Tag Archive | listen

Dwell on What is Right

Nov4

Finally, brethren, whatever is right, . . . Dwell on these things . . .
Philippians 4:8c NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/php.4.8.NASB1995

(God) said, “give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes,”¹ “Be careful to listen to all these words which I command you, so that it may be well with you and your sons after you forever, for you will be doing what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God.²

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect (take thought for) what is right in the sight of all men.³ For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.⁴ You shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may be well with you . . . ⁵ So you shall remove the guilt of innocent blood from your midst, when you do what is right in the eyes of the Lord.⁶
Exodus 15:26/Deuteronomy 12:28/Romans 12:17/1 Peter 2:20/Deuteronomy 6:18/Deuteronomy 21:9 NASB1995 NASB1995

He who speaks (breathes) truth tells what is right, But a false witness, deceit. Proverbs 12:17 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.12.17.NASB1995

🌹but in every nation the man who fears (reverences) Him (God) and does what is right (works righteousness) is welcome to Him.
Acts 10:35 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/act.10.35.NASB1995

Finally, brethren,whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Philippians 4:8 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/php.4.8.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

¹ https://bible.com/bible/100/exo.15.26.NASB1995
² https://bible.com/bible/100/deu.12.28.NASB1995
³ https://bible.com/bible/100/rom.12.17.NASB1995
⁴ https://bible.com/bible/100/1pe.2.20.NASB1995
⁵ https://bible.com/bible/100/deu.6.18.NASB1995
⁶ https://bible.com/bible/100/deu.21.9.NASB1995

Parable of The Sower

Jul28

Matthew 13:3-9; Mark 4:3-9; Luke 8:5-8

The parable of the sower must be a very important story for it to be recorded three times in the Bible.

I had the privilege last week to share from the book of Matthew this parable with 35 children ages 9-12. At the end of the week they were asked, “Which heart are you?”.

Verses 3-4: The hard heart. Hears but doesn’t listen so as to apply it to the heart.

Verses 5-6: The stony or rocky heart. Receives the word with great joy but no roots in the word of God are grown so it dies.

Verse 7: The heart of thorns. This heart hears but selfish desires and fears choke out the word.

These three hearts bear no fruit for the kingdom of God.

Verse 8: The healthy heart of good soil hears, understands, and does good works, bearing fruit for God’s kingdom.

God makes our heart good so we understand His word and produce fruit. The fruit begins in us by the Spirit of God. We understand and grow spiritually by His word. We obey God’s word. We tell others about Jesus. We are a caring, loving person.

A heart that desires to know Jesus more and more everyday will grow in knowledge of His word and follow Him in obedience to His word.

Which soil are you?

🌹He who has ears, let him hear (listen).”
Matthew 13:9 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.13.9.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Listen Before You Speak

Jun16

This you know (know this), my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
James 1:19-20 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.1.19-20.NASB1995

Continuing speaking on the subject of trials we know we must encounter them with joy (James 1:2), but we must also be quick to listen, to hear what is really being spoken, to get full understanding.
A person who talks too much gets into trouble. A wise person learns to be quiet. The more you talk, the more likely you are to sin. If you are wise, you will keep quiet for the one who controls his lips is wise. (Proverbs 10:19)
In the quiet you will be taking time to allow God through His Spirit to give you the words to speak.
So don’t allow your spirit to be provoked, causing anger to settle in you. Don’t be quick to lose your temper, for outrage is embraced by fools. (Ecclesiastes 7:9)

🌹for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.
Luke 12:12 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/luk.12.12.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Love By Listening

Mar17

He who despises his neighbor lacks sense, But a man of understanding keeps silent (heart).
Proverbs 11:12 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.11.12.NASB1995

This verse reminds me of two famous quotes I heard as I was growing up.

“Don’t judge someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.”

And

“Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.”

To belittle or despise our neighbor lacks compassion, an attribute of our Lord; and since we don’t truly know how someone responds to life situations, could we just give an understanding, silent ear without sharing our opinion?

🌹Arguments never seem to solve anything. A listening ear can change a heart.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

God’s People, Repent

Mar7

and My people who are called by My name . . . turn from their wicked ways,
2 Chronicles 7:14d NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/2ch.7.14.NASB1995

And you will say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord, “If you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law which I have set before you, to listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have been sending to you again and again, but you have not listened;
Jeremiah 26:4-5 NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/jer.26.4.NASB1995

But you have not listened. How do we listen? By prayer and the reading of God’s word under the guidance of the Holy Spirit that lives in us, the believer. 

Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’
Ezekiel 33:11 NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/ezk.33.11.NASB1995

For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing,
Isaiah 30:15 NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/isa.30.15.NASB1995

Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?
Ezekiel 18:23 NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/ezk.18.23.NASB1995

‭‭Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.
Acts 8:22 NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/act.8.22.NASB1995

O, for the love of God toward His people. He pleads, through the Holy Spirit and His word, to turn from the wickedness in our lives, in the world, to Him. There in His presence is rest, quietness and strength. Let us come to the Father with repentant hearts and truly be His people.

🌹Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
Revelation 3:19 NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/rev.3.19.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Come, Listen, Live

Feb21

Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful mercies shown to David.
Isaiah‬ ‭55:3‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/isa.55.3.NASB1995‭‭

For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, “I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite.
Isaiah‬ ‭57:15‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/isa.57.15.NASB1995‭‭

“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
Isaiah‬ ‭57:21‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/isa.57.21.NASB1995‭‭

Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.
Isaiah‬ ‭55:6‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/isa.55.6.NASB1995‭‭

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Read And Listen

Nov5

“These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.                   John 14:25‭-‬26 NASB

Here is Jesus speaking to His disciples while abiding with them, teaching, assuring, leading. But Jesus was about to be crucified so He would no longer be abiding with them. But out of His great love and purpose the Father would not desert them. He sent the Holy Spirit to abide in them.

Jesus spoke the word to the disciples. Disciples today have those words in the Bible. As the disciples had to walk and listen to Jesus, we have to walk with God and listen when we read the Bible. Ever wonder why you don’t hear God? Are you reading His word?

And the greatest part of reading and listening to God’s word is that when we need discernment, or to share the gospel the Holy Spirit will bring it to mind what to say because He abides in us. Hallelujah!!!

🌹 Read and listen. Trust and obey. God will use you.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Name of God

Sep21

For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations,                      Malachi 1:11a NASB

If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name,” says the Lord of hosts, “then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart.  Malachi 2:2‭ NASB

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;                       1 Peter 2:9 NASB

“My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him as an object of reverence; so he revered Me and stood in awe of My name. True instruction was in his mouth and unrighteousness was not found on his lips; he walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many back from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. Malachi 2:2‭, ‬5‭-‬7 NASB

God takes His name seriously and your role in the priesthood of the saints. We are His possession for the proclaiming of His excellencies.

How do we do this? By speaking truth from our lips, which comes by the reading and study of God’s word and walking with Him in peace and uprightness. We are the messengers of God to turn many back from iniquity, sin.

You can’t help but stand in awe of His name when walking intimately with God. And you can’t help but speak His truth when when you do.

🌹Do you stand in awe of His name?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Disciple

Sep14

And they spent a long time with the disciples. Acts 14:28 NASB

From the moment we are born we begin to learn. Learn to eat, walk, talk, etc.

Disciple: A student, learner.

Within 2 years of a child’s life, he learns all the basics that over time are fine tuned. Christians are the same way. For years we have prayed, hoped, and got excited about people coming to know the Lord Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. Many have come to that decision and yet our churches are dwindling in numbers. Why?

Could it be that we have left these Christian babies to fend for themselves? We introduce them to the Savior and then expect them to survive in a hostile world with satan who seeks to devour them. They need instruction. They need to be mentored by a mature Christian who can show them the ropes.

Discipling someone is taking the time (long time) to mentor them in how to seek the Lord, teaching them the spiritual disciplines, encouraging them in their walk, listening, answering their questions, being their friend. It costs to disciple. It cost Jesus His life so that we may be discipled by the Holy Spirit. He discipled 12 who could carry on.

🌹Can we disciple one? Is there someone in your life you could disciple? Would you pray for someone that you could disciple? The answer may not come right away, but God has someone for you to disciple or He would not have commanded us to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations”.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Listen. . .

Dec9

“Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: — Acts 13:16b

Listen:

to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; give ear.
to pay attention; heed; obey

God is calling, speaking, commanding, warning, teaching, counseling, etc. Are you listening?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon