Let Him Listen

You know, as I was mentioned a little earlier, I worked for IBM for nearly 30 years in various roles and responsibilities. And then there was a time in my career that I was made a manager. Before that, I know that they tried to make me a manager at a certain time, and I had to go through certain tests and I didn't pass those tests because I wasn't people sensitive enough. And then I had to learn a few things, and then a few years later I was made a manager.

I went through those same tests and I learned to be more caring and sensitive to people. So I was very task-orientated, and I'm still today very task-orientated, so I get focused very much in doing things. But as you become a manager, you're given certain things like a manager's manual, different courses, education, things like that. But one thing you're given is something to put on your desk, and it said, think. Now, those of you that may have been around for a while may have known that one of the kind of—it's like an internal encouragement amongst the managers and employees at that time, at least—was for the people to think, to be constructive and think.

And most managers, we're given this—or should I say all managers—we're given this. There was not a specifically demand or instruction that said, well, you've got to put us on your desk. But that basically meant you're a manager, and instead of just writing the IBM manager, it just had that. And it actually was a nice, subtle way of putting a message to all the employees. So every time you came into a manager's office or desk, you were reminded to think.

Now, what a lot of the employees did not know is that there was another message on the back of this. And I don't know if you want to guess what that message was, but it was also just one word. Is it the word that you used to use to use the word? You had an M and a certain hand? You had a what? M and a certain hand. Oh, no, no, no. I remember that. No, it wasn't. But this is the word that had on the other hand.

Listen. It didn't say year, but it said listen. And as you know, there is a big difference between hearing and listening. I mean, you can hear, but you might not be listening. Listening is more active hearing. And it actually is quite thoughtful when you think about it. We really need to be good listeners. Now, in the Bible, there are a number of parables. For instance, there is the parable of the sower in Matthew 13. And now we see in Matthew 13 that the sower went out and sowed his seed.

And some of the seed fell on the wayside. And then that one, the birds just ate it. And then another one fell on stony places. And then it grew up very quickly, but it didn't have root. And it didn't stay long. And then the other one fell amongst thorns. And then those thorns suffocated the seed.

And then we see another one fell on good ground. And then he healed a good crop of 160 and 30-fold. And then it completes that in verse 9 and says, He who has years to year, let him year. I'd like to take the liberty of saying, He who has years to year, let him listen. Let him listen. In other words, hear actively. And the question I have is, do we all physically have years?

Obviously we all do. So we all, in a way, have years to year. But what is Christ talking about? He's talking about people that have their minds opened to year and understand. It's actually talking about people like you and I that have years opened to year, the spiritual messages. And He that has the God-given blessing to year what Christ is saying, let him year.

Let him listen. Let him pay attention. When I say him, I mean him or her, of course. But let that person pay attention. I'll probably put it in as well. Let him pay attention how he years. In other words, how he years. In other words, listen carefully. Because the point is about how we year. Do we year with attention properly, carefully? For instance, when we study the Bible, when we come to church, when we do a home Bible study? Because if you year properly, then, you know, a little later, when He was explaining the purpose of these parables, He says in verse 12, at the end of verse 12, or in verse 12, He says, For whoever has to him all be given, and he will have abundantly, but whoever does not have, even what he has, will be taken away from him.

So Yah is a warning about yearning, because if we don't year properly, even what we have could be taken away from us. Now this is quite sober. You see, so, and this parable is repeated, for instance, in Luke chapter 8. So I want to go to Luke chapter 8. And there in verse 18, verse 18, look at verse 18, Christ says, Therefore take heed how you year.

Take heed how you year. That is very important. We got to take heed how we year, how we listen. And you see, in this parable, starting a little earlier in verse 4, we see that he started giving the same parable of the sower. And he says, you know, the birds devoured it, and then it fell on a rock, and it witted away. And then you see, and it fell amongst thorns, and choked it, and then fell on good ground, and he yielded a hundredfold.

