Motivation for the Main Ministry, Part 2

We have been studying in Luke chapter 10, the story of Mary, Martha, and Jesus Christ, our Lord. It's a very important encounter between Christ, Mary, and Martha, because it teaches us about the one thing that is absolutely necessary for your life and for my life, and that is to listen to divine truth. There is nothing more important in this life than to listen to divine truth. How else do we know how to live? How else do we know about Jesus Christ and who he is, unless we listen to all that he has to say?

Mary chose the best part. She chose that which would never leave her, because it is the eternal word of God. Martha had been distracted. She had been busy doing things that were good, doing things that were for the glory of the Lord. She wanted to honor him, and yet what she did paled in comparison to what Mary did, because Mary would sit at the feet of Jesus and she would listen to the words that he spoke. And so we have looked at Luke chapter 10 at the end to help you understand how important it is to listen to divine truth.

And so we want to pick up once again that encounter to help you understand how important it is for you to be a listener. This is not the first time in Luke's that we've talked about this.

Jesus said in Luke chapter 8 verse number 18, he gave a warning. He said, take care how you listen. This won't be the last time we hear about it either, because in Luke 11, once again he says, blessed are those who hear my words and obey them. In fact, in Luke chapter 9, he said, this is my beloved son, listen to him. So in Luke 8, in Luke 9, in Luke 10, in Luke 11, there's a reminder to listen to divine truth, to listen to the words of God. It's a reminder that is repeated throughout scripture over 34 times in the Old Testament.

It says these words, hear the word of the Lord. Six times in the Old Testament, it says, hear, oh Israel. Over and over again in the Psalms, Job, Isaiah, you hear the phrase, listen to me. In Psalm 95, it says, he who has ears to hear, hear, oh I'm sorry, today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. That phrase is repeated in Hebrews chapter 3, Hebrews chapter 4. So the reminder to listen to all that the Lord has to say is crucial. But so many times we listen superficially. We listen self-centeredly.

We listen emotionally. We listen psychologically. But we don't listen properly. We don't listen authentically. We don't listen honestly. And therefore, we don't listen savingly. We need to hear what the word of the Lord has for us. We need to be ready listeners. We need to be quick to hear what the word of the Lord has to say. Why? Well, that's what we're talking about. The motivations to that main ministry of listening to all that God has to say. We don't want to encounter the barrenness of busyness.

We can be involved in so many good things that we forget the one thing that is absolutely necessary. And that is to listen to divine truth. And so we told you that Solomon said in Ecclesiastes chapter 5, guard your steps as you go to the house of God. Why? Because you're going there for one reason, to listen.

That's why you go to the house of God. You go to listen. And that's why he says, don't be too quick to bring up a matter before the Lord. Don't be too hasty to speak because you're going to listen.

That's so important. But we forget that, don't we? We want to speak so much. We want to say so much. But we need to listen.

And if we were honest with ourselves, we would have to say that we're not very good listeners. We don't like to listen to our spouse. We don't like to listen to someone to tell us what to do. And that carries over into our walk with the Lord. We don't like to listen to the Lord either. And yet we need to be listeners. And so the reminder to listen, to hear, to obey what you've heard is all throughout the scriptures. Because so often we refuse to do the one thing that is absolutely necessary in our lives.

The one thing that Jesus says was the preeminent thing, the priority for our lives. And that is simply to listen.

And so we've given you some motivations for listening. They helped me know my Savior and they helped me know myself. They helped me know the Lord and they helped me understand my life. And we're looking at point number one, how they helped me know my Lord.

It's a motivation that causes me to want to be a ready listener. Number one, because it testifies to God's reality.

We covered this last week. Hebrews 11 verse number six, he who comes to God must believe that he is and that he is the rewarder of those who diligently seek him. And the whole purpose behind seeking God is to hear what he has to say. And the word of God speaks to us to tell us about the God who exists. And we know that the unbeliever is a hater of God. He suppresses the truth. He doesn't want to know about the reality of God's existence. But we are motivated because God's word testifies as to his reality.

