Greetings and God's Blessings to all. Tonight we looked into listening to a sermon. Many people attend church and sit there but don't listen. Church is a place that God communicates with us but we need to have our ears, eyes, and hearts open to receive His word. Self help books are all around us today. Most begin with “How To”, They offer advice on how to make your life “more practical”, how to accomplish tasks, make your life easier, be more productive, and make your life more fulfilling.
Our scripture reading for tonight was 2 Timothy 4 : 1-5. Why do you come to church? To meet Christian friends?, give your children good moral values?, help lift you up for the up coming week? We should be coming here to “Know God”, to have an encounter with Him. We should be here to ‘Hear Him”. So, we need to listen. Luke 8:18 Therefore consider how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him. Does God speak to us today? Yes, just as much as He always has. Today, He speaks to us mainly through His Word and the teaching and preaching of His Word. If we develop good listening skills, we will hear Him clearly.
How To Listen: Listen reverently (Worshipful). The Bible is God’s Word.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. The Greek word “Inspired” is literally translated to “God Breathed”. Not the product of human imagination, ingenuity, or creation. God insured that the words written and translated were His words and only His Words. When you open your Bibles you are not reading words from men about God, you are reading God’s words to man. God speaks through the Bible. Paul told Timothy and all Pastors through the ages to “Preach the Word”. 2 Timothy 4:2-3 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit there own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
A Pastor is not to preach his prejudices or opinions. We are to proclaim what God say’s in his Word. Many Pastors have grown large congregations by telling their parishioners what they think they want to hear. Some are “Happy, Happy” churches, some “Fire and Brimstone”. Look around are they scriptural? You come here to hear a word from God. That is why we should listen reverently. He has a message He wants you to hear, and a coarse of action He wants you to pursue.
Listen Critically: Definition: “inclined to find fault” or “careful and exact evaluation”. The later is what we need to do. Acts 17:11 “Now the Bereans were of more noble charter than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” The Bereans listened carefully to Paul. They took notes, went home and checked it out. They did their homework. When listening to a sermon you need to be an active participant not a passive recipient.
If you had an appointment with God how would you prepare? Prayer, confession, bring a note pad as not to miss anything? At the meeting what would you do? Listen closely, take notes, ask questions? I bet you would make some changes after your appointment. How do you know if the Pastors message is his own or from God? You evaluate the sermons faithfulness to scriptures. Do what the Bereans did, listen, take notes, go home and check up on the Pastors message. In order for God’s word to impact our life we have one more thing to do, Listen Submissively.
James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” God did not give us His Word to make us better sinners. He wants to make us more like Himself. You and I share the responsibility in the transformation.It is my job to present scripture in a way you can better understand it and how to apply it to your life. The Congress of Biblical Exposition defines biblical preaching as: persuasively and urgently communicating the exact and full meaning of the text of Scripture in terms of contemporary culture, with the specific goal of helping people understand and obey the truth of God.” What is your responsibility? Listen reverently, critically and submissively. During the week you should seek to apply God’s message to your life. Spiritual Maturity is the product of truth applied over time.
I read Matthew 7:24-27. When we hear God’s word and carefully apply it, we have a solid foundation for living. Hear it and not act on it, you might have well have build your house on sand. When you hear the Word and Apply it, blessing comes, protection comes, security comes, and resilience comes.
In closing, listen reverently, it is a Word from God, listen critically, be active not passive, and listen submissively, ask yourself, “How can I apply what I have learned today? What changes does God want me to make? YOU, not your spouse, children, co-workers, or friends. God is talking to YOU. Prayerfully apply the truths you have learned to your life. God tells us that His Word, when applied, does not return to Him void.
The Spirit was indeed in our presence once again. Till next week may you and yours be Blessed.
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