My Ear hast thou opened
Text: Isaiah 50:4,5
Jesus often said, "him that hath ears to hear..." How is your spiritual hearing?
We will address 2 main points from this passage of scripture:
1. My ear hast thou opened
2. I listen as a disciple
My ear you have opened, I listen as a disciple. You have done a work of grace to give me the ability to hear, now I strive to hear as I ought.
2. I listen as a disciple
Who listened as a disciple? Jesus did.
Luke 8:18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him." Jesus said be careful how you hear.
My own state may expose me either to receive error or to reject truth.
Hear shunning distraction.
Hear, taking notes.
Hear, asking questions of God, the text, myself.
What is God saying to me?
Is there a command to keep? A promise to claim? A danger to avoid? A word to treasure in
My heart? An insight I have gained.
Three pitfalls of hearing according to the word:
1. People who don’t hear.
2. People who hear only. (don’t be hearers only...)
3. People who hear and do only superficially. Mark 6:20
Different ways people listen:
1. Listen dully
I heard a story about a hobo who walked up to the front door of a big fancy house, and knocked on the door until the owner answered. The hobo said, "Sir, could I please have something to eat ? I haven’t had a meal in days." The well-to-do owner of the house said, "I have made my fortune
in the world by never giving anything away for free. If you go around to the back of the house, you’ll fine a fresh gallon of paint and a clean brush. Paint my porch and I’ll give you a good meal."
The hobo headed off to the back of the house. About an hour later he knocked on the front door. The homeowner was surprised. "You’re finished already? That was quick! Come on in and sit down, and I’ll have the cook bring you a meal." "Thank you, sir!" the hobo said. "I must tell you though, you really don’t know your cars. That’s not a Porch back there. It’s a BMW."
Paul said some people couldn’t hear, because they weren’t living right.
1 Sam 3:1-3 Samuel slept near God. If you want to hear you need to be near God.
2. Some people hear better with their belly.
When God smites them with hunger they are ready to listen.
3. Some people only listen for personal benefit.
Most common type of error in listening.
Illus: Woman brought me groceries when I first came to pastor this church. She told me she had just gotten a letter in the mail: "I won 90,000 dollars" Truth: She had a chance to win 90,000 dollars. There were requirements! (And very small odds!)
We should listen in the same way that a beneficiary listens to the reading of the will. We are joint heirs with Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 9:15-17). How do beneficiaries listen to the reading of a will? With expectancy, listening to the smallest detail. They also listen with thanksgiving, and with faith that what benefactor has left them is real and is theirs to enjoy.
4. Listen as a disciple:
How may I please my master.
Samuel waited and listened for Eli’s voice.
Elisha waited and listened for Elijah’s voice. How he may serve him.
My ear You have opened
What did God open my ears to this week.
What did God open my ears to this week.
1. Giving flows from personal revelation.
Giving of finances:
Mary broke the alabaster bottle.
Giving becomes hard when there is no revelation.
2. Lifting of hands in worship is like a child in a playpen asking daddy to parole you so that you could be with Him.
3. God really loves us a lot.
Illus: This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. (A father quoted this passage as his backslid son rededicated his life to God, and was water baptized.)
John 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
John 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Close: Prayer for salvation/open ears
