Listening/Paying Attention to God

(Jer. 25:1-7, 26:12-13)

God speaks to us through:

Bible reading (Heb. 4:12)

But is it enough to read the Bible? (John 5:39-40, Acts 8:26-31, 1 Cor. 2:11-13)

Bible Meditation/Reflection (Josh. 1:8)

Prayer (Ps. 38:15, 130:5, Isa. 30:18, 64:4)

Martin Luther is popularly quoted as saying, "I spend an hour a day in prayer. But when I am
busy and the tasks press in on my, I can afford no less than 2 hours a day in prayer."

Sermons (Acts 2:22-37)

The words of other people (2 Sam. 12:1-7, Gal. 6:1-2)
The Holy Spirit (John 16:13)
Prophecy/Dreams? (Acts 2:17-18)
Experiences (Exod. 3:2-6)

God’s “Teachable Moments”

Would you know God’s voice if you heard it? (John 10:3-4)

God directed us to listen (Prov. 8:33-34, Matt. 17:5)

Seven times, once in each of the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 we read "He that
hath an ear let him hear" (See also Mark 4:9 & 23)

Listening is the first step towards repentance and transformation (Jer. 26:3, Acts 16:14-15)

4 Types of Listeners (Matt. 13:18-23 (Parable of the Sower))

Hard-hearted listener

Pride interferes/distracts, so humble yourself to hear (Prov. 22:17-19)

Shallow-hearted listener

A man was sitting in the window seat of a plane reading a magazine when two well-dressed
Ally McBeal look-a-likes sat down next to him. Their conversation competed for attention
with his magazine. They talked about the club scene-what they enjoyed drinking, who they
were "dating," their intimate relationships with men, both single and married. Then it turned
into a gripe session. "Why do guys have such a hard time committing?" One asked. "And why
don't they ever leave their wives like they promise to?" Another complained. They talked
about work for a while, and about the time the man was tuning out, one of them said, "But
you know, if it wasn't for church, my life would really be hell." By now, the man was only
pretending to read his magazine, they had his full attention. "Wow, you go to church too. I
know exactly how you feel. If it wasn't for church, I don't know where I'd be." "Yeah, I know
 what you mean," the other lady said, "if I miss more than two weeks of church everything in
my life goes nuts." The plane started its descent into San Diego and everything got quiet, and
he sat still--stunned by what he'd just heard. He concluded that worship, to these ladies, was
just a "religious fix."

Our expectations affect what we hear

What do you really expect when you came to Sunday School or a worship service? Do
you come expecting to socialize with your friends? Perhaps you come expecting to say
a few prayers or to sing some songs? Hopefully you come expecting to hear a message
from scripture. But do you come wondering “What does God want to say to me
today?” Communication studies show us that generally those Audiences who come
prepared to receive the message are the ones who get the most from the message.

Clutter-hearted listener

Do we as a society have spiritual A.D.D.?

Charles Swindoll once found himself with too many commitments in too few days. He got
nervous and tense about it. "I was snapping at my wife and our children, choking down my
food at mealtimes, and feeling irritated at those unexpected interruptions through the day," he
recalled in his book Stress Fractures. "Before long, things around our home started reflecting
the pattern of my hurry-up style. It was becoming unbearable. "I distinctly remember after
supper one evening, the words of our younger daughter, Colleen. She wanted to tell me
something important that had happened to her at school that day. She began hurriedly, ’Daddy,
I wanna tell you somethin’ and I’ll tell you really fast.’ "Suddenly realizing her frustration, I
answered, ’Honey, you can tell me -- and you don’t have to tell me really fast. Say it slowly.’ "
"I’ll never forget her answer: ’Then listen slowly.’ "

Focus/Attention needed to hear (Neh. 8:1-12)

Good-hearted listener (1 Sam. 3:10)

To whom do you listen? (Prov. 9:7-9, Ecc.7:5)

Test what you hear against the Scriptures (Acts 17:11, 1 Thess. 5:21, 2 Tim. 3:16-17)

It is not enough simply to hear, we are expected to respond to what we hear as well

A preacher who was a candidate to be called to pastor a church went to that church one Sunday
morning and preached a fine sermon. When the congregation came back for the evening service he
preached the same sermon again. The deacons assumed that he had preached the same sermon due to
nervousness. The preacher arrived the next Sunday to preach and again he preached the same sermon.
The people just shook their heads and came back that night to see what he would preach. Well, he
preached the same sermon again. The deacons had had enough by this point and said among
themselves, “If he preaches that sermon again we will be forced to confront him.” Well Wednesday
night rolled around and, you guessed it, he preached the same sermon again. Later, the deacons met
with the pastor and said, “Now preacher that is a fine sermon that you have been preaching, but when
are you going to preach something new?” The preacher replied, “When you do what I told in that
sermon we will move on to something else.”