SINGLE SERMON SERIES
LISTENING TO GOD
DR. JIM DIXON
HEBREWS 1:1-5
MAY 5, 1991
Exobiology is a science which studies life on other planets. So far, there is no evidence of life on other planets, but exobiologists are scientists which search for life in the universe. In this quest to find life, exobiologist use radio telescopes, space probes, and chemical and biological experiments. Billions of dollars are spent on radio telescopes and instruments that allow scientists to listen to radio signals from outer space. Exobiologists hope that someday they might hear the five o’clock news from a planet in Andromeda or a traffic report from the region of Antares. They wait and they listen.
We live in a world where people listen to many things. People spend hours every day listening to radio, tapes, CDs, television, and other people. Unfortunately, very few people listen to God. Many people wonder if God speaks or if He has ever spoken. The Bible tells us that indeed God has spoken through His Son, Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “In many, in various ways, God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets. But in these last days, he has spoken through a Son.” God speaks to us through His Son and he wants us to listen.
The Bible tells us that the transfiguration of Jesus Christ took place on a high and holy mountain. When you look in the biblical context, it seems most likely that this took place on or somewhere near Mount Hermon, north of Galilee. On this high mountain, Jesus Christ was transfigured. The Greek word used in the biblical text is “metamorph,” which means to change form.
The Bible tells us that as Jesus Christ was transfigured, his face began to shine like the sun itself, even his garments radiated pure light. We’re told that Moses and Elijah came from beyond the grave because Jesus Christ is the very fulfillment and summation of the law and the prophets. He has fulfilled everything that Moses and Elijah lived and hoped for. We’re told that as Jesus Christ was transfigured, God the Father manifested himself in a cloud of glory. God spoke from heaven saying, “This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased.” In this awe-inspiring moment, Peter, James, and John saw the glory of Jesus Christ. They saw His deity unveiled and the voice from heaven proclaimed, “This is My Son.” The message for Peter, James and John, and for us today is, “Listen. Listen, this is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him, He is glorious. Listen to Him, He is deity. Listen to Him, He is My Son. Listen to Him.”
We live in a world where people aren’t good at listening. There is a story regarding David Howell, who was the world service director for YMCA. One evening he was speaking at a banquet where there were three co-hosts who were all going to introduce David Howell to the crowd. The first stood up and shared, “It’s a great pleasure to have David Howell from Liberia.” and the first got up there and he said, it’s great pleasure for us to have with us tonight. David Howell, who is from Libya was concerned about this so he turned to one of the other co-hosts and said, “Would you please correct that, I’m not from Libya, I’m from Liberia.” The second host got up and said, “It is great to have David Howell with us tonight from Nigeria.”
In response, David Howell turned to the person on his left, the third co-host, and said, “I’m not from Nigeria. I’m from Liberia. Would you please clear that up?” The final co-host got up and said, “It’s my privilege to introduce to you tonight David Howell, who comes to us from Siberia.”
It is true that we don’t always hear each other and listen well. According to Patricia Goldman, Vice Chairman of the National Transportation Board, people on airplanes don’t listen to stewardesses and they become very frustrated. There is a story that’s told of one stewardess who in her pre-flight instructions decides to conduct a little experiment. She said, “When the mask drops down in front of you, place it on your naval and continue to breathe normally.” She was amazed that no one smiled or reacted because they weren’t listening. That’s the kind of world we live in.
I’m reminded of a story of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who disliked White House receptions and parties. He grew tired of smiling a big smile, shaking hand after hand and all the small talk the occasions demanded. He also decided he was going to conduct a little experiment to see whether people were really listening. He suspected they weren’t. He decided to say, “I murdered my grandmother this morning.” He smiled that big smile at the reception and as he went about shaking hands and participating in small talk he would say, “I murdered my grandmother this morning.” He reported some people didn’t listen at all. One lady said, “How lovely.” Another man said, “Keep up the good work.” One foreign diplomat listened to what he said and paused for a second. He responded, “I’m sure she had it coming to her.”
