The Hearing Ear (Matt [11]15-27)
The Hearing Ear
Text: Matthew 11:15-27
Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)
Date Preached - (12/30/01)
Introduction:
You are in possession of a miracle today!! “I am?” you ask.
Yes!! – It is your hearing
ILLUS: Facts about hearing.
The Miracle of Hearing – Sound energy is converted to mechanical energy which is then converted to nerve impulses which are interpreted by the brain as sound.
The incredible sensitivity of the Human ear. It has the widest range of response to stimuli of any of the senses. It is able to perceive distance and direction. Is more sensitive than the most advanced military defense systems.
The range of hearing – From 20hz (Threshold of hearing) to 20khz (Threshold of pain).
The ear is fully formed and begins to work while we are still in the womb. Listening starts with the fetus' ability to hear the mother's voice.
Women are more sensitive to higher frequencies.
It is proven that people react to sounds they cannot consciously hear.
INTERESTING – The ear’s response to a sound is proportionate not to the absolute value of the stimulus, but to the ratio of actual intensity of the sound to the threshold intensity.
Which is an educated way of saying that hearing is somewhat subjective.
Truth about hearing vs. listening.
Hearing is the passive function of sound reception. Listening is the ability to focus on the sounds we want, and to ignore those we do not want. Listening is learned
ILLUS: Men listening to wives / Children to parents (Humor)
Dad’s Hearing Aid - “I just turn off what I don’t want to hear!”
Obvious Spiritual Applications
There is a spiritual hearing or understanding or illumination of Scriptural truth enabled by the Holy Spirit of God.
1 Corinthians 2:12-14 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
You see!! – Spiritual hearing is a miracle also!
“Let Him Hear” – This phrase appears 18 times in Scripture, only twice in the OT then 8 times in the gospels and 8 times in the Letters to the 7 churches of Revelation 2 & 3.
What are some characteristics of highly disciplined and refined spiritual hearing?
I. The Hearing Ear is Open to Both Rejoicing & Mourning vs.17-19
Romans 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
The crowd of that day were fickle, inconsistent and critical, nothing pleased them.
Explain the picture of children in the market calling to their friends to come and play.
On the one hand they had piped a merry tune. Music is often the language of happiness, but the friends would have none of it.
The opposite picture of the lamenting and funeral dirge is also presented here – more on that in a moment.
These pictures represented the respective ministries of Christ and John the Baptist (EXPLAIN)
Christ the Example of Rejoicing
Jesus lived according to the general customs of the people of His times, Yet WITHOUT SIN! Still He is accused of being a glutton and a drunkard.
Mourning Exemplified in John the Baptist
John was not one who went entirely without eating, but he was noted for remarkable abstinence.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 & 4 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
Good spiritual hearing is marked by balance. Knowing the time for both weeping and rejoicing.
Balance in hearing the message(Keep in mind it ought to be a Biblical message) and not losing sight of it in the personality of the messenger (Keeping in mind Christ was a perfect messenger and he was despised).
II. The Hearing Ear is Affected by what it Hears vs.20-24
This section is comprised of words of condemnation from Christ for several cities of Galilee.
Bethsaida was a fishing village nearby to Capernaum, and home to several of the disciples.
Chorazin was nearby also maybe 2 miles.
Capernaum was the city where Christ did many of his miracles. It is once referred to as “His (Christ’s) own city”.
These cities had great opportunity, great privilege; but they had not repented, had not changed.
Their indictment comes from an incredible source. Pagan cities.
Tyre & Sidon – Coastal Phoenecian cities on the mediteranean. Known for their luxury, opulence and wickedness.
Sodom – Known for homosexuality. In Ezekiel 16:49 her sins are described as “pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness”
Christ says they would have repented. They did not have the opportunity and spiritual privilege of some. Someone wrote a book “Sodom had no Bible”. Yet they were accountable!
We know that because God judged them. EXPLAIN
(Tyre fell successively to Nebuchadnezzar and Alexander the Great – the latter killing 8,000 and taking 30,000 slaves. Sidon fell to the Persians in the 300’s BC – 40,000 died when they burned their own homes rather than being taken captive).
The question is; - If these wicked cities did not escape God’s judgment, how shall we who have an exponentially greater spiritual privilege?
What about us???
1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
- I do not know what God will do with that person lost in the spiritual darkness of some pagan culture, never having an opportunity to hear the gospel,
- But I do know what God will do with the person who sits in church Sunday after Sunday, hears the Gospel and does nothing about it!!
What kind of change takes place in the heart of one with a Hearing ear?
A. Immediate Change
Hebrews 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
B. Lasting Change
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
III. The Hearing Ear is Child-like vs.25-26
Those who are teachable, simple and humble.
Luke 18:17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
1 Corinthians 1:26-27 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
The proud and haughty Scribes and Pharisees, the “Theologians of the day could not understand the simplicity of Christ’s message.
Who can explain this?
We don’t need an explanation for everything – Vs.26 “For so it seemed good in thy sight”. That ought to be enough!!
IV. The Hearing Ear is Open to Christ vs.27
This is the hallmark quality of the spiritually hearing ear. The surpassing characteristic that sets it apart.
A. If you know the Son you know the Father
When you hear Christ, you hear God!!
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
B. The Son reveals the Father to us.
In hearing the voice of Christ, the door is open to an intimate communion and fellowship with God.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
LOOK UP & READ I John 1:1-3
Conclusion: (Review)
MAIN POINTS:
The Hearing ear is…..
