Listening

Notes from another sermon in my pastor's series from the book of Proverbs (he will tell you that this is one of the handful of topical sermons he's ever preached- hey, not ALL topical sermons are bad!)

Proverbs 8
1 Does not wisdom call,
And understanding lift up her voice?
2 On top of the heights beside the way,
Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 Beside the gates, at the opening to the city,
At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:
4 "To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.
5 "O naive ones, understand prudence;
And, O fools, understand wisdom.
6 "Listen, for I will speak noble things;
And the opening of my lips will reveal right things.
7 "For my mouth will utter truth;
And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 "All the utterances of my mouth are in righteousness;
There is nothing crooked or perverted in them.
9 "They are all straightforward to him who understands,
And right to those who find knowledge.
10 "Take my instruction and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choicest gold.
11 "For wisdom is better than jewels;
And all desirable things cannot compare with her.

We get to know Jesus by listening to His Word and then speaking the Word to each other.

Eph 4
14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.


Who should we listen to?

-not ourselves

Prov 12:15- "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel."

Prov 16:25- "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."

- listen to God's Word

Prov 15:31- "He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise."

- listen to each other in a community of truth

Prov 15:22- "Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed."

Prov 18:1- "He who separates himself seeks his own desire, he quarrels against all sound wisdom."

- listen to a listener

Prov 18:13- "He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him."

Prov 18:2- "A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own mind."

Prov 15:28- "The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things."

- listen to a straight-shooter

Prov 26:28- "A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth works ruin."

Prov 15:32- "He who neglects discipline despises himself, but he who listens to reproof acquires understanding."

Prov 12:1- "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid."

Psa 141:5- "Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; It is oil upon the head; Do not let my head refuse it."

- the Gospel makes people who listen like this

by nature our hearts are wicked and deceitful

Jeremiah 17:9- "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?"

the Father commands us to listen to Jesus

Mark 9:7- "Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, 'This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!'"

Jesus tells us to repent and believe

Mark 1
14 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,
15 and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.'"

we know we are partakers of Christ if find we continually listen to Him

Heb 3
12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.
13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,
15 while it is said, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME."