LISTEN – PART II

LISTEN WITH UNDERSTANDING:

NEHEMIAH 8:2 – AND EZRA THE PRIEST BROUGHT THE LAW BEFORE THE CONGREGATION BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, AND ALL THAT COULD HEAR WITH UNDERSTANDING…

SO WHEN WE LISTEN TO HEAR, WE CAN DO IT WITH UNDERSTANDING. TO UNDERSTAND, MEANS TO COMPREHAND OR DISCERN.

WE NEED TO LISTEN TO GOD:

GOD DOESN’T HIDE ANYTHING FROM US.

MARK 4:22-25 – FOR THERE IS NOTHING HID, WHICH SHALL NOT BE MANIFESTED; NEITHER WAS ANYTHING KEPT SECRET, BUT THAT IT SHOULD COME ABROAD.

IF ANY MAN HAVE EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR.

AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, TAKE HEED WHAT MEASURE YE MEET, IT SHALL BE MEASURED TO YOU: AND UNTO YOU THAT HEAR  SHALL MORE BE GIVEN.

FOR HE THAT HATH, TO HIM SHALL BE GIVEN: AND HE THAT HATH NOT, FROM HIM SHALL BE TAKEN EVEN THAT HE HATH.

GOD DESIRES FOR US TO HEAR WHAT HE HAS TO SAY TO US.

THE ONLY WAY WE CAN HEAR FROM GOD IS TO SPEND TIME WITH HIM IN OUR SECRET PLACE, READ HIS WORD, AND MEDITATE ON IT, AND LISTEN FOR THAT STILL SMALL VOICE.

THE MORE WE HEAR FROM GOD, THE MORE WE WANT TO HEAR.

THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL OPEN OUR UNDERSTANDING OR COMPREHENSION OF WHAT HE IS TRYING TO GET ACROSS TO US IF WE WILL ONLY LISTEN.

I’M SURE THAT THOSE WHO HAD GOOD PARENTS: WISH THEY HAD LISTENED MORE TO THE ADVISE THEIR PARENTS GAVE THEM WHILE GROWING UP. WE WOULD HAVE MISSED SOME OF THE TROUBLES AND HEARTACHES WE WENT THROUGH, HAD WE LISTENED.

YOU ARE PROBABLY THINKING OF SOME OF THEM RIGHT NOW.

WELL, LISTENING TO WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVEN WHAT OUR PARENTS HAVE TO SAY.

HUMAN BEINGS CAN ONLY REALLY KNOW BY EXPERIENCE; BUT GOD KNOWS THE FRONT, BACK, AND IN-BETWEEN OF EVERYTHING.

HE IS OMNISCIENCE, ALL KNOWING: 

I JOHN 3:20b – GOD IS GREATER THAN OUR HEART,  AND KNOWETH ALL THINGS.

GOD HAS FOREKNOWLEDGE:

ISAIAH 48:3,5 – I HAVE DECLARED THE FORMER THINGS FROM THE BEGINNING; AND THEY WENT FORTH OUT OF MY MOUTH, AND I SHOWED THEM; I DID THEM SUDDENLY, AND THEY CAME TO PASS.

I HAVE EVEN FROM THE BEGINNING DECLARED IT TO THEE; BEFORE IT CAME TO PASS I SHOWED IT THEE: LEST THOU SHOULDEST SAY, MINE IDOL HATH DONE THEM, AND MINE GRAVEN IMAGE, AND MINE MOULTON IMAGE, HATH COMMANDED THEM.

GOD DESIRES US TO LISTEN TO HIM, AND HE WILL MAKE KNOWN TO US HIS PLANS FOR US. THE WORLD DOES NOT HAVE THE ANSWERS.

VERSE 17 – THUS SAYETH THE LORD, THY REDEEMER, THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL; I AM THE LORD THY GOD WHICH TEACHETH THEE TO PROFIT (GAIN), WHICH LEADETH THEE BY THE WAY THAT THOU SHOULDEST GO. THIS IS JESUS SPEAKING THROUGH ISAIAH.

GOD WILL LISTEN TO US:

DAVID PRAYED TO GOD IN PSALM 4:1,3 – HEAR ME WHEN I CALL, O GOD OF MY RIGHTEOUSNESS: THOU HAST ENLARGED ME WHEN I WAS IN DISTRESS; HAVE MERCY ON ME, AND HEAR MY PRAYER.

BUT KNOW THAT THE LORD HATH SET APART HIM THAT IS GODLY FOR HIMSELF: THE LORD WILL HEAR WHEN I CALL UNTO HIM.

ISN’T IT WONDERFUL THAT THE SUPREME BEING, ALMIGHTY GOD, WILL LISTEN TO US WHEN WE CALL. DAVID IS SAYING, THE LORD HEARD HIM WHEN HE PRAYED, AND HAS RELIEVED HIM FROM HIS DISTRESS.    

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WHAT HAPPENED TO INNOCENCE?

I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT VALUES AND OUR CHILDREN. EVERYONE OF US WOULD SHIELD OUR CHILDREN NOW, BUT WE CANNOT.—-WHY? WE ARE AFRAID IF WE DO NOT TEACH THEM ALL ABOUT LIFE, NOW, THEY WILL LEARN IT SOME OTHER WAY. AND THIS IS TRUE.

MEDIA, SCHOOLS, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS: ALL INFLUENCE OUR CHILDREN. I”M SURE YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT; BUT ARE WE GOING TO SIT BACK AND SEE THIS CONTINUE TO HAPPEN?

MY MOTHER AND I WERE HAVING A MOTHER-DAUGHTER DAY YESTERDAY, AND AS-YOU-WILL, WE BAGAN TO TALK ABOUT FAMILY.

WE WENT HERE AND THERE, AND THEN MOTHER BEGAN TO TELL ME ABOUT THE BIRTH OF HER BROTHER AND SISTER WHO ARE TWINS.

I WAS AMAZED TO HEAR THE STORY.

SHE SAID, “IN MY DAYS, AS A CHILD, WHEN A BABY WAS COMING, THE OTHER CHILDREN IN THE HOME DIDN’T EVEN KNOW THEY WERE GETTING TO HAVE ANOTHER BROTHER OR SISTER.

THE PREGNANT MOM WOULD HIDE THE BABY CLOTHES AT A NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE, SO THEY WOULDN’T KNOW.”

I STARTED ASKING MOTHER, “WHY?”

THEN I REALIZED THE ANSWER—-THEY WANTED THE CHILDREN TO EXPERIENCE CHILDHOOD IN INNOCENCE, UNTIL THEY WERE OLD ENOUGH TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT SEX.

THE PARENTS WOULD NOT LIE TO THEM, SO THEY JUST KEPT QUIET ABOUT IT.

ANYWAY, GRANDMOTHER WAS ABOUT TO GIVE BIRTH, SO HER NEIGHBOR TOOK ALL THE CHILDREN HOME WITH HER, AND SNUCK BACK WITH THE BABY CLOTHES AND BLANKET.

THEN IT HAPPENED! OUT COME MILDRED!!

MOTHER SAID, “IN THOSE DAYS THERE WAS NO WAY TO KNOW IF YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE A BOY OR GIRL, OR EVEN IF YOU WERE EXPECTING MORE THAN ONE.”

I GUESSED THAT WAS WHY THEY PUT DRESSES ON BOYS AS WELL AS GIRLS; I DON’T  KNOW.

THERE WERE MANY GUESSES, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION, WHETHER THE MOTHER WAS BIGGER IN FRONT, OR BIGGER FROM THE BACK VIEW. NO ONE KNEW FOR SURE BUT GOD HIMSELF.

MOTHER CONTINUED, “AS SOON AS THEY GOT MILFORD CLEANED-UP, WRAPPED-UP—-TO THEIR SURPRISE, OUT CAME MILFORD! TWINS!!

THERE WERE NO CLOTHES FOR MILFORD, SO GRANDMA’S NEIGHBOR HAD TO RUN QUICKLY BACK HOME TO GET A BLANKET.”

I LOVE THIS STORY. THIS WAS A STORY I NEVER HEARD BEFORE.

I ENJOYED IT, BUT IT GOT ME TO THINKING.

WHAT HAPPENED?

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE INNOCENCE OF OUR SMALL CHILDREN?

WHY HAVE WE ALLOWED FAMILY VALUES TO BECOME SO POLLUTED?

WHERE DID WE GO WRONG?

MANY OF OUR SMALL CHILDREN KNOW MORE THAN I DID WHEN I GOT MARRIED.

THERE SHOULD BE A TIME OF INNOCENCE—-UNDISTURBED.

I KNOW YOU ARE ASKING,”HOW CAN WE KEEP OUR CHILDREN FROM GETTING ABUSED IF THEY DON’T KNOW?”

I BELIEVE THE TIME TO TELL THEM SOMETHING IS WHEN THEY BEGIN TO ASK QUESTIONS. BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO TELL THEM EVERYTHING: JUST ENOUGH TO SATISFY THEM.

LEAVE OFF THE “CABBAGE PATCH,” AND THE “STORK STORY,” AND TELL THEM THE TRUTH: JUST ENOUGH TO SATISFY THEIR CURIOSITY, BECAUSE TOO MUCH WILL ONLY CONFUSE THEM, AND CAUSE THEM TO ASK MORE QUESTIONS.

MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD, IF WE DON’T DO SOMETHING, THIS SPIRAL WILL CONTINUE DOWN HILL.

THE WORLD, AND EVEN SOME PSYCOLOGISTS, WOULD TELL YOU IT IS GOOD FOR CHILDREN TO EXPERIENCE SEX EARLY. THEY SAY IT WILL PREPARE THEM FOR ADULTHOOD.

THIS IS A LIE FROM SATAN.

I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE, WHAT IT CAN DO TO AN INNOCENT CHILD TO BE VIOLATED AT AN EARLY AGE.—-IT CAUSES THEM TO FEEL INFERIOR, AND MANY END UP IN MENTAL INSTITUTIONS; OR THROUGH UNCONTROLLED ANGER, EVEN A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. SOME END UP IN HOMOSEXUALITY.

THEY ARE NOT PREPARED FOR SUCH AN ADULT ACTION.

YOU MIGHT THINK MY GRANDMOTHER MORTON WAS TOO PRIMITIVE!

WELL, AT LEAST MY GRANDMOTHER AND GRANDFATHER WERE DOING SOMETHING!!—-THEY WERE TRYING TO KEEP THOSE LITTLE ONE’S INNOCENT, UTIL THEY ERE READY TO EXPERIENCE LIFE.

YOU CAN CALL IT TOO PROTECTIVE IF YOU WANT, BUT WHAT IS GOING ON NOW IS FAR OUT OF HAND.

OUR TEENS, ON THE AVERAGE, ARE EXPERIENCING ACTIVE SEX LIVES. WHEN THEY MARRY, MANY OF THEM WON’T EVEN REMEMBER HOW MANY PARTNERS THEY HAVE HAD SEX WITH ALREADY.

CHILDREN SEE SO MANY ADULT PROGRAMS, THEY WANT TO BE AN ADULT TOO FAST: TOO FAST FOR THEIR MINDS AND BODIES.

CHILDREN ARE DATING CHILDREN. WHEN PUBERTY BEGINS, NUMEROUS CHILDREN HAVE ALREADY SEEN MANY SEX SCENES ON TV AND INTERNET WITH NO FILTERING. 

THEY ACT OUT WHAT THEY SEE, NOT WHAT THEY ARE TOLD.

ALONG WITH SOME OTHER MINISTERS, I HELPED MINISTER DELIVERENCE TO A THREE YEAR OLD CHILD. HER STORY GOES LIKE THIS: SHE HAD VIEWED HER MOTHER AND MEN IN BED, AND SHE WAS TRYING TO HAVE SEX WITH HER DOLL REPEATEDLY.  THE GRANDMOTHER BEGAN TO NOTICE WHAT SHE WAS DOING, AND BROUGHT HER FOR HELP.—-SHE RECEIVED DELIVERANCE.

I HAD A SUSPICION, ALSO, SHE MAY HAVE BEEN MOLESTED.

I AM HORRIFIED, THAT WE AS ADULTS, HAVE ALLOWED THINGS TO GET SO FAR OUT OF HAND.

