Gotthold Beck
Psalms
81:10 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, open your mouth that I may fill it.
81:11 Yet my people didn’t obey my voice; Israel didn’t submit to me.
81:12 So I allowed them to continue in their stubbornness, living by their own advice.
81:13 If only my people would obey me, if only Israel would walk in my ways!
81:14 Then I would quickly subdue their enemies. I would turn against their foes.
[International Standard Version]
On their wedding ceremony the other day, our beloved brother, Hiroshi Kuroda and Sister Maiko chose this verse 3:10 from the First book of Samuel;
1 Samuel
3:10 Later, the Lord came and stood there, calling out, “Samuel! Samuel!” as he had before. Samuel said, “Speak, because your servant is listening.”
We all have ears, but it’s so tragic if we cannot listen in a true sense. So today, I would like to discuss with you the “importance of listening to the voice of the Lord.”
As we look back over our past, various memories come to mind, some of which are so delightful or sorrowful. Among these memories, unmistakably the most remarkable experience is that when we heard the voice of the Lord. Hearing the voice of the Lord was an unforgettable event for all of us. Even yet, it is the deepest desire of our hearts to listen to the voice of the Lord Jesus and have a fellowship with him, isn't it? The only truly indispensable fact in our lives is to listen to the voice of the Lord and all other things do not really matter. When we do hear the voice of the Lord, we will be wholly fulfilled. So, let us think about what kind of voice the Lord possesses from seven different perspectives.
<1> The voice of the Lord is full of strength, like the raging waters.
Revelation
1:15 his feet were like glowing bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of raging waters.
1:17 When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. But he placed his right hand on me and said, “Stop being afraid! I am the first and the last,
1:18 the living one. I was dead, but look―I am alive forever and ever! I have the keys of Death and Hades.
When John heard this voice like the sound of raging waters, he fell at the feet of the Lord like a dead man. The voice of the Lord is so full of strength that it is not comparable to the voice of humans.
Very often, we feel disappointed or devastated by the words of other people. So many people are driven by words of praise or criticism. I know this student who tried to kill himself when his school teacher told him that he would never be able to achieve his dreams. Apparently, the voices of humans have a huge influence on each other. However, we are affected by not only the voices coming from the outside, but by those from within as well.
Genesis
8:21 even though human inclinations remain evil from youth.
Jeremiah
17:9 The heart is more deceitful than anything. It is incurable.
Titus
1:16 They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified to do anything good.
The Bible is telling us that we are all disqualified to do good deeds for the Lord. Furthermore, human thoughts always differ from the thoughts of the Lord. Therefore, if you place importance on the voices inside your heart, you will be caught in the devil's trap.
When the Lord Jesus told his disciples that he would have to be crucified, Peter tried to prevent it.
Matthew
16:15 He asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
16:16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!”
16:17 Then Jesus told him, “How blessed you are, Simon son of Jonah, since flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, though my Father in heaven has.
16:21 From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he would have to go to Jerusalem and suffer a great deal because of the elders, the high priests, and the scribes. Then he would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised.
16:22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God be merciful to you, Lord! This must never happen to you!”
16:23 But Jesus turned and told Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an offense to me, because you are not thinking God’s thoughts but human thoughts!”
Peter gave in to the voice of his heart. It was for this reason that Jesus had to rebuke him saying, “Get behind me, Satan! You are not thinking God’s thoughts but human thoughts!”
It is not only the voice from your heart or that of others, but also the devil's voice which attempts to prevent us from working for the Lord. The devil wants us to be always preoccupied with our own matters so that we fall into self-determination and self-governance. When the devil succeeds in this purpose, our ears will be closed to the voice of the Lord.
Therefore, only those who deny the voices inside their hearts, refuse to be affected by the voices of others and shut down the voice of the devil will be allowed to experience the grace and greatness of the voice of the Lord. Contrarily, if we place more importance in the voices of other people than in the voice of Jesus, the consequences will be devastating. When you are moved by the voices inside your heart and not by the spirit of the Lord Jesus, your life is bound to be miserable. Furthermore, those who do not stand firm on the Bible, but lend their ears to the whispers of the devil and follow his words will be deceived and end up choosing the wrong path. We will be blessed when we place higher importance in Jesus' voice above any other. We can experience miracles only when we follow this faithfully.