And it also, number two, specifies his identity. It tells us the name of our God, the nature of our God. It helps explain to us the identity of the God we worship. And that's why Jesus said, unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins. That's why Moses said, tell me who shall I say sent me? What is your name? And the Lord God from the burning bush said, tell him I am sent you a name that speaks to his delivering power, a name that emphasizes his self existence, his self sufficiency, his eternality.

You tell them that I am sent you. It's his memorial name. And so when we read through the scriptures, we know that Jesus says, I am the bread of life.

I am the way, the truth and the life. I am the good shepherd. I am the light of the world. He says, I am the great I am. And so it specifies his identity. We listen to all that God has to say, because in the book of Hebrews chapter one, it says that God has spoken in these last days through his son, Jesus Christ. And so we listen to what he says in his word. We want to understand more and more about who this God is we serve. The motivation for listening to our Lord through his word is because it testifies to God's reality.

It specifies his identity. It amplifies his glory. It speaks to us about the beauty of God. It speaks to us about the brightness of God. It speaks to us about the bigness of God, the great glory of almighty God. And Moses had this passion, show me your glory. And so the Lord God would proclaim to him his loving kindness. He would proclaim to him his truthfulness. He would proclaim to him his compassion because to see him is to hear him and to hear him is to see him. And so we help you understand that the scriptures amplify his glory.

We also help you understand last week that it magnifies his authority. Our God is authoritative. All authority, both in heaven and on earth have been given unto our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He says, I have the authority to lay my life down and I have the authority to take up my life again. I have authority over disease. I have authority over death. I have authority over the deep. I have authority over disease and demons. I have authority over everything, Christ says.

He demonstrated that while he was on earth. And so when we listen to the word of God and we hear God speak, we understand that it magnifies his authority. That was last week. Number five, it ratifies his story. Why do we listen to the word of the Lord? Simply because it ratifies his story. It confirms everything that he said. The Bible is the best commentary on the Bible. And when we listen to God speak through his word, then we're able to understand history because history is simply his story. And we come to grips with the reality, not only of his existence, but what it is God has done all throughout the history of mankind.

And so when we look at the story of Christ, we begin to understand how everything confirms what was said.

Let me give you a couple of illustrations. What is this? Remember way back in the book of Genesis, the 22nd chapter, the Lord God tested Abraham, verse number one, and said to him, take now your son, your only son, the son that you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah.

Now, if you've been with us, you know that Moriah means foreseen by God. Our Lord wants Abraham to take his son, his only son, the one that he loves, the one that is dearest to him. He wants him to take the son of promise to a land called Moriah, which means foreseen by God. You know the story. Abraham would take Isaac and they would leave a service down below Mount Moriah and they would begin the ascent of that Mount. And on their way up, Isaac would say to his father, we have the knife, we have, we have the fire, but where's the land?

And Abraham said to his son, God will provide himself his land. And they went, went their way up Moriah and Abraham tied down his son and was going to slay his, his only son, the son of promise. And the angel of the Lord would stop him and say, now I know that you fear me, Abraham. And Abraham would see a ram caught in the thicket and that then would become the sacrifice. And Abraham said these words in Genesis chapter 22, verse number 14. And Abraham called the name of that place. The Lord will provide as it is said to this day in the Mount of the Lord, it will be provided.

Abraham called that Mount, Mount Moriah, the place foreseen by God, Yahweh, Yireh. A phrase used, Yireh is used 1,300 times in the old Testament and 1,296 of those times it's translated to be seen or to see. Four times is translated to provide. The overwhelming evidence is that it's a word of vision. Abraham on that day named Moriah the place where God will be seen. On the place that's foreseen by God, that place by Abraham was named the place where everybody will see God. And so when you come to John chapter 8, verse number 56, the Lord God says, Abraham rejoiced, listen carefully, to see my day and was very glad.

