SundayAugust 28, 2016 Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas e-mail:
Message: Book of Revelation 1-5 Text: Revelation 2-3
He that hath an ear, let him hear
INTRODUCTION:Today, before we launch into our study of the seven churches of Asia Minor from the Book of Revelation chapters 2 and 3, I believe it important to notice how each one of these letters ends. Now follow me:
Revelation 2:7, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”
Revelation 2:11, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”
Revelation 2:17, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”
Revelation 2:29, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
Revelation 3:6, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
Revelation 3:13, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
“Revelation 3:22, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
There must have been a purpose that seven times we read, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches..."
We know about God the Father. We know how to pray, “Our Father which art in heaven.” We are taught that “God is Love.”
We know about God the Son, Jesus Christ, who was born of a virgin, lived among men, died on the cross, arose from the dead, and ascended on high.
But when we come to God the Holy Spirit, many people hesitate. We have a tendency in our day to either embrace the Holy Spirit or reject the Holy Spirit. Yet the ministry of the Holy Spirit is very real and vital to our Christina lives.
How oftenas believers do we put our plans and purposes into motion in the energy of the flesh with little dependence upon the Holy Spirit?
How oftenin our churches are there programs and meetings during which the Holy Spirit is withdrawn, and yet no one notices His absence.
How oftendo we as believers live defeated lives - frustrated with no joy even in worshipping and in serving the Lord?
During one of his missionary trips, the Apostle Paul questioned a group of Ephesians "Church members," about the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Their answer must have shocked him, for they replied in Acts 19:2, "...We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit)."
This statement by the Ephesian disciples illustrates the sorry and shameful treatment often given Him. His very existence has been ignored and His ministry misunderstood.
In theological terms the study of the Holy Spirit is called "PNEUMATOLOGY." The two Greek root words here are "pneuma" meaning "spirit” and the word "logos" meaning "doctrine." Therefore the study of "PNEUMATOLOGY" is the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity.
Someone said "Look on the Holy Spirit as the Holy Guest living in us."
We find there are three different ministries of the Holy Spirit described for us in the Bible.
In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit, mentioned eighty-eight times cameUPONa total of sixteen individuals. Some were priests, others were kings, some were prophets and others just ordinary men who were being used of God for His service. The Holy Spirit cameUPONthem as He willed, and left them also as He willed.
In the Gospels, the Disciples could pray for the Holy Spirit to beWITHthem.
In the New Testament Epistles, during the age of Grace, Jesus calls out for himself a Body, the Church.The Holy Spirit is nowIN YOU, the moment you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Romans 8:9 we read,"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell IN you..."
In I Corinthians 6:19 we read,"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is IN you..."
In the New Testament, one of the profound ministries of the Holy Spirit to the believer is the FILLING ministry found in Ephesians 5:18,“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; …”In the fourteen times the word"filled" is used in the New Testament, a better understanding would be achieved by using the word "controlled."
Much has been written about the believer living under the influence, the control of the Holy Spirit in the moment by moment everyday experiences of life.
Much also has been said about Spirit-filled preaching, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
When it comes to preaching in the power of the Holy Spirit, I understand this as a pastor.
My constant prayer as I prepare and as I approach the pulpit is, "Oh God give me power! Give me power as I preach today!"
Hopefully, there are laymen in the pews who are also praying, "Lord, hide our preacher behind the cross and may he preach in the power of the Holy Spirit today."
On the other hand, of all the ministries of the Holy Spirit to the believer, perhaps the one least known, the one least understood and the one least practiced, is that of Spirit-filled LISTENING. In all my years only one time did I hear a sermon on Spirit-filled LISTENING. We might neglect this subject, but the Bible does not!
Now please turn with me to Romans 10 and follow me as I read verses 14-16.
“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (15) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaiassaith, Lord, who hath believed our report?” Now please notice verse 17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
If I am going to have FAITH, then I must HEAR.
What am I to HEAR? It is the Word of God.
If I am going to hear the Word of God, then I must have spiritual ears to hear what God has to say.Remember this "the hearing of the Word of God brings faith."
That's why I instruct young parents with babies to read the Word of God to that infant and keep on reading God's Word as they grow up. Why? So they will accept and understand it. But more importantly, so they may hear God, their Creator speaking. Upon hearing God speak, they will develop a heart toward faith.
QUESTION, How many of you before you came to the service today prayed, "Holy Spirit fill our preacher, empower our preacher as he preaches, And Holy Spirit give to me Holy Spirit ears to hear what you are saying."
I believe this one action could change the way you approach a preaching service,and how you listen to messages preached.
Think of it! “A preacher, who will preach in the power of the Holy Spirit to a Spirit-filled congregation who will listen in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
QUESTION,How many of you pay close attention to the Special music or the offertory as it is sung or played?
It's a shame how many of God's people think that the offertory is a time for intermission to walkout of the service or to talk. This is a time to be quiet and to think through the words of the music. Have you ever thought about asking the Holy Spirit of God to empower the musician and at the same time to give you “Holy Spirit ears” to bless your soul through the music? I sincerely believe if that be true, we would have many more spoken "Amen's!" to what was sung or played.
Please turn with me to Isaiah 50:4. “The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning...”Now carefully notice this last phrase, “he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.” So we find that the Holy Spirit can awaken the ear to hear.
