A Practical Charge to Parents and Children, Part 4

Today is the last or second to last Sunday in June and we're halfway through 2024. So I'm going to ask you a question. What have you accomplished in the last six months? We're halfway through. Oh, sorry, Henry. Keep that there. I might need that. What have you accomplished in the last six months? That's worth anything. Let me ask you this way.

In the last six months, what have you accomplished to advance the king and his kingdom? We have six more months to go in 2024, so you have plenty of opportunities to do so. But ask yourself, what have I accomplished for the king and his kingdom? In other words, what have you accomplished for the king in the arena where God has called you to live out your spiritual existence? In other words, there's a workplace. God has called you to live out your spiritual existence in that workplace. So others will see that he's your king and that you proclaim the message of the kingdom.

You have a family. In that family is a sphere of influence where you are to explain the king and his kingdom to live for the king and his kingdom. Over the last six months, how well have you accomplished that? See, this is very important because when God calls us to himself, he puts us in certain situations. And so your workplace, your school, your marriage, your family, none of that's by accident. It's all under divine appointment because you've been called to live out your spiritual existence as a citizen of the kingdom of God.

And in so doing, you are preparing specifically in your family, a generation of children that will make an impact in this society. That will make an impact primarily in their own families, but secondarily in society. And as parents, we have a huge responsibility to prepare our children to serve the king, to advance his kingdom, because that's who we are as citizens of the kingdom. We are to proclaim the excellencies of him who's called us out of darkness into his marvelous lights. Moses understood that in order to be effective in the land of Canaan, each and every family needed to understand their responsibility.

In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses addresses the nation. But in addressing the nation as a whole, he drives home the point that each and every family is responsible to raise a godly seed. Because they're going to go into a land, they're going to go into a pagan culture, they're going to go into a polytheistic region. Where they serve the one true living God and advance God's kingdom in that land. And so Moses knows that he must address the family. Because the strength of the nation of Israel resided in the strength of the families.

For if the families would compromise, the nation would compromise. So he wants to make sure that each and every family understands their responsibility. He charges them. He challenges them to understand their call. We told you last week that that charge centers around four words. Hear. H-E-A-R. Love. Teach. And worship. He says, in order to be effective in the arena where God's called us to live, the promised land, the land of Canaan. We must be attentive to God and his truth. Affectionate with God and his truth.

We must articulate God and his truth. And we must adore God and his truth. It wasn't like he was giving them this whole manual of things to do as parents. To make sure that their kids were in line and everything followed directly as God wanted it to be. He just simply sums it up by saying, look, there are four things that need to take place in your family. As we embark on the promised land, we must hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one. Deuteronomy 6, verse number 4. That's where it begins. You must be supremely attentive to this God, this one true God, this living God that's called us to live for him.

You must pay very close attention to all he says. In fact, he says in Deuteronomy 6, verse number 3, Oh, you should listen and be careful to do that it may be well with you and that you may multiply greatly in the land. You must listen.

You must be extremely attentive to all that God says. You know, for the most part, we're not really good listeners. And all throughout the book of Deuteronomy, Moses would go back and he would reemphasize this whole thing about listening. In fact, he says, listen, when you get into the promised land, Deuteronomy 27 and 28, when you get into the land, I want you to go to a specific place. And you can divide the tribes up, six and six. Six will embark on Mount Ebal. The other six will embark on Mount Gerizim.

And the priests and the Levites will gather in the middle. Why? Because the middle was a city. And the city was Shechem. And that plays a significant part in the history of Israel. Because if you go back to Genesis chapter 12, Abraham, when he embarked on the land, settled in Shechem. And there the Lord appeared to Abraham, it says in Genesis chapter 12. And the Lord appeared to Abraham and said, this is the land I'm giving to your and your descendants. And Abraham built an altar there and worshipped the Lord.

So Moses is going to take them back to their father Abraham. He says, when you get into the land, because I'm not going to go with you. So when you cross over the Jordan, you are to go to Mount Ebal. You are to go to Mount Gerizim. And the priests and the Levites with the Ark of the Covenant are going to stand in the middle. And half on one side and half on the other side. And they're going to reiterate the curses. As they reiterate the curses, they're not following God. Israel is to respond by saying, Amen, Amen, Amen.

And then it's going to reiterate the blessings. And the other half of Israel is going to respond by saying, Amen, Amen, and Amen. In fact, Moses says this. Now it shall be, Genesis chapter, sorry, Deuteronomy 28. Now it shall be, if you diligently listen to the Lord your God. It shall be, if you diligently listen to the Lord your God. Being careful to do all the commandments which I command you today. The Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you.

