God Is Listening – Are You Speaking”
March 2, 2014
(SLIDE) In the 2003 movie, “Bruce Almighty”, Jim Carrey plays the role of a guy who complains about God
too often and is given divine powers to teach him how difficult it is to run the world. One particular scene from
the movie is about handling prayer requests – play film clip from “Bruce Almighty”. (SLIDE) That
humorous view of prayer requests coming to God is, of course, based on a biblical truth – that God listens to our
prayers – which is my next subject in The Psalms Challenge.
Last week I launched the Challenge – I hope some of you (or many of you for that matter) have accepted the
challenge, and spent time reading the Book of Psalms this week.. Last week as I began this teaching series on
selected topics from the Psalms, I started with the message “God is speaking; are you listening?” I addressed
the truth that God has spoken to us – through His creation, through His law or His Word (the Bible), and
through Jesus Christ – the challenge question I shared was simply this: are you listening? In all of the many
distractions surrounding you, in all your busyness, are you taking time to reflect on God’s glory in nature, are
you taking time to read the words He’s given us – are you being obedient to His ways which is the ultimate test
of whether we’re really listening to Him (“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts
them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” and “Very truly I tell you, whoever
hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over
from death to life.)?
(SLIDE) Today I’m flipping the equation around – “God is listening; are you speaking?” It’s obvious that
the Psalm writers were invested in the truth that God listens. The Book of Psalms is a book of prayer – all kinds
of prayers – offered in faith, coming from deep emotions and feelings, in good times and times of adversity calling on God – asking God to intercede. The Psalm writers asked knowing that God has the power and the
willingness to intercede – they believed that God listens, and thus believed in the imperative to pray and the
need to pray and the power of prayer. Just the fact that the Psalms are included in our Bible is a statement that
God does listen.
The truth that God listens to us is a central part of our faith. It’s the key motivation to pray. After all, why
bother if we don’t believe God is listening? That truth – or better yet – that promise is made very clear in
scripture – and is articulated over and over in the Book of Psalms – just a few examples from David:
Psalm 4:3 - Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; the LORD will hear when I call to Him.
Psalm 34:17 - The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them…
Psalm 55:16-17 - But I call to God, and the LORD saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress,
and He hears my voice.
Psalm 69:33 - The Lord hears the needy and does not despise His captive people.
Psalm 145:19 - He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.
David, a man after God’s own heart, clearly affirms the belief that God listens, that He hears. That’s why
David approached God – that’s why he prayed to God. He believed God listens and that God responds. Of
course, the Bible is full of people who believed this – and made prayer a priority. And we should, too – God
speaks to us, and He listens to us; even though He has the power to know what we’re thinking and know what
we’re needing, He still wants us to listen to Him and speak with Him. That’s what a relationship with God is
meant to be – a two-way street. So, yes, God does want to hear from us. Think of the entire Book of Psalms –
the authors didn’t hold back – one bit. As you read through Psalms, you’ll hear plenty of worship, praises, joy,
hymns, wisdom, but you’ll also hear plenty of complaints, frustrations, and even curses – the fact that these are
all included in the book is an affirmation that God wants to hear – He wants to hear it all – He wants to know
what’s on your mind – not only what brings you joy, but what’s troubling you as well.
(SLIDE) Of course, the challenge question today is: Since God is listening, are you speaking? Are you
praying? It’s probably safe to assume in this audience that most, if not all of you, are speaking to God –
perhaps some of you praying a lot to God. But have you made prayer a priority? In other words, does your
prayer life reflect a deep and abiding two-way relationship with God? We can certainly see David had that kind
of relationship with God – he is an example for us. Psalm 5 provides a great and beautiful expression of a deep
relationship built on the truths David knew about God:
(SLIDE) Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing (inner thoughts).
to my cry for help, my King (sovereign) and my God (Abba), for to you I pray.
2 Listen
(SLIDE) 3 In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice;
in the morning (symbolic of a renewal of God’s acts of love)
I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation (waited during the day to see what God would do).
(SLIDE) 4 (declaring God’s righteousness) You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil;
with You, the wicked cannot dwell.
5 The arrogant cannot stand in Your presence.
You hate all who do wrong; You destroy those who tell lies.
Bloodthirsty and deceitful men the LORD abhors.
(SLIDE) 7 But I, by Your great mercy (the unearned love of God), will come into Your house;
in reverence (the manner of approach) will I bow down (submission) toward Your holy temple.
(SLIDE) 8 Lead me, LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies—
make straight Your way before me.
9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction.
Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit.
10 Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against You.
(SLIDE) 11 But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You.
12 For surely, O LORD, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield.
The last two verses of David’s prayer bring attention to something that’s very important – the idea that God
blesses, favors those who love Him, who take refuge in Him (David makes a clear distinction between the
righteous and unrighteous) – and David believes God will answer the prayers of the righteous. Here’s what I’m
pointing to - a lot of people will say they pray – whenever tragedy, sickness, death comes, even lots of people
who seemingly have no relationship with God will pray. The question I would ask - will God hear them?
(SLIDE) Listen to 1 John 5:13–15 – I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God
so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God; that
if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us – whatever we
ask - we know that we have what we asked of Him. Our God is omnipotent – can He hear all prayers – sure,
but will He respond? The fundamental truths here that John points out are pretty clear – those who believe in
Jesus Christ, who have eternal life as a result – can be CONFIDENT – first in approaching God, and then in
Him hearing our request – with the caveat that we ask according to His will.