Spoken at SGBC

6-8-97

Luke #94

11:27-28

Blessed are those who Hear and Obey

(Luke 11:14-28 NASB) And He was casting out a demon, and it was dumb; and it came about that when the demon had gone out, the dumb man spoke; and the multitudes marveled. {15} But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons." (The word refers to the chief of demons, the Devil.) {16} And others, to test Him, were demanding of Him a sign from heaven. {17} But He knew their thoughts, and said to them, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls. {18} "And if Satan also is divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. {19} "And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Consequently they shall be your judges. {20} "But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. {21} "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own homestead, his possessions are undisturbed; {22} but when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away from him all his armor on which he had relied, and distributes his plunder. {23} "He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters. {24} "When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' {25} "And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. {26} "Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first." (The lessons on verses 14-26 are available on request.) {27} And it came about while He said these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice, and said to Him, "BLESSED is the womb that bore You, and the breasts at which You nursed." {28} But He said, "On the contrary, BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD, AND OBSERVE IT."

There are two ways the word blessed is used in the New Testament. First it is used to describe happiness. The other use of the word blessed has to do with God interfering in a person's life either spiritually, physically or in both ways. In most cases both ideas are included in the use of the word. I think this is the case in our text for today. The woman says, in essence, your mom must be very happy to have been blessed by God with a son like you. Mary was blessed by God and happy to have Jesus as her son. What the woman didn't know is how extensive and powerful God's activity in Mary's life had been. She knew nothing of the Virgin conception and birth. Her comments had to do with the privilege of being the mother of such a fine and wise son as Jesus was. In our Lord's reply He doesn't deny that his mother was blessed in this way He just turns the woman's attentions to more important and eternal blessings. The truly blessed, says Jesus, have been interfered with in a spiritual sense. The blessed are people who have had God's will and grace imposed upon them. The blessed are those who have been changed spiritually. This change is known to us as the new birth. The new birth and the changes that follow are the focus of Christ's reply. {28} But He said, "On the contrary, BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD, AND OBSERVE IT." We could paraphrase this verse like this. "Happy are those who have been blessed with the new birth for they now hear God's word and are both able and willing to obey it." The saved are far more blessed by God than even Mary who carried the Son of God in her womb for nine months and gave birth to Him! In other words, salvation is the ultimate human blessing! Salvation is more of a miracle, it is more of a blessing than being chosen to carry and give birth to the Son of God.

Salvation is the subject of Christ's reply to the woman. For the saved are those who can hear, as in understand, the word of God. Further they are those who want to and are increasingly able to obey God's word. Christians have these abilities and desires and no one else does. Therefore, it may be said, "Blessed above all other people are those who have ears with which to hear God's truth and the will to obey it. Happy are such people because they have been interfered with by God."

That one cannot hear or understand God's truth before salvation is taught over and over again in the Bible. The following text reveals the contrast between the saved and the unsaved in relation to being able to understand or hear the Gospel.

Paul is speaking to the Corinthian Church. (1 Corinthians 2 NASB) And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. {2} For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. {3} And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. {4} And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, {5} that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. {6} Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; {7} but we speak God's wisdom in a MYSTERY, the HIDDEN WISDOM, which God predestined before the ages to our glory; {8} the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has UNDERSTOOD; (The most intelligent and capable among them could not understand the Gospel.) for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; (This statement shows us that when a person is caused to understand the truth about God and His Christ they do not continue to oppose Him but instead they will worship Him.) {9} but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." (These are the things which are hidden from all unbelievers.) {10} For to us (Christians) God REVEALED THEM THROUGH THE SPIRIT; (One cannot see, hear or understand the Gospel until God the Holy Spirit causes him to see, hear and understand. It is by revelation alone.) for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. {11} For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. (The non Christian has the spirit of man and can understand human things. However, he does not have the Spirit of God and therefore cannot understand the "thoughts of God" which are the words of God, the Bible.) {12} Now we (Christians) have received, not the spirit of the world, (Already had that.) but the Spirit who is from God, THAT WE MIGHT KNOW (hear and understand) the things freely given to us by God, {13} which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. {14} But a natural man (a non-Christian) does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and HE CANNOT UNDERSTAND THEM, because they are spiritually appraised. (He cannot understand spiritual things because the Holy Spirit does not live within the un-believer.) {15} But he who is spiritual (Saved, and has the Holy Spirit in him) appraises (Or, hears and understands.) all things, (The thoughts of God as found in His word the Bible.) yet he himself is appraised by no man. {16} For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE SHOULD INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ. (That is, Christians can understand the teachings of Christ because they have the Spirit of God dwelling in them.) Here then is the difference between a person born once, to his mother, and a person born again unto God. One can hear and understand God's truth the other cannot. Look with me to John 8:42-43 NASB.

Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me; for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. {43} "Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is BECAUSE YOU CANNOT HEAR MY WORD. They could not hear because they were not born again. They did not have the Spirit of God in them. Look at John 10:24-28 NASB.

The Jews therefore gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, "How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly." {25} Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you DO NOT BELIEVE; (This tells us they did not hear or understand what Jesus was saying.) the works that I do in My Father's name, these bear witness of Me. {26} "But you do not believe, BECAUSE you are not of My sheep. {27} "MY SHEEP HEAR My voice, (They hear and understand because they have been blessed with the gift of the Spirit of God, they have been saved.) and I know them, AND THEY FOLLOW ME; {28} and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.

