When I Cannot Hear Jesus

SPEAKER 01 : 0:00

Jesus asked, Why do you not understand my speech? And Jesus answered, Because you are not able to listen to my word. When I cannot hear Jesus. That’s our study today. Just ahead on the International Gospel Hour, we’ll be right back.

SPEAKER 02 : 0:20

It’s time for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jay Webb, and welcome to our study today as we embrace God’s Word to help us meet the challenges of today. Let’s open our Bibles and open our heart for this time of Bible study with our speaker Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ.

SPEAKER 01 : 0:43

Here’s Jeff. Well, thank you always to our J-Web, and greetings to all of you. It’s great having you with us today for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. You know, in a somewhat heated discussion with the Jews of his day, we see the words of Jesus in John 8 and verse 43. Why do you not understand my speech? Because you are not able to listen to my word. You know, about one-third of the world, friends, give or take, say they follow Jesus. But you know, friends, I find that a little high number because sometimes one may pick and choose what they wish to follow about Jesus. But it does remain clear the vast majority refuse to hear Jesus and His teaching through Scripture and, of course, will not apply it. But you know, how could such be the case? How could an individual, why would one refuse to hear Jesus? Let’s think about some of those reasons today. And if applicable in our lives, then we need to make some changes. But first, friends, we want all of our listeners to engage in a good study of the Bible. We love to help our listeners find a good church of Christ in their area. We love to send you information by mail. There are a number of tools that we use to encourage you, our listener, to engage in a good study of the Bible in between broadcasts. Matter of fact, we even have some great email options. Got a free publication I’d like for you to receive. And here is our J-Web with those details.

SPEAKER 02 : 2:28

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SPEAKER 01 : 3:03

When I cannot hear Jesus, it is because I am not moving on my faith. You know, Jesus said in John 8, 24, If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins. I know the importance of faith. For after all, in Hebrews 11 and verse 6, For without faith it is impossible to please Him, to please God. For he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. You see, friends, true biblical faith is a faith that moves. It is more than just saying, ah, well, I believe in Jesus. James 2 and verse 18, someone will say, you have faith and I have works. Show me your faith without your works and I will show you my faith by my works. Now, James is not teaching that we are saved by works only. Throughout that entire context, James is teaching how faith is expressed by action. True biblical faith moves people in the direction God would have them to go. And friends, we need to think on those things. Sometimes an individual will say, well, yeah, I believe in Jesus. I believe in God. But friends, they don’t darken the door of a church building. They do not do anything in the name of God. I mean, they kind of live their own life, and they are deceived, thinking, well, I believe in Jesus, and that’s all it takes. But true biblical faith requires us to move in His direction. Remember Hebrews 11, 6. He who comes to God… must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. And if we’re not coming to God, we’re not seeking God, we’re not moving on our faith. And that is why, one reason, we cannot hear Jesus. Here’s a second one. When I cannot hear Jesus, well, it is because I fail to be led by the great shepherd. In John 10 and verse 27, Jesus said, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. My sheep hear, I know my sheep, and they follow me. When we hear the voice of Jesus… We want Him to know us. And hereby we know that we know Him if we keep His commandments, 1 John 2. Commandments from the Word of God, the teaching of the Word of God, of which faith comes by hearing. And we’re going to follow Jesus. What Jesus teaches, we will follow and we will obey. You see, I’m going to believe Jesus because He told me of that importance as we noted in John 8 and verse 24. I’m going to repent of my sins because Jesus commanded to do so in Luke 13, 3. I’m going to confess Him because He commanded such in Matthew 10, 32. And I’m going to be baptized based upon my faith as Jesus said in Mark 16, 16. And I am going to walk faithful for Him just like He told that church thus saved in Smyrna. Revelation 2 and verse 10, to be faithful unto death. You see, if we’re going to be His sheep, we’re going to hear His voice, and we’re going to follow Him, and He will know us. I remember a preacher one time saying, Oh, there are some individuals who say, Well, it doesn’t matter. The Lord is my shepherd. And he replied, Friends, you’re not a shepherd, or He’s not our shepherd, if we are not His sheep. Good point. Here’s a third one. When I cannot hear Jesus, it is because I am listening to the wrong one. You see, when I cannot hear Jesus, I’m listening to the wrong individual. You know, John 8 and verse 32, Jesus said, Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. And in John 17, 17, He prayed unto the Father, Sanctify them through Thy truth, Thy word is truth. So, I know the truth will make me free, His word is there. The Scripture, the Holy Bible, 2 Timothy 3, 16 and 17 says, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Friends, I need to make certain that what I hear, that I can search the Scriptures with that same attitude of those in Berea in Acts 17, verses 10 and 11. That when I receive the Word, I need to research that. Friends, I need to be concerned with the doctrine that I hear, not only on this broadcast, friends, but any radio broadcast, any television broadcast of a religious nature, friends. We need to make certain, can that be backed up by Scripture, and for us to be the students, and to make sure that we are listening to Jesus. Because when we cannot hear Jesus, it’s because we are listening to the wrong source. Here’s a fourth one. When I cannot hear Jesus, well… Probably it’s because I care more for the world. We’re just busy people, but sometimes we’re too busy with the wrong things. We get ourselves busy and we say, well, I don’t have time. Friends, we all have the same amount of time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Maybe this would be more suited. I don’t have the time available for that. You know, in Luke 8 and verse 5, when Jesus began the parable of the sower and the seed, He said, As that sower sowed, some seed fell by the wayside, and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it, choked it out. In Luke 8 and verse 14, Jesus is explaining, and he says, The ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit unto maturity. So friends, bringing no fruit to maturity, we’re choked with cares, riches, and pleasures. In 1 John 2, verse 15, the Bible says, “…love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.” For all that love the world, or those that would continue in the world, the love of the Father is not in them. And so, friends, in Matthew 6 and verse 24, Jesus said no one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. So maybe when I cannot hear Jesus, it’s because I care more for the world, and I let the cares and the riches and pleasures of this life choke out every time i hear the word of god or it is sown so friends are you having a problem hearing jesus are we listening to jesus you know back to first john 2 and verse 15 of love not the world neither the things that are in the world if any man loves the world the love of the father is not in him Then he goes on to speak of all that is in the world. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world. Again, friends, let’s not, if you will, allow the world to choke us out of what God is giving us life. Let’s hear Jesus. And friends, let’s think on this for a moment. We’d love to share with you some Bible material that’s available by mail. And our J-Web has our by mail Bible course all available for you. It’s free. And we’d love for you to use that study as you strive to hear Jesus through his word. Here is our J-Web.

SPEAKER 02 : 11:09

Our long time free Bible study course by mail is always available. Have you tried it yet? Just call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, Home Study. That’s it. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type Home Study in the message box. Study the Bible at your own pace. Again, it’s free from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.

SPEAKER 01 : 11:48

Well, friends, when I cannot hear Jesus, it’s because I’m not moving on my faith. If I believe in Jesus, let me press onward. Let me learn to be led by Him as the Great Shepherd, to listen always to Him and care less for the world. And let us help you toward that end with your study of God’s Word here from the International Gospel Hour. I really appreciate you joining me for this study today, and we’ll continue these studies together at another time. Again, thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour broadcast. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, as always, keep listening.

SPEAKER 02 : 12:31

Thank you for listening today to God Be the Glory, and we hope that our study today will draw you closer to His Word to walk in His way. Feel free to listen to our other programs at our website at internationalgospelhour.com and join us next time. God be with you till we meet again.