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Are You Listening?. Proverbs 22:17-21. Listening. God has spoken to us – Are you listening? Heb. 1:1-2 Our attention, effort, respect and desire to understand, Eccl. 5:1; Matt. 13:9, 13-18 (Samuel, 1 Sam. 3:10) Hear and do, Exo. 15:26; Deut. 4:1; Matt. 7:24-25
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Are You Listening? Proverbs 22:17-21
Listening • God has spoken to us – Are you listening? Heb. 1:1-2 • Our attention, effort, respect and desire to understand, Eccl. 5:1; Matt. 13:9, 13-18 (Samuel, 1 Sam. 3:10) • Hear and do, Exo. 15:26; Deut. 4:1; Matt. 7:24-25 • Are we really listening to God?!
We must Listen to… • God by listening to His word, Luke 19:47-48 • Read and learn Bible • For faith, Rom. 10:17 • To follow righteousness, Isa. 51:1, 4, 7 • We must be careful listeners
We must Listen to… • The reproof of our sin, Prov. 15:31; 25:12 (2 Tim. 3:16-17; Lk. 17:3) • Narrow way, Prov. 10:17 • Avoid stupidity, Prov. 12:1 • To be wise (not stubborn), Prov. 17:10 • To avoid spiritual death, Prov. 15:10
We must Listen to… • Wise counsel, Prov. 8:34-36 (2:1-2; 5:1) • Who counsels you? Prov. 18:15; 29:1 • Sources of wise counsel include the Bible, faithful Christians, parents and siblings – those who point us to God
Things that Keep us from Listening (John 8:43) • Sin and disobedience, John 8:44-47 • Causes us to “stop our ears” Acts 7:54-58 • Heart given over to sin will not listen to God’s truth, Rom. 8:7 • Must want to hear and do God’s word Ezek. 33:30-33
Things that Keep us from Listening (John 8:43) • Pride, Prov. 4:5-8; 11:2; 18:12-13 • Arrogant conceit refuses to admit any sin or error • Prevents accepting sound teaching of God’s word and wise advise, Prov. 15:31-33
Things that Keep us from Listening (John 8:43) • Hard, unrepentant heart, Matt. 13:14-16 • Immediately obey, Heb. 3:7-8, 13 • Prejudiced hearts reject truth without giving it a respectful hearing, Acts 22:21-23 • Day of wrath is coming, Rom. 2:5-6
Things that Keep us from Listening (John 8:43) • Spiritual shallowness of self-interest, Matt. 13:19-22 • Carelessness, indifference and lack of attention to spiritual things • Use of time, resources and opportunities reflects our desire to listen to God, Matthew 6:33
Things that Keep us from Listening (John 8:43) • Anger, James 1:19-20 • Are not able to listen when anger controls us, Prov. 12:15-16 • Cannot communicate with a temper tantrum!
Listen and Do(James 1:21-25) • Be wise and listen to the word of Christ and obey Him to be saved, Matt. 7:24-25