My sermon notes as preached following the week after he preached on the subject... My Dad Would Not Help Me.
It is good to be with you today. I understand that Phil preached last week on the subject, “My Dad Wouldn’t Help Me.”
It’s true, I would not always come to his rescue or fix the problems he encountered whether he created them or not.
Having given thought to what he preached “My Dad Wouldn’t Help Me.”
I am going to preach today on: “My Son Wouldn’t Listen.”
My responding to this message is not to defend myself but to set the record straight. It is very scriptural. Jesus said, “You have heard it said, but I say unto you.”
The truth is there would have been fewer problems for Phil to deal with if he had listened to me in the first place. But of course who wants to say, “I told you so.”
I do agree that crisis and problems happen sometimes with no rhyme or reason, but we probably bring on more than we want to admit.
Either by: DOING WHAT I SHOULDN’T DO. (or) NOT DOING WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE.
I have not completely conquered or perfected this.
Now don’t get me wrong Philip was not a bad boy or difficult teenager. He was fairly normal. (note fairly)
But I truly am amazed at how much different our view or recollection of stories and family happenings were even to this day.
ARMY - I remember how proud his mother and I were when he sat us down and told us that he needed some more time for growth and maturity before he entered the ministry, so he thought it would be a good idea for him to join the Army. He was seeking our blessing and we were so proud of him.
Now on the other hand Phil only remembers his mother and I calling him in and setting him down and informing him that he could no longer live at home, and we thought the Army would be a good choice for a vocation until he knew fully what he wanted to do with his life.
Strangely, “He remember hearing what I didn’t remember saying, and I remember saying what he didn’t remember hearing.”
But the bottom line is that HEARING, LISTENING and OBEYING HAS both BENEFITS and CONSEQUENCES.
By the way, Phil did learn how to listen. THE LORD, THE ARMY AND I TAUGHT HIM. Because of it he is a good dad, husband and pastor today.
That’s what I want to talk about today. HEARING AND LISTENING.
DEFINITION:
To HEAR... (verb) to perceive with the ear a noise or sound made by someone or something.
To Listen... (verb) to take notice of and act on what someone says or is saying. - to make an effort to hear something; be alert and ready to hear.
WIFE:
My wife ask often ask me, “Did you hear me?” “Yes, meaning I heard a lot of loud noise.” “What did I say?” “I don’t know.” “Why?” “Well, I guess because I wasn’t listening.” She has to add, “THAT’S RIGHT!”
LET’S QUICKLY LOOK AT SEVERAL THINGS;
WHY LISTEN?
WHO TO LISTEN TO.
WHAT KEEPS ONE FROM LISTENING.
WHAT CAUSES ONE TO LISTEN.
HOW LISTENING BRINGS FAVOR, BLESSING, SUCCESS AND PROMOTION.
WHY LISTEN... Benefits and Consequences
Luke 8:18 (NLT) “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.”
One can learn by listening and getting understanding, gaining more insight, leading to wisdom.
One can also learn by experience. It is the education we receive through hard knocks, difficulty and pain.
There are probably some things you’re going to have to learn from experience. (experience can be an excellent teacher especially if you have a low pain threshold.)
WHO SHOULD I TO LISTEN TO...
People who have learned to listen... Primarily, people who listen to God or Godly instructions.
“BAD COMPANY CORRUPTS GOOD MORALS.” I Cor. 15:33
If you hang around with people who never listen, you will become a whiner, complainer, faultfinder, critical, fearful, suspicious, and jealous
Learn to Listen and hear the voice of God. (Samuel)Listen to Pastor - The one we call our spiritual authority.Listen to Parents- if you don’t listen don’t be surprised if your children do.Listen to godly friends, teachers, coaches, employers, guidance counselors.
*****By the way there are unsaved people who learn to listen to right instruction in life and do right things and they succeed.
MY TESTIMONY - people in my life. “safety in a multitude of godly counselors.” (hierarchy).
WHAT KEEPS ONE FROM LISTENING...
Stubbornness - Rebellion - Pride ... “know it all” - Immaturity
WHAT CAUSES ONE TO LISTEN...
There are certain things in life that causes one to listen.
The three (3) I will mention each has a positive and negative effect.
PEACE ... Psalms 119:165 “Perfect peace have they that love thy law and nothing shall offend them or cause them to stumble.”
Once you have discovered the peace and order that comes to your life because of listening and obeying, you will want to get better at listening.
For some it seems so easy to forget how good life was when they were listening and obeying. So you begin to take life, blessings and favor for granted. Maybe become a little passive, casual in your relationship. A little vacation from hearing God and begin to move out and free lance on your own.
PAIN ... Psalm 119:67:71 Before I was afflicted I went astray.
Duet. 7:20
One cannot totally escape all pain, painful and difficult circumstances in their life. But I am convinced you can keep from creating some of it yourself if you will learn to listen and obey.
God allows (depending on your doctrine) or Circumstances create painful and uncomfortable situations.
God will help you if you will listen and obey. Your enemies and obstacles will be dealt with Him if you listen.
HORNETS...When the Canaanites hardened their hearts against God
And grieved Him because of their sin,
God sent along hornets to bring them to time,
And help His own people to win.
The hornets persuaded them that it was best,
To go quickly, and not to go slow;
God did not compel them to go 'gainst their will,
But He just made them willing to go.
The negative response is some become angry, bitter, resentful against, God, people and life.
PASSION ...
Jesus said, “The zeal (passion) for God’s House consumes me.” Psalm 69:9
There can be a holy hunger, a zeal, a passion an excitement for God, His WORD, His TRUTH. That causes you to want to keep hearing his voice.
Negative - Hebrews 3:8-11 Unbelief, apathy, spiritual letheragy. Failed to enter God’s Rest.
HOW LISTENING BRINGS SUCCESS, PROMOTION AND BLESSING.
If you learn to listen to the right people (godly), with the right instruction (godly, biblical), and do the right thing (consistently and regularly), you will find success, promotion, blessing and benefits.
They may not come how, when and where and from whom you want them...but they will come in time. Duet. 28
Psalm 81:7-16