Ears to hear

Ears to hear

And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:

There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.

And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

I read that and have been thinking about that for months.

You know it was kind of different to me to say if any man have ears to hear let him hear after you said something and then walk off.

I got to thinking about that and this is what I understood

The hearing starts when the conversation stops

The hearing happens later.

That is not how I do things I say it look for a confirmation right there.

But sometimes it can take a long time to hear.

I am still thinking about things the Lord showed me at pastors school last time and now things he showed me this time.

Things people have said. And it just starts to stir.

The Lord has spoken to me about certain things 11 years ago in my office a journey of truth started reading my bible. The Lord showed me something I don't even know what it was. But it went against something I have been taught and it puzzled me. But with tears in my eyes and sorrow in my heart I surrendered to him and that lesson gets bigger and bigger. He keeps giving it to me in pieces. I am slow but he keeps giving it to me. And it grows brighter and brighter.

But some folks I see they never have that they never get that they never progress.

And it is not that the Lord is not teaching them It is they are not hearing they are not listening.

Have you ever tried to tell someone something but they just did not get it ?

And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?

And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.

And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.

And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

The Lord is now in cross mode he is going the the cross they have rejected him and now he is making the final preparations to go to the cross he is now trying to prepare his men.

The Lord is about to leave and he needs them to get some thing he needs them to get it yet he tells them and they do not get it.

And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

He is telling them but they are not getting it

And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.

For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Again you get the idea.

Imagine you are about to leave the world for three days and three nights and you have some information that you need to get 12 people because if they don't get it they could potentially mess everything up that has been building up until this moment. For thousands of years this was the thing that needed to happen and all you needed was for them to not mess it up for three days and three nights. And you went and told them but they did not get it.

He wants them to get it.

He would tell them over and over and tell them plainly but they would not understand.

And because they did not get it it hurt them. Peter denied him thomas doubted him they were hiding for fear of the jews. Their world fell apart because they did not get one simple truth.

After you and I have a verse 29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ. experience

The Lord begins a lifelong journey of teaching us things.

And if we do not get it. It will Hurt us.

Look he has been trying to teach some of us things for years and years. But we are not getting it.

So why did they not get it?

Why do we not get what God is trying to teach us ?

Pride Deafens Us

And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

Isn't that exactly what a prideful person would do.

No let me tell you where you are wrong

How prideful do you have to be to rebuke the Lord.

This was not supposed to happen God

Listen if you are made at God and you are questioning him he cat teach you anything.

Atheists , People mad at God he can't teach you anything.

You know what is sad

He was trying to help them. TO stenghten them.

He is trying to teach them something they needed to get through a rough patch when he went to the cross

To try to get them through three days

IF they did not get enough of this they would mess everything up in three days.

A lot of what God teaches us is for very brief critical periods but if you don't learn it you can mess up everything for the rest of your life.

To get enough truth in them that Peter would weep bitterly when he denied the Lord.

If peter would have listened earlier he never would have denied.

But his pride was there every step of the way

I will never deny you.

Are you with him who him the one they are beating and mocking. Yes isn't that the one you said was going to make you a king one day?

He was just trying to get enough truth in them That when they heard of the empty tomb they would go meet him in galee were he told them he would meet them.

But because they did not get it they denied they hid they were filled with sorrow and almost blew it all.

Because of our pride We stop Asking and begin Arguing

This part of the Gospels it gets pretty dicey with his disciples

They start questioning , They start hiding things from him not telling him their thoughts they start arguing.

Considered not the miracle of the loaves heart was hardened did not get it

Peter tribute. Tax

Why say the scribes ?

Why are they getting to big to fast.

Instead of Asking him what he meant. He started arguing with him.

Instead of saying Ok there is something I am not getting here.

Did we not just say you were the Christ?

Did we not say you were the promised one the Messiah?

Than how is it that you are going to fulfill the promises of ruling and making everything right and putting the jews in charge of the world. What is all this business of the meek shall inherit the earth if you go to the cross.

This does not match with what I have been taught.

This does not match with my preconceived ideas that have been nurtured in me since birth.

Look stop talking like this is no way for a leader to talk.

I am tired of waiting can you hurry up and get on the thrones and give me my power my kingdom already. I am going to halve one of those 12 thrones and I want it now.

And when the Lord first revealed this truth to him he was angry opposed.

He was not open to it.

It was very emotional for him.

These big truths the Lord gives you often stir up great emotion.

They Often come with a big Cost.

It is very hurtful to our pride to give up our dream.

If the Lord went to the cross what does that mean for Peter.

Peter had already been polishing his throne. Naming his horses

Writing out commands for his assistant.

