Can You Hear Me Now?
Preparing To Hear God
Intro: Starting a new series…Can You Hear Me Now.
Be interrupted by someone walking across the stage, and then asking that in their cell phone. Let me ask you….If God were to call you today, could you hear Him now?
Illust; C.B. Radios. We had one in every car, and we had a base station with illegal boosters and amplifiers. I knew all the buzz words, and had the entire 10 code memorized…you know one of them…10-4. One of the things that people would ask when looking for someone is this. “XXXX” Do you have your ears on? They were sending out a message, looking to see if someone was listening and tuning them in. This phrase isn’t from the 70’s, or from CBs. Jesus actually said it a couple of thousand years ago.
He who has ears, let him hear. (Matt. 13:9)
Jesus is asking you if you are tuned into Him. Are you listening to God?
Question: Has God spoken, or God speaking?
Answer: Yes!
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, (Heb. 1.1)
in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. (Heb. 1.2)
He who has ears, let him hear. (Matt. 13:9)
And the disciples came and said to Him, ‘Why do You speak to them in parables?’ (Matt. 13:10)
Jesus answered them, ‘To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.’ (Matt. 13:11)
For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. (Matt. 13:12)
Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. (Matt. 13:13)
In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says: You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; (Matt. 13:14)
For the heart of this people has become dull, with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes, otherwise they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I would heal them.’ (Matt. 13:15)
But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. (Matt. 13:16)
For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. (Matt. 13:17)
Preparing To Hear God
1. Hearing God Requires Having The Ability To Hear.
Starting at this point, every 45 seconds have someone call another cell phone, placed throughout the room. I would like to have 5-10 cell phones ring during this time.
This is the first and most important point. Look back at what Jesus said.
He who has ears, let him hear. (Matt. 13:9)
Illust: My dad just stayed with us for almost two months. Before He came, we warned him that we did not have our television hooked up…because we knew that he watched tv almost non-stop in his house. Denise heard him talking on the phone to someone, and he said, “They have this really nice big, screen television, but it is useless…they don’t even have an antenna.’ What he was saying was that we did not have the equipment to take advantage of the television set. My dad could not fathom having a television and not tuning in.
We have the possibility to possess the ability to hear God. He has hardwired us. But we need to tune into Him. How do you do that?
a. I have to Know God.
Do you know Jesus Christ personally?
To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. (John 10.3)
When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. (John 10.4)
You have to know the Shepherd in order to know His voice. Do you know Christ? Have you ever given your life to Him by faith in His life/death/resurrection?
b. I have to Have Faith.
For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. (Heb. 4.2)
Illust:; Phone Calls. How many people have been getting frustrated by all the phone calls? I had those calls made to bring home a point. All throughout this room, there are opportunities to hear. My cell phone hasn’t gone off, and neither has most of yours. Why? Because you were not the one called, the connection wasn’t made to your hardware. Your number wasn’t dialed. God is calling you…He is calling you by name, not just number. But you have to connect to Him by faith. You have to be willing to establish the connection by believing in Him. If you do not have the faith to respond to His call, then it is like these cell phones. You may see other people getting connected, but miss it yourself. What would you do today if your heart rang and caller ID said it was the Holy Spirit? Would you answer, or hope that He doesn’t leave a message?
2. Hearing God Requires Making A Choice To Listen.
Illust:; Go back to the story of my dad and my television. I could have the television, and the antenna, I could even have digital satellite, but if I don’t choose to watch it, then it is irrelevant. Just having the capacity or ability to hear doesn’t mean that I do hear.
He who has ears, let him hear. (Matt. 13:9)
a. Listening To Him First.
Illust: Kids knocked melted ice cream into the floor of the garage and left it there. I asked them if they sensed the Holy Spirit telling them to clean it up as he walked away. He did, but chose not to listen to it. Other things were calling him. I told him, what I am telling you and myself…that we must learn to hear God before we listen to anyone or anything else.
b. Listening To Him Foremost.
Have you ever had your children say, “I’m sorry, I did not hear you.”? What do you do when your kids do not obey, or respond to your desires, and that is their reason…”I did not hear you.”
We have made it a point in our house to try and make our voice so important to the kids that they hear us. I have told them that if we speak in a tone and volume that is reasonably loud enough to be heard, then not hearing us is a choice to disobey.
Can I tell you something? It did not take very many times of painful correction before my children could hear my voice above their electronic toys and each other. When Denise calls them, they hear her, because they do not like the alternative.
What is the alternative to not hearing God? Do you want to miss His plan, blessing, and purpose? I don’t. But can I reasonably expect God to keep repeating Himself if I choose to ignore Him?
3. Hearing God Results In Being Blessed.
But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. (Matt. 13:16)
For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. (Matt. 13:17)
I asked what the alternative to not hearing God was. What happens when you do hear and respond to God. You are blessed, other people are blessed and the kingdom of God is benefited. That is a good enough reason to listen!
Transition To Communion.
As we participate in communion, what do you hear God telling you? He loved you enough to die for you, do you love Him enough to live for Him?
