HAVE AN EAR EXAMINATION? WHAT HEAR YE?
By Wade Martin Hughes,Sr.; Kyfingers@aol.com
This is a three part series.
Illustrated sermon: You will need, a kitchen faucet, two glasses; light bulb, extension cord with bear wires on end exposed; Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street in a garbage can, and a mirror.
TEXT:
1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God, and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
James 1:19 Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, and slow to wrath.
Luke 20:46 Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feast.
Psalms 26:3 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; TRY MY REINS ... and my heart.
1 Cor. 11:28 But let a man examine himself...
1 Cor. 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith, prove your own selves...
I. THE SPIRIT CRIES: WE NEED AN EAR EXAMINATION? WHERE IS THE LOST ART OF LISTENING?
TEXT: James 1:19 Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, and slow to wrath.
A. GRADUAL LOSS OF HEARING?
I took an old man to the doctor. While we were in the doctors office the old man complained he could not hear as well as he used to. The doctor said this is normal for an old man. But the doctor looked into the old man’s ear and said, YUCK!
It appeared that many years of wax build up had occurred. The doctor had the nurse pour a solution and very warm water in the man’s ears. And slowly big pieces of dried ear wax started breaking up and coming out of the man’s ears.
That day when we left the doctor’s office the old man said, IT IS A MIRACLE, I CAN HEAR SO WELL.
I guess that this ear wax and loss of hearing was so gradual that the man never even noticed.
CAN YOU HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SAYING TO YOU TODAY?
SEEMS SOME CAN HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO OTHERS MUCH MORE THAN WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SPEAKING TO THEM.
B. RECALL THE OLD SONGS?
Years ago we sang an old song,
I’LL BE SOMEWHERE LISTENING FOR MY NAME. (Unknown)
When the Savior calls, I will answer.
When He calls for me I will hear;
When the Savior calls I will answer,
I’ll be somewhere listening for my name.
I’ll be somewhere list’ning, I’ll be somewhere list’ning, I’ll be somewhere list’ning, for my name.
I’ll be somewhere list’ning, I’ll be somewhere list’ning,
I’ll be somewhere list’ning, for my name.
If my heart is right when He calls me, if my heart is right I will hear;
If my heart is right when he calls me, I’ll be somewhere listening for my name.
C. WHY CAN’T WE HEAR GOD’S SPIRIT?
My heart breaks today, for we are gradually loosing our hearing within the church?
Today the effects of very loud music is slowly deafening our young people?
President Bill Clinton had to start wearing hearing aids because he listened to loud music?
Seems families are not listening to each other? Divorce? Runaway?
How can you listen with your mouth running? I ponder why did God give us two ears and one mouth?
Maybe we can listen to the TV and CD’s and avoid listening to the hearts of those that we love and need to understand.
D. HEAR THE CRY FOR THE EASY?
Preacher make that sermon short, sweet and humorous.
I am thankful for the class room, but we need the UPPER ROOM to return to the church.
We must hear the heart of the Spirit of God. Church must be more than social clubs, super programs, and entertainment sources
E. I DON’T WANT TO HEAR THAT?
My oldest son was a small boy. I yelled at him and told him to do something.
I never got the response for which I had asked. I spoke again the second time, and he replied, Dad I never heard you the first time? How did he know I had spoken the first time if he had not heard me?
Have you ever noticed how in a big crowd a Mother can hear her baby cry, and know it is her baby? God knows your voice, and we should know the voice of Jesus.
F. CAN YOU HEAR GOD’S CALL ABOVE MAN’S DESIRES?
Did Jonah hear God say, GO to Niveveh? Sure, Jonah heard God’s plan, just Jonah had a better idea, his human plan? Isn’t God merciful to speak unto us a second time of His Divine Plan?
G. CAN YOU HEAR THE CALL TO A SECOND TOUCH?
The blind man was healed, but he had a distorted vision, he saw men as trees.
But Jesus loved the blind man and the second touch of the Master’s hand cleared the distortions,
and the blind man could now see. I am glad Jesus loves us enough, that if we fail the first time, Jesus will touch us again that we might see more clear the Divine plan.