What day was that? The day in which God would provide himself as lamb. On the Mount foreseen by God, Abraham called that place, the Lord will be seen. The Lord will be seen on the place foreseen by God. And when you go to Jerusalem today, you know that Calvary is Mount Moriah. It's unmistakable. And so when Christ would say that Abraham rejoiced to see my day, it was a day that ratified and confirmed the story of Genesis chapter 22. So throughout the Bible, when you look at Christmas and all the prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah and how they are all confirmed one upon another, we know where the Messiah would be born because the prophet Micah told us where he would be born.

We understand that. And as you read through the Bible, it confirms the story of the Messiah. It ratifies the story of redemption. The story that God had planned from ages long ago in the past that would be a lamb slain before the foundation of the world. And all throughout the Old Testament, all throughout the New Testament is the story of God's redemptive purposes. Turn with me in your Bible to Luke chapter 19.

Let me give you another illustration of this, mainly because this is the day we celebrate Palm Sunday, the day in which Jesus would ride into Jerusalem.

And this becomes a story that truly ratifies the story of redemption. It confirms that over and over again. So why is it we listen to the word of God? Because it confirms for us the story of God. And we want to know that story. We want to hear that story. And we sing the song, tell me the old, old story. Tell it to me over and over again. Why? Because it never grows old in my mind because it's the story of God's redemptive purposes. And so we want to hear the story. That's why the Christmas story never gets old to us.

That's why the resurrection story never gets old to us because it's the story of God, His great plan for your life and for mine. In Luke chapter 19, it says these words simply, verse 29, And it came about that when he approached Bethpage and Bethany near the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, saying, Go into the village opposite you, in which as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one yet has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone ask you, Why are you untying it?

Thus shall you speak. The Lord has need of it. And those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owner said to them, Why are you untying the colt? And they said, The Lord has need of it. And they brought it to Jesus. And they threw their garments on the colt and put Jesus on it. And as he was going, they were spreading their garments in the road. And as he was now approaching near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice, for all the miracles which they had seen, saying, Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord, peace in heaven and glory in the highest.

Now I want you to know that this entrance into glory or this entrance into Jerusalem was a presentation that had been foretold by the prophets of old. This presentation had already been foretold by the prophets of old. We know that from Zechariah chapter nine, verse number nine. Larry read it earlier this morning. Zechariah nine, verse number nine, Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion. Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem. Behold, your King is coming to you. He is just and endowed with salvation, humble and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Now the question is, when did Zachariah prophesy? He prophesied concerning, listen carefully, the second temple.

That's important. Because if he prophesied concerning the second temple, then the arrival of the Messiah in Luke chapter 19 was the second temple.

And he said exactly how the Messiah would arrive in Jerusalem, on the backside of a donkey. He even said what the nation of Israel would do when he arrived. They would rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion. And that's exactly what took place in Jerusalem on this day, some 2,000 years ago, when Jesus rode into the city. They would take off their garments. They would put their garments down. We talked a little bit about this on Wednesday night. They took their garments down. They put them down for the donkey and for Christ to walk over.

It was symbolic, listen carefully, of how they would relinquish all that they had and all that they were to the one they called the King. If he is the King, and he is the King, then they are willing to give everything to him, all that they have and all that they are. That's why they would take off their robes and they would lay them down and he then would proceed over them. Also, they would take palm branches, as we would see in Matthew's account and Mark's account with the triumphal entry, and they would wave those palms.

Why? Because what they were doing was celebrating at Passover a completely different feast, not the feast of Passover, but the feast of booths or the feast of tabernacles. A feast that celebrates the arrival of the King that would now tabernacle among them and supply all of their needs as he did in the wilderness wanderings when he tabernacled among his people and he fed his people and he cared for his people. They now were taking these palm branches, that's why it's called Palm Sunday, and they would wave those palm branches.

Even though it was Passover, they did something completely opposite of Passover because they recognized the coming of their King. You see that? And it was all foretold by Zechariah the prophet. Zechariah 9 verse number 9. He told them when he would come, the second temple.

He also told them how he would come, on the backside of a donkey. And sure enough he did. And that's what made the Pharisees so angry. As you read on in the story in Luke chapter 19, it says these words, and some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to him, teacher rebuke your disciples. Why were they so angry? They were angry because they were celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles at Passover. They were angry because they recognized that this was the King who was coming to restore the kingdom to Israel.

And that's what the Feast of Tabernacles is all about. And that's why they were so angry at the disciples of Jesus. And Jesus responded by simply saying, I tell you if these become silent, the stones will cry out. Verse 41. And when he approached, he saw the city and he wept over it. Let me tell you something about Luke chapter 19.

Not only was his presentation foretold, but their praise was foreseen. Same verse, Zechariah 9 verse number 9. It also says that his pain was foreknown. He wept over the city. Isaiah 53 says he's a man of sorrows acquainted with grief. And then it says these words, if you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace. And remember on Wednesday night, we told you about Daniel chapter 9 and the prophecy of 70 weeks. Now you begin to understand that not only was this presentation foretold in Zechariah 9.9, it was also foretold in Daniel 9 verses 24 to 27.

Because Daniel was told by Gabriel that there would be 70 weeks, 70 sevens. There would be 490 years left in Israel's history. It tells us that. And they would begin with a decree to go and rebuild and restore the walls and the roads around Jerusalem. And we know exactly when that day was, March 14th, 445 BC. Nehemiah chapter 2, verses 1 to 8. And Daniel 9, 24 to 27 tells us exactly when the 70 weeks begins. So if you know when the 70 weeks begin, you know when they're going to end. And in Daniel's prophecy, it simply says these words in Daniel chapter 9, verse number 24.

It says, 70 weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy. So we know that when Gabriel gave the prophecy to Daniel, he says, what I'm going to give you is 70 weeks of Israel's history, and this is the end. This is the end. It's the end of iniquity. It's the end of transgression. It's the time in which you're going to anoint the most holy.

It's the time where righteousness will permeate everything. It's the, it's the kingdom age. There's 70 weeks left. 70, 70 years of sevens. And so he tells them, and then he says, so you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah, the Prince, there will be seven weeks and 62 weeks. He simply says there's going to be a decree. When the decree comes, that's when the 70 weeks begin. That decree will allow you seven weeks. And then after those seven weeks, which is 49 years, there'll be 62 weeks, which is 434 years.

And at the end of that time, which is 483 years, Messiah, the Prince will come simply as simple as that. At the end of 69 weeks, the Messiah, the Prince will arrive in Jerusalem. If you add up all the days, it's 173,880 days, which ends up being April 6th, AD 32, which is Luke 19. The day that Jesus referred to when he said, if you'd known on this day, what was for you. What day? The day that Daniel the prophet prophesied would come, but you didn't listen.

See how important it is to listen to what God says. You didn't listen. See, that's why Jesus didn't tell us when he's coming again. He told us when he was coming the first time, nobody listened.

He told us exactly when he was coming. Daniel 9, 24 to 27, but nobody listened. So when he arrived, they didn't get it. That's why they wanted to crucify the King. But he also said in Daniel chapter nine, he said this, but Messiah, the Prince will be seven weeks and 62 weeks, which is 69 weeks. It will be built again and Plaza and moat, even in times of distress. Then after the 62 weeks, plus the seven, the Messiah will be cut off. The Messiah will die. The Messiah, the word Hebrew is a word that means to die a criminal's death.

The Messiah will die a criminal's death. You see for a Jew to say, no, the old Testament doesn't prophesy about the death of the Messiah. They're wrong. And you know why they say that? Don't you? It's simply because the Jews are people who only listen to what the rabbis teach them. They, they go to the synagogue and they listen to the rabbi, teach them what the Bible says, but the rabbis don't discuss Daniel nine, 24 to 27.

