Listening with a Purpose
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· 32 viewsWe must listen to Jesus or Drift away by the currents of this world...
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
The current climate in our world is filled with distractions.
Distraction is caused by: the lack of ability to pay attention; lack of interest in the object of attention; or the great intensity, novelty or attractiveness of something other than the object of attention.
Distractions can come from people, things; Were distracted by so much and by so many things that many of us have lost our way. We have lost our way ( Christians) because if Jesus is the WAY, then any other way other than that is another way which means your lost.
Today, my purpose is to get us back on tract. The message is a serious message, but a needed message. We have to move from Distractions to Listening with a purpose.
Listening is defined as:
1lis•ten \ˈli-sən\ verb
lis•tened; lis•ten•ing \ˈlis-niŋ, ˈli-sən-iŋ\ [Middle English listnen, from Old English hlysnan; akin to Sanskrit śroṡati he hears, Old English hlūd loud] verb transitive before 12th century archaic: to give ear to: HEAR verb intransitive
1: to pay attention to sound 〈listen to music〉
2: to hear something with thoughtful attention: give consideration 〈listen to a plea〉
3: to be alert to catch an expected sound 〈listen for his step〉—lis•ten•er \ˈlis-nər, ˈli-sən-ər\ noun
Passive listening occurs when the listener is formulating a response while the speaker is still talking. He/She is only partially listening leaving the Speaker feeling unheard- as if He has wasted his effort in trying to express his thoughts.
Active, purposeful listeners listen to hear and understand what's most important to the speaker. Some tips on how to listen actively and purposefully: Determine what's important to the speaker. Listen and watch for tone of voice, repetitive information, pauses, length of speaking and facial expressions.
Active, purposeful listeners listen to hear and understand what's most important to the speaker. Some tips on how to listen actively and purposefully: Determine what's important to the speaker. Listen and watch for tone of voice, repetitive information, pauses, length of speaking and facial expressions.
19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;
You cannot be the type of listener that passively listens to Jesus in times like this.....We need to Listen with a purpose.....
Purpose is defined as:
1pur•pose \ˈpər-pəs\ noun
[Middle English purpos, from Anglo-French, from purposer to intend, propose, from Latin proponere (perfect indicative proposui) to propose—more at PROPOUND] 14th century
1 a: something set up as an object or end to be attained: INTENTION
b: RESOLUTION, DETERMINATION
2: a subject under discussion or an action in course of execution synonym see INTENTION—on purpose: by intent: INTENTIONALLY
Are Christians listening to God? What would you do if someone came to you and ask, have you heard from Jesus ? Are our attitudes, choices, and lifestyle reflect the kind of lifestyle that we have heard of Jesus?
The Bible Guide The Complete Works (1:3–4)
Faith and perseverance
Hebrews talks about the importance of faith. Following Christ may be hard; but once we’ve realized who he is, there’s no turning back. The only way is forward. Faith means living on earth in the light of heaven.
The readers of this letter have had a tough time. They have been ill-treated for their faith. Some have suffered imprisonment and loss of property. Now they are tempted to give up. This letter encourages them to persevere—to set their sights on Jesus as their pioneer, and heaven as their goal.
The writer urges his readers not to slip back into their old Jewish ways. The tabernacle, the priests and the sacrifices were all inadequate and temporary—and are now obsolete.
The religious landscape of the United States continues to change at a rapid clip. In Pew Research Center telephone surveys conducted in 2018 and 2019, 65% of American adults describe themselves as Christians when asked about their religion, down 12 percentage points over the past decade.
Heres the scoop. You have less Christians, and some of the ones you have that remain are about to give up on Jesus.....
DON’T GIVE UP, BUT GIVE IN.....Persevere....Listen with a purpose..
We tell people who are going through hard times “hang in there,” or “keep your chin up.” To persevere means to “persist in something,” in spite of persecution, opposition, or discouragement. Among several Greek expressions, the usual word, proskartereō, has the root meaning “to adhere steadfastly”
In order to keep your Chin up, you have to Look up
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
When you Listening with a purpose you only have 2 options. Either your looking to Jesus, or your Looking at the world on their way to hell in a hand basket....
Point #1- Tune In to Jesus Heb 1:1-14 ; Heb 2:1A
Tune in requires faith in Jesus.......
