Hebrews XII
Listen Up
We live in a world full of noise, We’ve got data plans and wifi networks that keep us connected with the world. We’ve got televisions giving us information non-stop, We’ve got music in our earbuds, social media on our phones, not to mention constant advertisements along the road via billboards, yard signs, sign holders and people dressed like the statue of liberty, all while our favorite radio station is blasting through our car stereo. My point is, we live in a loud world, with lots and lots of voices.
Some of those voices want to change the way you see the world, others want your money, and some want your influence. What we as a generation need to master, more so than I believe any generation before us, is learning the discipline of choosing what voices we allow in our circle. We don’t just need to learn for this ourselves, but we need to pass on this discipline to the coming generations.
Why is this so important? What’s wrong with all the noise, some might even say they enjoy the noise. Truthfully, I get that. I do my best work sitting in a coffee shop earbuds in, volume up. This is how I did most of my school work, this is how I do much of my church work, and this is how I’m writing this message now. The discipline is control the situation, controlling the voices, the music, the influence. Refusing the incoming messages from the enemy, and pursuing the voice of God in all things.
There are many blessings from God that require our attention. So, the question I have for you now is, are you listening to the voice of God? Can you hear Him speaking into your life?
Your answer to this question might be, “God never speaks to me” It’s a common answer, but it’s a misguided one. The truth is God has already spoken to us in the most comprehensive way possible, the Bible. At Deeper, one of our pillars is “The Bible Is Our Source” and the reason that we stand on this pillar is because the Bible is God’s word to us. It’s a living word, which means that it’s relevant, and if applied to our life, it will change our attitudes and press us towards the Father.
We live in a world where Tik Tok is our source, where Instagram is our source, where Netflix is our source, where the thoughts and opinions of other people is our source, but it’s an anomaly where “The Bible is our source” At Deeper, our goal is that the Bible is our source, that the Bible becomes your source.
In Luke 11:28 we see Jesus say while speaking to a crowd of people,“But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”
You can come to Deeper every week, watch all of our videos online, even read your Bible, but Jesus says that “more blessed are all who hear the Word of God and put it into practice.” I know that many of you are hearing the Word, but the question is, are you putting it into practice?
The last 3 weeks, we’ve been going through the 12th chapter in the book of Hebrews. The first week we looked at the first 4 verses where the writer challenges us to shake off the sins and the things that keep us back from achieving all the things that God has for us in this life. Week 2 we saw that verses 5-13 tell us that Godly discipline is a good thing. It’s good that God loves us by showing us our sins and convicting us when we step out of His will. Then last week examined what is probably the most recognizable verses in this chapter, 14-24, where Paul reminds the people that they are living under the new covenant, one where Jesus Christ has paid the blood sacrifice for the sins of man and through Jesus we are made right before God!
Tonight as we wrap up this final message in our Hebrews 12 series were looking at how and why we need to make it a priority to listen to the voice of God when He speaks to us, and apply God’s word to our lives.
Hebrews 12:25-29 says,
Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire.
If you took an hour of so and sat down and just read through the book of Exodus, specifically just after the actual Exodus where the Israelites left the nation of Egypt and headed for Mt. Sinai, you would start to read the 40 or so years of complete frustration, its easy to read the report of the disobedience and get frustrated, but for the Exodus generation, this was their reality. God had an amazing plan in store for these people, but because of their refusal to listen and obey, they died in the wilderness, and it was the Joshua generation that realized the blessings of God.
So many times we wonder “Where is God?!” But the reality is that God is always near and He’s always speaking. The problem is we’re not listening or listening and not obeying. The challenge of this message is to position yourself to be able to hear the voice of God, first things first, listen to God. Do this by reading His word, spending time in prayer, worship God through our actions and with praise. If you do this, then you’ll be in tune with the Holy Spirit, the next step is to do what the Holy Spirit leads you to do, when you do this you’ll see God work in your life in unbelievable ways.
The Exodus generation never could’ve imagined that they would have their own land, specifically the land that God had promised them. The Exodus generation heard the voice of God, but they weren’t obedient and because of their disobedience, they missed God’s blessings.
Trust God, listen to God, obey His leading.
It’s easy to feel like we’re stuck or trapped. Life is complicated, if you would’ve asked the Exodus generation they would’ve told you the same thing. It’s complicated. It can seem like there is no way out. But the truth is that the way out starts with making 1 good decision, followed by the next and then the next.
The famous Lady Vols Basketball coach Pat Summitt would say to her players, “Left foot, right foot, breathe” When the team would find themselves in a hole, down by 10, they understood that there were no 10 point shots, it was about being disciplined, taking good shots, playing solid defense that would lead to wins, and then championships.
We can cut down the nets so to speak in our walk with God when we’re obedient to listen and obey His words. So what is the next thing that I can do? How do I start right now?
Let’s start with 1 John 1:5,6, “I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.”
Love one another
Take steps of obedience, do what the Bible tells us to do, left foot, right foot, breathe. You got this!
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