They don't discuss Isaiah chapter 53 because if they did, they would have to discuss the death of the Messiah. And they don't believe their Messiah will ever die. But the old Testament clearly prophesied the death of the Messiah, see, and Daniel told them. And then of course, it goes on to say in, in Daniel chapter nine, verse number 26 and have nothing or excuse me. And after 62 weeks, the Messiah will be cut off and it will have nothing to do with himself. In other words, he didn't die for himself.

He died for you and the people of the Prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. Who's that? That's the antichrist. And Jesus prophesied that way back in Luke 19. So if you're still in Luke 19, let's know what it says. Jesus says, if you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace, but now they have been hidden from your eyes, for the day shall come upon you when your enemies will throw up a bank before you and surround you and hem you in on every side and will level you to the ground and your children within you.

And they will not leave in you one stone upon another because you did not recognize the time of your visitation. So what Jesus did is reiterate what Daniel, the prophet said in Daniel chapter nine, their city will be destroyed. So the prophecy that Jesus gave is the prophecy that was given to Daniel by Gabriel in Daniel nine, 24 to 27, which ratifies his story, which confirms the fact that everything Jesus says is true.

That's why we want to listen when God speaks, because everything he says is true. And so if you go back to Daniel nine, maybe if you're not there, I'll read it for you. In Daniel chapter nine, verse number 24, it says that after the city is destroyed, its end will come with a flood. Even to the end, there will be war. Desolations are determined in verse 27, and he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week. Who's that? That's the Antichrist. There's your 70th week of Daniel's prophecy. See after 483 years or 173,880 days, there's still a week of Daniel's prophecy left.

That's the week of the tribulation where the Antichrist sets himself up as king, as God, and desecrates the temple. You see there's coming a day when Jesus is going to arrive, but before he arrives again, there's coming a time called the great and terrible day of the Lord. That's why in the book of Zephaniah, it says these words, Zephaniah chapter one, verse number 14, near is the great day of the Lord, near and coming very quickly. Listen.

There's that phrase, that word again, listen, but who's listening? Is anybody listening anymore to what Jesus has to say? And then over in Isaiah chapter 34, it says, draw near O nations to hear and listen O peoples. In other words, folks gathered together, you need to listen to what the Lord God is going to say. And what is he going to say? He says, let the earth and all it contains here and the world and all that springs from it. For the Lord's indignation is against all the nations and his wrath against all their armies.

He has utterly destroyed them. He has given them over to slaughter. So their slain will be thrown out and their corpses will give off their stench and the mountains will be drenched with their blood and all the hosts of heaven will wear away and the sky will be rolled up like a scroll. All their hosts will also wither away as the leaf withers from the vine or as one withers from the fig tree for my sword is satiated in heaven. Behold, it shall descend for judgment upon Edom and upon the people whom I have devoted to destruction.

Verse six, the sword of the Lord is filled with blood. It is sated with fat with the blood of lambs and goats with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the Lord has a sacrifice in Bezra and a great slaughter in the land of Edom. You see, God gathers people together and says, there's coming a day of judgment. Hear, O Israel, hear the inhabitants of the earth. You see, he calls them together to listen to what? There's coming a time of judgment and he says during that judgment, I'm going to tell you where I'm going to descend.

In other words, he tells them at his second coming where he is going to come down to. And it's not the Mount of Olives and it's not in the Valley of Megiddo. It's in Bezra, which is the ancient capital of Edom. And why will he be coming down and descending to Bezra when he returns? Simply because in Revelation chapter 12, after the abomination of desolation prophesied by Daniel the prophet in Daniel 9, 24 to 27, when the Antichrist sets himself up as God and demands that he be worshiped as God, that God prepares a place for Israel in the wilderness.

And they take flight and they move to the wilderness. Listen carefully. And whenever the phrase the wilderness is used, it always refers to Edom and Moab in Jordan. So whenever Israel flees the Antichrist in the middle of tribulation, they flee to a place called Edom. Is it any wonder that when the Lord returns again as King, when he returns in Revelation chapter 19, with those words faithful and true with all of his holy ones with him, he descends not in the Valley of Megiddo. He descends not on the Mount of Olives as a lot of commentaries teach you, but he descends in a place called Bezra in the ancient capital of Edom because that's where Israel will be in Revelation chapter 12 when they flee the Antichrist.

That's why he says, are you listening? And I am dumbfounded by the number of commentators that talk about a battle of Armageddon. There is no battle of Armageddon. Where do they get that from? Revelation 16 says they gather together in the Valley of Megiddo. Doesn't say they fight any battle in the Valley of Megiddo. It says they gather there. Again, how come we don't listen to what God says?

You need to listen and listen carefully. Is it not true that Revelation 14 says that the blood will flow up to the horse's bridle for 1,600 stadia or for 200 miles? Do you know how far it is from Edom to Ezdralon, the Valley of Ezdralon or the Valley of Megiddo? 200 miles. Now you tell me God's word doesn't ratify his story. It is confirmed over and over and over again. That's why we are so eager to listen.

That's why we can't wait to hear what God has to say because we want to know exactly what's going to happen. We want to know exactly what God's word has for me today. And it ratifies his story. That's why today, the day we celebrate Palm Sunday is crucial. If Israel would have listened to what God had to say, if they would have known what Daniel the prophet had written, they would have listened. But they didn't listen because it wasn't their priority to listen.

You ever talk to a Jew? They love to talk. You can't get a word in there twice. Seriously. They always like to prove their point. They have something to say. There's a reason God gave you one mouth and two ears. So you listen twice as much as you speak. But we speak twice as much as we listen.

And so we need to realize that God says, I need you to listen to what I'm going to say. And so when people say, how come Jesus didn't tell us when he was coming again? Simply because he told you when he was coming the first time and nobody listened.

So he says, next time I'm not going to tell you. Nobody knows the day nor the hour I'm coming, but I am coming. You can bank on that. I am coming again. So what motivates me to listen? Number one, because it testifies, it testifies of God's reality.

Number two, it specifies his identity. Number three, it amplifies his glory. It magnifies, it magnifies our God's authority. It ratifies his story. And number six, it clarifies, it clarifies his ministry. It clarifies his ministry. We read Daniel 9, 24 to 27, where after the 69th week Messiah will be cut off. Why will he die? Why would Messiah die? Genesis chapter 22, on the place foreseen by God, there would be a lamb that would be seen by all, the lamb of God, who would take away the sin of the world.

That's why Abraham rejoiced to see the lamb's day, because he knew what it would bring for him. It would bring for people of the promised seed of Abraham. And so therefore, we are eager to listen to all that God says, because it clarifies to us his ministry.

What's his ministry? To die. Matthew chapter 20, verse number 28, the son of man came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many, right? He came to die. Luke 19, 10, he came to seek and to save that which was lost. Over in Luke chapter 9, verse number 56, it says the son of man came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them. Over in first Timothy chapter 1, verse number 15, Christ Jesus came to the world to save sinners.

Over in Luke 9, he talked about how it is he came to die. He would reiterate that over and over again with his disciples who had a hard time digesting that, had a hard time grasping the fact that their Messiah would die, even though it was prophesied in the Old Testament, in Psalm 22, in Daniel 9. Also, we'd understand that our Messiah came to die, but they didn't listen.

See? You see how important it is to listen to all that God says? And that's why all throughout the book of Luke, it's reiterated over and over again, take care how you listen.

It's the number one priority, to listen to divine truth. Nothing else matters unless you listen first.

Why? Because how do you know what to do unless you listen to what God has to say for you? How do you know where to go? How do you know what to say? How do you know how to live? You don't know how to live unless you listen first.

That's why it's so important. It clarifies his ministry. His ministry was to die. First John chapter three, verse number five, he came to remove iniquity.