If you listen to the Lord your God. That's it. That's all you got to do. Just listen to what he says. Listen and obey. You can't obey unless you know what he says. So you got to listen attentively. Verse 15 of chapter 28 he says, But it shall come about if you do not listen to the Lord your God. To observe, to do all his commandments and his statutes. With which I charge you today. That all these curses will come upon you and overtake you. So you have a choice. To listen and obey. Or not listen and disobey.

But if you don't listen and you don't obey. All these curses are going to come upon you. But if you listen and obey. All these blessings are going to come upon you. And he wants them to understand that as you go into the promised land. The land that was promised to our father Abraham. We're finally going to embark on there.

And they did. And you read the book of Joshua. That's exactly what they did. And yet. They did not listen.

Moses would go on to say in Deuteronomy chapter 32. These words are not empty words. They're not futile words. They're not worthless words. These words are your life. So you must obey them. But you must listen to them. You must hear oh Israel. You must listen to what your God. The God. The only true God says.

And follow through. On everything he tells you to do. That's it. And you'll be blessed. But we took you last week to the book of Jeremiah. And showed you over and over and over again. That they hardened their hearts. And stiffened their necks. And they would not. Listen.

You know God's always been concerned. That we hear what he says. So. If you have your Bible turn to Luke chapter 8. Luke. Chapter 8. In Luke's gospel. Christ emphasizes. How you hear. Remember in the book of Revelation. Revelation 2 and 3. It closes with these words. Each letter. To each church. He who has ears to hear. Let him hear. What the spirit says to the churches. It reiterates it seven times. Are you listening? Did you hear it? The writer of Hebrews. Today. If you hear his voice. Do not harden your hearts.

As in the day of provocation. In the wilderness. Hebrews 3 verse number 7. He repeats it again in verse number 14. Today if you hear his voice. Are you listening to what he says? James says. Let every man be quick. To hear. Slow. To speak. And slower. At becoming angry. And that verse James 119. Has nothing to do with your conversation. Nothing at all. The context of James 119. Is how you hear the word of God. Because James 118 says. You've been brought forth by the word of truth. Therefore.

Be quick to the hearing. Of the truth. Be. Slow. At speaking the truth. And then be even slower. At becoming angry. About what you hear the truth says. Because the anger of man. Doesn't produce the righteousness of God. And then he goes into that long dissertation about. Not just being hearers of the word. But doers of the word. So the context of James 119. Has nothing to do with your conversation. With one another. But everything to do with how you hear the word of God. Be quick. To the hearing of the word.

There is so much emphasis. In the Bible. About listening. And hearing God's word. In fact. If you want to do a personal Bible study. Just go through your Bible. And read all the verses that talk about. Listening. And hearing. And obeying. What you've heard. It's astronomical. The emphasis that's put there. Why? We're terrible listeners. We just are. And Israel was. So when Christ shows up in the scene. He wants to make sure you hear what he says. In fact. Before Luke 8. There was. There was Matthew chapter 7.

Remember Matthew chapter 5, 6 and 7. The great sermon on the mount. Where the king comes. And presents his kingdom. This is what kingdom living is all about. So here's. Christ preaching this glorious sermon. On the mount. There on the northern slopes. Of the sea of Galilee. So people will be able to hear. About the king and his kingdom. And this is how he closed. This is a sermon. He says verse 24 of Matthew chapter 7. Therefore everyone who. Hears. These words of mine. And acts on them. May be compared to a wise man.

Who built this house on the rock. And the rain fell. And the floods came and the winds blew. And slammed against that house. And yet it did not fall. For it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine. And does not act upon them. Will be like a foolish man. Who built this house on the sand. The rain fell. And the floods came. And the winds blew. And slammed against the house. And it fell. And great was its fall. In fact you know. We're told in homiletics class. In seminary.

That you know. Don't end your sermon on a negative note. Jesus always did. Why do we tell preachers that? Jesus was always ending on a negative note. To get people to think about what they're doing. So he says. Are you hearing? Are you listening? Because if you hear what I've said. And you act upon it. You're like the wise man who built his house upon the rock. But if you hear the word of God. And you don't obey. That means you didn't listen effectively. You're a foolish man. The winds come. The rain begins to pour.