So it really multiplied. So each writer focuses on specific angles that caught his attention. But it's interesting that the writer, Yain Luke, puts it, take heed how you year. And when he gave the parable, you read that in verse 9, his disciples said, what does a sparrowable mean? What is this all about? And in verse 11, it gives a very important key. It says, the seed is the Word of God. The seed is God's Word.

It's the Bible. It's Christ's instructions. And you read, as he explains these four examples, you read them in verse 12. Now, those by the wayside are the ones who year. Or they heard it. So it fell by the wayside, but they still heard it. But how did they year? Because they didn't mull over it. They didn't, let's think about digest it. They didn't year it with the proper attention.

In other words, they didn't listen and pay attention to it. And then the devil comes about and just took it away so that they would not believe and be saved. Look at verse 13 about the ones that the seed fell on the rock, which is, as we say, the seed is the Word of God. And those that when they year, look at that, they year it. They year it. And receive the Word of Joy. How many times? Maybe you don't experience this, but we as ministers experience.

How many times people start coming to church? It's like, wow, an energy! They're just so excited! So, wow, I'm understanding the truth! So excited! But it doesn't take long. That excitement wears away. And you don't see them anymore in church. How many times do you see that? How many times? And it says that once on the rock, they year the Word of God, receive it with joy, but they have no root.

Again, how did they interpret it? Or they interpret it at a shallow way. They didn't interpret it and internalize it deeply into their hearts and minds. And it was happy, happy, happy, also excited. But it's shallow. And it's like a flood like you have today, like a flash flood. And it just takes that top layer off and it's gone. And so, and then it talks on verse 14. Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, again, they have heard.

And the pleasures of life, whatever it is, society, well, we've got to do this on the Sabbath, but I want to go and play sports on the Sabbath, or I want to do this, or whatever it is. Just, they're not prepared to pay a little price for the big, really true reward.

And then they bring no fruit to maturity. And verse 15 is the other one, but the ones that fell on good ground are those who having heard the word. Now, this is the how. With a noble and good heart, they have internalized it, they keep it, and they bear fruit with patience. Patience means endurance. Maybe your margin even has a little marker there, and it says, insurance. It really means there's going to be difficulties, there's going to be trials, but they bear fruit with endurance.

You see, so they all heard it. The question is, how do you and I hear it? For me, the fact that we are Yah, we are amongst those that it's falling on good ground, and that is a blessing. But again, as we read there in verse 18, we can never become lax and say, I am not going to now, I don't feel like today doing prayer, I don't feel like today doing Bible study. And you know what? If that may happen one day, it may happen another day, but then if it becomes a habit, it really is something that we've got to get out of it.

So, we look here in verse 21, because you think about the context. He was just talked about that parable, and then right in the middle, then somebody comes and says, hey, your mother and your brothers want to come and talk to you. And then he's still thinking about that parable. And what he says is, my mother and my brothers are those who year the word, right?

Yearning the word is the seed, right? Year the word and do it. And so, he's still thinking about that principle, and he's saying, we've got to do it. We've got to practice. We've got to live it. And there are other parables that Christ uses of a similar vine. We look in Matthew 20, verse 16. Matthew 20, verse 16. In fact, from verse 1 through to verse 16, he's talking about the parable of the vineyard.

And there's these people that are working there, dying, and there are the others that are only working at the last hour. And then, ah, it's not fair! They all get the same wage. Come on, that's unfair. And he said, hey, you know, this is what we contracted you for. Take it or leave it, you know. What he's saying is, we all will get the gift of life, eternal life. It's a gift. So, yes, there are rewards on top of that, but that's a different subject.

And that's why he says, in verse 15, it's not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things. Of course, it is. But look at it, verse 16. So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are cold, but few are chosen.

Many have heard the seed, they heard the word. But some fell by the way ground, some fell amongst stones, some fell amongst thorns. So many heard it.

But they were not selected. They were not chosen. Because the ones that are selected by God to be in his kingdom, to be amongst the first fruits, are those that do it with patience till the end.