H. CAN YOU HEAR THE INVITATION INTO A NEW WALK WHERE OTHERS CAN MAKE IT?
Their little boat was rocking to and fro on the waters. Fear grasped the passengers as they saw something they could not explain.
Jesus came walking on the water. Peter awaited the invitation of his beloved Master.
Bid me come? asked Peter.
Peter heard the words of Jesus inviting Peter, COME!
As the storm’s winds blew against Peter, and as Peter felt the cold waters run up his leg,
Peter seemed to forget what he had heard, when the invitation’s sound had faded in Peter’s
ears, the forgetful hearer started to sink.
Peter heard the sweet voice of Jesus.
Peter got a new grip on the Master’s hand and up out of the deathly waters Peter arose.
Peter would have stayed in the boat, had he not heard the invitation.
There are 11 men sitting in the boat talking about Peter sinking, but at least one heard
the voice. May we realize how easy it is during the storm to miss hearing the Divine Invitation?
Listen Jesus bids you, --- COME! Can you hear Him?
I. CAN YOU RECOGNIZE AND HEAR THE VOICE OF AUTHORITY?
Moses had wondered 40 years in a hot, dry desert, but one day Moses heard something.
The message Moses heard was clear, TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES FOR YOU STAND ON HOLY GROUND. Many see the burning bush, we love the show. It was not just the burning bush, Moses had to recognize and hear the message --- WE ARE ON HOLY GROUND.
MAY I SUGGEST THAT EVERY BUSH IS AFLAME? ALL GROUND IS HOLY GROUND? CAN YOU HEAR THE MESSAGE?
J. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
I know you have seen the cell phone commercial, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
Seems the man in the commercial is forever walking away and wanting to know, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?That is a neat idea for a commercial, but spiritually this is not wise. We need to be walking closer and closer, listening to the Bible as it speaks
very clearly to this lost, hurt and dying generation!
Come my friend, COME CLOSE AND HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT IS NOW SAYING TO THE CHURCH!
II. THE SPIRIT CRIES: WE MUST EXAMINE OUR SOURCE.
LISTEN THE SPIRIT WANTS YOU TO HEAR; WHAT IS YOUR SOURCE?
I use two illustrations here. You can do just one if you like.
TEXT:
Luke 20:46 Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings
in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feast.
A. A KITCHEN FAUCET WITHOUT WATER PIPES?
I have a kitchen sink faucet hidden behind the pulpit. ( I got this free from a plumber.)
I talk of being so thirsty, I asked if anyone else is thirsty?
I invite one thirsty person to come forward with me, I have a glass, I give them a glass.
And I talk about being thirsty.
I reach behind the pulpit and get the kitchen faucet and turn the faucet on...
There are no water pipes, there is no connection with the water tower, there are no pumps
connected to bring the water. If there is no source of water, we will stay thirsty?
What if I have a source of dirty, contaminated water? I know, I shall paint the pump
a bright silver color? The pump may look good, but if the slimy water is nasty, a shining pump will not help our thirst.
B. AN UNPLUGGED EXTENSION CORD?
I also give a person in the crowd a light bulb. I ask them to turn it on? I have an extension cord with bare wires on the opposite end of the plug.
I pretend to plug the cord into an outlet, I don’t ever have this really plugged into
a source of electricity. I ask the person with the light bulb to come up and grab hold of the two bare wires, that appear to be plugged in.
There has to be a source of power to light the bulb.
No matter how fancy the lamp, and the light bulb, it must be plugged in to a source?
Many try to be good Christians and try ministry without a connection to the local church.
This will never work right.
C. CAN YOU IDENTIFY YOUR SOURCE? WORD? DEED?
Sickly oaks from sickly acorns grow!
The weakest kind of fruit falls the quickest to the ground.
D. TAKE HEED, THERE IS A DANGER WHEN WE TEND TO BYPASS THE CHURCH AND THE BIBLE!
Have you ever heard a Preacher speak a great lesson and never turn to the Bible?
Some years ago I heard a very popular speaker as he addressed a huge crowd.
This great orator quoted NewsWeek, Time, The Jerusalem Times, he quoted Hollywood
and had the crowd laughing. The man used the words of several TV Preachers.
But never once did this man open his Bible? Never did he refer to what the Word of God stated.
