Take Heed How You Hear The Word!

Brethren, I appreciate the message from Christopher about living being hidden. And my message, in a way, focuses a little bit about that, about sin that is being hidden, and that sometimes we don't realize it's there. But I want to start by mentioning a little bit about myself. I worked for 30 years in South Africa, and I left them some 25-plus years ago. But anyway, I worked for them for 30 years. And then there was a day that I became a manager at the company. And yes, they gave us training to be management, etc. And one of the things they give you – of course, it's like a manager's manual and things like that – but one thing they give you is a little thing to put it on your desk as a manager.

And it wasn't compulsory, but everybody, every manager at IBM, had this little sign on their desk, which said, Think. And those of you that are a few decades ago may remember that was a big kind of branding of IBM saying Think. But what most people don't know is that this sign had something else written on the back for the manager. And the sign said, Listen. Listen. There is a number of statements in the Bible, particularly many of them, let's say, those who have years to year or to listen, let him year or listen.

And it is pertinent in a number of parables and also in the book of Revelation, in the seven letters to the churches. We can see that message. For instance, if you turn to Matthew 13, you see the parable of this Matthew 13, this person that was planting seed. And then, as he plants the seed, some fell on the way. Others fell on stony ground. And others fell in ground that was full of thorns. And then, some of it fell on good ground, bearing fruit 160 and 30-fold.

There is an important statement at the end of this parable, which is in verse 9 of Matthew 13. And that says, He who has years to year, let him year. Maybe you've read through that and kind of paid, all right, we better year. But, do you know, brethren, as you think about it, you and I have been cold, and God has opened our minds, our hearts, and our years to year. So, he who has the years to year are those that have been called by God and have a heart in years to year.

So, it's actually talking about you and I. And it says, listen. Pay attention. Brethren, listening is more than a yearning. Listening is pay attention carefully. And so, he that has his mind open to understand the truth, pay attention carefully to the parable. He that has his mind open to the truth, pay attention to the seven letters to the seven churches in Revelation. And that is written to you and I.

And so, today, brethren, we want to look at this warning or advice, so that you and I may year a little bit more carefully, and we may year what? The Word of God. The Word, the teachings of Christ, of his apostles, the instructions there are in the Bible. Obviously, when we are in church, but also when we do our own private Bible study. And the benefit to you and I is that as we do that, it helps us to take some of this hidden living in ourselves.

And then we will be able to fulfill these scriptures, as we'll focus on one or another parable in a little bit more detail. Now, this parable of this person that was planting the seed of the sower is also described in Luke chapter 8. So I'm going to go through a few points there in Luke chapter 8. And in Luke chapter 8, it also ends in verse 18. In verse 18 says, Therefore take heed, how are you here? But look how it ends.

You see, the previous one said, He who has years to year, let him hear. You know, it was listen. In this case, the same parable. So probably it was the same discourse, but just recorded by another observer.

And that observer picked up additional content, which has got value for us. And that observer, written down by Luke, described it as, Therefore take heed, how you hear, how you listen, for whoever has to him will be given, and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have, will be taken from him. And so we can see a warning in the Bible that if we don't listen carefully, you know, if we don't take this hidden leaven that is in us, that prevents us from listening carefully, it could be that what you think you have will be taken away from you.

That is a very strong warning for us in the church.

In Luke chapter 8, starting this parable in verse 4 through 9, you see, so Christ is now giving the parable in verse 5, 6, and 8, and basically describes the parable. And then his disciples in verse 9 say, What does this parable mean? What is this parable all about? And then it then describes this parable starting in verse 11, and it says, The seed is the Word of God. The seed is Christ's words. It's the Bible. It's the instruction we receive through the apostles in the Bible that came from Christ, that came from the Father.

And so the seed is the Word of God. And then look at it. In verse 12, he says, Those by the wayside are the ones who year. They year it.

But the devil comes and takes it away. And the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. So it's very kind of superficial. They year it, and it goes.

Now note, they year it.

Then in verse 13, he talks about those on the rock, or the ones that the seed falls on the rock, are those that when they year again, yearning is the common factor.

They receive the word of joy. Hey, that's so exciting. And these have no root.

How many, as as ministers, how many people have we counseled? Counseled for baptism? They so excited. They just, they really are like freshening to us. They so excited, so zealous.

And maybe after baptism, or whatever it is, or a little bit a while later, it's gone. It's gone. All that enthusiasm has disappeared. And it says it's, when they year, they receive it with joy, and these have no root. Because they don't take that yearning, and they don't converse the yearning to a proper listening, to a proper digging it into the ground, planting that seed properly. It left it shallow.

And they believe for a while. And in a time of temptation, when suddenly they have difficulties, trials, challenges in life, it says they fall away. They don't hold on. In other words, they don't have root. You see, it's like a plant that it's there, doesn't have root, and you get the rain and whatever, and it all is washed away. Verse 14. Now, the ones that fell among thorns are those when they have heard. Now, these have also heard. So they all hear it.

Go out and are choked with cares, reaches, and pleasures of life. Or a good job, a good income, good things come out there alive, things go well, and they forget the basics.

Because things are going well.

And the pleasures of life, and they bring no fruit to maturity.

And then verse 15 says, but the ones that fell on good ground are those who have been heard. You see, they all hear the word. And that's why it says, take heed how you hear.

Take heed how you hear. The accountabilities now on you and I, how we hear.

And these that fall on good ground, they heard the word, and with a noble and good heart, in other words, they dig it in, they work on it. It's like they're working on a garden, they put good compost and manure and whatever it is, and they water it properly, do regular Bible study, focus on it. They keep it in bare fruit with patience, with patience.

You see, so they all heard it. They all heard it.

And then as he walks out, a little later, this message is kind of ringing in people's minds, and then they come to him and say, hey, your mother and your brothers and sisters, physical brothers and sisters, are there coming to talk to you. And then he says in verse 21, my mother and my brothers are those who hear the word. You see, the theme is still about hearing the word and do it, and do it. You see, so it's not just hearing the word, but it's putting it into action. In Matthew chapter 20, we've got another parable, Matthew chapter 20, and that is the workers in the vineyard. In Matthew chapter 20, and you see they're working, and some come early, and they get the job, and they work the whole day. Others come at the last hour, and they all get the same, let's call it, payment.

So, they're all getting eternal life. It's an equal payment.

And then some complain, you know that story of the parable of the vineyard.

And then at verse 15, he says, hey, it's mine! I can give it whoever I want!

And then in verse 16, he says, and so the last will be first and the first last, but look at the next sentence, or the next phrase. He says, for many are called, but few are chosen.

Can you connect? They all heard. They all were called, but few listened, really listened, and therefore few are chosen.

In the same book in Matthew chapter 22, it's talking about the parable of the wedding. There's a wedding parable starting in verse 14.

Or rather, verse 1 goes all the way until verse 14. But it ends that wedding parable, that many are called, and then they say, now I've got this, I've got this excuse, I've got that excuse, I've got the other excuse.

How many people get to Beyond Today magazine, listen to the programs?

They hear it, but it doesn't sink in. They do not listen. They do not listen.

And they don't do it. And that's why it ends that parable in verse 14. It says, many are called, but few are chosen. Why are few chosen? Because they did not listen and put it to practice. It was their choice. God called them, but they chose not to answer the call, not to listen.

And therefore, God could not select them.

Why? Because they didn't do it, as we saw in Luke 8, 21.

So the question is, how do you and I listen? How do we listen?

The answer is in James. And we've got to be careful how we listen. In James chapter 1, verse 19, James chapter 1, verse 19.

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to yer, slow to speak, slow to wrath.

And that is a good hint. It means that when you yer, digest it.

Don't just kind of throw out an answer.

And no, just yer and be still. Like we heard in the Semanet when the Israelites were challenged, and God, or rather Moses, under God's instruction, told them, be still. Wait for God's salvation. We've got to listen. We've got to listen to what God is telling us in his Word. And all of you and I listen. It's not just through Bible study, but it's through meditation. Do we meditate when we do Bible study? Do we take down and not only study, but think about it, chew it, meditate it, and see how can I apply these things in my life.

That is effective listening. Rather than just say, oh well, I can't do it because of this, that, or the other, or whatever. In verse 21, still in James chapter 1, the first part says, therefore, lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness.

You see, so the very first thing is, yes, Christ has saved us. Christ has redeemed us.

