Privileged Promptings: Hearing and Heeding the Voice of God
What Kind of Listener Are You?
Memory Verse: (John 5:30 NIV) By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
Scriptures: Matthew 13:1-9 , 23
(Mat 13:1-9 NIV) That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. {2} Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. {3} Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. {4} As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. {5} Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. {6} But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. {7} Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. {8} Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. {9} He who has ears, let him hear."
(Mat 13:23 NIV) But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
INTRODUCTION:
(Mat 13:23 NIV) But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
(2 Tim 4:3 NIV) For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
1. An Incomprehensible Listener
(Mat 13:4 NIV) As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
(Mat 13:19 NIV) When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
2. A Superficial Listener
(Mat 13:5-6 NIV) Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. {6} But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
(Mat 13:20-21 NIV) The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. {21} But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
3. A Jumbled Listener
(Mat 13:7 NIV) Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
(Mat 13:22 NIV) The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.
(Mat 6:25 NIV) "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
(Mat 6:32-34 NIV) For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. {33} But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. {34} Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
4. A Receptive Listener
(Mat 13:8 NIV) Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
(Mat 13:23 NIV) But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
(James 1:22NIV) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
(Psa 84:5 NIV) Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
(John 15:14 NIV) You are my friends if you do what I command.
