Eliminating the Obstacles to Hearing

1. Eliminating the Obstacles to Hearing Mark 7:30-37; John 8:41-50 (Matt 15:29-31)

2. 31And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. 32And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 33And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. 36And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; 37And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

3. Mark 7:31 • And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.

4. Mark 7:32 People Bring People to Christ! • And they bring unto him one that was deaf,

5. What else can we be reminded about besides the truth that Christ had the power to heal?

6. Barna Research Group • According to the study, 66 percent of churchgoers said they have had a personal connection with God during church service, while one-third of churchgoers never felt a connection God during church.

7. Barna Research Group • When it comes to the category of spiritual insight and understanding, however, most Christians cannot even recall when they last had such experiences. • The polls found that 61 percent of people say that they could not remember a significant new insight or understanding related to faith from their last church visit.

8. Today We Examine What is Keeping People from Hearing from God

9. Fact Since the Fall of Man (Gen. 3) ALL humans are born spiritually deaf.

10. Romans 5:12 • Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

11. Let’s Look @ Ephesians 2:1-10

12. Spiritually Dead People • Spiritually Dead People Can’t • Hear • See • Perceive • Comprehend

13. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 • But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: • In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

14. John 3:16 • For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

15. Question Why is it that 1/3 of church goers never experience God?

16. Famous Illustration of This Look @ John 3:1ff

17. Question What did Jesus tell Nicodemus?

18. Mark 7:32 • And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.

19. 1st the Most Probable Answer Look @ v. 33

20. Mark 7:33 • And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;

21. Mark 7:34 Some have great issues with Jesus being God if He has to look to heaven or talk to God to heal people. • And looking up to heaven,

22. Question If Jesus is God why is He looking to Heaven and speaking?

23. Mark 7:35 Christ looks to heaven to show that his power to heal came from His heavenly Father—the God of Israel. • And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

24. 47 Times Jesus says, “my Father” in 4 Gospels

25. Let’s look @ John 8:41-50 to answer both of these questions

26. 41Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 42Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 46Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 48Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? 49Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

27. Some percentage of people in the church do NOT hear any thing of significance week after week because they have not been touched by Christ.

28. These non-hearing people hear but their eyes and ears have not been opened by God.

29. Two Truths • You can’t hear if God doesn’t open your ears. • God only opens the eyes and ears of those who repent and believe the gospel.

30. Mark 7:34 • And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

31. Mark 7:35 This is a beautiful picture of Sovereign Grace; God spoke and he could hear. • And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

32. Question Besides being unsaved, what are some other the obstacles to hearing?

33. Barna Research Group • According to the study, 66 percent of churchgoers said they have had a personal connection with God during church service, while one-third of churchgoers never felt a connection God during church.

34. Barna Research Group • When it comes to the category of spiritual insight and understanding, however, most Christians cannot even recall when they last had such experiences. • The polls found that 61 percent of people say that could not remember a significant new insight or understanding related to faith from their last church visit.

35. Answer Look back to Mark 4:13

36. 13And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? The sower soweth the word. 15And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

37. Mark 7:36 • And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;

38. Persecution Notice this dichotomy

39. The more Christ commands people to NOT to talk about Jesus the more they talk about Jesus.

40. Mark 7:37 • And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

41. Parallel Text from Matthew Much of what Christ did related specifically to establishing his relationship to the Father and fulfilling Messianic Prophecies.

42. Matthew 15:31 Compare to Isaiah • Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

43. Isaiah 35:6-7 • Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. • And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

44. Is Christ calling you today? When was the last time you heard from God in the context of worship or Bible study?