We are saved by Christ's grace.

It's now our job to live a different life. It's now our job to change. You see, we have to change. We have to take that leaven of malice that might be in us.

You see, overflow of wickedness, it basically means that malice, those wrong thoughts that come into our mind. Now, what is malice? Malice is an intention to do evil or to be astute or wise in twisting things with the intent to hurt others. Now, you may say, well, I don't have any of that, but we have to be careful.

We need to really examine ourselves and see if there's any little hidden leaven inside us that sometimes comes up. But continue your reading in verse 21, the very next thing that James says, and receive with meekness the implanted word. In other words, we are hearing, we are listening to the Word of God, and we have to receive the Word of God with meekness, with teachability, which says the Word of God, which was implanted in us. It's like that seed which is planted in our brains, in our minds. And we have to listen with meekness. Now, what is meekness?

Meekness is, for one, a humility and a teachability, and being like time, like an animal, a little beloved domesticated animal, that is time. In other words, it's teachable, it's malleable, it's meek. That is the symbolism there. And so, how can we listen with meekness?

It means that you and I need to have that attitude in our minds, which is humble, it's part of the Beatitudes that is mourning, and that is gentle and meek.

And as we go through that, the very next thing is we need to hunger and thirst for righteousness.

And so, we need to have what the Bible calls it, discernment and wisdom in meekness to separate right from wrong. We've got a beautiful example in the story of King Solomon. You know the story, King Solomon had just been made king, his dad had just died, King David. And then Solomon, at the beginning there, you read in 1 Kings chapter 3, verse 5, God appeared to him in a vision or in a dream. And there in verse 5, we read, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, ask, what shall I give it to you? And so, he had this dream, and God was asking, what do you want?

And look at what Solomon said, but look at his reply in verse 8 and 9. He says, you know, I'm a little child, I don't have a lot of experience. And in verse 8 and 9 he says, and your servant is in the midst of your people who have chosen a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore, give your servant, in other words, give me Solomon, and you and I can apply this to ourselves, because God is giving you and I an opportunity to rule in the world tomorrow, and who you and I are. We're not of the wise of the world, as it says in 1 Corinthians chapter 1. We're not. And so he says, therefore, give me understanding heart to judge, in other words, to discern, in other words, to separate and evaluate the situation, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to judge this great people of yours. And you see, Solomon was realizing he needed God's help. And you and I know that God's early spirit, it gives us various gifts, and one of them is the gift of wisdom and discerning. And we, you and I can ask for that. And we also read in James, it says, if anyone lack wisdom, ask it in faith, and he'll give it to you. And so where do you and I get wisdom from? Obviously from God.

But look at Psalm 119 verse 130, the longest Psalm in the Bible, probably the longest chapter in the Bible, maybe not. But anyway, it's 130, 119 verse 130.

And it says, the entrance of your words gives light. In other words, when you hear, when you listen to God's words, and they enter into you and in your mind, God's words give you light. That means you can see, you can discern. And it says, it gives understanding to the simple. It's God's word. It's when you and I study God's word, when you and I come to church and listen to God's ministers, and you now take the Psalm and meditate and study it, this gives us wisdom and discernment. In Proverbs chapter 2, Proverbs chapter 2 verse 6, we read, for the Lord gives wisdom from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. And so, when we really listen to God's word, which is the seed that is planting in us, in our minds, many are called, but if you and I digest, to meditate on this, it's only going to make you and I wiser. It's only going to make us more and more like God is.

So, that's why in James chapter 1 verse 21, as I read a little earlier, receive God's word that was implanted in your mind with meekness, so accept it with humility and with teachability, willing to be changed and corrected by God's word.

In Hebrews chapter 4, we see a similar statement. In Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12 and 13, Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12 and 13, it says, for the Word of God, the Word of God, which we need to listen to, is living and powerful.

