LISTEN TO THE TRUTH

It is much easier to be critical than to be correct.- Disraeli

2 Corinthians 3:5, Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Many people will not give you the time of day when you desire to share the Gospel with them. Their responses vary, “I don’t have a religion.”, “I don’t have time”, or even “I have already been saved.” People are all over the place when it comes to salvation. What bothers me the most is, they have no desire to invest any amount of time to hear the truth but they have a lot of time to be critical.

Hey friend, if someone desires to share with you the Truth of God’s Word, listen to the Truth! If you share the Truth with someone, trust that His Word will not return void!

LISTEN UP SON!

We have two ears for a reason; to listen twice as much as we speak.

Proverbs 1:8-9 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

            Radios in combat situations have come a long way since WWI. The bulky VHF radios of WWI were replaced by the lighter weight, portable, battery-operated transistor radios during World War II. The radios of today look like something out of a science-fiction movie compared to the bulky VHF radios of WWI. Not only did the improvements of these radios include the weight and size but it also included the reception and transmission of the radios. This vast improvement of radios not only helped strategically make better battle plans and deliver supplies but most important it saved lives!

            Hey Son, maybe you need to listen up before you end up as a casualty of the spiritual war. Listen to the Godly influences God has given you by starting with your Mom and Dad. If they aren’t doing right, find someone who is. It’s best just to pick up that Bible and search out the life of Jesus. He gives the best counsel and is the best example for us anyway!   

Listen Up

It’s one thing to hear a sermon, it’s another to listen to the message.

Proverbs 1:5, A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

            Every preacher I know wants the congregation to not only hear what he is saying but to listen to it as well. He doesn’t want the congregation to listen to his vain words that will not do anything for them. He wants them to heed to thus saith the Lord. He wants them to receive the powerful, life changing, perfect Word of God. If he didn’t, I wouldn’t want to hear him!

Are you willing to listen to what God’s Word has to say about your life? Are you willing to let Him change your life? Listen up, it’s no game we are talking about—it’s eternity and that’s something you don’t want to be playing around with!

JUST LISTENING

We have two ears and only one tongue in order that we may hear more and speak less.- Laertius

And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? Mark 12:28

            As this scribe listened intently at the conversation Jesus had with the Sadducees He had an important question he needed to be answered. I like the fact he did not blow out Jesus and make a spectacle of Him. I like the fact he respected Jesus enough to come to Him and ask the question. I like the fact that He acknowledges Jesus’ authority in the Scriptures. I like the fact he understands that to love God means more than the works people do, “is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” But I am afraid this man did not know Jesus as his personal Saviour. I’m afraid he never repented and trusted Jesus as is only hope of salvation.

            What are you trusting in to get you to Heaven? Is it the finished work of Jesus or is it the futile works of the flesh? Let me give you a simple reminder this morning of truth; “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

            Have you been listening to His Word? Have you been listening to His people? Have you be listening to His Pastor/Preacher? If you have you will know that you need to GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH TODAY! When you get there… JUST LISTEN!

LISTENING TO GOD OR MAN?

A great many people are trying to make peace, but that has already been done.  God has not left it for us to do; all we have to do-is to enter into it. - D.L. Moody

I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. Psalm 85:8

How often do you go to friends and family before talking things over with the Lord? We seek guidance from people who don’t even know the Bible much less lives by it. The Psalmist said it best, “I will hear what God the LORD will speak.” Today, spend a little time with Him and allow Him to guide your steps. When we are in His will, nothing else matters and we have a peace that passes all understanding.

LORD, HEAR MY PRAYER

God will hear you prayers, if you’re one of His children.

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Psalm 66:18

I find it interesting that people who do not go to church will say the phrase, “I’m praying for you.” I get it they care and want to make everything feel better. But what I don’t understand is why they would think God hears their prayer when they don’t want to spend time with His people, listen to His Word preached or follow His commandments. I am reminded of another scripture this morning; “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

Before the Lord hears any other prayer of yours He wants to hear you call out to Him for salvation. Unless He forgives your sins, He will not hear any of your prayers. So, before you waste your breath on another empty prayer, call out to the Lord for salvation and then He will hear every prayer you pray!

I DIDN’T LIKE CONVICTION…

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. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. John 16:7-11

             When I was growing up, Mom and Dad would take a notion every once and a while to tear my hide up. You see, I didn’t like the conviction I felt so I got the chastisement instead. Instead of obeying Mom and Dad, I did what I wanted to and suffered the consequences.

            Dad was about 5’9 and about 4’6 round. When that belt started coming out of his pants it sounded like a 70’s model Ford on an old highway that the cracks had been sealed, thump, thump, thump. When I heard that sound, I knew it was about to get on.

Long before I heard that fearsome noise, I felt a little conviction. Something in me said, “Don’t ride that bike up to Antoine’s house”. But I didn’t listen! I got on my bike and rode on. When I got home Mom was there…and the rest… is painful!

            Child of God, “Conviction is a privilege! It is none other than the voice of the Holy Spirit compelling us to turn from sin and make our hearts right with our Heavenly Father. Conviction means that God is working in us.”—Paul Chappell. Listen to the Spirit so you won’t feel the consequences!

I’M GONNA LIVE FOREVER, I’M GONNA DIE, NO NEVER!

Being saved is a whole lot more than not going to hell; it’s living forever with Jesus!

The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.”Psalm 34:22

Have you ever sit down and thought about what redemption is all about? It’s not just that Jesus has saved you from hell, (which would be enough) but he has given you life and life more abundant! Those who have trusted Jesus as Saviour will never die (Spiritual Death) nor spend one second in hell! Friend, if you don’t have that blessed hope you need to search those scriptures once again and see where you missed the part about eternal life! (John 3:16)