Continued spiritual life – whether an individual’s life or a congregation’s life – depends on hearing “what the Spirit says to the churches.” The Father points to Jesus and declares, “This is My Son… Listen to Him!” (Matthew 17:5) Listen openly. Listen honestly. Listen carefully. Listen with trust. Listen with repentance and obedience. To do so is to keep living. To fail to do so is to be removed from God’s people.
… You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people…’ (Acts 3:22-23). M
Jesus invests enormous and enduring power in His words:34 power like a sword to conquer35 and to judge,36 power to call37 and to save,38 power to encourage, mature and make fruitful,39 and power for everlasting life that begins now! 40
Jesus assures us, “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63). Recognizing this fact, Satan works hard to interfere with our hearing. Much is at stake. “Therefore,” warns Jesus, “consider carefully how you listen” (Luke 8:18). How do you hear? Do you listen? Do you listen carefully? These are the questions we must consider in the next lesson.
CHRIST IS IN YOU BECAUSE YOU LISTEN TO HIM!
34. Matthew 24:35; 1 Corinthians 1:18; Hebrews 1:3; 11:3; 2 Peter 3:5,7
35. Ephesians 6:17; Revelations 1:16; 2:12,16; 19:15
38. The saving word: Matthew 7:24; Acts 11:14; Ephesians 5:26; John 15:3; Romans 1:16; 15:4; 1 Corinthians 1:21; 1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 3:15-16; James 1:21; 1 Peter 1:23; Psalm 19:7-8; 119:9-11,105-112
39. 2 Peter 2:2; 1 Timothy 4:6; Matthew 13:23; 1 John 2:14
40. John 5:24; 6:63,68; 12:50; Luke 4:4 cf. 1 John 5:13
Research Subjects
- The “call” from God
- Called to hope for the future
- Heaven as home
- “Testify” and “witness” in John
- Examples of conversion
- The word as the seed
- Timothy and Paul
We can never be worthy of living with God. However, as people called by God, our actions should be “worthy” in the sense of honoring God. He has given us the great gift of salvation, and we should live with appreciation for that gift. In order to honor God’s call to us, we must learn to listen. As “disciples,” we are called to learn continually from Jesus, and to turn that knowledge into obedience to Him. The words of Christ are not only the guide posts for a good life, but His words are life itself!
Memory Verses
- Philippians 3:13-14 – Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
- Ephesians 4:1-6 – I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:12 – …we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
- Colossians 1:10 – …so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
- 1 Peter 1:23 – …since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God…
- 1 Peter 2:2 – Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.
- 2 Timothy 2:15 – Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
- Colossians 2:6-7 – Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
- John 8:31 – So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples…”
- Matthew 28:19-20 – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age”
- Revelation 3:19-20,22 – Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me…. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
- Acts 3:22-23 – Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people…’
Lord and King who is enthroned in heaven, You have called me to be with You. Help me to live a life that shows how much I honor that gift. Help me to be open always to You, to listen to You carefully. Grant me the strength to obey Your will. Help me to crave Your word as a newborn baby craves milk. Lord, I am ready now to listen…