The Word of God has value, content, that is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the vision of soul and spirit. You know, it really cuts down to the marrow and the joints and marrow, and is at the center of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

And there is no creature hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. You see, God's word pricks your conscious and my conscience, and God knows our hearts. But I think the most or one of the most important things that we need is to have the wisdom to see ourselves, to look at that hidden sin in us, what we are, that we need to repent, because we don't just repent of what we've done, but we repent of what we are. In other words, we are carnal human beings that we have to repent from that old man to the new man. That's what we are. We're going to see ourselves when the pressure is on, when things are tough and difficult, is our tongue a little too sharp to other people? Because it's when the pressure is on that you and I can say things that you and I, afterwards, can say, I shouldn't have said that, or I should have not said it in that tone. And we need to repent of what we are, because what we are leads to actions and things that could be unkind. Normally, or naturally, shall I call it that way, we are unforgiving.

I'm not saying to forget, but I'm saying to forgive. I mean, you might not be able to forget certain things. I'm not saying that you're going to have suffer amnesia, but what I'm saying is that you've got to cover it up and let it go and not keep on thinking on those things, but forgive.

Like it says, God covers our sins, and He doesn't remember our sins. It does not mean that God is now suffering amnesia. He just chose to not remember it, to just put it away, to cover it up, and not bring it up again. Are we able to do that and forgive others?

Others that may have said something unkind to us that really was deep. To you and I, maybe to you a person wasn't, but to you and I, it really hurt. Are we able to just cover up and let go? But the way you and I are, we don't want to. We've got to repent of what we are.

We've got to be teachable, study God's Word in a way that we meditate about it, and how does it apply to us? If we go back to another parable, which is in Matthew 25, which is the parable of the talents, Matthew 25, starting in verse 14. Matthew 25 verse 14, we see a parable where people give different measures of talents.

It says, one gave five talents, and another two, and another one, according to their ability.

God gave them special abilities or spiritual gifts according to our, how they were able to do it.

And one at five multiplied to ten, and one at two multiplied to four. Both of them grew by 100%.

You see, both of them had a hundred percent growth. So it's not that one is better than the other, because the statement to them is the same statement that it says, well done.

It says, well done, good and faithful servant.

So, when God gives us gifts, His goodness, His mercy, His kindness, we have to bear fruit with it. We've got to use it. We can't dig it in the ground and say, well, thank you, God, you've given it to me. Yeah, it's back to you. We've got to apply it in our lives with other people. And you see, that is all about being teachable, being malleable, being meek, being gentle. Peter emphasizes this point of meekness in a very interesting way.

And let's get first the context of Peter, which is in 1 Peter chapter 2. 1 Peter chapter 2.

And let's start in verse 11. And there in 1 Peter chapter 2 verse 11 said, Beloved, I beg you, so journers and pilgrims, and you and I are so journers and pilgrims in this world, we're not of the world, as we heard many times. We go to a job and we can't do this on the Sabbath. We can't do that on the Sabbath. And therefore, people think, you know, as we are in the sermon, you're just different. And some of us may feel, well, I don't have liberty. And as it was very clearly explained in the sermon, it's just the way the world is. That's the way Satan has set up this world. But he said, you and I are so journers. We are, quote unquote, aliens in this world, in this society. And it says, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. In other words, fight what you are, because it keeps pushing you in the wrong direction. And so in verse 13, Edeni says, therefore submit, submit yourselves to every person, to every leader, to every ordinarous of man. Submit. And then you read a little bit later in verse 18, it says, servants be what? Submissive. So what is the context? The context is about submission, isn't it? To your masters.

Then he continues reading there, for it is commendable if because of conscience towards God, one endures grief suffering wrongfully. In other words, you submit and take the suffering wrongfully. So the context here is about submission and being able to take a bit of beating and just let it go. Look at verse 21. In verse 21 says, for to this you were called. What is the reason why God is calling? And if you listen, and if we're not chosen, but if you are called and if for you are being selected and chosen, you were called for a specific reason.

Because Christ also suffered wrongfully for us, leaving you and I an example to do like he did. In other words, suffer wrongfully as well and be prepared to forgive. Oh, how hard that is.

But are we listening attentively to God's word? Because he says, he bore our sins and by his stripes we are healed. We know what Christ has done this. We went through this during the season. And what did Christ do? I mean, you know, I don't have to turn there. You go to Philippians chapter 2 verse 5 through 9. It says, you have the same mind as Christ that he was in the form of God and it was not a robbery to be equal to God and he became a human being and not only that, he submitted to death for us.