Certainly, we live in a world where people don’t listen to each other, let alone listen to God. It’s one thing not to listen to people, but it’s a very serious mistake not to listen to God. Today, God has spoken to us through his son, his beloved son with whom he is well pleased. Listen to him. In your heart you know whether you hear and truly listen to him.
The Bible tells us that Samuel who lived 3,000 years ago and was the last of the judges of Israel and the first of the prophets. Samuel anointed David as king of Israel and was educated in the temple of Shiloh by Eli, the priest. Eli taught Samuel from a young age as he lived in the temple to say, “Speak Lord. Your servant listens.” I’d like to encourage you today to pray that prayer, “Speak Lord, your servant listens.” This is so that you might begin to sense his guidance, direction, presence, peace and his still small voice. Whenever you read the Bible begin by saying, “Speak Lord. Your servant listens.” What good is it to call Christ Lord if you never let him speak? Whenever you come to church on Sunday morning or Wednesday night, come with a posture that says, “Come speak Lord. Your servant is listening.”
Matthew, Mark, and Luke all recorded the transfiguration of Christ. In each case they record “akouo,” listen to him. This is the voice of the Father, listen to my son. Listen to him. This expression, akouo not only means to listen, but it also means to obey in its Greek form. In the truest sense, if you’re really listening to Jesus Christ then you are obeying him. That’s why Jesus said, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord and not do what I tell you to do? He who hears my words and does them, I’ll tell you what he’s like. He’s like a wise man. He who hears my words and does not do them is like a fool.” Jesus said, “On the day of judgment, many will come and say, Lord, Lord, and he’ll say, I never knew you.” Jesus said, “I know my sheep. They hear my voice and they follow me. I give them eternal life.” Are you a Christian today? Do you hear his voice? Do you follow him? Has he given you eternal life?
A recent survey reports that 86.5% of the people in the United States of America call themselves Christians. 60.2% of the people of America say they are Protestant Christians. 26.2% say they are Catholic Christians. This is great news for Christianity. Christianity’s doing well. Even most Asian Americans are not Hindus or Buddhists or Islamic people, but they are Christians. According to this survey, most people in America, almost 90% identify themselves as Christians. I don’t know what you think about that, but I don’t think it represents the truth. I think most people call themselves Christians and are in fact not. Of course, God only knows who his people are, but I would suspect that the percentage of people in the United States that are truly Christian, is a relatively small percentage.
The headlines in the Denver Post stated that moral and ethical values in America are shattered. The most recent survey said that almost 50% of the people in the United States no longer believe in the institution of marriage. According to this survey, which of course is called an exhaustive survey, among those who are married 31% have either committed adultery or are currently committing adultery. Also, one out of every five kids have had sexual intercourse by age 13. I don’t know how you feel about that. Maybe I’m just naïve but I’m stunned and I find it hard to believe that’s true. If you take a hundred kids, 13 years old, typical group of a hundred kids anywhere in America, 20 of them have already had sex.
According to this survey, 25% of the people of America would abandon their family for money. 23% of the people in America would become prostitutes for money. And 7% of the people in America, which represents more than 10 million adults, according to the survey, would murder if they were given enough money. 90% of the people in America, according to this survey, lie regularly. Only 13% of the people in America believe in the 10 Commandments. I find that awfully hard to believe. The 10 Commandments aren’t even controversial. They’re just basics. I can’t help but think of the words of Christ, “I know my sheep, they hear my voice, they follow me. I give them eternal life. This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him.”
This morning we are partaking in communion together. Communion goes by many names throughout the world. It’s called the Lord Supper, mass, Eucharist, or oblation. In some parts of the world, communion is called the consecration. It is called the consecration because the bread and the cup are viewed as consecrated and set apart for God’s use. It’s also called the consecration because as Christians take communion, they consecrate themselves anew that once again, they might be set apart for God’s holy use. We commit ourselves anew as we partake of the bread and cup together. We commit ourselves to be his sheep, to hear his voice and to follow him. Communion is a time when we rejoice in God’s grace and mercy and are grateful for his forgiveness. It’s also a time when we commit ourselves a new obedience to walk with Him and in his light. Let’s pray.