Help Wanted: Relationship or Religion part Two
listening for God and to others
James 1:19-25
Good morning everyone, glad that you have joined us this morning.
If you would turn in your bibles to James chapter 1:19-25 Read from Bible
We started a series last week entitled Help Wanted: Relationship or Religion.
We first looked at the difference between relationship and religion and then in the different areas of our lives that would be affected.
Last week we looked at wisdom. The difference between Godly wisdom and worldly wisdom.
This week I want to look at listening. Huh? Selective hearing doesn’t count.
What does James tell the church about listening and the importance of not only listening but responding after you heard what was said.
Listening is an art and a lot of people do not have the art of listening.
God is very involved in the lives of His people, developing and refining Christ-like character in each of us.
Apostle Peter and James each have a job to do in the church with believers to get them where they need to be and do the things that we are each called to in a way that brings honor and glory to the Lord.
Peter wants us to grow – Spiritually grow to be who God intended us to be.
James wants us to make application of God’s word. Take and apply His principals to our lives.
1 Peter 2:2-
“Like new born babies desire the pure milk of the word in order that you may grow.”
Growing is a part of healthy living for the Lord
if you are not growing, you are stagnant. If you are standing still, you are falling backwards.
Hearing what God has to say about areas of our lives is healthy
James1:19-
“Take note of this, everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
Our text this morning / 3 points He brings out in the text
quick to listen
Slow to speak
slow to become angry
James says take note- how many are taking notes from God’s word? James is saying this is important enough to be writing down. You will need it later.
I don’t know about you but I forget a lot of things if I don’t write it down. I am that guy that walks into the kitchen and forgets what he walked in there for.
I am the guy who has good intentions and will say many times…I know that I was suppose to tell you something. I will remember and get back to you.
Take note church, we are living in an informational age and we are flooded with voices and opinions and when we get a nugget of truth from God’s word or from one of Gods servants, we need to write it down so that we can remember it and apply it to our lives as needed.
2 Ears one mouth-
Twice as much listening as we do speaking.
Most people only stop talking long enough to catch a breath and are not listening. They are concentrating on what they will say once the opportunity comes to them again. We are not listening to hear, we are listening to get our point across and have the other person listening to us.
If two people are talking and nobody is listening, that is not a conversation…it is a speech that nobody is listening too.
Ernest Hemingway- “When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen".
Andrew Grove- “How well we communicate is not determined by how well we say things but how well we are understood"
Agatha Christie- "An appreciative listener is always stimulating".
Points to listening
Listen at least as much as you talk. ...
Listening is a sign of respect. ...
Never stop listening. ...
Learn by listening. ...
Listening open and actively. ...
Learn to bite your tongue. ...
Don't try to multitask. ...
Use your eyes and your ears.
The Book of James has much character-shaping wisdom for us to receive and apply to our lives, including:
“Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only” Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. (v.22)
Quick to listen (James says)
First Priority - Listening for God (Always have a listening ear to the things of God)
God speaks to us daily … are we listening?
James says- Take note- Are you taking notes when God speaks to you?
According to many Christian beliefs, God speaks to us in many ways, including:
Through the Bible: God speaks to us through the Bible, which is considered His greatest love letter. The Bible is said to be profitable for teaching, correction, and training in righteousness.
Through events: God can speak to us through events and circumstances, guiding us and helping us to grow spiritually.
Through our consciences: God helps us to discern right from wrong through our consciences.
Through the Holy Spirit: God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit.
Through other people: God often speaks to us through the people He has placed in our lives.
Through dreams and visions: God can speak to us through our dreams and visions.
Illustration-
One lady woke up and was having breakfast at the kitchen table with her husband and she says- “I had a bad dream last night, do you want to hear it. Before the husband could answer she begins telling him that in her dream she was being chased by a mean bear wanting to bite her…AND HER HUSNBAND DID NOTHING ABOUT IT!!!
All the best listening skills available are not going to save that man from where she was taking him.
Through prayer: God speaks to us through prayer. Some say that we need to quiet our minds and hearts to hear God's voice.
Illustration-
A pastor had recently bought his little girl a cat and one day came home to find the cat in the tree in their backyard. The father just could not reach getting the cat down from the tree. He came up with an idea. He would tie a rope around the tree limb and tie the other end of the rope to the bumper of the car and when he moved the car, the tree branch would bend and he would be able to reach the cat from the tree. The car is moving and the tree is bending, seemed like a great plan until the rope broke and the cat went flying in the air and out of sight. The child was heartbroken and dad beside himself. I did not say all stories have a happy ending! A few weeks later, the pastor is visiting one of his people and sees that this lady has his little kitten. He doesn’t really know how to approach the problem so he says how long have you had the little kitten? The lady says pastor, you will not believe this story when I tell you. I was in the back yard with Johnny and he was pesting us to get a cat. I did not want a cat. I finally say that if the Lord wants you to have a cat, He will provide you with a cart in a miraculous way!
God speaks through prayer. This illustration is not impossible but highly unlikely to happen.
He who has ears to hear, let him hear…
It is a call to actively listen and heed the message being delivered, implying that the listener should pay close attention and understand the importance of what is being said.
7 times in the bible and mostly in Revelation…He who has an ear, let him hear.
Mark 4:9- Mark uses that phrase and is implying that we should be receptive to the teachings that are being taught.
listening for God…listening to God
The other side of that is listening to others- God puts people in our path with godly wisdom and we are to be taking notes of it and applying what is said and done in our lives.
Number one! Quick to listen
Slow to speak
Are you a good listener?
Would people say that you are a good listener or a good talker? (Pause)
People today need someone to listen to them- we have developed a society of people who talk but don’t listen.
WE don’t listen to God- WE HAVE NO FILTERS WHEN IT COMES TO TALKING TO OTEHRS
There is no “Be still and know that I am God” and a time of listening for direction from God. Psalm 46:10
Helpful to have ‘quiet times’ – listening not talking
(I think some people would explode if they had to keep quiet for any length of time)
A tribute was once paid to a great linguist that he could be silent in seven different languages.
“If you hate quick answers, you will not fall into error.”
He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him ~ Proverbs 18:13.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue. ~ Proverbs 18:21
We are killing each other with our tongues
Proverbs 13:3
“Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything.”
Proverbs 17:27
“He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.”
Proverbs 15:1
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Ecclesiastes 5:2
“Don't shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think. Don't be too quick to tell God what you think He wants to hear. God's in charge, not you—the less you speak, the better.”
Teachable spirits listen more than they talk.
“Get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”
SLOW TO BECOME ANGRY
How short is your fuse? (Becoming aware by experience)
Keep close watch on the condition of our heart and the character of our response to those we disagree with. Extend grace upon grace, as Jesus would. Vital in these days!
“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city”. ~ Proverbs 16:32
Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. ~ Eccl 7:9
“A quick-tempered man does foolish things...” ~ Proverbs 14:17
2. “For man's temper (anger) is never the means of achieving God's true goodness.”
We are Jesus people; we are Kingdom people on a mission from God –
God is working His character in us. We, the Church, are to be a transforming presence, sent-ones into the world to represent Jesus and minister in His name.
Closing,
According to the Bible, several prominent figures are recorded as having experienced God speaking to them either through dreams or audibly, including Joseph, Jacob, Solomon, and Daniel; where Joseph received crucial guidance about Mary and Jesus through dreams, Jacob had visions of a ladder to heaven, Solomon was given wisdom in a dream, and Daniel interpreted prophetic dreams for kings.
In the Bible, Samuel heard the voice of God while listening:
Story: In 1 Samuel 3:1–10, Samuel heard God's voice for the first time:
Samuel was lying in the temple of the Lord when God called out to him.
Samuel responded, "Here I am" three times.
Eli, who was lying down in his usual place, realized that God was calling Samuel.
Eli told Samuel to go back to bed, but God called again.
Eli told Samuel to go back to bed again, but God called a third time.
It was through fellowship with God that Moses received the Ten Commandments and the building plans for the tabernacle. Later, through listening, David received instructions on how to build the temple that his son Solomon would construct. God speaks to those who listen.
Jim Cymbala began the Brooklyn Tabernacle with less than twenty members in a small, rundown building in a difficult part of the city.
David Wilkerson was sent by the Lord to New York to start a ministry. The movie the cross and the switchblade was made on his mission trip to New York. Nicky Cruz was a gang leader that turned his heart over to God but not until David Wilkerson went to where God had called him first. He had to be listening to what the Lord was telling Him
Prayer-