Many are cold, but few are chosen. In similarity, in Matthew 22, we also find the parable of the wedding feast. And, oh, I'm invited to come to the wedding. Oh no, I can't come because my left toe is sore. I can't come because my right toe is sore. I've got a headache, or whatever it is, I've got to go and do this or do the other. And then at the end it says, in verse 14, For many are cold, but few are chosen. You see, there are some very important lessons here.

You know, God calls many people. There's many people that, back in all days, the plain truth, the good news, the beyond today, whatever has been called. People have heard it.

But how many have stuck with it? How many have stuck with it? And how many have actually fallen on good ground? And so who has years to years, and you and I have been called to years, then let's listen to it with attention. It's easy to give up. It's easy to just let it go. And so what is it that we need, amongst other things? We need to ask for God for His wisdom as we receive the Word. I mean, you know the story of Solomon when he became king? And we see that in 1 Kings chapter 3. He became king, and God said, Hey, what do you want? Ask and I'll give it to you. Well, I want a lot of money, you know, type of thing. No, I want wisdom. I want discernment to be able to rule and help and guide this great nation he's given me in a fair, godly way. And so what is God's Word gives us?

Because we've got to listen to God's Word. What does God's Word give us? Look at Psalm 119 verse 130. Psalm 119 verse 130. It says, the entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple. In other words, when God's Word enters in us, that's that seed that enters in your mind, in my heart, in your heart. It enters in us. It gives us light, gives understanding.

We start understanding the truth. And it says, it helps the simple. Not many wise, not many greats are called, but the foolish and the simple. That's you and I, to make the others embarrassed in a way. One day it says, well, if God could make out of, put your name out of me, George, just the ones that were foolish, that couldn't even be made a manager because I wasn't good enough. I remember the first speech I gave in the days of the Spokesman's Club.

The first speech I gave, and those of you that remember the Spokesman's Club, was lesson number one, called, This is my life. You know what? I failed. I mean, there's one that you shouldn't fail. This is the story of my life for about six minutes. I failed. So, you know, we have the simple, we are whatever. Sometimes I sit at council meetings and some people are so wise, I say, well, how can they think of that? And I sit there and say, wow, okay, I'm learning. And again, I say a few things that other people say, hey, you know, that was a good comment.

But, you know, that comes from God, not from me. It's just, it's just, it's God's Word that gives us wisdom. It's God's Word that gives us understanding. You know, if we didn't have God's Word and God's truth, I mean, we would be lost in this world. We'd be hopeless. It is something that fills us up.

God gives us that. Look at Proverbs chapter 2 verse 6. Proverbs chapter 2 verse 6. We read there, For the Lord gives wisdom, from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. How does God give us wisdom and knowledge and understanding? By His Word, by the Bible. That's what keeps us going. That's what keeps me going. When I'm down, my biggest encouragement is just getting my nose in the Bible, and it helps me.

And so, you all surely can conquer with that. It's God's Word. It's that seed that you and I have it right on your laps, on our laps, and that we need to allow it to work in our minds, in our thoughts, and it is the how we listen, how we hear it. And particularly us that have been called that have years to year. It is important. Look at James 1, verse 21. James 1, verse 21. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word. That seed which is implanted. Now it's spring, and it's a good time to start digging in our gardens and planting seeds and little things and whatever.

My wife loves doing that. It gives her great encouragement to do that. And it's good to work on the ground and get your hands dirty. It kind of changes your mind. It kind of gives you a certain different vibe in a sense.

It really is very good. But it says we receive with meekness the implanted word. That's how. With meekness. That's how we receive the seed with meekness. Beware how you hear, how you receive the seed. We need to receive it with humility, with teachability, with meekness. Because we're making it part of us. Because we're being taught. We're learning from God's Word. Hebrews 4 also adds to it.

In Hebrews 4, verse 12 and 13, Hebrews 4, verse 12 and 13, says, For the word of God, that's the seed that we receive, is living and powerful, and sharpened in an empty-edged sword, piercing even to the vision of the soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. You know, we need that. We need that.

Because I can't see myself. I can't see some of my own thoughts and heart. But as I study the Bible and I receive it with meekness, and it starts cutting inside me and it starts surely cutting inside you, and we say, Wow, I need to change this. I need to modify this part of my life. I need to become better. And you know, we've just finished the Days of Unleavened Bread.

