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 “Afraid to be Played”

 

We're starting a new series today entitled: “The Inner Ear of the Spirit.” It's vitally important to be able to hear – and, in a spiritual sense, means more than just to listen.

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You can listen every Sunday to the word of God at church and never really “hear”- it reminds me of an old song from the 60s “Everybody's Talkin at Me.” “But I can't hear a word they're saying, only the echoes of my mind.”

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When you hear spiritually, you’re listening to that still small voice of the Holy Spirit, you receive it by faith - faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of God. You receive it into your heart, into your mind and soul and you not only acknowledge it but you accept it - you say “yes and amen!”

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Jesus spoke to those who refused to hear the word. They may have listened to the word but in their heart, they refused it, and it could not be received. Jesus uses an illustration of kids playing – children at that time would play in the marketplace - but some would sit on the sidelines and say: ” I'm not playing - you can take your stupid game I'm going to play…” - and they would sit out and pout by themselves.

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Luke 7:31 And the Lord said, “To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying: We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; We mourned to you, and you did not weep.’

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Jesus’ illustration is about people hearing the message and not receiving it. Hearing it - but not responding to it. We played the flute you didn't dance; we told jokes you wouldn't laugh…. Or we played a sad song – and you were not moved - you were “afraid to be played” - your heart was totally unresponsive.

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They say in their heart - no one's going to manipulate me, or use me – they’re afraid to be played.

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They hear the flute play - the promise of blessing or hope of eternity message - and they say, all they want is my money…they hear the “dirge” that's the funeral march – the “hell fire and brimstone” message and they say that pastor just wants to scare me into a response.

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But Jesus says that “hearing, receiving the Word, acting in faith and coming to a place of repentance and following Jesus is an act of wisdom. The wise hear the message and accept it with all of their heart, the wise respond with repentance and faith knowing that there is no other way to be saved - salvation doesn't come by any other - except through Jesus.