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3/18/18

Jesus explains how to have ears that hear

First of seven parables about the kingdom.
For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
Matthew 13:17 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.13.17.ESV
Jesus, probably explained this again after resurrection.
While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him... And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?"  And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:15‭-‬16‭, ‬25‭-‬27 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/luk.24.15-27.ESV
1. Refusing to hear, understand and believe God's word. Hard heart, resistance to God - devil's work.
- message is not the problem
- hard heart is the problem
- God changes the heart, we pray for his holy Spirit to prepare people ahead of us "planting" and "watering" 1 cor 3:6-9
2. "Promise keepers", emotional response but no brokenness about personal sin.
- circumstances, "users"
- Jesus blessings, personal  "favor"
- it's not there heart, it's a lack of new heart.
- it's about blessings, losses and crosses
- lack perseverance
3. Distracted heart: knitted to the world rather than committed to Jesus.
- not born again
4. Hears, obeys and shares.
- good ground doesn't lack rocks and thorns
- life change, evidenced by fruit Galatians 5:22-23
Matt 12:50 - does the will of the Father
1. Not all hearing is hearing
You've only heard it rightly when you've done it. "Okay mother, then do it."
2. Following Jesus is costly.  Your life placed in God's hands, secure for eternity
3. Not all evangelism is fruitless
- unstoppable growth even through the roads surface.  The sidewalk breaks apart.
4. Make sure you have trusted Christ, as evidenced by fruit in your life
- love, serve, give, pray, appetite for God's word,  care about people in the world?
- don't be deceived by past experiences, look at your life today
- present experience. Today if you hear his voice don't harden your heart.
- best life now is being connected to Jesus. Abide in Christ, bear fruit. John 14-17, 15:1-0

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