If You Would Listen!

Go with me to a hospital. A teenager is just coming out of a diabetic coma because he has not followed his diet or taken his insulin like he should. Why? Because he does not want to be different than the other children!

The parents have spent a couple of nights at his bedside. Sometimes praying, sometimes dozing, sometimes just worrying, but totally loving their child. This is the third time this has happened. And they fear it will happen again and again because of his rebellion.

As the teen wakes up the mother places her hand on his arm and tearfully says, “If only you would listen to me! Or at least listen to your doctor!”

That scene pretty well describes God’s feelings in Psalm 81.

Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob! Begin the music, strike the tambourine; play the melodious harp and lyre. Sound the ram's horn at the New Moon, and when the moon is full, on the day of our Feast; this is a decree for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

He established it as a statute for Joseph when He went out against Egypt, where we heard a language we did not understand. He says, “I removed the burden from their shoulders; their hands were set free from the basket.

In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of a thundercloud; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah

Hear, O my people, and I will warn you-- if you would but listen to me, O Israel! You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not bow down to an alien god. I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.”

But My people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to Me.

So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.

If My people would but listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways, how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes! Those who hate the LORD would cringe before Him, and their punishment would last forever. But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.

Today we are going to look at four things:

1. Worship

2. Listen to and obey God

3. Our responsibility as a church

4. God’s call to us today

Asaph, the writer, speaking under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, begins the Psalm by exhorting us to worship God – and he encourages us to put excitement into our worship!

1. “Sing for Joy”

2. “Shout aloud!”

3. “Play the music.”

4. “Sound the Ram’s Horn!”

If we had any inkling (vague notion) of how much God wants to bless us when we are totally committed to doing everything God asks of us we would get it done right away!

“If My people would but listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways, how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes! Those who hate the LORD would cringe before Him, and their punishment would last forever. But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” Psalm 81:13-16

It is not hard to find examples of people in scripture that did not listen to God!

Adam and Eve listen to Satan’s argument and quit trusting God.
Cain killed Abel because his offering was refused by God.
Abraham and Sarah were promised a child of their own. Fifteen years later they gave up on God and did it their way. The recent war between Israel and Lebanon is the result of that decision.
In the New Testament the religious leaders refused to accept the Messiah (Jesus) and Judas Iscariot sold Jesus for 30 pieces of Silver.

And we can find people in the scriptures who obeyed God.

King David – sure he sinned – we all do. However, he knew how to set things right and was restored.
Isaiah, Jeremiah and Daniel were very powerful men who gave their all to God.
Ruth and Esther were very dynamic women who did what God asked.
Mary and Joseph in the NT were obedient and willing to risk everything.

Now let’s fast forward to Loyal, OK in 2006 – this congregation, here present this morning.

God is calling to us today to listen to and fellowship with Him.

Revelation 3:20-21 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He, who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Turn your imagination loose for a moment. You are home alone, sitting at the table, enjoying a cup of coffee, tea, soft drink, etc., when you hear a knock at the door. It’s Jesus. He asks to come in and visit.

After the initial surprise you would feel a sense of peace, calm and joy to be in the very presence of perfect love! As you look into His eyes you would feel confidence flowing to you… you would bare your heart to Him and the things you have wondered about for years would either be answered or no longer seem important.

I can’t speak for you, but I think my words might sound like this: “Lord, I know that I have failed you and disappointed you several times. I am truly sorry and want to change. How do You want me to change my life?”

What do you think Jesus would ask of you? Obviously I have a reason for this line of thought. In a few minutes we will be having a business meeting:

This church needs to consider its PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
This church belongs to God, not us
Therefore, we need to know the mind of Christ

In Matthew 18:15-20 we find a powerful teaching from Jesus about conducting the affairs of a local congregation.

"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. Where two or three come together in My name, there am I with them."

A careful study of this passage of scripture shows that these verses are addressed to the church. Certainly the apostles were included, but this is for all of the church. God gives us tremendous authority in agreeing prayer. Agreement in prayer means that we are committed to Christ’s purposes and there is unity in the church.

The same authority that was given to Peter to bind and to loose (that is, to define what is permitted and what is forbidden) is given to local congregations to act on matters of discipline and doctrine. The authority was given to Peter for that unique moment in church history was passed to the church, not to another individual.

Our church was established during the Fall of 1894 when Rev. Conrad Bechtold, a traveling representative of the German Evangelical Synod of North America, arrived in Kiel, OK to serve the Evangelical Germans in Holy Word and Sacrament. The church was named the “Evangelical Peace Church.”

Our Constitution states, “It shall be the purpose of this organization to establish in its community a Christian congregation for worship, to promote the Christian life, and to advance the Kingdom of God by all available means in the home, community, nation, and world.” (The pastor has voice, but no vote.)

Our church has been established and maintained by those willing to listen to and follow God in our church life. We are currently at one of those points in our continuing history where it is critical for each of us to listen to the Holy Spirit and walk in close harmony as we seek God’s will!

Is there any area where you feel like you have been ignoring God? I’ll be the first to admit that it is easy to be simplistic at a time like this! Listening to God is a skill that must be developed and maintained. However, it is not difficult if we will set aside our own agenda and listen to our spirit and seek guidance from scripture.

Pastor Leon