Rsbc
Oct 5th
Sunday Night
The Book of Hebrews
Subject: “ Dull of Hearing”
Text: Hebrews 5:11-14
Intro: One the great reasons for people not growing in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, they don’t hear. This was not a problem just for the converted Hebrew Christians, it is problem right here tonight.
The Lord Jesus Christ quotes Isaiah the prophet in saying: Matthew 13:14‑15 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Paul quotes this again preaching to the Jews, and just before his announcement of going to the gentiles with the gospel..Acts 28:27‑28 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and [that] they will hear it.
Through out this book God tells these people to listen and hear what is being said to them...
Chapter 2:1 “ Give a more earnest heed to things which we have heard”
Chapter 3:1 “ To consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession”
Chapter 4:1 “ Let us fear”
Chapter 4:12 “ He tells of the powerfulness of the word of God”
Chapter 5:1-10 “ Speaks of our Great High Priest”
Chapter 5: 11 “ The greatest of our eternal salvation”
Page # 2
Then right in the middle of his discourse concerning the greatness of the Lord his word, his priesthood, the valuable place were we can meet him, he sounds this phrase out “ We have many things to say unto you” How often has this been the very heat of ever pastor that is called of God and that ministers to the Lord’s flock.
Often those things are hard to uttered...as he says in this verse eleven. The obstacle is not the writer nor the man of God it is the people to whom he is addressing... “ Dull of hearing” just what does that mean? I believe the verses that are before us will tell us...
I... “NO OBVIOUS GROWTH IS PRESENT” ..VS 12
These people had the advantage over everyone else, they were the descendants of Abraham and they had the Law and some of them no doubt had been converted by those who knew Christ and perhaps even some of them had known the Lord.
What causes lack of growth in a child of God?
1st. No consistent study of the word of God:
Isaiah 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
Peter said...
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and for ever. Amen.
You will never have the knowledge of the Lord apart from his word. It was amaze you tonight if we had the figures from a real survey as to how many people really study the word of GOD.. not just read it but study it.
Paul said to Timothy: 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. I know this is primarily to the men of God who preach his word, but if you are going to teach anyone you need to study.
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2nd. There is no real commitment to prayer:
James 5:16 Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Talk to God about his word, about your life, about the needs of others and you will see a real change in your life.
II... “ A SECOND REASON FOR DULL OF HEARING IS ALSO FOUND IN THAT THEY NEEDED MILK”...VS 12
They needed to be taught again..this is why we must go over truth again and again. We are dull of hearing, we cannot not seem to get the little things in the bible much less the hard things..
1. No question Christ is revealed to babes: Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
We are not so post to stay there...
2. Babes are not spiritual...1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even] as unto babes in Christ.
3. Milk is necessary for the growth process to begin..1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
So I am not saying that being a baby in Christ is bad, but remaining a babe in Christ is..something is wrong...They could not yet take the strong meat of the word of God...
How we need a generation of God’s people to get off the milk and move toward a stronger diet of God’s word.
Page # 4
III... THEIR DULL OF HEARING CAUSED AN UNSKILFULNESS OF THE USE OF GOD’S WORD..VS 13-14
The inability to rightly divide the word of God is so real in our time, teachers, preachers, in the pulpit rattling off what they do not understand,. Attaching those who use strong doctrine.
Peter acknowledges...
2 Peter 3:15‑16 And account [that] the longsuffering of our Lord [is] salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
John 6:56-60 Note the reaction of those who heard Christ preach and teach his kingdom sayings...
Then he goes on to say in closing this chapter... God always has a mature people that can pass his word on to others..vs 14
1st. Doctrine belongs to those who can handle it...
2nd. They have give an ear to what they have heard..
3rd. It results in fruit..
Lessons
1. Pray for God to give you an ear to hear and obey his word.
2. Make an honest attempt at improving your skilfulness in his word.
3. Determine to study and pray on a regular basis.
4. Share the truth with others who can handle it.
5. Use wisdom in your teaching.
6. If you don’t understand something don’t right it off as heresy.
7. Think about what you have heard and test it against the word of GOD.