E. MANY THINGS ARE TRYING TO BYPASS GOD’S PLAN.
Is fasting and prayer out dated? Is living pure and holy a thing of the past?
I recently heard Charles Crabtree the Assistant Superintendent of the Assemblies of God speak.
He had recently been sick and had been confined to his home for a while. Brother Crabtree said he had learned something in his sickness.
The lesson, ONLY MATURE CHRISTIANS SHOULD WATCH CHRISTIAN TV.
He warned that Christian TV was so enamored with the glimmer of stars and popularity that the message can be easily misdirected and compromised.
F. I KNOW ALL THE WHO’S WHO... MY GOOD WORKS?
Have you ever got a ticket? Did you go to a policeman or judge friend to fix your ticket?
I recently heard a converted abortion clinic head speak. The lady said she had been responsible
for 33,000 abortions, she attended church and paid her tithes faithfully, and the Pastor loved her, as she was the biggest donator to the church. Wow, do we compromise for money?
G. WE NEED A FAITH CONNECTION...
Religious connections can be dangerous and damming.
God give America a FAITH LIFT, we are not in competition, we are in a battle, and God has
a solution to your problem. TRY GOD, HE WORKS!
The WORD OF GOD DOES THE WORK OF GOD!!
III. LISTEN, THE SPIRIT WANTS YOU TO HEAR; DO YOU PRACTICE SELF EXAMINATION?
Here I use a mirror and the Semane Street Character OSCAR the Grouch. I talk about who Oscar the Grouch really is? Where does Oscar live? In a garbage can!
Why Oscar? Why be known as the GROUCH? His attitude? Who does OSCAR the GROUCH see when he looks into the mirror? Who do you see when you look into the mirror?
TEXT: 1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God, and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Psalms 26:3 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; TRY MY REINS ... and my heart.
A. WE NEED REGULAR SELF EXAMINATION AND SELF EVALUATION!
Years ago, I was a school teacher in Virginia. We had the sweetest neighbor.
One day my wife and our neighbor was visiting, my neighbor asked my wife to look at something.
Our neighbor had fully involved breast cancer. My wife demanded she go to the doctor the next day. She went and the doctor could not believe how bad the breast cancer was, it was too late.
She had a massive double mastectomy, but there was little that would help because there had
not been regular self examinations. Within a few months our precious friend passed away.
B. WE MUST LEARN TO THRIVE IN THE TESTING, IN THE TRIALS, AND IN THE TEMPTATION.
James 5:11 Happy are they that endure... don’t be a quitter.
Your test will not be in your words, your greatest test will be in your action.
Character is what you really are when no one can see you!
Fire is the test of gold, strong adversity is the test of men.
The true test of the church is not mere numbers, but the kind of Christians the church produces.
The real test of the church is not how we add more to those that already have, but rather how
we provide for those that have not been touched by the Gospel.
Medicine to produce health must examine disease, the church must offer a holiness to a sinful,
dying world.
C. WE NEED A MIRROR, A MIRROR OF TRUTH TO SHOW US AS WE REALLY ARE!
1 Cor. 11:28 But let a man examine himself...
1 Cor. 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith, prove your own selves...
IF A DONKEY PEERS INTO A MIRROR, WHO SHALL HE EXPECT TO SEE, A PROPHET?
If God’s people would practice self examination, and correct our weak areas, we would grow stronger and more fruitful. Count the cost of what the lack of self
examination and self evaluation can cost you and the church.
IV. THE SPIRIT CRIES EXAMINE YOUR TROPHIES? WHAT RAINBOWS ARE YOU CHASING? WHAT DO YOU DESIRE?
Psalms 78:29 So they did eat, and were filled: for God GAVE them THEIR OWN DESIRE;
Psalms 145:19 God will fulfill the DESIRE OF THEM THAT FEAR HIM.
Luke 11:9 And I say unto you, ask and it shall be given unto you: seek and ye shall find, knock and
it shall be opened unto you. 10. For everyone that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh shall find,
and to him that knocked shall it be opened. 11. If a son ask bread of any that is his father, will he
give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish will he give him a serpent?
A. WHAT DO WE LOVE? WHAT YOU LOVE YOU WILL FIND TIME FOR?
We all love big trophies? We love applause? We love financial profits? We love big shining cars? If your house is under 2500 square feet you haven’t achieved much?