You're not going to be able to stand. You're going to fall. And great will be that fall. It says in verse 28. When Jesus had finished these words. The crowds were amazed. At his teaching. For he was teaching them. As one having authority. And not. As the scribes. They had never heard anything like this before. Why? Because all the scribes quoted other scribes. All the rabbis quoted other rabbis. Who did Jesus quote? Himself. The Bible. The Old Testament. He would say. You have heard that it was said by the ancients of old.

But I say to you. This is what you have heard. But I'm telling you the truth. And people were astonished. But nobody responded. Nobody repented. Nobody gave their life to Christ. He was the greatest preacher who ever lived. Preaching the greatest sermon ever recorded. And nobody repents. Nobody comes to Christ. But he ends with a warning. Are you listening to what I said? This is what it means to be a part of the kingdom. This is how you get into the kingdom. This is what kingdom citizenship looks like.

Who wants to be a part of this? Answer. Nobody on the northern slopes of the Sea of Galilee on that day. Nobody wanted to do that. So Christ is going to explain to his men. In Luke chapter 8. With a parable. It's equivalent to Matthew chapter 13. Where Christ begins to speak in parables. A parable is simply a. Earthly story. With a heavenly meaning. And so he says these words. Verse 4. When a large crowd was coming together. And those from the various cities were joining to him. He spoke by way of a parable.

The sower went out to sow a seed. And as he sowed some fell beside the road. And it was trampled in the foot. And the birds of the air ate it up. Other seeds fell on rocky soil. And as soon as it grew up. It withered away because it had no moisture. Other seed fell among the thorns. And the thorns grew up with it. And choked it out. Other seed fell into the good soil. And grew up. And sowed. And produced a crop. A hundred times as great. As he said these things. He would call out. What? He who has ears to hear.

Let him hear. Same thing. Christ is going to go right back to. Are you listening? Do you hear? Do you understand? Are you paying attention to anything I'm saying? He goes to verse number nine. His disciples began questioning him. As to what this parable meant. They didn't get it. He said. To you it has been granted to know. The mysteries of the kingdom of God. But to the rest. It is in parables. So that seeing. They may not see. And hearing they might not understand. Christ did this. I want you to hear.

I want you to listen. The parables willful. Rejection. Christ now. Pronounces a judicial. Rejection. On them. It's like when Pharaoh. Hardened his heart. He willfully hardened his heart. Way back in the book of Exodus. And so then God. Hardened Pharaoh's heart. A willful hardening. Leads you to a judicial. Hardening. Where God does the hardening. Where Christ does the rejecting himself. You see Israel didn't listen.

That's evident by. What we talked about last week. And in the book of Jeremiah. And what led them into captivity. And how God kept speaking to them. Sending them prophets. But they would not listen.

They didn't care to hear. Because it all comes back down. To the same principle. Do you hear what I'm saying? Are you listening attentively? That you're willing to obey. All that I say. Because if you hear. And you don't obey. You didn't listen effectively. Or you don't care what I say. And you're in danger of. Hardening your heart. But if you receive what I say. And you obey it. Your heart is soft. And wait and see what happens next. Nothing but blessing and joy. Because you're serving me. So Christ tells his men.

Listen I'm speaking in parables. Why? Because Israel refuses to listen. Says look I just preached the greatest sermon. Ever preached by any preacher who ever lived. And nobody responded. Nobody heard. Nobody wanted to give their life to the Messiah. So guess what? Because of their willful rejection. There now becomes a judicial rejection. And I'm going to speak to them now.

Not only in parables. They're not going to understand. And in Matthew's account. He quotes Isaiah chapter 6. Verses 9 and following. Because it's a prophecy that God gives. If you don't listen.

Guess what? There's going to be a judicial rejection. Charged to your account. If you refuse to respond. And follow what I tell you to do. And so he explains it to them. Now listen to what he says. Now the parable is this. These beside the road are those who have. What's the next word? Heard. Then the devil comes. And takes away the word from their heart. That they will not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky soil. Are those who when they hear. Receive the word with joy. And these have no firm root.

They believe for a while. And in time of temptation fall away. The seed which fell among the thorns. These are the ones who have heard. And as they go on their way. They are choked with worries. And riches and pleasures of this life. And bring no fruit to maturity. But the seed of the good soil. These are the ones who have heard. The word in an honest. And good heart. Hold it fast. And bear fruit with perseverance. He says in the kingdom age. The word of the Lord is going to go forth. And people are going to listen.

But very few will listen to the point. Where they bring forth fruit. The word of God. And obey the word of God. Or there will be some who hear. And say well that sounds good. I think I'll just jump on the Jesus bandwagon. And kind of follow Jesus along. And see where it takes me. And see if all things are going to be good. Or are they going to be bad. Or what's going to happen next. Because they haven't denied themselves. And taken up the cross and followed Christ. And the cares of this world. And the seedfulness of riches.

And the temptation that comes. Because they haven't obeyed the word. But one soil is good. It produces fruit. So Christ goes on. With the same theme. About hearing the word. Because this is a major theme. In the teaching and ministry of Christ. Just like it was a major theme in the Old Testament. So he says this. Now no one lighting a lamp. Covers it. Over with a container. Or puts it under a bed. But he puts it on a lamp stand. That those who come in may see the light. For nothing is hidden. That will not become evident.

Nor anything secret that will not be known. And come to light. Verse 18. So. Take care. How. You. What? Listen.

Take care how you listen. For whoever has to him more will be given. And whoever does not have. Even what he thinks he has. Shall be taken away from him. So he says listen.

You need to make sure that you're listening correctly. If you're listening correctly. You listen evangelistically. Because no one hides their lamp under a bushel. But they shine it forth. You also hear genuinely. Why? Because the Lord knows the secret motives of your heart. You also listen productively. Why? Because that which you've received. You're now going to give forth even all the more. But those who don't listen correctly. That will be taken away from them. And then he says. As he goes on in verse number 22.

Excuse me. Verse number 19. You believe and hear obediently. And his mother and brothers came to him. And they were unable to get to him. Because of the crowd. And it was reported to him. Your mother and your brothers are standing outside. Wishing to see you. But he answered and said to them. My mother and my brothers are those who. Hear the word of God. And do it. See we forget. What Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 5. When you come to the house of God. Go there to listen.

Make sure your ears are attentive. Make sure your heart is soft. Make sure you're ready to receive. All that God has for you. When you get there. You must listen attentively. You must listen quickly. You must listen evangelistically. You must listen genuinely. You must listen productively. And obediently. You can't afford not to listen.

And some of you are saying. Okay. Okay. You preached last week on this. You preached this week on this. Isn't it time to move on to the next point? Not yet. Not yet. Why? Because the very next scene. Jesus gives. His disciples a test. On how they listen.

Look what it says. Now in one of those days. Jesus was. Jesus and his disciples got into a boat. He said to them. Let us go over to the other side of the lake. So they launched out. But as they were sailing along. He fell asleep. And a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake. And they began to be swamped. And to be in danger. They came to Jesus. And woke him up saying. Master. Master. We are perishing. And he got up. And rebuked the wind. And the surging waves. And they stopped. And they became calm.

And he said to them. Where. Is. Your. Faith. Where is your faith? Did you not hear. What I said. I said. Let us get. Into the boat. And go. To the other side. Of the lake. But in the. Middle of the lake. A storm breaks out. And they. Forgot. What Jesus said. That their destiny was the other side of the lake. They thought there would be smooth sailing. But when there wasn't smooth sailing. What did they think? We are going to die. We are going to perish. We are not going to make it. Now they remember.

These are fishermen. These are men who know the sea. These are men. Who are skilled. On the sea. That is how bad the storm was. Yet they were afraid. Why? So Jesus rebukes them. And says. Why are. You. Of all people. Don't believe. In what I just told you. Because faith is believing. In what God has already said. In what had God already said. Let us go in. Let us go to the other side of the lake. That is what he said. But he didn't believe. Did they really hear. What he said. Were they listening.

Attentively. To what God said. So these men. Who were with Jesus. Right. Every day for three years. Hearing every sermon. Listening to every conversation. Yet they had trouble. Hearing what God said. When he told them. He was going to die. He was going to be beaten. He was going to be crucified. He would rise again. The third day.

When he rose again. The third day. Guess who didn't believe. The disciples. They didn't believe. So he appears to them. To show them. He didn't listen.

I told you. I would die. I told you. How I would die. I told you. I would rise again. Yet you didn't believe. And these men. Who are with Jesus. Every day. For three years. If they had trouble. Listening and hearing. To what God said. How much more do we. Have problems listening. And hearing to what God says.

Why do we get so flustered. So anxious. So depressed. So worried. About things. Because we didn't listen.

We didn't hear. What God said. About his sovereignty. About his power. About his grace and mercy. His providence. We didn't listen very good. Because if you listen to what God says.