Notice in this John ten passage the close relationship between believing and following Jesus. The Jews did not believe and therefore did not follow. It could be said they did not hear, as in understand, therefore, they did not believe and follow Christ. In verse twenty seven believing and following Christ are dependant on hearing His voice or His word. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." Hearing, believing, obeying are all interconnected and part of salvation. One cannot believe what he cannot understand or hear. If God has not interfered in a person's life by giving him the Spirit he will be deaf to the Gospel and will not understand his need of Christ. Let us look at one more text that speaks of hearing and understanding Gods truth and what happens as a result.

(John 6:45 NASB) "It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.'(He speaks of all those given to Christ for salvation. See verses 37-40.) Everyone who has HEARD and LEARNED (That is heard with understanding) from the Father, comes to Me.

Jesus makes a very important statement. He says that, "Every person that has been enabled by God to hear and understand the Gospel will go to Christ for salvation." Christ's statement allows for no exceptions. In our previous texts we saw that a man born once cannot understand or hear God's truth. They cannot because they do not have the Holy Spirit in them. Here we are told that when God enables a person to understand they turn immediately from sin to faith in Jesus as Savior.

When a sinner is made to understand his sin against God. When he is taught by God that at the judgement he will be condemned and cast into hell. When he is shown that the righteousness he needs for acceptance with God is found only in Jesus the Lord he will do what he must do. He will run to Christ trusting Him for salvation. Such an enlightened individual has no choice and no option but to go to Christ. For these now hear and understand the truth about themselves and God. They now see that a choice between Heaven and Hell is no choice at all, and they go to Christ, trusting Him for life. Remember the words of a text we read at the first of this lesson.

{7} but we speak God's wisdom in a MYSTERY, the HIDDEN WISDOM, which God predestined before the ages to our glory; {8} the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE CRUCIFIED THE LORD OF GLORY; What would they have done instead of kill Jesus? John 6:45 says they would have worshiped and believed Jesus as the promised Messiah and Savior! They would have become Christians. God, however, did not choose to bless them with this understanding. So they Crucified Jesus.

Perhaps now we can better understand Christ's response to the lady who paid Him and his mom such a nice complement. Let's read our text again.

(Luke 11:27-28 NASB) And it came about while He said these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice, and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts at which You nursed." {28} But He said, "On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and observe it."

Yes, says Jesus, my mother was blessed by God with the privilege of giving birth to Me, the Son of God. However, there is a far greater blessing than that. Those who have been born again by the Spirit of God so that they hear and understand the Gospel and go on to obey it, these are blessed indeed." They are blessed in a far greater way for they are saved from the wrath to come by faith in Jesus.

The proof or evidence of that one has saving faith is in their obedience to God's word. One has said, "Faith comes by hearing and it shows itself by doing." This is illustrated in many different texts in the Bible. We will end our lesson with a look at just a few of them. Look with me to Matthew 7:15-27 NASB where we will see clearly the truth that works of obedience will always follow true saving faith.

Jesus is speaking and He said, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who DOES the will of My Father who is in heaven. {22} "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' (Notice that it is possible for a person to perform miracles and not even be a Christian! Certainly a word to the wise for our day.) {23} "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.' (Unbelievers practice so they will become more proficient at their sin. Believers practice so they will become more proficient at pleasing the Lord. The difference is one of night and day!) {24} "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and ACTS UPON THEM, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. {25} "And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock. {26} "And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. {27} "And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall."

Yet another revealing text is 1 John 3 NASB. "See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. {2} Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. {3} And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him PURIFIES HIMSELF, (Struggles against sin and seeks Christ-likeness.) just as He is pure. {4} Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. {5} And you know that He appeared in order to TAKE AWAY SINS; and in Him there is no sin. {6} NO ONE who abides in Him sins; (Practices sin.) no one who sins (Practices sin.) has seen Him or knows Him. {7} Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; {8} the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil. {9} No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, (The Christian can no longer practice sin as a lifestyle because he has lost his taste for sin.) because he is born of God. {10} BY THIS THE CHILDREN OF GOD AND THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL ARE OBVIOUS: ANYONE WHO DOES NOT PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT OF GOD, NOR THE ONE WHO DOES NOT LOVE HIS BROTHER."

What a change salvation brings. Once a slave to the Devil and one's own lusts and sinful desires, now born of God. The Christian is a slave of righteousness. I, John Skaggs, a person who once practiced sin so I could sin more proficiently am now a slave of righteousness. Having been caused to hear and understand truth I have trusted in Christ for salvation. I love my Savior and my Father and by His grace I will serve and worship Him by obeying Him. I love all His demands all His laws though I cannot keep them perfectly. Still, by grace I will continue to practice, to grow and live a stronger more holy and pleasing life before God day by day and year by year. What wonderful blessings I enjoy. I have been blessed with spiritual ears, holy desires and increasing abilities for obedience. I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus my Lord.

Yes Mary was blessed by God when He chose her to carry and give birth to His Son Jesus. However, giving birth to Jesus did not save Mary's soul. She too had to trust in Him for forgiveness and eternal life. The Virgin birth in all its glory doesn't compare to a sinner being caused to hear the Gospel and trust in Christ for salvation. Such a person has been blessed with the greatest blessing of all, salvation. Let him who has an ear, hear what the Spirit has said to us today.

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