YOU MIGHT SAY, “I AGREE, BUT WHAT CAN I DO?”

WE NEED TO PRAY, AND ASK GOD FOR A PLAN. HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THIS DOWNWARD SPIRAL. WE NEED TO WATCH WHAT WE BRING INTO OUR HOMES. 

WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXAMPLE WE SET.

WE NEED TO STOP LETTING OUR CHILDREN START DATING BEFORE THEY ARE READY. 

WE NEED TO STOP RIDING OUR CHILDREN AROUND WITH THEIR DATES, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT OLD ENOUGH TO DRIVE.

BELOVED, IF THEY ARE NOT OLD ENOUGH TO DRIVE, THEY ARE NOT MATURE ENOUGH TO DATE. SOMETIMES, I THINK PARENTS PUSH THEIR CHILDREN INTO DATING. 

YOUR CHILD IS NOT READY FOR WHAT THEY MIGHT EXPERIENCE. 

PEOPLE YOU TRUST MAY NOT PEOPLE YOU CAN TRUST.

WE NEED TO BEGIN AGAIN, AND TAKE CHECK ON OUR VALUES.

PROVERBS 7:7,8 – AND BEHOLD AMONG THE SIMPLE ONE’S, I DESCERNED AMONG THE YOUTHS, A YOUNG MAN VOID OF UNDERSTANDING, PASSING THROUGH THE STREET NEAR HER CORNER, AND HE WENT THE WAY OF HER HOUSE…

THIS IS DESCRIBING A YOUTH, NOT A MAN.—-SHE GOES ON TO TELL HIM THE MAN OF THE HOUSE IS GONE ON A TRIP AND NO ONE IS HOME. 

VERSES 21,22,27 – WITH HER MUCH FAIR SPEECH SHE CAUSED HIM TO YEILD, WITH THE FLATTERING OF HER LIPS SHE FORCED HIM. HE GOETH AFTER HER STRAIGHTWAY, AS AN OX GOETH TO A SLAUGHTER, OR AS A FOOL TO THE CORRECTION OF THE STOCKS; HER HOUSE IS THE WAY TO HELL, GOING DOWN TO THE CHAMBERS OF DEATH. (OR IF YOU WANT TO FIND THE ROAD TO HELL, LOOK FOR HER HOUSE.)

CHAPTER 2:17 – WHICH FORSAKETH THE GUIDE OF HER YOUTH, AND FORGETTETH THE COVENANT OF HER GOD.

SHE HAS FORSAKEN WHAT SHE WAS TAUGHT BY HER PARENTS, AND BECAME ARROGANT, AND TURNED HER BACK ON GOD. 

I THANK GOD FOR CHRISTIAN VALUES, MY PARENTS INSTILLED IN ME AS A SMALL CHILD. THEY TOOK ME TO CHURCH. THEY TAUGHT ME TO PRAY AND READ THE BIBLE EVERYDY. I LEARNED THAT AT HOME.

MANY WANT THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN TO HAVE GOD AND HIS PEACE REST UPON THEM, BUT WE DON’T TO PAY THE PRICE OF DISCIPLINE.

TIS IS NOT TO BRING YOU TO CONDEMNATION, BUT TO SOUND AN ALARM.

PROVERBS SUMS IT UP THIS WAY (22:6)  WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I SPAKE AS A CHILD, I UNDERSTOOD AS A CHILD…

A CHILD UNDERSTANDS AS A CHILD AND SHOULD BE PROTECTED: DON’T FORCE THEM INTO ADULTHOOD.

THERE IS NO CHILD-CARE LIKE THE CARE OF A LOVING GODLY MOTHER AND FATHER (OR FATHER).

THE GREATEST ANSWER IS PRAYER: PRAY FOR ALL OUR CHILDREN.

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LISTEN

MANY OF US HAVE MUCH TO SAY; SOME MORE THAN OTHERS.

WE WANT TO BE HEARD.

LORD, HELP US TO LISTEN; HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SPEAKING TO US, AND REALLY HEAR WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY.

WHEN SOMEONE IS TRYING TO SHARE THEIR HEART WITH US, WE SOMETIMES RATTLE-ON, GIVING ADVICE, WHEN WE ARE NOT REALLY HEARING WHAT THEY ARE SAYING.

