Listen

Vision 2018: Forward Book of Acts Blueprint Psalm 127:1 Introduction: “Listen!” {PAUSE} When someone says that one word, typically it grabs your attention. I. Hearing is not Listening. A. Mama says, “Do you hear me?” a. “Yes ma’am, I hear you.” Then you go & do whatever anyway & probably eventually suffer some consequences. b. There are people who stand in a court room & “hear” the judge but don’t “listen” because they refuse to change paths. B. Hearing is not listening. *** Often the old Prophets begin with, "Hear the Word of the LORD." H8085 the meaning is to hear intelligently & to listen with intent to obey. C. How often do you sit in church hearing but not listening? How often do you read the Word hearing but not listening? Today I want to help you & I get to a place in God where we more than hear, but we actually listen. Jeremiah 29:11 (BIBLE) Listen to what the LORD speaks. II. The Posture to Listen {Pray} LORD, teach us, show us how to get in “The Posture to Listen.” Remember the application: Listen with intent to apply. A. After the death of Stephen in Acts 7, Saul goes to the high priest and asked for "letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains." a. The religious leaders were so intent to destroy the Church, Christ-followers they couldn't have possibly heard the Spirit of God's revelation of who Saul was. They were focused on their own agenda. b. It is easy for us to judge them while we do much the same, getting captivated by appeasing the flesh in the name of "God." Oh, it's all for the good of the church or my ministry. With this attitude you vitiate or weaken the purpose of God in your life. c. Did Israel miss the point of Yahweh as they drank from the water which flowed from the rock or did they drink with gratitude to Yahweh Jireh? What about the manna which was provided for them each morning for nearly 40 years? Did it become so common they didn't hear the message of "God give us our daily bread?" d. When God does something enormous, out of the ordinary or daily routine - Listen beyond the visual, the palpable to what He is saying. God is speaking are you listening? B. The LORD reveals Himself to Saul on the Road to Damascus, in the process he is blinded for three days. While Saul is sitting not eating or drinking for those three days, the LORD in a vision deals with a man named Ananias to go & lay hands on this man who has been killing Christ-followers. As you might expect there is a bit of delay of excitement from Bro. Ananias, so he has a conversation with God. However, hear the end-result: Acts 9:15But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 16And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” a. Verse 17 says, "So Ananias went." b. Understand what this means, Bro. Ananias had a part of the ministry of Paul. His name may not be as associated with Bible stories or illustrations. You won't hear quoted from the writings of Ananias, but hear & understand his obedience is a direct result of the ministry & writings of the Apostle Paul which are so well known in the New Testament Church nearly 2K years later. c. Listen! It is imperative! Let’s take a glance into the life of Peter: C. Whether it is Ananias & Saul or you – God always knows where you are when He needs to call on you. a. Acts 9:33There he (Peter) met a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. 34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up, and roll up your sleeping mat!” And he was healed instantly. 35Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they turned to the Lord. Again, a tremendous response to a miracle from heaven performed by a servant of the Most High God. b.Then he is called to Joppa where a widow named Dorcas had died. Acts 9:39So Peter returned with them; and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them. 40But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, “Get up, Tabitha.” And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up! 41He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive. 42The news spread through the whole town, and many believed in the Lord. NLT Who woudn’t be thrilled with the miracles & salvation results of this ministry? Never allow the palpable, the tangible to direct your steps. c. Peter could have got wrapped up, so enthusiastic & intrigued with the miracles that he might have said, "This is my ministry! I will be a world-wide Healing Evangelist! Millions will know my name!" *** How often do we get caught up with a manifestation & miss the true point of what God is saying? d. Listen maturity says, "LORD, help us to not focus on the manifestation of Your Spirit but rather what it is you are speaking during those times." There are moments you must soak up, absorb what the Spirit of God is saying. NEXT page e. So we have Peter who God is using miraculously healing, raising the dead, casting out devils. Tremendous manifestations of the power of the Almighty God & we find him fasting & praying, here is the result: Acts 10:19Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. 20Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.” Verse 21 says Peter went downstairs & said, "I'm your man." He was in a Posture to Listen. Peter was there to "Listen with the intent to apply." III. Prayer is the Posture to Listen. A. God is Omniscient, He knows all things, His eyes roam to & fro across the earth, He is Omnipresent at all times. Where will God always have the ability to find you? a. What is it which sets in motion to position you to hear, to listen to what God will say? The answer, prayer. Both Peter & Cornelius were in prayer when God spoke to them & they had the capacity to listen with intent to apply. b. If there is no listening there is no interpreting what is being said. aac B. "Expect unexpected things, `above all that we ask or think´. Each time, before you Intercede, be quiet first, and worship God in His glory. Think of what He can do, and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people. Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect great things!" - Andrew Murray C. The reason we can do this is because of the resurrection of Christ. - He asks us to: * Repent * Live by Faith * Be Baptized * Be Filled with His Spirit Conclusion: PRESENT THE GOSPEL FOR SALVATION – EVERY WEEK – AND THE NEED TO COME FORWARD IN PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE OF CHRIST