LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN

1. Introduction

a) What is listening?

i) "Listening" is receiving language through the ears. Listening involves identifying the sounds of speech and processing them into words and sentences. When we listen, we use our ears to receive individual sounds (letters, stress, rhythm and pauses) and we use our brain to convert these into messages that mean something to us.

ii) Listening in any language requires focus and attention. It is a skill that some people need to work at harder than others. People who have difficulty concentrating are typically poor listeners.

iii) Like babies, we learn this skill by listening to people who already know how to speak the language.

iv) Listening is to take notice of and act on what someone says; respond to advice or a request.

v) God has made us to have 2 ears & 1 mouth. Therefore, we should listen more and talk less.

2. What does the Bible have to say about listening?

a) Listen to God's voice & hold fast to him

i) 19This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Deuteronomy 30:19, 20 NIV)

b) Listen to God's voice & follow him

i) 25Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.” (John 10:25-30 NIV)

c) Listen when God speaks

i) 8A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:8-10 NIV)

d) Listen to God's word & do what it says

i) 22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (James 1:22-25 NIV)

e) Listen & add to learning

i) 5let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance— 6for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. (Proverbs 1:5, 6 NIV)

f) Listen to advice & be wise

i) 15The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. (Proverbs 12:15 NIV)

g) Listen first & then answer

i) 12Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. 13To answer before listening— that is folly and shame. (Proverbs 18:12, 13 NIV)

h) Be quick to listen, slow to speak & angry

i) 19My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. (James 1:19-21 NIV)

3. Prayer focus

a) Pray for good listening ears so that we would not misunderstand others when they speak.