First John three, verse number eight, he came to ravage the enemy. First John three, verse number one, he came to restore your dignity and mine that was lost in the fall.

He came that he might return in glory and majesty, but he came to die. That was his ministry, to give his life away so that you would obtain his life. That's why we listen.

And lastly, we listen because it solidifies his sovereignty. It solidifies his sovereignty. God rules over all. Our Lord is in the heavens. He does whatever he pleases. Psalm 115 says. Psalm 99, verse number one says, the Lord reigns.

Let the people tremble. He is sovereign. He rules over all. Over in the book of Acts chapter two, verse 22. Men of Israel, listen to these words. Again, there's our phrase. Listen.

Jesus of Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs, which God performed through him in your midst. Just as you yourselves know this man delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put him to death. And God raised him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for him to be held in its power. You see, God's word solidifies his sovereignty. Men of Israel, listen.

Let me tell you about what took place not too long ago in Jerusalem. Listen to what I'm going to tell you. This Jesus of Nazareth was delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God the father. You nailed him to a cross, yes, but it, according to Isaiah 52, it pleased the Lord, the father, to crush his son. I'm sorry, that's Isaiah 53. It pleased the father to crush his son. Why? Because it was a part of his plan. That's why. And that's why the scriptures solidify the sovereignty of God in our hearts and minds.

You see, we go through life and we like to talk about God's sovereignty, but we don't like to live God's sovereignty. We want to live it. It's too difficult. We leave church saying, yeah, yeah, I like to listen to God because it solidifies his sovereignty, but I leave this place, I go through tragedy, but I don't want to live God's sovereignty. And yet the scriptures speak to our God, about our God, who rules and reigns over, nothing happens. Romans 11, 36, everything is from him, through him, and back to him again.

Everything. Nothing happens that doesn't pass through God first. Nothing. It all comes from him, it all goes through him, and it all comes back to him again. And that's why the apostle Paul says, to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever, because there's no God like my God. He is sovereign. He rules over all. Nothing in your life happens by accident. It's all by divine appointment. There's a sovereign God who rules your life. That's why he says to Martha, you've missed the one thing that's needful.

You're not listening to what I'm saying. Mary, she chose the better part. She chose that which will never leave her. She wants to listen, but you, Martha, are so busy, you're barren on the inside. So busy doing good things, but not doing the one thing that's needful. You need to listen to me. Mary chose the best part. How about you? Have you chosen the best part? Do you wake up each day willing to hear the voice of God through his Word? You can't wait to listen to what he has to say for you that day.

You're a ready listener. You're quick to hear, slow to speak, and even slower becoming angry about what you hear, James 1, 19 and 20. Verse 21 says, because the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. You want to hear what God has to say. Why? Because you know he's sovereign, but it needs to be solidified in your mind how sovereign he really is, how in control he is of everything. And so when you read through the Scriptures, you begin to see how that sovereignty is solidified over and over again, that God has perfect control over everything.

He clarified his ministry, the key to die for your sins and for mine, that we might experience his life. Everything about what he said ratifies his story. He confirms it over and over and over and again. That's why when the Lord wrote to the seven churches of Asia Minor, he said, he who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Folks, we need to be listeners, listeners, because the Bible speaks so much about our Lord and what he has for us, but he also speaks to us about our lives.

But that's for next time. Let's pray together. Father, we thank you for today and all that you've said. Lord, there's no way we can begin to even cover each of these points in a few short weeks that we have, because the Bible is just so prominent with things concerning you and your plan for our lives. And I pray, Father, that we would see that listening to divine truth is the most important thing in our lives. Forgive us, Father, for having other priorities. Forgive us, Lord, for putting our family before you.

Forgive us, Lord, for putting our spouse before you. Forgive us, Lord, for putting our job before you. Help us to be the kind of people that can't wait to listen to everything you have to say for our lives, that we might know how to deal with our children, live with our spouse, and love our spouse, and work at our jobs in a way that bring glory to your name. We pray in the name of our coming King, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.