Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning and evening, September 8, 2002, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 3:1-9
Text: Heb. 3:7
Hebrews 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
Introduction: There is a very popular television commercial about cellular phone service right now. Everyone knows that mobile phones give you trouble in certain locations and environments. The commercial is about a man who goes into all possible places and surroundings and tries out his cellular phone. Over and over you hear him ask, “Can you hear me now?” Today I want you to think with me about how that God is endeavoring to connect with and communicate with man. Unlike the cellular phone service, the problem is not with His transmitter, antenna or power. It has totally to do with US. We’re not LISTENING.
Jeremiah 13:11 For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.
God calls to us in different times of our lives, and I want to think with you about a few of them today.
I. IN YOUR DAYS OF DELIGHT GOD CALLS, “CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?”
Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
A. Days of the body being healthy
B. Days of the bride and the bridegroom
C. Days of the baby
D. Days of the bills paid, bucks in your pocket, and the bank as your partner and not an adversary
II. IN YOUR DARKEST DEPRESSION GOD CALLS, “CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?”
John 11:28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
The Master calls and
A. Offers His comfort
B. Offers His companionship
C. Offers His calm and courage
III. IN YOUR DISASTER AND DESOLATION GOD CALLS, “CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?”
Jeremiah 29:17-19 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil. 18 And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them: 19 Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the LORD, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith the LORD.
A. To see your rebellion
B. To see your ruin
C. To see your revival
IV. IN YOUR DEEPEST DEPRAVITY GOD CALLS, “CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?”
Ezekiel 16:5-6 None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. 6 And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.
God is calling you
A. To a life from heaven
B. To love that is happy
C. To laughter that is holy
V. IN YOUR DAY OF DECISION GOD CALLS, “CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?”
Deuteronomy 30:15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
CHOOSE LIFE! Listen to GOD before you make that decision
A. Of courtship and marriage
B. Of career and money
C. Of church and membership
VI. IN YOUR DUNGEON OF DISOBEDIENCE GOD CALLS, “CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?”
Deuteronomy 1:43 So I spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD, and went presumptuously up into the hill. (Spoken after the children of Israel had decided not to go into the Promised Land)
And He speaks about:
A. The fact of disobedience and sin
B. The fruits of disobedience and sin
C. The folly of disobedience and sin
VII. IN YOUR DISEASE, DETERIORIATION AND DEATH GOD CALLS, “CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?”
Luke 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
God is calling us to have