And so it's very clear what God has done for us, the graciousness and the kindness of God towards us. We must not ever forget that you and I are made right with God, justified, made right with God because of what Christ has done for us, not because of anything you and I have done. But that does not mean that now we must not produce fruit. We gotta do.

It's now our responsibility in a sense to retribute the favor by just being the type of person that God wants us to be.

That's what he wants. But continuing in chapter 3 verse 1, because remember the context is about submission. You men submit to every person. Then he's talking about a servant be submissive and you be like Christ, be prepared to suffer. And then in verse 1 of chapter 3 says, wives likewise be submissive. Likewise. So the context is about being submissive. Wives likewise be submissive. The context is what is God looking for?

God is looking for somebody in a heart that is submissive. He's not looking for somebody that outwardly, you know, dresses super nice or has a lot of jewelry or whatever it is, and that is the value to God. No! He's not saying that you can't take care of yourself. He's not saying that you cannot have a nice dress. He's not saying that you cannot make your hair nice.

But it's saying that the priority in your values, in your value statement, is a matter of the heart and what's inside. And that's what is important.

I put this focus because in some geographies that I go to, some people tell me, therefore, they can't wear rings or they can't wear a necklace because Yah in 1 Peter chapter 3 says you can't do that. It's not that the context. So that's why I'm mentioning that. But the point is we have to be different than the world. We've got to put off the old man, and we have to have that spirit of meekness. That's why it's talking about be submissive, be meek, be chaste.

And it says in verse 4, rather let it be the heathen person of the heart. That's what matters with gentle of a gentle and quiet spirit. A gentleness, it's another word for meekness.

It's just a gentle and quiet spirit. That's what God is looking at us.

Now, we read or at least made mention of 1 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 7 a little while ago during the sermonette, but I just want to turn to 1 Corinthians 5 verse 8. And you know the story. There was this man that had committed sin, and then he was to be put aside for his good so that he could repent. That's what it is. So that then he could come back, repent. So it wasn't to smash him, but he was in a spirit of gentleness and kindness for that man that he would repent, and he'll come back repented. And then in verse 8, it's talking about, therefore let us keep the feast. And obviously it's the days of 11 bread, and today as we're coming to the last day of 11 bread, and he says, not of the old leaven, not of that old man, not of that old man, nor with the leaven of malice and weakness. In other words, not that leaven of the old man, that we got malice and weakness inside us, but with the unleavened bread, the true unleavened bread, the true new man, that of sincerity and truth.

That's what God is looking at us. You see, you and I may have a little bit of the old leaven in us that he didn't sin, that he didn't leaven, that we need to take out.

And as we end the days of 11 bread, we need to continue thinking about that.

But we need to put on the new man, which you and I need to become with the help of God's Holy Spirit.

You and I cannot do it. We need God's Holy Spirit to help us.

We need to be meek and teachable, and not proud and arrogant, unwilling to yield.

And God gives us power through his Holy Spirit. And that again is another gift and wonderful blessing from God, because he gives us the power to do it. And so we need to have that quiet and peaceful spirit, which is precious before God, as you read in 1 Peter 3, verse 4. It's precious before God. And so again, I ask the question, take heed, how will you listen? You know, in 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 13, we see that God speaks to us through men, through people. And we also read in Acts 17 about the story of the Bereans. You know, the Bereans were more faithful than the ones that had come from, and they dug into the wall to see if it was really so. In other words, they listened, and they digested it. They meditated about it. They went through it and allowed that seed to have greater roots. That's what it is. They listened carefully. You see, it's not just a question of the theory of a lot of knowledge. Oh, I know the Sabbath. I come to church on the Sabbath.

I know God's Holy Days. I keep the Holy Days. But it's how? It's that heart of meekness and teachableness. How do we do it? Do we do it with love and mercy towards one another?

We know in James it says it's not the year of the law, but it's the doer. Oh, we do us.

I quite often think about the Scripture in Ezekiel that we may have not turned to for a while, but as you turn to it, you will remember, oh, this is a Scripture we've heard long ago. But it's Ezekiel chapter 33. Ezekiel chapter 33, verse 30 through 32. Ezekiel chapter 33, verse 32. As for you, Son of Man, you know, you human beings, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the house, as they say, and they speak to one another, everyone saying to this brother, please come and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord. Oh, please come to church. Please come to church in year. You know, we've got really good speakers out there. God is blessed as a good speaker. Come and hear the messages.