What kind of voice is the voice of Jesus? Firstly, the voice of the Lord is full of strength, like raging waters.
<2> The voice of the Lord has the power to convince people.
Acts of Apostles
9:1 Meanwhile, still spewing death threats against the Lord’s disciples, Saul went to the high priest.
9:2 He asked him for letters to take with him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he might bring them in chains to Jerusalem.
9:3 As Saul traveled along and was approaching Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.
9:4 He dropped to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
9:5 He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The voice said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
This Saul, later renamed Paul, had a sincere desire to serve the Lord God. He respected all strict laws of God as the Pharisees of those days did. He believed that the Lord Jesus was a false prophet of the worst kind. It was for this reason that he witnessed and was pleased when Stephen, the disciple of Jesus, was stoned to death.
He indeed devoted his life to the persecution of the believers of Jesus. However, when he heard the voice of the Lord, he was instantly convinced about who Jesus truly was. Ever since that day, he began to seek the voice of the Lord at all times, asking the intention of the Lord before undertaking any action or task. Even when he was captured by the Emperor Nero, he neither despaired nor was discouraged. He was rather filled with the joy of being used as a servant of the Lord, a slave of Jesus and he never stopped appreciating it. When Paul heard the voice of Jesus, his life took a 180-degree turn. It became his reason to rejoice and thank the Lord throughout his life.
You will be so blessed if you can pray just like Paul did: “Lord, what should I do? Please reveal your will to me. Your servant is listening.”
What kind of voice is the voice of Jesus? Firstly, the voice of the Lord is full of strength, like raging waters. Secondly, Jesus' voice has the power to convince people.
<3> The voice of the Lord Jesus gives a life.
John
11:43 After saying this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
In a small town called Bethany, lived three people, Martha, her sister Mary and their brother Lazarus. Jesus often stayed with them and they had a wonderful time of fellowship. Listening to the voice of the Lord Jesus was a great joy for them. But one day, the sisters were filled with deepest sorrow when Lazarus died.
However, the Lord Jesus shouted upon the dead and commanded him to come out of the tomb. Even the dead hear the voice of the Lord Jesus. And the dead rise up again when the voice of the Lord is heard.
For example, reading the Bible and gathering to assembly out of mere obligation are nothing but lifeless, dead deeds. It is absolutely necessary to listen to Jesus' voice to break out of this lifelessness. The voice of the Lord has the power to give life. Even if some place has been dominated by death, new lives will rise when the voice of Jesus spreads.
What kind of voice is the voice of Jesus? Firstly, the voice of the Lord is full of strength, like raging waters. Secondly, Jesus' voice has the power to convince people. Thirdly, his voice is there to give life.
<4> The voice of the Lord Jesus is a voice that calls you in.
Matthew
11:28 Come to me, all of you who are weary and loaded down with burdens, and I will give you rest.
Those who are in agony should be relieved and those who bear a heavy burden have to be given rest. Today this world is overflowing with burdens of all kinds which are beyond our imagination. It is becoming difficult to find the true joy of living even for believers. Many believers close their minds to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Some believers try to find the joy of life in something other than their obedience to the Lord Jesus. Unless we have a strong will to sever the relationship with the devil, we will have to allow him to control our lives.
Regardless of the current relationship between you and the Lord or the intensity of the pain or agony you are facing, Jesus constantly encourages you to listen to his voice. Are you in pain, anxiety or unrest? “Come to me and I will give you rest”. So Jesus is telling you, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and loaded with burdens and I will give you rest.”
Are you filled with unhappiness, dissatisfaction and inconvenience? Is there no joy in your heart? The Lord Jesus tells us, “Come to me. In the world you will have trouble, but be courageous―I have overcome the world.”
Do you feel distressed because you are judged by your weaknesses or tempted by something you cannot resist? The Lord Jesus says, “Come to me. Call upon me. You will dwell inside me and in all these things you are triumphantly victorious."
Do you have an unquenchable thirst within your heart which no one could ever ease? The Lord Jesus has promised to us, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never become hungry again.”
