Awakening Ears: Embracing God's Word and Promises
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the profound theme of spiritual awakening, drawing from Isaiah 50:4-5, which speaks of God awakening our ears to hear His word. We began by discussing the importance of our upcoming call meeting and various mission opportunities, including supporting a vicar preparing for a mission in Puerto Rico. We also looked forward to our church picnic and an upcoming Bible study on messianic prophecies.
The core of the sermon focused on the necessity of God awakening our ears because, by nature, we are spiritually deaf and rebellious. Isaiah 48:8 emphasizes that from birth, our ears are closed, and we are in a state of rebellion against God. This rebellion is not mere ignorance but an intentional refusal to believe and follow God's word. However, through His grace, God opens our ears and hearts, enabling us to hear and respond to His word.
We delved into the mystery of faith, particularly how God, through baptism, makes us alive in Christ and seats us with Him in the heavenly realms, even as we live our earthly lives. This profound connection with Christ is a mystery that we accept by faith.
Despite having our ears opened, we still struggle with listening to God due to external distractions and internal conflicts like envy, grudges, and anxieties. We must be selective about what we listen to and focus on God's word, which provides true guidance and comfort.
We concluded by emphasizing the importance of holding onto God's promises and using scripture to counter the lies and accusations of Satan. Verses from Psalms, Proverbs, and Hebrews were highlighted as tools to strengthen our faith and encourage others.
### Key Takeaways
1. Spiritual Deafness and Rebellion: From birth, we are spiritually deaf and rebellious, intentionally refusing to believe and follow God's word. This condition necessitates God's intervention to open our ears and hearts, enabling us to hear and respond to His word. This awakening is an act of grace, highlighting our dependence on God's mercy. [33:41]
2. Mystery of Faith and Baptism: Through baptism, God makes us alive in Christ and seats us with Him in the heavenly realms. This profound connection with Christ is a mystery that we accept by faith, illustrating the depth of our union with Him. Our earthly lives are intertwined with our heavenly reality, a truth that provides immense comfort and assurance. [38:13]
3. Struggles with Listening to God: Even after our ears are opened, we struggle with listening to God due to external distractions and internal conflicts like envy, grudges, and anxieties. We must be selective about what we listen to and focus on God's word, which provides true guidance and comfort. This requires intentional effort and discernment. [40:28]
4. Scripture as a Tool Against Satan: God's word is a powerful tool to counter the lies and accusations of Satan. Verses from Psalms, Proverbs, and Hebrews can strengthen our faith and provide encouragement in times of doubt and fear. Holding onto these promises helps us remain steadfast in our faith and resist the enemy's attacks. [50:18]
5. Encouragement and Hope in God's Promises: We are encouraged to hold unswervingly to the hope we profess because God, who makes the promises, is faithful. This assurance allows us to face life's challenges with confidence, knowing that God will never let us go. Sharing this hope with others can provide them with the strength and encouragement they need. [53:42]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[0:30] - Call Meeting Announcement
[1:30] - Mission Opportunities
[3:11] - Upcoming Church Picnic
[4:30] - Bible Study on Messianic Prophecies
[31:35] - Introduction to Isaiah 50:4-5
[32:10] - The Awakening of Our Ears
[33:41] - Spiritual Deafness and Rebellion
[35:02] - The Emphasis of Repetition in Scripture
[36:12] - The Condition of Our Hearts
[37:42] - Mystery of Faith and Baptism
[40:28] - Struggles with Listening to God
[44:03] - Scripture as a Tool Against Satan
[50:18] - Encouragement and Hope in God's Promises
[54:10] - Closing Blessing
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Isaiah 50:4-5: "The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away."
2. Isaiah 48:8: "Surely you have never heard, surely you have never known; surely from of old your ear has not been open. Well do I know how treacherous you are; you were called a rebel from birth."
3. Ephesians 2:4-6: "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Isaiah 50:4-5, what does God do for us each morning? How does this relate to our ability to hear His word?
