WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.660 This week in our series on prayer, we're thinking about listening. 00:00:05.100 --> 00:00:06.140 What's that like for you? 00:00:06.660 --> 00:00:12.160 What's been your experience of listening to the Lord and in the everyday things of life? 00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:16.120 Because everything is clamouring to divert us, isn't it? 00:00:17.719 --> 00:00:19.120 Winston Churchill once said, 00:00:19.320 --> 00:00:22.879 Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. 00:00:23.879 --> 00:00:27.460 Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. 00:00:28.460 --> 00:00:31.019 Listening and Courage are linked in this morning's reading. 00:00:31.900 --> 00:00:35.679 And Ananias listens, gets a message and responds. 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:40.079 And we're told that he's a disciple because that's what disciples do, don't we? 00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:42.539 You and I, we listen. 00:00:43.740 --> 00:00:46.359 On this day, the Lord calls him. 00:00:47.060 --> 00:00:49.040 The Lord calls him in a vision by name. 00:00:49.140 --> 00:00:53.820 Notice this, he recognises the Lord's voice above all others. 00:00:53.900 --> 00:00:54.840 That's very important. 00:00:55.120 --> 00:00:57.280 I'll tell you a story about that later. 00:00:57.460 --> 00:01:04.420 And he tells Ananias to go to the most dangerous person that any early follower of Jesus would have known. 00:01:04.960 --> 00:01:05.280 Saul. 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:06.700 Saul the tyrant. 00:01:07.099 --> 00:01:09.799 Saul, who is actively persecuting Christians. 00:01:10.140 --> 00:01:13.040 He tells him to go to Saul. 00:01:13.159 --> 00:01:15.780 He doesn't know what's happened before this. 00:01:15.780 --> 00:01:23.159 Is that the point in our listening where we stop listening? 00:01:23.159 --> 00:01:27.819 Where the Lord asks us to go and do something difficult. 00:01:29.519 --> 00:01:31.659 Ananias keeps on listening. 00:01:32.459 --> 00:01:34.560 He gets directions filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:01:34.679 --> 00:01:37.959 He goes and courageously does what the Lord asks him to do. 00:01:38.200 --> 00:01:40.780 His hands were probably shaking when he got to Saul. 00:01:40.939 --> 00:01:42.239 He laid hands on him. 00:01:42.400 --> 00:01:43.359 Saul can't see. 00:01:43.359 --> 00:01:45.959 Yet he brings a message. 00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:50.359 And he brings a message to Saul through Ananias. 00:01:50.359 --> 00:01:58.519 Ananias says to him, Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here as filled has sent me. 00:01:59.319 --> 00:02:01.900 He sent me so that you may see again. 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:04.260 What an encouraging message. 00:02:05.500 --> 00:02:07.599 He then says, be filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:10.060 And then Saul could see. 00:02:11.060 --> 00:02:13.460 And he got up and was baptized. 00:02:14.719 --> 00:02:16.419 What an amazing transformation. 00:02:17.319 --> 00:02:21.479 God's prompting brings hype, healing and new life for Saul. 00:02:21.799 --> 00:02:22.019 Why? 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:24.519 Because Ananias was tuned in. 00:02:25.180 --> 00:02:27.519 He listened and he responded. 00:02:28.099 --> 00:02:29.639 Great day's work, Ananias. 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:30.400 Great courage. 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:37.879 Along with the Lord's voice, there is someone else in my life who I listen to intently. 00:02:38.020 --> 00:02:43.020 After 38 years of marriage, I'm tuned in to the tone in Mandy's voice. 00:02:43.640 --> 00:02:45.719 When Mandy calls, I know whether it's urgent. 00:02:46.300 --> 00:02:47.800 I certainly know when I'm in trouble. 00:02:48.540 --> 00:02:53.620 But yet even in a noisy crowded place, Mandy doesn't have to shout. 00:02:53.620 --> 00:02:59.879 I can hear her voice above all the others because I'm tuned in. 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:02.280 This is what we're called to do. 00:03:02.360 --> 00:03:06.159 Are we tuned in and listened to recognize the Lord's voice? 00:03:07.159 --> 00:03:12.200 To hear his character through that communication which he longs to give to us. 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:15.480 That gentleness, the wisdom, the encouragement. 00:03:16.420 --> 00:03:17.540 Sometimes calm. 00:03:18.780 --> 00:03:20.460 His discernment and direction. 00:03:21.740 --> 00:03:25.659 In the power of his Holy Spirit, he sometimes gives us words and pictures. 00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:27.819 Speaking into our lives. 00:03:28.520 --> 00:03:29.480 Sometimes for us. 00:03:29.479 --> 00:03:31.519 Sometimes for others as well. 00:03:31.519 --> 00:03:35.099 And even when he says no, it's not harsh. 00:03:35.719 --> 00:03:37.699 In Christ, there is no condemnation. 00:03:39.039 --> 00:03:42.519 Tuning in and listening and knowing him is so important. 00:03:43.060 --> 00:03:47.079 It also helps us recognize when the Lord isn't speaking. 00:03:48.139 --> 00:03:51.379 Come with me and I'll tell you where that happened. 00:03:51.379 --> 00:03:55.359 Because here at Christ Church, I was leaving on a Sunday morning. 00:03:55.879 --> 00:04:00.439 I left here on a Sunday morning and I got to the bowling club walking on my way home. 00:04:00.500 --> 00:04:02.680 We'd had a fantastic Sunday morning service. 00:04:03.060 --> 00:04:03.979 It was brilliant. 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:11.560 And I got to the bowling club on my way home, thanking God when I sensed a voice. 00:04:11.560 --> 00:04:14.560 And it said, oh, Clive, what a load of rubbish. 00:04:15.259 --> 00:04:15.879 Do you know what? 00:04:15.939 --> 00:04:17.480 You are really up yourself. 00:04:18.100 --> 00:04:19.899 Who do you think you are? 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:21.699 You are well above your station. 00:04:22.220 --> 00:04:24.399 Punching well above your way, I'll tell you. 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:25.220 Do you know what? 00:04:25.220 --> 00:04:27.740 It was so stark. 00:04:29.140 --> 00:04:32.720 And I just sensed, I knew straight away this wasn't of God. 00:04:32.800 --> 00:04:33.860 I knew who this was. 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:38.780 So as Jesus told me, I rebuked it quite loudly. 00:04:39.340 --> 00:04:42.800 And I said out loud, oh, just get behind me, Satan. 00:04:43.980 --> 00:04:48.240 Now, I didn't know there was a chap sat down in the bowling club on a bench. 00:04:48.980 --> 00:04:52.040 And I sort of was aware of him. 00:04:52.080 --> 00:04:53.940 He looked up and I looked at him. 00:04:53.939 --> 00:04:56.839 He saw the collar and he goes, good on you, Vic. 00:04:57.139 --> 00:04:58.660 You tell him where to go. 00:04:59.379 --> 00:05:03.240 I think we both had a really good laugh that morning as we talked about that. 00:05:03.439 --> 00:05:09.420 But we recognize God's voice because it wasn't encouraging. 00:05:09.879 --> 00:05:10.899 It wasn't helpful. 00:05:11.379 --> 00:05:12.939 And it certainly built us up. 00:05:14.860 --> 00:05:17.120 Listening is so important. 00:05:17.240 --> 00:05:18.720 How do we expect to hear from God? 00:05:19.379 --> 00:05:21.300 One is to grab your hearing aid. 00:05:21.879 --> 00:05:23.500 And my hearing aid is the Bible. 00:05:23.939 --> 00:05:29.740 This is the most helpful way that I hear from him through his word. 00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:32.939 He speaks through his word because it's God breathed. 00:05:33.339 --> 00:05:39.100 Hear and speak to him personally through that. 00:05:39.100 --> 00:05:41.220 Maybe it's a word for you. 00:05:41.300 --> 00:05:42.500 Maybe it's a word for your family. 00:05:42.640 --> 00:05:44.000 Maybe it's something about your life. 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:45.840 Maybe it's something about your context. 00:05:45.960 --> 00:05:47.580 Something that he's asking you to do. 00:05:47.780 --> 00:05:48.480 It's there. 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:51.600 Listen for it in his word. 00:05:51.740 --> 00:05:53.520 Be encouraged, challenged, enthused. 00:05:53.800 --> 00:05:54.480 Be amazed. 00:05:55.160 --> 00:05:55.800 Tune in. 00:05:57.200 --> 00:06:00.040 Get to recognize also that still small voice. 00:06:00.040 --> 00:06:05.500 That gentle prompting that he often gives us through scripture again and again. 00:06:05.500 --> 00:06:08.839 And hearing and listening just isn't for us either. 00:06:09.019 --> 00:06:12.680 Perhaps sometimes he speaks and maybe it's for others. 00:06:13.379 --> 00:06:15.660 Ananias knew that the message was for Saul. 00:06:16.259 --> 00:06:19.959 He was told, be prepared to be courageous and be the messenger. 00:06:19.959 --> 00:06:22.939 And listen for his promptings too. 00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:24.759 How he seizes your attention. 00:06:25.180 --> 00:06:26.739 For me, my heart races. 00:06:27.519 --> 00:06:29.159 Tears sometimes come into my eyes. 00:06:29.599 --> 00:06:32.099 Something often comes into stark focus. 00:06:32.439 --> 00:06:35.120 And I know it's time to listen intently. 00:06:35.699 --> 00:06:36.259 Ask him. 00:06:36.919 --> 00:06:38.500 Ask the Lord, what are you saying to me? 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:39.399 What do you want to say? 00:06:39.679 --> 00:06:40.519 I'm listening. 00:06:41.740 --> 00:06:42.979 And don't get distracted. 00:06:42.980 --> 00:06:48.420 Tune into him and tune out the things that distract you. 00:06:49.160 --> 00:06:51.240 Enter into his presence. 00:06:51.360 --> 00:06:53.400 There's a thing called Lectio 365. 00:06:53.840 --> 00:06:54.259 It's an app. 00:06:54.520 --> 00:06:55.319 I do it every morning. 00:06:55.400 --> 00:06:57.720 I lay in bed and I listen to it. 00:06:58.340 --> 00:07:01.800 And it helps me enter into the presence of God for the day. 00:07:02.020 --> 00:07:05.420 Be aware that it's powerful stuff. 00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:09.600 Often midway through the day, you'll have heard a verse or something. 00:07:09.860 --> 00:07:11.780 And you meditate on it during the day. 00:07:11.779 --> 00:07:16.399 And you think, yeah, I can see why the Lord sees my attention with that. 00:07:17.899 --> 00:07:20.479 Be aware too that he can communicate through anything. 00:07:20.619 --> 00:07:23.059 A sunset, music, whatever. 00:07:24.039 --> 00:07:26.939 Ask the Lord, what are you saying to me in this moment? 00:07:27.059 --> 00:07:27.719 I'm listening. 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:32.939 Now also, I've had some pretty wacky stuff in my life as well. 00:07:33.099 --> 00:07:33.639 I'll tell you. 00:07:34.679 --> 00:07:38.319 And there's a good principle that I use when the wacky stuff comes. 00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:41.939 Pete Gregg says, use the ABC principle. 00:07:41.939 --> 00:07:43.000 And I agree with him. 00:07:43.420 --> 00:07:45.040 First is A, get advice. 00:07:45.500 --> 00:07:49.959 Get advice from a prayerful, wise Christian who is in tune. 00:07:50.639 --> 00:07:54.399 Who is sensitive to the prompting of the leading of the Holy Spirit. 00:07:55.779 --> 00:07:57.699 And get into the Bible as well. 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:02.500 Is what I'm hearing in line with the character of God? 00:08:02.500 --> 00:08:04.399 What do I need to hear? 00:08:04.600 --> 00:08:07.480 In 2 Timothy 3, it says, 00:08:07.720 --> 00:08:09.040 All scripture is God-breathed. 00:08:09.540 --> 00:08:13.500 And is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in all righteousness. 00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:18.620 So that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 00:08:18.759 --> 00:08:19.379 I like that. 00:08:20.420 --> 00:08:22.680 And C, is use common sense. 00:08:22.839 --> 00:08:24.500 God gave us common sense. 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:26.079 Test it out. 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:29.419 Did God really tell me to do this? 00:08:30.139 --> 00:08:31.240 Use common sense. 00:08:31.800 --> 00:08:32.399 Get advice. 00:08:32.980 --> 00:08:33.819 Get into the Bible. 00:08:35.000 --> 00:08:36.179 But I'm too busy. 00:08:36.679 --> 00:08:38.179 I hear that so many times. 00:08:38.259 --> 00:08:40.299 I hear that saying to myself, I'm too busy. 00:08:40.899 --> 00:08:41.779 Slow down. 00:08:42.860 --> 00:08:43.639 Slow down. 00:08:43.819 --> 00:08:46.340 Be still and know that I am God. 00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:49.519 I'm not good at being still. 00:08:49.960 --> 00:08:52.519 And when I'm not being still, I can't listen properly. 00:08:52.519 --> 00:08:58.039 Yet the more and more I still myself, I seem to hear God a lot clearer. 00:08:58.179 --> 00:09:02.139 He doesn't have to shout as loud to grab my attention. 00:09:03.399 --> 00:09:07.019 That slow, quiet whisper of the Holy Spirit. 00:09:08.419 --> 00:09:10.319 And as we read the Bible, don't rush. 00:09:11.360 --> 00:09:14.860 You know, often we rush through a verse, pause and meditate on it. 00:09:14.919 --> 00:09:15.340 Stop. 00:09:15.539 --> 00:09:17.559 Just use a verse for the day. 00:09:18.120 --> 00:09:19.259 And think on it. 00:09:19.419 --> 00:09:20.000 Ponder on it. 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:22.460 And say, Lord, what are you saying to me through this? 00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:27.740 Holy Spirit, come into this verse today and speak to me. 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:29.319 And speak to my life. 00:09:29.399 --> 00:09:30.460 What is it saying to me? 00:09:30.519 --> 00:09:31.939 What is it showing me? 00:09:32.019 --> 00:09:32.980 What do you want to say? 00:09:33.259 --> 00:09:34.759 Where should I be tuning in? 00:09:35.860 --> 00:09:37.319 And the second is soften up. 00:09:38.279 --> 00:09:41.659 In our busy lives, it's easy for our hearts to be hardened and cynical. 00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:44.319 We become negative, sharp, snappy. 00:09:44.659 --> 00:09:45.699 And we tune out. 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:47.100 Soften up. 00:09:48.379 --> 00:09:50.399 My goodness, did Paul soften up? 00:09:51.079 --> 00:09:51.860 He had to. 00:09:52.519 --> 00:09:54.179 He had no choice. 00:09:55.480 --> 00:09:59.919 But look at what happens when God can reshape your life. 00:10:00.620 --> 00:10:06.199 And there's no better example than Saul for us to do that as Christians. 00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:10.259 So, are you listening? 00:10:11.840 --> 00:10:13.480 What's he been saying to you? 00:10:15.020 --> 00:10:18.759 What's he been saying to you over these last few minutes? 00:10:21.340 --> 00:10:22.080 Tune in. 00:10:23.460 --> 00:10:24.220 Tune in. 00:10:25.220 --> 00:10:27.220 Let's make sure we don't miss him. 00:10:27.220 --> 00:10:29.360 Amen. 00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:30.399 Amen.