And verse 31 says, and when they come to you, they come to church, as the people do, they sit before you, they sit before the ministers, as my people, and they hear your words. Oh, yeah, they hear.

But they do not do them.

They do not do them. Oh, yeah, come to church, and you go home, and it's all gone.

It's all gone. It's like the wind. It's gone.

For their mouth, they show much love. Oh, yeah, they got these holy hall, the brother, my brother, there, and this and that and that and the other. But their hearts pursue their own gain.

Indeed, you are to them as a very lovely song. Oh, man, what a lovely sermon. Wow, that was such a lovely song. This sermon was just so great. Just wow. I'm not saying that you can't say that, please. Don't read it the wrong way, please. But I'm looking at the attitude of the heart, you see, because it says, you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and who could play well in instrument for they hear your words, but they do not do them.

Are we living in an age like that, an age of loudest seer, reach and increase the goods? We have to be careful. We have to be careful.

There's an interesting story in the book of Jeremiah about a group of Israelites called the Recobites. Do you remember that?

That's in Jeremiah chapter 35. Jeremiah chapter 35.

And now we have God, in a sense, put these Recobites to the test.

And in verse one says, you know, go and again speak to the Recobites.

And they said to them, you know, verse two, Jeremiah chapter 35 verse 2, go to the house of the Recobites and speak to them and bring them into the house of the Lord, into one of the chambers and give them wine to drink.

Now, what's wrong with drinking but a wine? You know, even Paul, Sister Timothy, drink a bit of wine for your stomach's sake. So it's not wrong to drink a bit of wine.

And so he did that and he brought them, verse four, and I brought them into the house of the Lord, into the chamber of the sons of Hainan, the son of Igda, a man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes above, the chamber of Messiah, the son of Shalom, the keeper of the door. And I said before the sons of the house of the Recobites, I got in these members of the family of the Recobites, and I said to them, drink wine. God said, drink wine.

And you know what I said? We will drink no wine for John the Dab, the son of Rekab, Rekab our father, commanded us, you shall drink no wine, you know your sons forever.

And in verse eight says, thus we have obeyed the voice of John the Dab, the son of Rekab, our father, in all he charged us to drink no wine all our days. And we, our wives, our sons, and our daughters, and so they were loyal to their dad's order.

And they kept their promise.

God was impressed. God was really impressed. And then you can see, you read the story, it really is fascinating.

And then you can read in verse 18 and 19, it says, and Jeremiah said to the house of the Recobites, that says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, because you have obeyed the commandment of John the Dab, your dad, of your father, and kept all the precepts and done according to all that he commanded you. Therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, John the Dab, the son of Rekab, shall not lack a man to stand before me forever.

Which means, brethren, today there are children of Rekab in the Church of God. Wow!

And it's possible for you and I as well.

God doesn't separate or distinct or discriminate people. You can also impress God by being meek and teachable, because that attitude is precious before God.

You see, in Isaiah 66 verse 2, Isaiah 66 verse 2, tells us about those that will be in the kingdom of God.

He says that Isaiah 66 verse 2, the Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all the kings, I beg your pardon, Isaiah 66, I'm reading the wrong chapter, sorry, Isaiah 66 verse 2, for all those things my hand has made, and all those things exist. So he's saying, you know, what shall we do? Shall we build this, that, that? No, no, he says, but on this, will I look. This is what God looks on. On him who's of a poor and of a contrite heart, it was that teachable and meek in a heart, and who trembles, respects, listens to God's Word. God wants to teach you and I, and you and I need to take this hidden leaven in us that we don't quite listen to God's Word fully. And, and God is doing his part, he's done his part. Christ has given us his graciousness, his mercy, he's redeemed us, he's giving given us the Holy Spirit to change you and I. But now the ball is in your court and in my court. Now, you and I have to play that ball. And that is by being different, being teachable, malleable, listening to God, God's Word. God is very gracious, but he respects you. He wants to this is whom he will look that he's humble in a contrite heart and respects God's Word. We need to respect God's Word. We need to listen to God's Word really in our hearts. And so, Reverend, let's pay attention.

Let's be careful. Take heed how you hear the Word.