The Mistakes Sinners Make Part 3
III. SINNERS MAKE THE MISTAKE OF NOT HEARING
A. The Main Elements of Hearing
1. Attentiveness
Nehemiah 8:1-3
8:1all the people assembled with a unified purpose at the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given for Israel to obey.
2 So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the Book of the Law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand. 3 He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law.
2. Belief
Romans 10:14
14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?
3. Conviction
Acts 2:37
37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
4. Discrimination
Luke 8:18
18 “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”
B. Types of Reactions Of Hearing
1. Responsiveness
2 Samuel 7:17-29
25 “And now, O Lord God, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family. Confirm it as a promise that will last forever.
28 For you are God, O Sovereign Lord. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to your servant.
29 And now, may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you have spoken, and when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign Lord, it is an eternal blessing!”
2. Repentance
2 Samuel 12:12-13
12 You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.”
David Confesses His Guilt
13 Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”
Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin.
3. Rebellion
Ezekiel 33:30-33
30 “Son of man, your people talk about you in their houses and whisper about you at the doors. They say to each other, ‘Come on, let’s go hear the prophet tell us what the Lord is saying!’
31 So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money.
32 You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don’t act on it!
33 But when all these terrible things happen to them—as they certainly will—then they will know a prophet has been among them.”
4. Retreat
John 6:60-66
· Many Disciples Desert Jesus
60 Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”
61 Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you?
62 Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again?
63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.)
65 Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”
66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him.
5. Resistance
Acts 7:51-54
51 “You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! 52 Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. 53 You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.”
54 The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage.
6. Rejoicing
Acts 13:48
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers.
7. Rejection
Acts 28:23-29
23 So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening.
24 Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe.
25 And after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: “The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet,
26 ‘Go and say to this people: When you hear what I say,
you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.
27 For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see,
and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’
28 So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it.”
8. Research
Acts 17:11
11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.
IV. Sinners make the Mistake of Not obeying
V. Sinners make the Mistake of Not Sharing
C. They will ultimately be punished
1. They will be Pursued by evil
Proverbs 13:21
21 Evil pursues sinners,
But to the righteous, good shall be repaid.
2. They will be Overthrown by evil
Proverbs 13:6
6 Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
But wickedness overthrows the sinner.
3. Their Wealth of, acquired by the just
Proverbs 13:22
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
4. They Will be punished
Proverbs 11:31
31 If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth,
How much more the ungodly and the sinner.