How to Listen to God's Word

Read Matthew 13:3-23
The first thing one must do is evaluate what kind of hearer you are.

Apathetic hearer

- one who hears the word but is not prepared to receive and understand it, “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.” (V.19)

Superficial hearer

-one who receives the word temporarily but does not let it take root in the heart, “The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.” (Vv.20-21)

Preoccupied hearer

-one who receives the word but lets the worries of this world and the desires for things choke it, “The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.” (V.22)

Reproducing hearer

-one who receives the word, understands it, bears fruit, and brings forth results, “But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”(V.23)

Second, be alert for a word from God – “…Everyone should be quick to listen…” (James 1:19)

Third, clear away all sin and pride so that the word can be planted in your heart – “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” (James 1:21)

Fourth, pay attention to what the Bible says about you, just as you would to your reflection in a mirror – “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror” (James 1:23)
When listening to the Word being delivered in a sermon – list the date, place, speaker, text, and title of the message if given. Write the points of the message as the speaker presents them. Under each point write explanation, illustrations, and applications. If all these elements not mentioned, then write those that are. Also write down any specific statement that the Holy Spirit impresses upon you. Finally, summarize as soon as possible the main point the speaker wants you to do, be, and feel as a result of his sermon. Do the Word, and you will be blessed in what you do.

Hope In Our Future Citizenship in Heaven

Philippians 3:20, “But we are citizens of Heaven; our outlook goes beyond this world to the hopeful expectations of the Savior who will come from Heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ we must remember that our hope is not in this world. We look for a city whose builder and maker is God. Our citizenship according to Paul is no longer of this world. But now we are those who are journeying to home in which we have not yet seen.

The writer of Hebrews said concerning those who are seeking the presence of the Lord, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (11:13). Too many Christians are living now as if this is it. But I call you to remember the promises of Jesus, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3).

As a Christian Heaven is now my homeland in which I seek. My life is now guided by heavenly standards and I know that I have an inheritance awaiting me in Heaven. It is into Heaven that now my prayers ascend for it is to Heaven that now all my hopes is directed.

For even if death should come I will not fear for I know that Christ who is the Resurrection and Life shall raise up all Christians on that day. The apostle Paul wrote: “He will change these wretched bodies of ours so that they resemble His own glorious body, by that power of His which makes Him the Master of everything that is” (Philippians 3:21 Phillips).

As Christians let us remember where our citizenship is today – Heaven. Whether death has come or life still remains Heaven is the home in which all believers shall one day obtain. Our outlook goes beyond this world to the hopeful expectation of the Savior who will come from Heaven.

In Times Like These

Our world is experiencing some of the most perplexing times of its history. I know we have always had troubles in our world but none quite like these. It seems as if the whole world at one time is facing these perplexing and difficult days. Our economy is in trouble; our world is living with such unstableness with wars and rumors of wars. Has there ever been a time such as we are in today?
What I have been sharing with fellow believers is the promises of God’s Word. God has always carried His people through the difficult hours. He has never failed! And I am convinced He will not fail His people now. I encourage you to hear His Word. What we are all facing is not a time of being out of control. But rather it is one in which God is leading His people and working all things for His purpose.
In Genesis chapter 14, God leads Israel to camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon. A place which walled them in. To each side of them were mountains and in front of them was the sea and behind them was the wilderness. It doesn’t appear to be a bad spot but when an enemy appears from the wilderness which at the time seemed to be the only way out then it appeared to be a difficult moment. But it is very important to remember that God had led them to this place.

There are times when it seems that everything is out of control and all is lost. When in reality God is in control and He is working His Will. When we read verses 3 & 4, we find that God had a purpose in leading His people to that location. Here He was going to judge Pharaoh and declare to all of Egypt He was Lord. I believe it is the same for us today. All that is happening today is that which has to happen to fulfill God’s Word.

Has we see these difficult days I encourage you to not focus on the darkness of the day but rather look to the Word of God. He protecting Israel and brought them through the sea to deliver them from their enemy. Our God who is no respecter of persons will protect and deliver each of us in these difficult times as we trust in Him. The Psalmist wrote “I have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (Psalms 37:25). Be encouraged in the Lord as we all face these difficult times together.

How Can I Become Spiritually Useful

‘How Can I Become Spiritually Useful’



To answer a question that I hear often from people – ‘How Can I Become Spiritually Useful’ I want to share a few comments from the Apostle Paul’s words to the Philippians’ church.

In chapter 1, verse 6 through 11, Paul is expresses his confidence to the church that God who has begun a good work in them is faithful and able to complete what He has started. Paul’s confidence is not only based upon the faithfulness of God but also in the zeal and willingness to sacrifice for the faith by the Philippians. However, we must also note that God’s faithfulness can do nothing for those who resist His grace.

The good work that God is working in His children is one so as to produce the desire and power to do His will. But again this work is always dependent on your faithfulness and cooperation with Him. Note these verses, “And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s messagewithout fear.15It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. 16They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News” (Philip. 1:12-16 NLT).

Paul views every experience whether good or bad as that which aided in his spreading of the Good News. For he sees God working out His good work in these things so as to make him spiritually useful.

It is God’s desire for all of His people to grow and develop spiritually. But in a time when people like to be progressive, successful, and to be able to get things done quickly many fail to realize that God is never in a hurry.