Now go with me to I Corinthians 2:9 where we read, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
Now notice in verse 10, "But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit."This means the Holy Spirit can let us see things that the eye cannot see, and hear things that the ear cannot hear. The DEEP THINGS of God come when our hearing is empowered by the Holy Spirit. Now how do we receive these things? Notice verse 12. “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”
Then in verse 14 we are reminded that, "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God." God is saying that the natural ear cannot hear all that God has for us; there is a spiritual ear and a spiritual hearing that God has for us.
Oh, the things that God has to reveal to us if we would but LISTEN! Stop and think about this:
Can you image what would happen if before I preach, I would be saying, "O Holy Spirit of God as I preach give me power to deliver thy word to thy people. They are hungry Lord, They need spiritual bread, but I need your help, your power, to give it to them."
Can you imagine what would happen if you in the pew would be praying at the same time, "O Holy Spirit of God give me a listening ear to hear, maybe a word, maybe a sentence, maybe a principle, maybe a statement or a verse that you know I need, HELP ME BE A SPIRIT-FILLED LISTENER."
Can you image the eternal impact if that would happen each and every service in which you attend. Over the years:
I have heard people say that sermon really blessed my heart.
On the other hand, I have had people who have heard the same sermon say I got nothing out of that sermon.
Why is this so? Well, I believe there are several situations in the pew that must be overcome.
There are folks who come to the services with preconceived ideas. I could preach the most convincing, convicting message, yet their thinking would not be affected. Why?Because they don't have ears to hear.
There are folks who hear a passage or a sermon and then close their ears, because they have heard it before. So they listen without hearing a thing said. Soon they develop an attitude that blocks spiritual messages. These people are similar to those in Mark 4:12, "That seeing they may see, and not perceive, and hearing they may hear, and not understand; least at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them."
There are folks who are listeners. Oh, to be sure they listen, but they do not apply the message to their hearts. They hear the truth, maybe they even understand the truth, they may even agree with it, but they walk away, forgetting to use the truth in their lives. Again these people are like those we read of in James 1:22-23, "For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face in a glass, For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and immediately forgetteth what manner of man he was."
It's amazing how many times the Holy Spirit helps me understand what is being said in a message. There are also many times the Holy Spirit directs my thoughts toward additional meaning.
There have been times in a message a preacher will say something and the Holy Spirit will remind me of another truth. At that moment I stop and search that truth out in the Bible for a few moments.
There have been times during a message God has spoken to me and given me thoughts or spiritual truths for another message or even series of messages.
There have been times when the Holy Spirit has taken that message and directly applied it to my own soul, using maybe a statement or a sentence or just one thought that the preacher has said.
I believe this one thought could transform your lives by preparing them for spiritual growth. It could also revolutionize all the services at church, if you would beg the Holy Spirit to give you spiritual ears to hear. THERE IS NO REASON WHY YOU CAN'T LEAVE THE HOUSE OF GOD WITHOUT SOMETHING FOR YOUR SOULS.
If you would use spirit-filled ears during the message, no matter if I bless your souls or step on your toes, you would be coming out of the services shouting, "Praise the Lord!"
Hereare the hurry, hurry, rush-filled movements of the average Christian or Christian family on a Sunday morning
They get up on Sunday morning, eat breakfast, rush to get ready for church, in some cases hollering at one another which creates tension in the home even before they leave for church.
They pile into the car while still fussing and race to church,oftentimes breaking the speed limit.
They come into the auditorium and flop into a pew without so much as a prayer or acknowledging those around them.
They go with the flow of the service, with one eye on the preacher and one eye on the clock while wishing the service would hurry up as they can't wait until it is over.
They rush out of church to race home, and they wonder why the service was either boring or meaningless and they couldn't get anything out of the message.
Listen, my friends you ought to come into the house of God every Sunday morning, every Sunday evening and every Wednesday night with the same anticipation, intensity and excitement as one goes to baseball, soccer or football games. This is God's business that is being conducted and you ought to walk in these doors for each and every service saying I wonder what the Holy Spirit wants to teach me today.
You know something? God has something in store for you. He wants you to hear even if the preacher does not actually say the words.
I have heard people say to me, "Thanks for teaching me the truth of ______." And when they tell me that and I go back over the message, I have said, "I didn't say it that way or I didn't even say it at all."
In other words the Holy Spirit taught them something I didn't even intend to say from the passage I was preaching upon.
The most important thing that goes on each and every week and each and every service in this place is the preaching and the teaching of the Word of God.
No fellowship is more important than the preaching and teaching of the Word of God
No meeting is more important than the preaching and teaching of the Word of God
That means when Sunday School is in session and the church service is going on and the teacher stands to teach or the preacher stands to preach, with all ears hanging on EVERY WORD that is preached or taught, you ought to be sitting out there saying
Lord I need food for my soul, feed me the Bread of life today.
Lord I need strength for the battles I will face this coming week, give me the Word that will provide that strength.
Lord I need spiritual oxygen to breath as I go out into the world this week.
Holy Spirit let me hear it with a heart to receive it and a willing mind to do it, with a Holy determination to go from this place and do what I ought to do.
This is what I believe will transform not only our lives, but also the service of this church. Such Spirit-filled listening is life-transforming and life-changing.
Let me conclude with the words from Zechariah 4:6, "...Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit..."
How many of us have stood and given testimony to God the Father? Oh, how good God is. How thankful are we for the greatness, mercy, grace, and power of God?
How many of us have stood and given testimony to God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, our crucified, buried, risen, ascended and returning Redeemer? Oh, how thankful we ought to be for all that Jesus means to us. We sing and rightfully so, "Praise Him, Praise Him, Jesus our blessed Redeemer..."