Are We Listening
Book of Hebrews | Cross Eyed • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 2 viewsAre we listening to the Lord's Word and allowing it to evaluate us?
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Transcript
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Introduction
A man went to his doctor to have his hearing checked. The doctor removed his hearing aid, and the patient’s hearing immediately improved! He had been wearing the device in the wrong ear for over twenty years.
How many us think we’ve been hearing the Lord for sometime now, but in all reality we’ve had something in the way from truly hearing the Lord?
What are some things that might be in the way of us truly hearing what the Lord has for us to hear?
As we look through the book of Hebrews, we begin with an exhortation to hear, to listen! Over and over we read a common statement in the Book of Revelation...
29 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
This statement suggests that it takes more than physical ears to hear the voice of God. It also requires a receptive heart. This type of hearing is what is at the heart of the book of Hebrews.
7 Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me, As on the day of trial in the wilderness,
Focus Passage: Hebrews 1:1-3
1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Outline
As we look at our text, we see some truths laid before us. Much of these truths are about God speaking.
What do you see about God speaking from this text?
As I look at the text, I first begin with what I do not see. I do not see the author giving his name. I do not see the author bragging about self. I do not see the author concerned about his perspective. However, I do see a lot about God and about God communicating with His creation.
God created us to have a relationship with Him. We were created to walk and talk with God.
8 Now they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
How does it make you feel to know that you were created expressly in the image of God (Gen 1:27-28) and with the intention of having a relationship with your Creator?
Not only did God create us for fellowship with Him, He took the initiative to reconcile that relationship once it was broken due to the fall in the Garden. How does it make you feel, knowing God chases after you?
As we come to our text, we bring ourselves to the question of our text. How has God taken the initiative to reconcile that broken relationship and reveal Himself to His broken creation? How has God taken the initiative to rebuild that broken relationship?
God has taken the initiative in three ways
God has taken the initiative through speaking - ‘…God, after He spoke long ago...’
What was God doing by speaking?
He was revealing Himself. He was taking the initiative to rebuild a broken relationship.
How did God speak?
He spoke often - ‘…in many portions...’
He spoke to the forefathers - ‘…to the fathers...’
He spoke through the prophets - ‘…in the prophets...’
He spoke in differing ways - ‘…in many ways...’
He spoke here, there, and everywhere.
He spoke through angels, men, visions, and dreams
He spoke through Jesus - ‘…has spoken to us in His Son...’
God has taken the initiative through sacrifice - ‘…when He had made purification of sins...’
How do you define sacrifice?
How does the Bible define sacrifice?
I would submit that the Bible defines sacrifice as a four letter word, L O V E!
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends.
God gave up Jesus on the cross for sins, think of what was happening. This was the Creator of the universe, the Creator of all thing, through whom He also made the world (v.2b). This was the heir of all things (i.e. the Master and ruler of all), whom He appointed heir of all things (v.2a). This was the very Son of God, whom God was revealing Himself to man, speaking to man, giving a revelation of Himself and His love for His creation, spoken to us in His Son. What great love God was speaking to His creation.
How many of us are willing to sacrifice our children for others?
How many of us would die for our children?
Is this not what God was doing? Dying for His children, His creation?
How many of us have turned a deaf ear to His sacrifice? His message to us? His L O V E letter to us that was given through His Son’s passionate sacrifice?
What position do we find ourselves in because of God’s love toward us and our ability and willingness to accept that sacrifice through the Holy Spirit’s drawing?
We find ourselves the unbelievable because of the unthinkable, when He had made purification of sins (v.3b). The idea that is being presented is being made perfect before God. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross did that which all the works in the world could not do, redeem us.
21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
God continues to take the initiative through Jesus’ present prayers - ‘…He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high...’
When we read, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, what do you picture? What comes to mind?
Two things come my mind, as I read our text.
Jesus’ position of authority and prominence
Jesus’ current ministry of intercession
25 Therefore He is also able to save forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Conclusion
Let us not only be willing to listen the Spirit of God, but let us also come with a receptive heart. Let us begin to remove those things in our life that are hindering us from hearing the Word of God. Keeping us from growing and maturing in our walk with God. Keeping us from living victoriously in the Lord. As the enemy comes with shouts of accusations, let us be reminded that God spoke His L O V E toward us on the cross. In the redemptive work of Christ we have had our relationship with God restored and we now live in freedom from sin and guilt. When we think we can’t remain faithful any longer, let us remember who is praying for us. Even if no one else is, the Lord Jesus Christ is.