What God desires is that every believer matures in Christ likeness. He wants you to be holy and to follow Jesus’ example (lifestyle): He is calling His people to present themselves daily as living sacrifices.

Yes, God realizes this will only come as each believer grows in His grace. So, God has not left His people alone to grow but He has given to them His Holy Spirit.

Therefore, as believers our goal should be to be:

Christ-like in our worship.
Christ-like in our character.
Christ-like in our service.

These areas will only be accomplished by yielding and presenting yourself as a living sacrifice to God. It is up to us to accept that growing in Christ will not be obtained just by ones efforts, but it is obtained by yielding yourself completely to God’s control and direction for your life. Then will you begin to see God in everything of your life and He is working in you to make you spiritually useful for His kingdom.

Dear follower of Jesus Christ do not become frustrated with what appears to set-backs or failures, but trust in Christ and remember God who has begun a good work in you will finish His work. For He is equipping you and using all experiences of life to make you useful for spreading His Good News.

Worth Watching

This kid is cute but he sounds like he knows his stuff.
He's probably repeating what he's heard said from being the pulpit of his local church.
What would this young evangelist say if he went to your church?

A Covenant God

Psalms 25:14, “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will show them His covenant.”



The story the Bible tells is one of human rebellion and divine redemption. Already this dual theme has surfaced in the Eden narrative, for there we encounter God who patiently and lovingly haunts the human creatures, a Redeeming God who seeks sinners with the poignant question, “Who are you?”



Again, the question might seem almost ludicrous, coming from an Omnipotent and Omniscient God- but perhaps that is just the point. The Omni doctrine pay all kinds of metaphysical compliments to God but seem to miss the central Biblical affirmation that other than Himself and intimately sustains it precisely in its otherness. The apex of this otherness in creation, as far as one can tell, is the human race. In human beings we find creatures that can both seek God and flee God, who can cooperate with God or rebel against God, who can reflect upon God or categorically deny God. In human beings we find those creatures who exercise the power of conscious choice, which is the greatest evidence of our otherness from God.



And this, says the story line, is as God wills it. He calls the other into being as the other, for this sense of human agency grounded in distance from Him is essential to relationship. I cannot be in true relationship to that which is not other than myself; it was the Jewish philosopher Martin Buber that had this to say: “I become through my relation to the Thou; as I become I, I say Thou. All real living is meeting.” Buber is not speaking here only or even primarily of relationship to God, other people, and the works, that we either give or receive the grace of relationship. So also it is with God: God the sole Power, the Omnipotent Creator, empties Himself of the prerogatives of Absolute Being in order to enter into relationship with beings of His own making. This self-emptying, in turn, makes it possible for Him to ask of human beings the question, “Where are you?” and mean it. God does not control us- He calls us; god does not manipulate us- He beckons to us. Before God is anything else, God is love- the Love who creates us, sustains us, and longingly seeks us out, all for the sake of relationship.



These ideas about relationship are no better demonstrated than in the Bible’s stories of covenants that God initiates. This idea that God is the God of covenants, of pacts or agreements, is much too often ignored in theology to its own detriment. To say that God is a covenantal God is to suggest a divine interest in our cooperation, a divine commitment to partnership, a divine power that is empowering and affirming of the other. A Biblical theology of covenant relationships would suggest that God is not interested in performing solos. Instead, He invites our participation, our cooperation, in the task of creation and redemption. Of course, God’s very act of creating the universe as other, and of creating us as others from Himself, is what makes covenant relationship possible.



God has covenanted himself to the human race. Even in man’s rebellion God pursues him. It is out of His love and righteousness that He holds true to His covenant with human beings. It is man that He desires relationship with and he will reveal to man the power and victory of the covenant if he will seek after truth. Note 1 Peter 3:18, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” We are informed from the apostle Peter of God’s love for the human race, but also of His commitment to covenant. God never ignores sin, but He judges it. And for man to be restored into right relation with god, he made provision through His Son, Jesus Christ. The penalty for sin has always been death. Therefore Christ died for our sins in order that the created could be restored to a right relation with the Creator. And it is because of God’s desire for relationship with man that He pursues Him. Also His faithfulness to His Word, He covenanted with man and god has always worked to fulfill the covenant.

Do you know who you are?

Pslams 100:3 "Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves we are His people and the sheep of His pasture."
I once heard a story of about a preschool teacher who lived in Philadelphia a few years ago. The story reflected that sometimes, when her little students would have a quarrel amonst themselves, one would inevitably come running over to her crying, "So-and-so called me stupid!" The clever teacher would always reply, "Well, are you stupid?" Without fail, that little red-faced, button-nosed three or four year old would ponder a moment, shrug back, look up at her and timidly say, "no". "Well okay then, go and play!" And just like that, the quarrel was over and playtime would resume as if nothing happened.
We need to take a lesson from those little preschoolers! Our enemy loves to be mean and call us names but we must take a moment and remember who we are. We are not stupid. We are not ugly. We are not defeated. We are not forgotten. We are not useless.
On the contrary! We are fearfully and wonderfully made! We are loved and cared for dearly. We are victorious! We are kings and priests. We have a divine purpose and calling to fulfill today. If Stevie Wonder was here, he'd say we were 'signed, sealed, and delievered.' Nothing the enemy can do can change that.
Let's not allow anyone to dictate who or what we are. God has already made it very clear who we are and we need to memorize what He said. Don't forget what He thinks about you especially when the accuser comes our way.