Hearing God's voice in Christian preaching emphasizes discerning divine guidance amid life's noise. Illustrations often depict the need to quiet external distractions and cultivate inner stillness, reflecting scriptures like John 10:27, where Jesus says, 'My sheep listen to my voice.' This theme encourages believers to be attentive and receptive to God's personal communication.
To hear God's voice clearly, one must shut out worldly distractions and focus inwardly.
A man went inside a telephone booth and dialed the number of a friend. When the connection was made, the friend kept saying, "I can't hear you; speak louder; I can't hear you." All he cold hear was the roar of traffic in the background. "Shut the door so I can hear," he said to the caller. In order to hear God's voice speaking to you, you've got to shut the door to the outside world so that its enticements won't distract you. Doing this could change your whole life. Then when you go back into the crowd, you'll not only be able to listen to what the world has to say, but you'll have something to say to the world that you've personally heard from God. The Right to Pursue
Someone cursed Benjamin Franklin, charging that the Constitution of the United States was a farce. "Where is all the success that it guarantees us?" he sneered. Franklin, smiling, answered, "My friend, the Constitution guarantees only the right to the pursuit of happiness." Psalms 34:14 tells us to not only seek peace but pursue it.
God's truth is everywhere but requires intentional looking and seeking to perceive it.
A man was seated on a park bench when a little chap of about five sat down beside him and started winding what appeared to be a most prized possession-a watch. "My, what a pretty watch," remarked the man. "Does it tell you the time?"
"No sir," replied the boy; "you gotta look at it."
God's Truth is everywhere, but you must look for it and at it to see it. As People Grow Wiser, They Talk Less and Say More
Recently, 50 of America's leading citizens selected the Bible as the number one piece of literature.
America is great today because our forebearers believed in this Book, and established the foundation of our country upon its precepts. Most American presidents have been ardent students of the Bible.
The survival of our nation today, in this hour of world crisis, will be due to the faith of our citizenry in the Bible, and in the God of the Bible.
Wise believers profit spiritually from God's word, unlike mere observers.
"A traveller and a merchant differ; thus: a traveller goes from place to place that he may see; but a merchant goes from port to port that he may take in his lading, and grow rich by traffic." Thus there are travelling hearers who merely observe and criticize, and go their way very little the better for what they have heard; and there are also merchant-hearers who listen to profit and make a gain to their souls out of every sermon. O Lord, put me among the wise merchantmen, and in my trading may I find the one pearl of great price, even Jesus, thy Son.
Hearing God's word without obeying is like tasting wine without buying it.
"* The hearers' life is the preacher's best commendation. They that praise the man but do not practise the matter are like those that taste wines that they may commend them, not buy them." What a worry such folk are to dealers who are in earnest to do business! Time is wasted, labour lost, hopes disappointed. Oh that these loafers and idlers would take themselves off from our market! We set forth the precious produce of heaven's own vintage, and hope that they will buy of us; but no, they lift the glass, and talk like thorough connoisseurs, and then go off without coming to a bargain. Sermons which we have studied with care, delivered with travail, prayed over, and wept over, are praised for such minor matters as taste, accuracy, and diction, and the truth they contain is not received. We cannot bring our hearers to a decided bargain, though our wares are the best that heaven can supply. Will it always be so? Reader, has it been so with you? Is it to be so still?
Careless hearers lose the spiritual 'wine' and are left with only water.
It is said by naturalists, that, if water and wine be poured into a vessel made of the ivy-tree, the wine will leak out, and leave the water behind. Such are all worldly, careless hearers of God's word.
— Spenser
Constant, patient listening to God's word brings ongoing spiritual nourishment and blessing.
It is said that the joggers, or pilgrim saints of Ceylon, will take their station at the foot of the cypress, and there remain night and day, watching and watchful, heedless of sunshine or of storms, impelled by the tradition that the leaves of that ancient tree, falling only at distant and uncertain intervals, can, if gathered and eaten, restore the wasting frame to all the energies of youth. A plant of nobler growth has been sown in our world; the leaves of which never fade, nor are its fruits consumed. The latter are for meat, and the former are for medicine; and out of the heavenly sanctuary issue the waters which maintain their freshness. Not at long and unknown intervals do they descend. Regularly and ever weekly are they within our reach. Shall we think it an unwelcome task to tarry a few moments beneath the consecrated shade while we await the first shaking of the blessing-laden boughs? Miss Henderson.
Critically focusing on style over substance leads to little spiritual profit from God's word.