And yeah, we're correct. We go through all the symbolism of leaven and the leavens taken out. But you know, we go through Unleavened Bread and it says, take out that old leaven, you know, and put on a new lamp. Because that's talking about that old man and become a new man by the renewing of our minds through the power of God's Holy Spirit, the washing of renewal of God's Holy Spirit, as we read in Titus chapter 3 verse 4. 5. I think it's the renewing of God's Spirit, that living water that renews our mind.

And therefore, we change from the old man to the new man. It's because the Word, God's Word, and God's Spirit are the two things, or the two agents, or the two convicting agents, that make us look at ourselves and change. They are what it says here, what cuts between the joints and the marrow and is the serna of what's in you and what's in me.

And that is the leaven. Even though the days of Unleavened Bread have come and gone, it's the leaven that is inside us that we need to be thinking about and say, I need to take that out. I need to be continuously, even now, the days of Unleavened Bread are gone, the meaning and the thought and the spiritual lesson needs to remain. I need to be continuously looking at any spiritual leaven that I may have in my body, in me, in my mind, in my heart. And God's Word, the Bible, is this living sword that cuts through it and helps me and helps you say, well, I need to change.

I really need to change. I need to become a better person. I need to become more teachable and malleable to God's Word. I need to become a new person. And we'll do. And we all know this. I don't mean it in any way to put you down or make you discouraged. I want to encourage you because God's Word, God is given as this Word so that we can become like Him.

He wants us to be like Christ. He wants you and I to reach the full stature of Jesus Christ as we read in Ephesians chapter 4, round about verse 13. So we need that.

We need to think about that parable of the talents in Matthew 25. And when it says, one I gave ten, the other one I gave five, the one I gave ten, and He made, or no, the one He gave five. It was five. He made another five. So He got ten. And the one He gave two, He got another two, and He got four. So both of them multiplied by a hundred percent. So to both of them says, good and faithful servant. Good and faithful servant. That's what we need to do. However many talents you and I have, when you've got two, when you've got five, it doesn't matter. As much as you make from your two, you make four, or from your five, you make ten, and if you've got ten, you make twenty, whatever it is, you all have gotten the same growth in percentage. So well done, good and faithful servant. Why? Because we are chosen for a special job. You know, we mustn't forget that. We are chosen for a special job. You and I are chosen to be in Christ's governing cabinet. Think about it. God's cabinet. Not everybody, not every American is a member of the governing cabinet of this nation. Those who have been very selective group. And it's God that selects his cabinet. And it's God that has specifically picked up you and I, which are not wise, nor are the greatest out there. I don't know why, but in his mercy selected you and I, we are amongst the foolish to embarrass others, but we will be with him, whatever he goes, because we are part of his cabinet.

Not just in the millennium, but for eternity. Many are called, but few are chosen. If that number is only 144,000, as you read in Revelation 14, there is a mighty small number. From Adam and Eve till Christ's coming, if I take Revelation 14 literally, which I probably should, but I find it difficult, but it's only 144,000. Few are chosen. And you and I are being selected to be part of that team.

Beware how we listen.

We have to have that spirit of meekness, as we read a little earlier. We've got to receive the word with meekness, as we read in James 1 verse 21. Look at 1 Peter. 1 Peter.

Just to put it in context, I'll start with 1 Peter chapter 2. In 1 Peter chapter 2, I'm deliberately going in there just to put it into context, because what I want to emphasize is in 1 Peter chapter 3. But in 1 Peter chapter 2, it talks about, for instance, in verse 11, it says, I beg you, us souljourners and pilgrims. You and us souljourners and pilgrims in this country, in whatever country we live, it's like saying we aliens.

Really, our homeland is the kingdom of God. That's what our true homeland is. In this country, I don't want to be disrespectful to any country, but we should look at it that our kingdom is God's kingdom. We are ambassadors of Christ, which in a sense, we look at the kingdom of God, and we as Christ's ambassadors.