Does your heart break for the same things that break the heart of God?
It is always too soon to quit!
Are great numbers alone success? If so every cemetery is a great work, the cemeteries have more
today than yesterday? How about perpetual babyhood of believers?
Does God hear more prayers for power and money and prospering pocket books than God hears for prospering and fruitful souls?
B. BIGGER TROPHIES DON’T BRING MORE JOY?
Are we searching for great reputations and lossing our sight of God’s great redemption?
Are we looking for saving face and favor and forget the power of amazing grace?
Does my desire to be popular and loved by all motivate my actions? What does God think?
Does my private prayer closet match my public pride?
Do I desire the TV? VCR? DVD? CD? SUPER BOWL? SPORTS? As much as the church?
As the Bible? As prayer time and communion with God? Does what I say with my mouth
match what I do in my front room? What is the center piece in your front room?
Do you give as much to missions as you do for premium cable or the Dish?
C. FINISH THIS LINE: I WOULD BE HAPPY IF ....
I ask you again, not what you say, but what you do...
How long has it been since you fasted and poured your self broken out before the mighty God? Where are your dreams? Your visions?
V. HEAR THE SPIRIT: WE HAVE POLLUTED DREAMS AND DESIRE TO HAVE!.
A. YOU EVER LOOK FROM HEAVENS POINT OF VIEW?
Did you ever go to a bank to borrow money? You can prove your income?
You say, I want $25,000. The loan officer will ask, What do you want the money for?
Well, Mr. Loan officer that ain’t none of your business, just loan me the money?
Do you think you will get the money?
Pollute: ceremonially, morally unclean and impure; contaminated.
B. GIVING LEFTOVERS AND EXPECTING OVERFLOWING BLESSINGS?
Why should God give you another song to sing until you wear that song out?
Is it hard to witness or invite that friend to church after you have just told them
that dirty joke, or said all those bad words? Sin will destroy the church and the family.
James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lust that war in your members. 2. Ye lust and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, AND YE cannot OBTAIN: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lust.
11 Timothy 3:4 Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. 5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away...
VI. HAVE YOU ALLOWED LIFE TO DETOUR YOUR WORKS AND YOUR DREAMS?
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU.
A. DETOUR, DEVIATION FROM THE DIRECT COURSE, TO AVOID BY GOING AROUND, SOMETHING THAT IMPEDES...
B. THE MAIN THING IS TO KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING. BY THE WAY, WHAT IS THE MAIN THING?
Did you know often those that take a detour, take others on the detour with them?
I know a friend that has put his work before the cross, just to get ahead, and while
he has been on this detour, his family is going a different direction, and recently he tapped some of his friends that would have been in church to take them on his detour. In my opinion this can be very costly?
Tell someone that has the wrong priorities and see what a villain you will be come?
God promised if we would keep the main thing the main thing that He would ADD UNTO US!
C. HOW DOES SATAN GET PEOPLE TO TAKE THE SPIRITUAL DETOUR THAT WILL IMPEDE THEIR PROGRESS AND HURT THE CHURCH?
Spiritual gradualness, skip one Sunday? Then two Sundays?
What if the Preacher were counting on you? What if the church were counting on you?
What if Jesus counted on you and you were too busy to hear?
How do the heart’s veins get clogged? A little cholesterol here, a little there?
There is a SPIRIT OF GRADUALNESS THAT HAS SLOWLY AND ALMOST IMPERCEIVABLY BE LOOSED IN THE CHURCH. We need to repent and allign our desires with the word of God.
D. WILL YOU GIVE EAR? WHERE IS SELF RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY?
In the book of Revelations, God calls 7 churches in for EXAMINATION.
Of those 7 churches, 5 had a bad report. Read Revelations 1:18, Revelations 3:18 -22.
If any man hear the voice of God --- OPEN THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN TO HIM, I WILL SUP WITH HIM, AND HE WITH ME.
It goes on to say: AS JESUS OVER CAME SO HE WILL HELP US TO OVER COME.
Phil. 4:17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to YOUR ACCOUNT.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr., Kyfingers@aol.com
Please help me? Pass this on to at least one other person?