A man that comes hungry to his meal feeds heartily on the meat set before him, not regarding the metal, or form of the platter, wherein it is served; who, afterwards, when his stomach is satisfied, begins to play with the dish, or to read sentences on his trencher. Those auditors who can find nothing to do but note elegant words and phrases, or rhetorical colors, or, perhaps, an ill grace of gesture in a pithy and material speech, argue themselves full ere they come to the feast; and therefore go away with little pleasure, and no profit. Bp. Hall.
Modern impatience in worship contrasts with forefathers' eagerness to attend God's service fully.
A remarkable change has taken place among the people of this country in regard to the public service of religion. Our forefathers put their clocks on the outside of their places of worship, that they might not be too late in their attendance: we have transferred them to the inside of the house of God, lest we should stay too long in the service, — a sad and an ominous change.
— R. Watson
People often ignore important spiritual truths but eagerly listen to trivial matters.
It is said of Demosthenes, that speaking to the Athenians on a very serious subject, and finding them to be inattentive, he paused, and told them that he had something of special importance to relate, which he was anxious that they should all hear. Silence being thus obtained, and every eye fixed upon him, he said that two men, having bargained for the hire of an ass, were travelling from Athens to Megara on a very hot day; and both of them striving to enjoy the shadow of the ass. One of them said that he hired the ass and the shadow too; the other said that he hired the ass only, and not the shadow. Having made this statement,
Demosthenes retired; when the people pressed him with great eagerness to return, and finish his tale. "O ye Athenians!" said he, "will ye attend to me when speaking about the shadow of an ass; and will ye not attend to me when I address you on the most important affairs?"
Listening to the gospel should be like eagerly hearing a will that benefits oneself.
A gentleman once said to Rowland Hill, "It is sixty-five years since I first heard you preach; and the sermon was well worth remembering. You remarked, that some people are very squeamish about the manner of a clergyman in preaching; but you then added, "Supposing one is hearing a will read, expecting to receive a legacy, would you employ the time in criticising the lawyer's manner while reading it? No: you would give all your interest to ascertain if any thing were left to yourself, and how much. Let that, then, be the way in which you listen to the gospel."
Different hearers respond variously to God's word, retaining good or bad differently.
There are four different kinds of hearers of the word, — those like a sponge, that suck up good and bad together, and let both run out immediately; those like a sand-glass, that let what enters in at one car pass out at the other, hearing without thinking; those like a strainer, letting go the good, and retaining the bad; and those like a sieve, letting go the chaff, and retaining the good grain. Boston.
People attend sermons for many motives, often superficial rather than spiritual.
As there were wise virgins and foolish virgins, so there are wise hearers and foolish hearers. Some are so nice, that they had rather pine than take their food of any which is licensed by a bishop; as if Elias should refuse his food because a raven brought it to him, and not an angel. Some come unto the service to save forfeiture, and then they stay the sermon for shame; some come because they would not be counted atheists; some come because they would avoid the name of papists; some come to please their friends. One hath a good man to his friend; and, lest he should offend him, he frequents the preacher's, that his friend may think well of him. Some come with their masters and mistresses for attendance. Some come with a fame: they have heard great speech of the man, and therefore they will spend one hour to hear him once, but to see whether it be so as they say. Some come because they are idle: to pass the time, they go to a sermon, lest they should be weary of doing nothing. Some come with their fellows: one saith, "Let us go to the sermon." — "Content," saith he; and he goeth for company. Some hear the sound of a voice as they pass by the church, and step in before they be aware. Another hath some occasion of business, and he appoints a friend to meet him at such a sermon, as they do at Paul's. All these are accidental hearers, like children which sit in the market, and neither buy nor sell: but as many foxes have been taken when they came to take; so they which come to spy or wonder or gaze or scoff have changed their minds before they went home, like one which finds when he doth not seek. Henry Smith.
People like pleasant preaching but resist when confronted with convicting truth.
As a thistle, if stroked upward, will not molest a man, but, if stroked downward, will prick him: so many hearers of the word, so long as the minister preaches pleasant things, are pleased with him; but so soon as he rubs them a little on the gall, and touches them home to the quick, then they kick and storm at the same.
— Cavebray
Some admire ministers but fail to obey the doctrines they preach.
There are some diseases that are called the reproaches of physicians, and there are some people that may be truly called the reproaches of ministers: and those are they who are great hearers and talkers and admirers of ministers, but never obey the doctrines delivered by them.
— T. Brooks
Hearing sermons can inspire lasting spiritual habits and thanksgiving.
A young Christian one sabbath heard day give eight reasons why we should be thankful: from that time he put up his thanksgiving every week for that blessed room. On another occasion, hearing a funeral-sermon, in which the preacher spoke of a lady who set apart a portion of every day to pray for the great religious societies of our land, he then and there determined to follow her example; and has carried out the resolution from that period. On another occasion, hearing a sermon on Daniel's praying three times, he determined to adopt Daniel's plan, and, though often short of time, has done it for thirty years, and can no more live without it than without his meals. Biblical Treasury.
