently drift through life? QUE SERA? SERA? What will be will be? Come with me… as JOHN THE BELOVED AND LAY YOUR HEAD ON THE CHEST OF THE LOVING SON OF GOD… LISTEN! LISTEN? CAN WE HEAR THE DIVINE HEART BEAT OF GOD… Hell is real… Discipline your heart, your attitudes, your words and your reactions…
LISTEN? WHAT IS GOD TRYING TO TELL YOU TODAY? WILL YOU LISTEN? DO YOU HAVE YOUR EARS IN NEUTRAL AND YOUR TONGUE IN PASSING GEAR? God might tell you and your family, if you would listen?
Can you hear God? WHAT IS GOD TRYING TO SAY? GOD RESURRECT THE LOST ART OF LISTENING TO YOUR SPIRIT’S CALL.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Hear my heart? God is calling us closer. Listen!