I always want my coffee ready by seven. With steamed cream and an extra shot of espresso sweetened with 1 splenda and one stevia.

The Lord interrupts that and says I am going to die , be rejected of all the important people.

But if he goes to the cross what does that mean for my throne.

You know what is funny about the mind ?

When we get the bad news that is all we hear.

We do not even hear the rise again. 31

And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Imagine if you told your wife that. What would stick out?

all we hear Suffer , Rejected , be killed.

People come to me and say I have bad news and good news, which do you want first. You have bad news why do you have bad news, what does this mean. Say it say it fast.

I don't care about the good news. I do not care what has the potential to make my life better I only care about what can make my life worse.

You know why it is so hard for us to learn from God ?

We are so prideful we think we deserve throne or a wife or to live a long cancer free life. We do not savour the cross we savour the throne.

32. We savor the wrong things

Savour means to relish to enjoy. We enjoy the natural more than the supernatural.

We savour that dream for our future even if it is not of God.

He tells us stuff we do not want to hear.

There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

I sure am happy peter never got his way but came to embrace God's way.

And We forget that his way is best.

Do not savour the things that be of men comfort pleasure position.

So not argue ask.

He tells us things we do not want to hear that concern our future.

That is not the person for you. She is wrong

They do not love God.

Look at the red flags.

But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?

You do not ask you argue.

And because of that you hurt yourself.

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

Remember what you are struggling with now it is a lot worse than that. What the Lord wants to tell you is much worse than what he is telling you. But you are two prideful to bear it. So he can't give you that good information.

Sometimes we have to mature into it. Some things you do not tell children yet. Till they mature you do not tell them about the birds and the bees on their first birthday.

Listen do not get to hung up on the first information it is actually worse than you think just start hearing now.

You know what he told peter later

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

Not only am I going to die but you are going to as well. I am going to come back three days later but you going to not come back for several thousand years.

James died by the sword John was banished to patmos.

Listen The lord has many things to tell us but we can't bear them all at once so he tells us as we are ready.

And you will never be ready as long as you are arguing instead of asking.

I mean this I Jesus

If you accept that he knows more than you and he is always right than to argue is counterproductive.

Do you think you know more than God ?

Do you think you are right and he is wrong ?

Are we so prideful that we think our plans for our future are better than his? Affected future

What would you tell the people you interacted with this morning if they were humble enough to receive it and not argue with you ? that dress makes you look fat you should not horizontal lines. Your hair looks oily i could teach you how to do it if you would listen.

what would they tell you ? That attitude makes you seem lost. They way you talk makes it seem as if you do not love the Lord.

Pain Defeats Us

For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,

Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

Now at least they have stopped arguing.

That did not work out well.

But they still do not understand. The still do not agree they still do not get it.

They did not understand.

Why not ?

What he said was simple ,Any child could understand it We all understand it.

They did not understand.

They did not ask for clarification. They did not say wait a minute, what are you talking about.

You know what this shows us part of understanding is acceptance.

You cannot understand something if you do not accept it. If you do not agree with it.

Why was it so hard ?

Because it once again went against their preconceived ideas.

Often we do not understand things the Lord is trying to show us because of things we have been taught and thought since we were children.

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

This he said, signifying what death he should die.

The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?

Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

And when it came to the resurrection they believed that there was a general resurrection from the dead not of the dead.

Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

So they did not understand and they were afraid to ask.

Why ? Pain defeated them

it is painful to admit you have been wrong your whole life.

If you were wrong would you want to know ? No I believed this my whole life I am comfortable.

To painful the implications are to much

Husband cheating don't want to know doctor know something wrong won't go Dont want to know what kids are doing.

Is there anything the Lord has been trying to show you? But it is uncomfortable?

To receive truth you must understand first that you do not know.

And you are wrong.

You know who got the biggest dose of truth Solomon and you know how he got it ?

I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.

Protection

Lately every time they have been asking questions the Lord has been impatient with them. Do you not get it ?

And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?

Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

Mar_9:19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

As Christians grow They learn the truth that other people see your flaws better than you. and you should learn to value that.

One guy down some questions I should ask people he respected and that would be honest with him. We talked about it And he said this is going to be painful. He looked at the List and cried. I said this is going to be painful. But would you rather just not know and it still be true?

How do you view my honesty. Have I told you a lie before?

What in my character is hindering me ? How do people view me ?

My wife says this about me is she right?

Most people would not ask?

Would you?

Or is it to painful.

I know something is there but I am afraid to ask.

And if you want to be a leader you need to consider these things and you also need to be humble enough to tell people the truth when they ask.

I tell my son all the time I can tell you do you want to know ? it is going to be painful and you are not going to like it.

Do you want to hear it ? Yes I want to hear it.