That's who we represent. And please, I'm not looking at any politically point of view. I'm just looking from a spiritual point of view. And therefore, we are souljourners and pilgrims on this earth. That's what Peter is saying in chapter 2, verse 11. And so, avoid all this junk that is in the world, whatever they are, all these fleshly lusts and things that fight against our lives to destroy us.

In verse 12, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, and when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by a good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. In the day that they called, and maybe it's at the resurrection, the second resurrection, in the day they called, and they're going to look back and say, you know, so-and-so, put your name there. Now I understand why he or she was so different. And I glorify God, because look at what has happened to him or her, because he's now in God's cabinet.

Wow! So they'll glorify God for that. And then in verse, then a little bit lighter, in verse 13, he says, therefore submit to man's government or rules. So he's talking about submission. And then we read a little bit lighter in verse 18 and 19, he says, servants be submissive to your masters. And the focus is, we need to be submissive and mannable to whoever it is in authority. And it's not a thing just talking against man or woman or anything like that, but it's against us all.

We have to be submissive. And then a little bit lighter in verse 21, he says, to this you were called. You know, you were called. Many are called, but few are chosen. And it says, as we're reading in James, receive the word of Mihmihs. And Yah, in Peter, he says, for this reason you were called to be submissive.

Why? Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow his steps in our worst suffer as well in this world. That's why you were called. So then he goes a little later in chapter 3, he says, wives likewise be submissive. And so it is just saying a principle that is applicable to all of us. It's applicable to man and woman. We all have to submit to one another. So it's not saying, oh, well, woman, you're therefore, no, it's really we all, as I brought it into the context, men and young people honor one another be submissive.

And then he goes on to say, because it's not the outside appearance, and Yah used the example applicable to a lady, but the example can be applicable to a man too. I've seen some men that take such glory in their shoes. I mean, you go into some countries, having the most expensive shoes, you might not have anything, but you have the most expensive shoes.

Well, it's, I mean, coming from Africa, I've seen it a lot. So don't think I'm just fabricating it. I've seen it. You know, so it's not just woman, it's man, it may be something else. I've seen some men that exhibit themselves with, wow, that's a bit too heavy. But the point is, the point is, yeah, verse four, what it really matters is the hidden person of the heart with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.

A gentle and quiet spirit. That's what matters. It's that humility, that meekness, that teachability. How do we listen with a gentle and quiet spirit? That is what it says, which is very precious in the sight of God.

And please, this is applicable equally to men and women. That's a principle. That's what God's looking at. You and I all need to have a gentle and quiet spirit. And that is very precious in the sight of God. We have to have the same attitude as Christ. I mean, you look in Philippians 2, verse 5, it says, have the same mind as it was in Christ, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it taking something that wasn't his to be equal to God.

And he says, and he humbled himself and became a human being, leaving the form of God, and even more, he humbled himself and he died for you and I. That is the mindset of God, which is the mindset of Christ, which is the mindset that you and I need to have. A meek and quiet spirit, a caring, submissive spirit to the Word of God, to that seed. That's what we're going to have. And so, when you think about, again, when I mention about the Days of Unleavened Bread, let's just remind ourselves of that by looking again at 1 Corinthians 5, verse 8.

1 Corinthians 5, verse 8. Because 1 Corinthians 5, verse 8, He says, therefore, let us keep the feast. Okay, so we have kept the feast. And here's the principle, not with that old man, nor with malice, you know, thinking evil and wickedness, doing evil, but with the unleavened bread. In other words, let us keep the lesson that we need to be sincere and truthful. That's what we got to do. We got to have that unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

That's what we got to work on, the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Are we humble? Are we submitting to God? Are we teachable? Are we meek? Do we have that quiet spirit and teachable, which is precious before God? Do we treat others that way? You know, look at... When you and I get the Bible and these teachings, we need to have the attitude of the Bereans. Is that really so? Is that really who I am? Dig it in and change. How do I obey God? How do I do and keep God's laws and God's commandments? Am I really looking at it carefully? James says, you know, it's not the hearers of the world, but it's the doers. Are we doers? Are we applying? That is living faith. You read other scriptures, like in Ezekiel. Ezekiel 33, it's actually... It's quite a fascinating scripture. I want to turn to it because sometimes we don't think about it. But it's quite a fascinating scripture, Ezekiel 33.

