HAVE YOU GOT EARS TO HEAR?

God speaks...

One of the most repeated themes in Scripture is this: God speaks.

But if God is always speaking, why do so many people struggle to hear Him?

But in order to hear God speaking, you must have ears to hear.

Jesus answers that question with one simple phrase:

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Matthew 11:15

Spiritual Hearing

This message is about those ears - not the ones on the side of your head, but the ones in

your heart.

Luke 8:4-8

While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town,

he told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed,

some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky

ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.

Parable of the Sower

• A farmer went out to plant his seed. Some seed fell on a footpath... birds ate it.

• Other seed fell among rocks... it withered.

• Other seed fell among thorns... it was choked.

• Still other seed fell on good soil and produced a hundredfold.

• “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

God Speaks Through His Word.

• 2 Timothy 3:16. All Scripture is God breathed.

• Every time you open your Bible God is speaking

• Quiet time is not just talking to Gd but also listening to Him.

Ears to Hear.

• Two people can hear the same message - one is transformed, the other unchanged

• Hearing is not physical. It is spiritual.

Isaiah’s warning

Make the heart of this people calloused;

make their ears dull

and close their eyes.

Otherwise, they might see with their eyes,

hear with their ears,

understand with their hearts,

and turn and be healed.”

Jesus confirms this...

For this people’s heart has become calloused;

they hardly hear with their ears,

and they have closed their eyes.

Otherwise, they might see with their eyes,

hear with their ears,

understand with their hearts

and turn, and I would heal them.’

The call in the book of Revelation!

“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches”.

Revelation 2:29

The Seed = Word of God.

The Soil = Human Heart.

Same seed. Different soil. Different result.

Hard Heart

The Word cannot penetrate a hard heart.

Before the Word settles, Satan steals it away.

Barriers to the Word from penetrating a hard heart

Þ Unresolved hurt

Þ Pride

Þ Sin

Þ Bitterness

Þ Rebellion

Proverbs 4:23

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Daniel 5:20

But when his heart and mind were puffed up with arrogance, he was brought down from his

royal throne and stripped of his glory.

Habitual sin

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns

away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called

“Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. - Hebrews 3:12-13

Bitterness & Unforgiveness.

Ephesians 4:31-32

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of

malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ

God forgave you.

“A hard heart is not formed overnight; it is built choice by choice.” John MacArthur.

Shallow heart – Rocky soil

Þ Receives with joy but has no roots

Þ Falls away when trials come.

Þ Emotion can start you, but commitment sustains you.

Colossians 2:6-7

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in

him,rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and

overflowing with thankfulness.

The Distracted Heart – Thorny soil

Luke 8:14

The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they

are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.

Distracted Heart

Þ The Word is choked by worries, riches, and pleasures.

Þ No fruit is produced.

Þ A busy, anxious, pleasure-focused life suffocates spiritual growth.

Good Soil – The Good Heart

Luke 8:15

But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word,

retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Good Heart

Þ Hears the Word, retains it, obeys it.

Þ Produces fruit.

Jesus cries out...

The Greek word used for cried - phneo

Pronunciation - fo-neh’-o’

Meaning - To emit a sound, (animal, human or instrumental) call (for) crow cry.

Perseverance

Þ Greek word - ὑπομονή (hupomonē)

Þ Pronunciation: hoo-po-mon-ay

Þ Meaning - To remain under, endure, stay committed.

Þ Fruit comes through endurance, not emotion.

Joseph

Dream.

Betrayal. He persevered until fruit appeared.

Prison.

Promotion.

Illumination

The word enlightened is

Þ Greek word - φωτίζω (phōtizō)

Þ Pronunciation: fo-tid-zo

Þ Meaning: to illuminate, to bring light, to reveal

Hebrews 10:32

But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great

struggle with sufferings.

Sowing & Reaping

Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a

harvest if we do not give up”.

Þ You reap what you sow

Þ Do not grow weary

Þ Harvest comes to those who don’t give up.

Examples

Noah - He sowed obedience for a long season.

But in due time, the flood came, and his obedience saved his family.

Elizabeth Elliott (American missionary) - Even though there was opposition, she persevered

until she saw the fruit - those tribal people who killed her husband were saved by her

perseverance in sharing the gospel.

Þ God is always speaking.

Þ Hearing depends on the heart.

Þ Fruit depends on perseverance.

Þ Opposition confirms direction.

Call to action

Ø Guard your heart

Ø Stay in the Word

Ø Persevere in obedience

Ø Your harvest is coming!

Final reflection

Þ “He who has ears to hear, let him hear”

Þ Press in - do not quit!