1. How Well Do You Listen? Matthew 13:9 Revelation 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22

2. Matthew 13:9 “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Concerning the Parable of the Sower

3. Revelation 2:7,11,17,29 (7), “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” (11), “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” (17), “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” (29), “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

4. Revelation 3:6,13,22 (6), “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (13), “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (22) “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

5. The Importance of Listening Essential to being Blessed Matthew 13:16-17; Ephesians 1:3

6. Matthew 13:16-17 “But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

7. Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.

8. The Importance of Listening Essential to being Blessed Matthew 13:16-17; Ephesians 1:3 Essential to Saving Faith Romans 10:14,17; Romans 1:16-17

9. Romans 10:14,17 (14), How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? (17), So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

10. Matthew 13:9 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

11. The Importance of Listening Essential to being Blessed Matthew 13:16-17; Ephesians 1:3 Essential to Saving Faith Romans 10:14,17; Romans 1:16-17 Essential to Bearing Fruit Luke 8:15; Colossians 1:3-6

12. Luke 8:15 “But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.”

13. Colossians 1:3-6 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.

14. The Importance of Listening Essential to being Blessed Matthew 13:16-17; Ephesians 1:3 Essential to Saving Faith Romans 10:14,17; Romans 1:16-17 Essential to Bearing Fruit Luke 8:15; Colossians 1:3-6 Essential to Preventing Apostasy Hebrews 2:1-4

15. Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

16. The Importance of Listening Essential to being Blessed Matthew 13:16-17; Ephesians 1:3 Essential to Saving Faith Romans 10:14,17; Romans 1:16-17 Essential to Bearing Fruit Luke 8:15; Colossians 1:3-6 Essential to Preventing Apostasy Hebrews 2:1-4 Essential to Avoiding Condemnation Matthew 12:41-42; Matthew 10:14-15

17. Matthew 12:41-42 “The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.”

18. Matthew 10:14-15 “And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”

19. Conclusio n Listening is essential for our soul’s welfare Isaiah 55:1-3

20. “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. 3 Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you-The sure mercies of David.