And I mean, obviously it's always encouraging to a minister when people appreciate the message, because one puts a lot of effort into a message, and it is encouraging. But yeah, we have an attitude which is that encouragement is empty, because yeah, it is verbal, and it says... Well, they come verse... Let's start it in verse 30. As for you, Son of Man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses, and you speak to one another. Everyone's saying to his brother, please come and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord. Well, please come and... Well, why don't you go to the website and listen to the sermon? Really, it's actually a great sermon, a great message. And I'm not... Please don't read it the wrong way. I'm not saying don't do that. But it needs to have root. It's not just hearing superficially and receive it with great joy. And it's like falling on stony ground, and it's not digging in deep. And so, because then it continues. So they come to you as people, do they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them. That's how they're listening. They don't do it. Oh, yeah, it's a beautiful sermon, a great sermon. Yeah, you've got to listen to it. But then they don't put it to practice. For with their mouth they show much love, but if their hearts pursue their own gain. Indeed, you are to them as a lovely song. Oh, there was such a nice song, or such a lovely sermon. One who has a pleasant voice who can play well on an instrument, for they hear your words, but they do not do them. How do we hear? To do it? You know, there's another interesting story in the Bible that's the story of the Recobites. You may not remember, but the Recobites are described in Jeremiah 31, in the first few verses from 1 to 8. And the Recobites are one group of people that God put them to the test and said, Okay, take the Recobites, told the prophet, take the Recobites, and bring them to the temple and tell them, drink wine. Well, there's nothing wrong with drinking wine. But the Recobites said, No, we won't drink. Why? Because our father's father's father's grandfather, whatever he's made a promise, then we, our family, we would never drink wine. And we are being faithful to the family, to our dad, and we will not drink wine.

And then God says, Wow! Well, look at these human beings. The dad, granddad, great-great-great-granddad told them, Don't do this. And boy, they are obeying that father. And you, Israelites, don't obey me. It's a big lesson because what God is saying, obey me. Now, there's a wonderful promise there in that section. Let me just have a look here. In Jeremiah 35 of the Recobites, which is in verse 18 and 19, says, Because the Recobites have been faithful like this, there will always be a Recobite in the house of God.

In other words, there are some Recobites today in the Church of God. And it's not me, because I do drink a bit of wine. But they're there! They're there! So God is not a discriminator, a respecter of persons. And you and I can also be amongst those that will impress God, like the Recobites did. What is it that you and I need to do to really for God to pay attention and say, Hey, I'm really impressed with this lady in the Church, or this man in the Church? Wow! I'm really impressed. Well, the answer is in Isaiah 66, verse 2. And there we read, to this one, that's the latter part, says the Lord, but to this person, will I look? In other words, this person, God says, I will be impressed with her or with him, who is poor and of a contrite heart and trembles at my word. That his humble is a repentant heart, meek, teachable heart, and respects God's word. He listens to that seed with proper care and attention. Brethren, God has called you, has called me, has given you and I years to you. I mean, you look at the book of Revelation, every one of those seven letters to the churches in the book of Revelation that says, to him that he has ears to your pay attention. Because it's those that are in the church that have been called, pay attention. And so, God wants you and I to you. God has called you. God has given us his Son. God has given us great gifts. He's given us his Spirit that helps us to overcome. He's basically, think of it, he's given you, if you're thinking of soccer or not American football, he's like, you have dribbled out all the players, the goalie is out of the way, and you got the ball right in front of the goal. All you have to do now is just kick it to the goalie, and you've scored. That's the position that God has put you and I in. The ball is in our hands. You and I can be in his kingdom because he will not leave you. He's promised. So, are we going to do that final push and give that final effort for us to put the ball onto that goalie, which is our eternal life? Therefore, take heed how you hear.