LISTEN Proverbs 20:12 I. Introduction. A. God has left us a marvelous gift: the power to listen: Proverbs 20:12. 1. One can only fully appreciate this gift when lose part or all of it. 2. The word "hear" appears 550 times in KJ; "heard" 641 times; "hearken" 153 times; "hearing" 39 times.(Almost 1400 times) B. Listening involves more than hearing(recognizing sounds). 1. Even the expression: "Did you hear me?" 2. Define hearken: "To listen attentively; give heed." 3. Define "hear": To learn by hearing. 4. "You are not listening to me." 5. Hence: Listening is more than hearing words, such involves comprehension. 6. Hearing includes application. 7. Hearing is a gift of God: listening is an act of man. 8. Learning to listen is not an easy task(young child). 9. Even those who do a lot of talking do more listening than talking. C. Jesus said: Mark 7:14. II. Body. A. God has always wanted people to listen to His word. 1. Adam and Eve heard--but did not heed. a. Noah listened and saved his house. b. Abraham listened and left his home. 2. Under Moses, God desired that the Hebrews listen to Him. a. Wise men hear and learn: Proverbs 1:5. b. Spoke from mount, then through Moses. 3. While Christ was on the earth: a. Sheep listen: John 10:27(we are the sheep). b. Some heard--did not hearken: Matthew 19:22. B. One must be in a proper state to listen. 1. Free of distractions that interfere with reception. 2. Prejudice can interfere: Jews of Christ's day. 3. Receptive spirit: Luke 11:1. 4. Inquiring mind: Matthew 19:16. 5. The rich man did not listen: Luke 16:29-31. 6. People often listen to other sources than the New Testament: they are not listening to Jehovah. C. An appropriate attitude is essential for proper listening. 1. One is to be open to hear all of the truth. 2. Be swift to hear: James 1:19.(always ready) 3. Create a proper atmosphere: Ecclesiastes 9:17. 4. Be a discerning listener: Ecclesiastes 7:5. 5. Cornelius and his household wanted to hear all things: Acts 10:33. 6. Faith is to accompany listening. D. There are different reactions to what one hears: Mark 4:24. 1. Some listen, do not understand: Matthew 13:13. 2. Proper hearing involves understanding. 3. Some believe they hear what they do not: Mark 14:58.(Heard words: did not comprehend) 4. Note: Acts 28:24. a. Comment on Acts 28:25-28. b. Conviction comes through listening to the truth: Acts 2:37. 5. Some listen better than others: Mark 12:37. E. Some refuse to listen. 1. In the Lord's day and in the days of the apostles. 2. Note: Proverbs 28:9. 3. Can be "dull" of hearing: Hebrews 5:11. a. Sluggish: opposite of "swift to hear." b. The Ethiopian eunuch was eager to learn. 4. Felix refused to hear "the rest of the story.": Acts 24:25. F. To whom should be listen today? 1. In Revelation 2 & 3: "Hear what the Spirit says." a. Jesus stated it this way: Matthew 11:15. b. The revelation of Christ in the New Testament. c. Contains teachings of inspired men: Acts 2:14. 2. Servants are to obey masters: Ephesians 6:5. 3. Wives are listen to husbands: Ephesians 6:22. 4. Husbands are to listen to wives: Colossians 3:19. 5. Children are to hear parents: Ephesians 6:1. 6. Erring are to listen to those correcting: Matthew 18:15. 7. Everyone is to listen to those who speak, teach and preach the truth: Romans 10:14. III. Conclusion. A. "Are you listening?" Matthew 13:16. 1. To the Lord, to His word, to faithful disciples? 2. What do you hear? Acts 18:8.-jy