It changes everything. I'm reminded of the story of. John MacArthur when. His wife was in a car accident. A number of years ago. They weren't sure whether she was going to live or die. I believe it was his oldest daughter. Who. Was having a difficult. Difficult time. Weeping profusely. And in the hospital. John takes her aside. He says these words to his daughter. If what you say. You believe. Is true. You better start. Acting like it. She says it changed her whole perspective. On the situation with her mother.

Because if God is sovereign. If he's providentially in control of everything. He's a God of grace and mercy. He's my shepherd. He's going to care for me. Protect me. Watch over me. He's not going to let any temptation come my way. That's too difficult for me to handle. He's going to walk me through it. Like disciples. Instead of crying out. Lord we're perishing. We're going to die. No. It's not your time to die. You're going to the other side of the lake. But they didn't listen very well. And that's our problem.

Israel had the problem. All throughout the Old Testament. You embark on the New Testament. The problem was still there. So Jesus addresses it. He addresses it over and over again. Paul addresses it in the epistles. The right of Hebrews does. James does. Why? Because you need to hear what God says.

So in order to advance the kingdom. As citizens of the kingdom. As children of the king. You need to hear. Oh Israel. The Lord. Your God. Is one. You serve the true God. The living God. The only God. This is the one you serve. You. Listen.

To Him. How well are you listening? How well do you hear what God says? You know all of us. Need to. Do a little. Ear cleansing. To make sure that our heart and ears. Are attentive to what God is saying. Why? Because everything. About. Loving God. Everything about. Teaching God. Everything about. Worshiping God. All comes from one thing. Hearing. Who He is. Faith comes by hearing. And hearing by word concerning the Christ. You must be a good listener. I know as parents you want your children to listen to you right?

You want your children to listen? And how do you know they're listening? They obey. Right? They obey. They hear what you say. And they put it into action. You say. Listen today. I want you to do this. Do this. And do that. They say okay. Get to the end of the day. Have you done this? I forgot. No. Didn't forget. There was something more important to you. Than doing what I said. Didn't forget. Because you said in the morning. Okay. But in the evening. There was something more important. Came along.

Throughout the day. That you decided to do. Instead of obeying me. Your mother or your father. But. If they accomplish those tasks. By the end of the day. You say. Did you do this? Yes I did. Was this done? Yes it was. They listened. And obeyed. And that's what. We want from our children. Right. We want them to be able to hear the command. Hear the directions. Follow through on them. I know. People. Have always asked my wife. Over the years. How do you know when it's time to have another one? Another child?

We have one. How do you know it's time to have another one? She always says that. You know. You can have another one. When you can sit on the couch. Not move. Tell your other child what to do. And they obey. They follow through. Then you're ready to have another one. Until then. You're not ready. You got some more training to do. Because they need to listen to your commands. They follow through on what you say. And you see the same thing is true in Christendom. We as citizens of the kingdom. Must listen to the king as he speaks.

And when the king speaks. We say yes Lord. Yes. We will follow through. And then. Once you hear. What he has said. All you can do. Is fall in love with him. And so.

Moses says. Hear oh Israel. The Lord our God. Is one. And you shall love. The Lord your God. With all of your heart. All of your soul. All of your mind. You shall love him with everything. That you have. Why? Because of who he is. He's the only God. He's the one true God. And so once there's an attention to the truth. Of the living God. Then there is a. An affection. For the God. Of that truth. Because if anyone does not love the Lord. First Corinthians 16.22.

He's cursed. And once you hear him speak. And know what he says. You love him. Do you love the Lord? How do you know you really love the Lord? Are you the parents that truly love. The Lord more than anything. So your children will not just hear what you say. But see your passion. And affection. For the Christ. Do you love him with all of your heart. All of your soul. All your mind. All your strength. Or do you love him halfheartedly. Partially. Every once in a while. This week. We'll examine that together.

Let's pray. Father we thank you Lord for today. A chance to be reminded of. How we are to listen to the truth. How we are to listen to what you have to say. You've spoken to us in your word. You made it so clear to us. You put it in print. So all we have to do is open it up and read it. We are so grateful for that. I pray for our parents. They would lead the way in listening. So their children would learn how to listen.

To the voice of the Lord as he speaks to us through his word. And that Lord. They would be able to exhort their children. On how to. Love. Their God. I pray for strength. Grace and mercy. For each parent. Each grandparent. That Lord you'd work in their hearts. Use them in a magnificent way. In the lives of their children. As they build into them. That they might serve you. Effectively. In the generations to come. Until you tarry. If you will. In Jesus name. Amen.