Is there a thirst in your soul like a dry arid land, which no doctor can heal? Jesus is calling you, "Let everyone who is thirsty come to me and take the water.”
Is your day filled with disappointment, temptation and ordeals? Do you see pitch black darkness spreading in front of your eyes? The Lord Jesus said, "I am the light of the world,” and promised us that anyone who follows him will never walk in darkness, for they will have the light of life.
You might be surprised to see your soul stained with sins and wondering whether such a filthy soul can really be cleansed. Listen to the Lord Jesus telling you to come to him now at this moment and call upon him. He says, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
What kind of voice is the voice of Jesus? Firstly, the voice of the Lord is full of strength, like raging waters. Secondly, Jesus' voice has the power to convince people. Thirdly, his voice is there to give life. Fourthly, the voice of the Lord Jesus is a voice that calls you in.
<5> The voice of Jesus gives us solace.
John
11:23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”
11:25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The person who believes in me, even though he dies, will live.
11:26 Indeed, everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe that?”
11:40 Jesus told her, “I told you that if you believed you would see God’s glory, didn’t I?”
11:43 After saying this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
11:44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet tied with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a handkerchief. Jesus told them, “Untie him, and let him go.”
11:45 Many of the Jews who had come with Mary and had observed what Jesus did believed in him.
At this time, Martha and Mary were deeply lamenting the death of their brother Lazarus. The situation was absolutely devastating. Lazarus had been dead for four days. His body was already rotten and there was no hope for them to get their brother back.
However, in this desperate situation, they heard the voice of the Lord Jesus, “I am the resurrection.” Even if the situation looks totally hopeless from the human perspective and there seems to be nothing you can do, Jesus' voice always gives you a way out. It does not matter at all what kind of people we are. The most critical thing is to understand what kind of man the Lord Jesus is, that is to say, to realize that Jesus is the resurrection.
Today, so many people feel worthless about themselves, which makes them depressed. They realize how powerless and miserable they are and they are driven to despair. For those people in distress, disappointment or desperation, the only way out is to listen to the voice of Jesus. “I am the resurrection, and your life.” These words of Jesus give us ultimate solace that is incomparable to anything else.
What kind of voice is the voice of Jesus? Firstly, the voice of the Lord is full of strength, like raging waters. Secondly, Jesus' voice has the power to convince people. Thirdly, his voice is there to give life. Fourthly, the voice of the Lord Jesus is a voice that calls you in. Fifthly, the voice of the Lord gives us solace.
<6> The voice of Jesus is a voice that guides you and accompanies you.
John
10:27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.
10:28 I give them eternal life, they will never be lost, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
10:29 What my Father has given me is more important than anything, and no one can snatch it from the Father’s hand.
Those who hear and obey the voice of the Lord Jesus are secure and protected forever. Jesus is willing to guide our life and walk with us. The Lord Jesus never wants to keep us on a leash like slaves, but instead sincerely wants us to be fulfilled.
Matthew
9:36 When he saw the crowds, he was deeply moved with compassion for them, because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
How miserable sheep without a shepherd are. These lines refer to sheep that have nobody to feed and take care of them.
Jeremiah
50:6 My people have become lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray, turning them toward the mountains. They go from mountain to hill. They have forgotten their resting place.
50:17 Israel is a scattered flock, driven out by lions.
Sheep without a shepherd have no place to rest. Sheep without a shepherd are driven off by lions and go astray.
Ezekiel
34:6 My sheep have gone wandering on all of the mountains, on all of the hills, and throughout every high place in the whole world, with no one to look for them or go out in search of them.
Sheep with no shepherd are driven off into wilderness. When sheep without a shepherd are bewildered, nobody comes to find them or even cares about them. The sheep with no shepherd will have to wither away and eventually fall to the ground. There are so many people today wandering around just like sheep without a shepherd.
Contrarily, when people listen to and follow the voice of the Lord Jesus, who is our shepherd, they receive truly unfailing guidance. Thus, those who listen to and obey the voice of the Lord Jesus will be led securely unlike weakened sheep wandering around with no one to guide them. Jesus once exclaimed that no one dare snatch them out of his hand!