Hearers often focus on worldly or selfish interests rather than spiritual truths.
One is like an Athenian, and he hearkeneth after news: if the preacher say any thing of our armies beyond the sea, or council at home, or matters of court, that is his lure. Another is like the Pharisee, and he watcheth if any thing be said that may be wrested to be spoken against persons in high place, that they may play the devil in accusing of his brethren: let him write that in his tables too. Another smacks of eloquence; and he gapes for a phrase, that, when he cometh to his ordinary, he may have one figure more to grace and worship his tale. Another is malcontent; and he never pricketh up his ears till the preacher come to gird against some whom he spiteth; and when the sermon is done, he remembereth nothing which was said to him, but that which was spoken against another. Another cometh to gaze about the church: he hath an evil eye, which is still looking upon that from which Job did avert his eye. Another cometh to muse: so soon as he is set, he filleth into a brown study; sometimes his mind runs on his market, sometimes of his journey, sometimes of his suit, sometimes of his dinner, sometimes of his sport after dinner; and the sermon is done before the man thinks where he is. Another cometh to hear; but so soon as the preacher hath said his prayer, he falls fast asleep, as though he had been brought in for a corpse, and the preacher should preach at his funeral. Henry Smith.
True blessing from sermons is shown by the lasting effect on a person's life.
When a man says he received a blessing under a sermon, I beg to inquire what effect it has produced.
The Roman soldiers proved the effect produced by Anthony's sermon, when they flew to avenge the death of Caesar. J. Newton.
Inattentive listeners neglect clear God's word while fascinated by unknown tongues.
When Bishop Aylmer saw his congregation inattentive, he would recite some verses from the Hebrew Bible. His audience would stare with astonishment; when he would tell them the folly of listening to an unknown tongue, and neglecting words so easily comprehended.
Hearing a sermon is only the start; true obedience requires action afterward.
"Is the sermon done?" was asked of one who returned from church sooner than usual. "No, not yet," was the answer: "it is preached, but it still remains to be done."
Obedience to God's word yields lasting spiritual fruit beyond initial hearing.
There is a story of two men, who, walking together, found a young tree laden with fruit. They both gathered, and satisfied themselves for the present; but one of them took all the remaining fruit and carried it away with him: the other took the tree, and planted it in his own ground, where it prospered and brought forth fruit every year; so that though the former had more at present, yet this had some when he had none. They who hear the word, and have large memories and nothing else, may carry away most of the word at present; yet he that perhaps can but remember little, who carries away the tree, plants the word in his heart, and obeys it in his life, shall have fruit when the other has none.
A woman remembers and obeys the sermon’s call to remove her spiritual hindrances.
A poor woman went to hear a sermon, wherein, among other evil practices ever have occasion to say that he has been loser by Christ.
It is easier to hear a sermon than to meditate and pray privately over it afterward.
Mr. Philip Henry notes in his diary the saying of a pious hearer of his own, as what much affected him:—"I find it easier," said the good man, "to go six miles to hear a sermon, than to spend one quarter of an hour in meditating and praying over it in secret, as I should, when I come home."
### 194. HEAVEN, VIEWS
A young man mocked preaching until a Scripture text convicted his conscience and changed his life.
One Sabbath morning, while the Rev.
Dr. Bedell, of Philadelphia, was preaching, a young man passed by, with a number of companions, as gay and thoughtless as himself. One of them proposed to go into the church, saying,
"Let us go and hear what this man has to say, that every body is running after." The young man made this awful answer, "No, I would not go into such a place if Christ himself was preaching."
Some weeks after, he was again passing the church, and being alone, and having nothing to do, he thought he would go in without being observed. On opening the door he was struck with awe at the solemn silence of the place, though it was much crowded. Every eye was fixed on the preacher, who was to begin his discourse. His attention was instantly caught by the text, "I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding:" Prov. vii. 7. His conscience was smitten by the power of truth. He saw that he was the young man described. A view of his profligate life passed before his eyes, and, for the first time, he trembled under the feeling of sin. He remained in the church till the preacher and congregation had passed out; then slowly returned to his home. He had early received infidel principles, but the Holy Spirit who had aroused him in his folly, led him to a constant attendance on the ministry of Dr. B., who had been the instrument of awakening his mind. He cast away his besetting sin, and gave himself to a life of virtue and holiness. He afterwards declared openly his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and his desire to devote himself to his service.