Emotions

And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

I do not want to know.

Listen, Jesus is more interested in you getting truth than protecting your emotions.

They were filled with sorrow

Because they were holding on to a half truth.

Listen to the front side of truth hurts , But the back side helps.

The initial front part I am going to be killed hurts

The half of it hurts but the whole is not sorrowful.

Truth might hurt initially but it is the only thing that can set you free.

Do not be afraid. Of the truth.

It only hurts when you understand part of it.

When you learn to value it he will give you the rest of it.

When it is more important than your emotions.

He will give them to you when you can emotionally bear them.

You have to stop disputing among yourselves who will be the greatest and admit when you are wrong.

Children little children do not dispute who is the greatest

They do not ask because someone will find out they do not know

They do not ask because of what it means emotionally.

They still ask even if the question makes them cry.

What happened to the bird. Noah I did not have the heart to lie to him.

Do you want the truth ? or do you want to protect your emotions?

Do not be afraid.

The half truth is causing you sorrow but if you would ask the whole truth would cause you to have joy it would cause you to run into battle. It would cause you not to fear death or anything that might happen because not even death could sop you from getting your reward and not even death could stop the Lords agenda from taking place.

Rip the band-aid off.

Face your fears ask the questions you fear the most.

The answers will help you with the part that is causing you trouble.

The part they did not understand was causing them trouble.

Position Defiles us

And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him,

Why because ever since lazareth was raised he walked no more openly among the jews and now he is going into the fire they know what has the potential to happen

Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:

And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.

Did they finally get it no they are still holding out. They still have not learned and accepted the truth

They still think maybe she likes them maybe there's a chance. I know she is dating another guy but he could die and then she will want me when she sees me at the funeral.

How do you know they did not get it.

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.

And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?

They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.

They are still jockeying for position

But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:

But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.

They want to claim the position of leadership.

They did not understand leadership comes with a great cost and it is given to whom it is prepared for and who the Lord needs there. It is not given it is prepared and then the right person that is prepared is the one God puts there.

And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.

But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:

And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

You know why we can’t receive truth at times

Because of the position we are trying to get a position or maintain a position

And to say I don't understand

To say I do not get it.

That is not something someone says that sits on a throne.

IF you have to maintain the position of your image in your own mind or in the minds of others than you will not receive the truth.

I can't admit I don't know I don't understand

I am more interested in were I am going.

I am more interested in my own ambitions than what Christ is trying to show me.

The way of god is to gain by loosing

Honor through humility

Position through serving

A cross before a crown

Suffering before reigning

If I admit that than my house of cards might fall.

Book men's retreat intelligent guy animal farm

It is going to fall anyway.

The Lord would not have thought less of them

He would think more of them.

The Lord loves repentance.

Why did he highlight it ?

The Lord loves it when a man comes to the end of himself and says I am undone

Prodigal son.

Peter went out and wept bitterly

As a leader one of the most refreshing things I have ever heard is I am wrong I have had such a wrong perspective and the Lord convicted me.

Dad I have been prideful I have been wrong.

I want to get right. My Position , of Pastor , deacon , how long I been in church does not matter

I can admit i have aproblem

What is the answer

But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.

And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

If you hear it will be expedient

If you were here the comforter will come and you will be filled with the spirit

If you hear your joy will increase.

All I'm trying to get you to do is to listen to what is God trying to teach me.

is there something that God has been trying to tell me but I just won't hear it?

Do I have ears to hear?

All I want you to do is start to listen.

And when you hear things ask questions.

And when you hear what you don't want to hear put your pride aside your pain aside your position aside do not let the pain in the fear stop you.

Find out what God is trying to tell you. Listen to him no matter what.

I am not looking for an altar call I am looking for this to become louder through The years weeks months days ahead.

I am the Christ you have to be sure of that because you are not sure of that everything else is going to fall apart.

He is trying to help their weak fragile faith.

They are not getting it.

They are faltering.

Why say the scribes Elias must come first?

One of the tax collectors came to peter and said. Doth your master pay tribute he said yes but it started bothering him. IF he is a king why should he have to pay taxes. Jesus said what are you thinking and corrected his thinking.

Why their hearts are hardened.

He fed the jews had 12 baskets left fed the gentiles had seven left

For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

What was he trying to illustrate to them that I am the bread of life I have to be broken and you are the ones that are going to pass me around.

But he said beware of the leaven of the pharisees they are going to mess the bread up they will try to put their laws into the gospel and mess it up.

Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.

And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?

Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.

And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

Teaching is not as simple as telling if it was they would have got it. It requires more from the teacher than speaking and it requires more from the student than hearing the words and understanding the meaning of the words.