July 6, 2008
Sermon # 739
Why some hear and others do not
Psalms 84:5 - 12 (NKJV) 5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion. 8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah 9 O God, behold our shield, And look upon the face of Your anointed. 10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!
Intro: I have spent a lifetime studying communication. In the U.S. Air Force, I was assigned to the National Security Agency, which is a communications organization. While in Washington D.C. I attended Northwest School of Radio and Television and graduated in communication. My Doctorate Degree is in the field of communication. Nevertheless, I am still engrossed by the art of communication. I try to read a congregation to see if I am being understood. This is impossible, with television but I wish each of you could stand in my place for a while and try to read those who are supposed to listen. Sometimes I wonder why people bother to come to church at all, or at least why they bother to stay during the teaching. Sometimes I do not communicate what I mean and sometimes the congregation does not receive what I am trying to say. I’ll never forget the Sunday that a baby was screaming in the auditorium and I could hardly get the message out for wondering why the mother did not take care of the child when my so Dennis, who was just a little one himself yelled, “shut up baby my daddy is trying to preach!” How can two people sit along side of each other and one hear one thing and the other something quite different? How can two people come to church and one leave with a blessing and the other leave with nothing? Jesus explained it this way:
Matthew 13:1 - 9 (NKJV) 1On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Then Jesus explained:
Matthew 13:18 - 23 (NKJV) 18“Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
There was no problem with the seed – The seed was the Word of God
There was no problem with the sower – Some believe that it is the communicators fault!
The problem is in the mind set!
The closed mind
19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside
ILL: In the Mideast often land was used by the side of the roadway, seed would be sown by hand or a hole was cut in a seed bag that was carried by the donkey. When seed fell on the roadway it fell on hard grown and was blown away or carried away. This is like someone who has a closed mind.
Unbelievers can have closed minds.
They have already decided that the Bible is not true so using the Bible has no affect on them.
They have decided that there is no God so nothing God has said has any affect on them.
Psalms 14:1 (NKJV) 1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.
Believers in Christ can have closed minds
Some have closed minds because they believe that they already know all of the truth.
ILL; This is one reason there are so many Christian denominations – and why some people just changed channels on their TV sets when I said that!
ILL: Read and listen from other points of view – you do not have to agree but at least listen!
Philippians 4:8 - 9 (KJV) 8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Some have closed minds because they have listened to false witnesses
Mark 14:55 - 59 (NKJV) 55Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. 56For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree. 57Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, 58“We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.’” 59But not even then did their testimony agree.
John 2:18 - 22 (NKJV) 18So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?” 19Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” 21But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.
ILL: They did not hear because they had closed minds.
ILL: I preached in another church and a great number of the congregation walked out because of what they thought I was going to say:
1 Corinthians 13:1 - 10 (NKJV) 1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
ILL: All they heard was the word “tongues” but I was preaching on “love”
ILL: When I said “we did not have the cannon of scripture until “300 years after Christ” they heard the “Bible is not the Word of God!” - A mind closed to the messenger closes the mind to the message!
A Cloudy Mind
. 20But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
This is a person who has an experience but develop no foundation.
2 Timothy 2:8 - 18 (KJV) 8Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: 9Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. 10Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 14Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 15Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
You need to know why you believe what you believe
They have faith in something until that faith is tested – and untried faith is not faith!
ILL: It’s easy to believe in Divine healing if you have not needed it!
1 Peter 2:21 - 25 (NKJV) 21For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
“I tried it once and it didn’t work!”
Mark 16:14 - 18 (NKJV) 14Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
This is a person who is prime target for the cults – always looking for something new
2 Peter 2:17 - 22 (NKJV) 17These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. 18For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. 20For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”
III. The Cluttered Mind
22Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
A. While the message is being delivered your mind is on a hundred other things.
Full of yesterday, today, tomorrow, business, money, school, romance etc.
Why we have praise and worship before the message
Psalms 22:3 (NKJV) 3 But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.
Praise and worship brings your attention to the Word of God
The Committed mind
23But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
Hears the Word
Matthew 13:10 - 18 (NKJV) 10And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; 15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’ 16But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
Evaluate our lives by what we hear
ILL: Don’t say “this word is for them” rater say “what is the Word sating to me?”
Apply the Word to ourselves
Obey the Word
ILL: In my new book, Called, I answer the question, “how do I know I was called?” with the answer – “You went!”
Conclusion: God does not support, a closed mind, a cloudy mind or a cluttered mind, but the committed mind
Hebrews 2:1 - 4 (NKJV) 1Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
ILL: Notice that the word “spoken through angels had to be steadfast” and that while many heard Jesus speak some “heard Him!”
Hebrews 3:12 - 19 (NKJV) 12Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” 16For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? 17Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? 18And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 19So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
ILL: My friend Chub Sewell said, “sometimes we hear and other times we Hear!” Be sure you HEAR!