1: to listen to or view a broadcast tune in next week for the conclusion
2: to associate oneself with what is happening or one's surroundings
John Piper tells us:
What Makes Listening Unique
What Makes Listening Unique
Most of the time when we listen, we don’t immediately start analyzing. We don’t try to break down the text because we can’t see it! We simply take it in. Like the slow and steady marination of our favorite meat, we immerse ourselves in the speaker’s words, trusting that our heart will, in good time, absorb its full meaning. We don’t fuss over detail. We instead allow the speaker’s wide-sweeping themes to seep in.
The prophet Isaiah tells of the birth of the Son of God (Isa. 7:14; 9:6).
In Matthew 1:23 the prophecy of the virgin birth of Christ is repeated. Mary is told that her Son’s name would be Jesus, and He would save people from their sin (Matt. 1:21).
When Jesus was baptized God spoke from heaven, saying He was well pleased in His Son (Matt. 3:16, 17).
Today, God speaks to us through His Son.
I. The Scriptures and Christ (vv. 1–3)
A. Speaking (v. 1). In the Old Testament God spoke through the prophets. Both the major and minor prophets spoke God’s Word, revealing man’s sin. They also spoke of Christ’s birth, suffering, and death.
B. Son (v. 2). Today God speaks to us through His Son. Christ became human. When God created the world, He said, “Let us make man” (Gen. 1:26). In Colossians 1:16, 17 we learn that in Christ all things consist. John 1:3 tells us that all things were made by Him—Jesus, the Son of God.
C. Salvation (v. 3). Jesus became man to understand man. Now He controls the world. He lived, taught, suffered, died, arose, and ascended into heaven. Through this we have salvation (John 3:16).
II. The Superiority of Christ (vv. 4–8)
A. Superiority (v. 4). Christ is above the angels. He is equal to God (see Phil. 2:6). The Old Testament people had to pray through the Jewish priest. Now we call on Christ (Rom. 10:13).
B. Son (vv. 5, 6). “For God never said to any angel, ‘You are my Son, and today I have given you the honor that goes with that name.’ But God said it about Jesus. Another time he said, ‘I am his Father and he is my Son.’ And still another time—when his firstborn Son came to earth—God said, ‘Let all the angels of God worship him’ ” (LB).
C. Savior (vv. 7, 8)
1) Spirits (v. 7). Angels and ministers are ministers of a flame of fire (Ps. 104:4).
2) Savior (v. 8). “But of his Son he says, ‘Your kingdom, O God, will last forever and ever; its commands are always just and right’ ” (LB).
III. The Supernatural Christ (vv. 9–14)
A. Power (v. 9). Christ was given power greater than any man. This is a prophecy from Isaiah 61:1, 2 (see Luke 4:18).
B. Personal (v. 10). Note how God called Christ “Lord.”
C. Permanence (vv. 11, 12). All things and all people will pass, but Christ will remain forever.
D. Position (vv. 13, 14). Christ would rule over all. Never did this happen to an angel. Angels are servants; Christ is the Son.
Jesus told us to believe in God and in Him (John 14:3). Note the equality of Christ with God (Phil. 2:5–11; cf. John 1:1–3). It shows Christ equal with God, as well as living eternally. God loved the world and gave Jesus. Jesus loved the world and gave His life. God has spoken. Christ has spoken. Now they await our response.
Point#2- Tune Out Jesus and Drift away v2b-3
An anchor is a device, normally made of metal, used to connect a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent the craft from drifting due to wind or current.
Drift- be carried slowly by a current of air or water.
Drift- the deviation of a vessel, aircraft, or projectile from its intended or expected course as the result of currents or winds.
19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,
Many drift away from God because they have stopped listening to God.....Many feel their loosing their grip in life because they have rejected Jesus in their life. No prayer, no bible study, no time of meditating on his word....they have listened to everybody else and wondered why their hearts have grown cold for God....
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Momma used to say Hard Head soft tail....Its either Jesus or nothing......Get a grip on life and hold on to his unchanging hand.......If you don’t hold on, while in this world.....you’ll drift away....caught up in the everything but Jesus.....
A. Departure (v. 1). Take heed of the teachers and teachings we have heard. The false teachers forget the truth of salvation
4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,
6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,
7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.
10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
B. Disobedience (v. 2). Those who rejected the teachings of our Lord were punished
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;
5 and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;
6 and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter;
7 and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men
8 (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds),
1) Angels (Jude 5–7; Isa. 14:12–15).
2) Noah (Gen. 6–8).
3) Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:1–26).
C. Destroyed (v. 3). If God destroyed these people, how can we escape His judgment?
Rom. 6:23- All have sinned....
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.
12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.
14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.