2. In Isaiah 48:8, what is emphasized about our natural state from birth? How does this passage describe our spiritual condition? [33:41]
3. What does Ephesians 2:4-6 say about our status before and after God's intervention? How does this passage describe the transformation that occurs through God's grace?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that God needs to awaken our ears, as mentioned in Isaiah 50:4-5? How does this reflect our dependence on His grace? [32:10]
2. How does the concept of being "rebellious from birth" in Isaiah 48:8 challenge common perceptions of human nature? What does this imply about our need for divine intervention? [35:27]
3. Ephesians 2:4-6 speaks of being made alive and seated with Christ in the heavenly realms. How does this "mystery of faith" provide comfort and assurance in our daily lives? [38:13]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually deaf or rebellious. How did God intervene to open your ears and heart to His word? [33:41]
2. What external distractions or internal conflicts (e.g., envy, grudges, anxieties) are currently hindering your ability to listen to God? How can you be more selective about what you listen to? [40:28]
3. How can you use scripture to counter the lies and accusations of Satan in your life? Identify a specific verse that has helped you in times of doubt or fear. [50:18]
4. Think of a promise from God that you hold onto during challenging times. How does this promise provide you with encouragement and hope? [53:42]
5. In what ways can you intentionally focus on God's word each day to strengthen your faith and provide guidance? What practical steps can you take to incorporate this into your daily routine? [43:04]
6. How can you share the hope and encouragement found in God's promises with someone who is struggling? Identify a person in your life who might benefit from hearing these promises. [53:42]
7. Reflect on the mystery of faith and baptism described in Ephesians 2:4-6. How does understanding your profound connection with Christ impact the way you live your earthly life? [38:13]
Devotional
Day 1: Spiritual Deafness and Rebellion
From birth, we are spiritually deaf and rebellious, intentionally refusing to believe and follow God's word. This condition necessitates God's intervention to open our ears and hearts, enabling us to hear and respond to His word. This awakening is an act of grace, highlighting our dependence on God's mercy. [33:41]
Isaiah 48:8 (ESV): "You have never heard, you have never known; from of old your ear has not been opened. For I knew that you would surely deal treacherously, and that from before birth you were called a rebel."
Reflection: Think about a time when you felt resistant to God's guidance. What specific steps can you take today to open your heart and ears to His word?
Day 2: Mystery of Faith and Baptism
Through baptism, God makes us alive in Christ and seats us with Him in the heavenly realms. This profound connection with Christ is a mystery that we accept by faith, illustrating the depth of our union with Him. Our earthly lives are intertwined with our heavenly reality, a truth that provides immense comfort and assurance. [38:13]
Ephesians 2:6 (ESV): "And raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: Reflect on your baptism and the mystery of being united with Christ. How does this profound truth impact your daily life and decisions?
Day 3: Struggles with Listening to God
Even after our ears are opened, we struggle with listening to God due to external distractions and internal conflicts like envy, grudges, and anxieties. We must be selective about what we listen to and focus on God's word, which provides true guidance and comfort. This requires intentional effort and discernment. [40:28]
James 1:19-20 (ESV): "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God."
Reflection: Identify one distraction or internal conflict that hinders your ability to listen to God. What practical steps can you take today to minimize this distraction and focus on His word?
Day 4: Scripture as a Tool Against Satan
God's word is a powerful tool to counter the lies and accusations of Satan. Verses from Psalms, Proverbs, and Hebrews can strengthen our faith and provide encouragement in times of doubt and fear. Holding onto these promises helps us remain steadfast in our faith and resist the enemy's attacks. [50:18]
Ephesians 6:17 (ESV): "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
Reflection: Choose a specific Bible verse that speaks to you and memorize it. How can you use this verse to counter a specific lie or accusation you are currently facing?
Day 5: Encouragement and Hope in God's Promises
We are encouraged to hold unswervingly to the hope we profess because God, who makes the promises, is faithful. This assurance allows us to face life's challenges with confidence, knowing that God will never let us go. Sharing this hope with others can provide them with the strength and encouragement they need. [53:42]
Hebrews 10:23 (ESV): "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who needs encouragement. How can you share the hope and promises of God with them today in a tangible way?
Quotes
1. "Though we were dead, God, rich in mercy, made us alive, dash, you are saved by grace, dash, and raised us up and seated us with Christ in the heavenly realms. That's baptism language. And it's what Jesus does for us in baptism. Makes us alive. Raises us up with him and seats us, God does, with him in the heavenly realms." [37:42] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We are so connected to Jesus. It's not just that someday we're gonna be with him in heaven. We are so connected to him by baptism that we are with him now risen as if everything that Jesus went through has already happened to us via baptism." [38:40] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on what? Your own understanding. Part of being a creature, a person, a child, and recognizing that God is creator is he gets to use us the way he wishes, including our life events and the twists and turns, losses, successes, problems and joys." [46:59] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When fear grabs hold, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both the body and soul in hell. Now that's upside down, but there's something about be afraid of the one who can destroy both the body and soul in hell that's comforting." [48:02] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Call upon me in the day of trouble. Call upon me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you'll honor me. When you are pinned down with anxiety, this is from Peter, you know this verse, cast your anxiety on him. Why? Because he cares for you." [49:00] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Behold, the Lord God helps me. Who will declare me guilty? Now, I don't know that this scored a lot of points with Thursday night, but I'm going to try it on you anyway. I think some of us feel, feel guilt that God doesn't want us to feel. We've confessed it. We've admitted it. We've told him we're sorry. And it's still in there, just eating at us. Might be from years ago. That's satanic." [50:18] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "The cross is there. The prophecies are fulfilled. Lord, if you kept a record of sin, we say it almost every week, who could stand? None of us. We would wilt into nothing, not to mention be damned. But with you, there's forgiveness. Therefore, you are feared, meaning feared, loved, trusted, followed, talked about." [52:08] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess because he who promises is faithful. It's just an encouraging word to give to somebody when they're struggling a little bit. Hang in there. Be unswerving with what's hitting you. Why? Because he who makes the promises is faithful." [53:42] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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