GUILTY? WELL, SO AM I.

WE WANT TO SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS FOR THEM.

IN COUNSELING, WE ARE TOLD NOT TO MAKE A QUICK JUDGMENT THE FIRST TIME SOMEONE DISCUSSES THEIR PROBLEMS WITH US. LET THEM HAVE TIME TO HEAR THEMSELVES SPEAK IT OUT.

SOMETIMES, WHAT THEY HEAR FROM THEIR OWN MOUTH SOUNDS SILLY TO THEM AFTER THEY PUT IT IN WORDS. OCCASIONALLY, THEY SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEM BY WHAT THEY HEAR.

WE ARE TO LISTEN, SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND THEIR HEART IN WHAT THEY ARE  REALLY WANTING TO SAY WITHOUT STATING IT.

SOMETIMES, IT IS SO HARD TO SPEAK IT OUT.

A LISTENING EAR IS OF GREATER IMPORTANCE THAN A THOUSAND WORDS UTTERED TO THE PERSON DESIRING COUNSELING.

IF WE LISTEN, WE WILL HEAR.

EVERONE NEEDS A LISTENING EAR AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIFE.

I BELIEVE IF PARENTS WOULD LISTEN INSTEAD OF LECTURING THEIR TEEN, THEY WOULD LEARN A GREAT DEAL FROM WHAT THEY ARE NOT SAYING. THEY WILL BEGIN TO OPEN-UP AND SHARE THEIR HEART, AND FEARS WITH YOU.

DON’T GET SO BUSY THAT YOU CAN’T HEAR THEM. IF THEY OPEN-UP TO YOU, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE ABLE TO GUIDE THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

TEENS REALLY DO WANT THEIR PARENT’S APPROVAL; AND EVEN IF THEY SAY THEY DON’T WANT ATTENTION, THEY ARE ACTUALLY SAYING TO YOU, “I WONT ASK FOR IT, BUT I WILL DO ANYTHING I HAVE TO DO TO GET IT!”

MOST PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT A MATTER; THEY JUST WANT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL SOMEONE WHO WILL LISTEN.

AT TIMES, THEY HAVE THEIR MINDS MADE UP PREVIOUSLY, ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO BEFORE THEY GET THERE, THEY JUST WANT TO SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE.

WHAT THEY ARE WANTING TO SAY, COMES OUT AFTER A WHILE, OR AFTER A FEW TIMES OF TALKING ABOUT IT. THEY START TO FEEL AT EASE WITH YOU AND SHARE WHAT IS ON THEIR HEART.

HAVING SOMEONE TO LISTEN IS OF GREAT VALUE TO A TROUBLED SOUL. IT COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE COMMITTING SUICIDE, AND NOT COMMITTING SUICIDE

WE JUST DON’T KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO LISTEN.

TRY THIS EXPERIMENT: WHILE CARRYING ON A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE; STOP TALKING, AND LISTEN.

THE WORD LISTEN IS USED ONLY ONCE IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, IN ISAIAH 49:1. IT IS A HEBREW WORD: SHAMA (SHAW-MAH’), WHICH MEANS TO HEAR INTELLIGENTLY, CAREFULLY, ATTENTIVELY. IT ALSO IMPLIES OBEDIENCE.

IN FIRST KINGS 8:30 – SOLOMON ASKED GOD, …AND HARKEN THOU TO THE SUPPLICATION OF THY SERVANT, AND THY PEOPLE, ISRAEL, WHEN THEY SHALL PRAY TOWARD THIS PLACE: AND HEAR THOU IN HEAVEN THY DWELLING PLACE: AND WHEN THOU HEAREST, FORGIVE. SOLOMON USED: HEARKEN, HEAR,HEAREST.

ALL THREE WORDS ARE DEFINED THE SAME AS THE WORD, LISTEN: TO HEAR CAREFULLY, INTELLIGENTLY, AND ATTENTIVELY. SO, LISTEN AND HEAR MEAN THE SAME IN THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE, AS WELL AS OUR MODERN LANGUAGE.

SO STOP TALKING, AND LISTEN, AND YOU WILL SEE GREAT RESULTS.

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