We will not be truly fulfilled until we listen to and follow the voice of the Lord. Are you ready to listen to and follow Jesus' voice? Are you willing to be led by the Lord Jesus? Or will you only walk the path that you have chosen for yourself?
What kind of voice is the voice of Jesus? Firstly, the voice of the Lord is full of strength, like raging waters. Secondly, Jesus' voice has the power to convince people. Thirdly, his voice is there to give life. Fourthly, the voice of the Lord Jesus is a voice that calls you in. Fifthly, the voice of the Lord gives us solace. Sixthly, the voice of Jesus is a voice that leads you and accompanies you.
<7> The voice of Jesus is the voice that is begging you.
Revelation
3:20 Look! I am standing at the door and knocking. If anyone listens to my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will eat with me.
The Lord Jesus says that he is standing at the door, knocking on it and calling upon you. Jesus is always knocking on the doors of the hearts of non-believers hoping that they listen to his voice, open the door and let him in. However, it is not only the doors to the hearts of non-believers that the Lord knocks on, urging them to listen to his voice. He is also knocking on the doors to the hearts of his believers.
There are quite a few believers who truly accept Jesus as their Lord and are ready to entrust everything to him. For this very reason, quite a lot of believers still cannot have personal fellowship with the Lord Jesus. “Eating with the Lord Jesus” refers to having a fellowship with him. It is the dearest wish of the Lord Jesus to have a fellowship with us. And the Lord stands just outside of the door to our heart, knocking on it and calling upon us.
The Lord Jesus always wants to become one with us. Jesus desires to talk to us just like he talks to his best friends.
John
3:29 It is the bridegroom who gets the bride, yet the bridegroom’s friend, who merely stands by and listens for him, is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That’s why this joy of mine is now complete.
3:30 He must become more important, but I must become less important.”
John, who was a friend of Jesus, was filled with joy when he heard the voice of the Lord. If you really wish to rejoice and be fulfilled, you too need to listen to Jesus' voice just like John did. I desperately wish to glorify no one but Jesus, I am prepared to sacrifice everything for this purpose and I am even willing to be decreased — those who have this determination will obtain absolute satisfaction in their lives.
The Lord Jesus desires to have the most intimate and deep fellowship with us. It is not possible until we stay in front of the Lord and walk in his light, that is to say, until all of our hidden sins have disappeared. Fellowship with the Lord Jesus is accomplished when we rely on Jesus 100 per cent, entrust everything and surrender ourselves to him. Fellowship with the Lord Jesus refers to becoming one body with the Lord Jesus. This is what Jesus desperately wants from us. Then, what is it that we want from him?
<Conclusion>
The voice of the Lord Jesus is full of so much strength that when John heard it, he fell at his feet like a dead man. Because the voice of Jesus was so eloquent, even Saul, who used to be the fiercest persecutor, was transformed into a truly passionate witness. Because Jesus' voice is able to give life, it could bring back Lazarus to life instantly from death.
Because the voice of the Lord Jesus was a voice of invitation, it could give thousands of suffering people relief when they came to him. Because his voice was a voice that gave solace, so many people who attempted to kill themselves were given strength to live. Because his voice was a voice that leads, it gave all the lost people a chance to return to their lives where they found true fulfillment. Jesus' voice was also a voice that begged and it made a lot of people from all nations accept Jesus not merely as a savior, but as their Lord, which led them to true satisfaction.
The Lord Jesus has never changed since the time he lived. His voice too has always been the same. If you listen to the voice of the Lord Jesus sincerely, you will realize that his voice is stronger than any other. The voice of the Lord is trying to persuade you. Jesus' voice gives life and is there to fulfill your life. Jesus' voice invites those who are in agony to be liberated from their heavy burdens and provides them with perfect peace and relief.
The voice of the Lord Jesus is there to give you solace. It will wash away all sins you committed in the past so that you can entrust everything to the Lord thoroughly.
The Lord, who created all things, desires to have personal fellowship with us and in fact, is anxiously looking forward to doing so. Are we determined to listen to the voice of the Lord and obey it? Or do we want to remain where we are now, at the place where the voice in your own heart, the voices of other people and even the whispers of the devil are swirling around? There is only one way to listen to and obey the voice of the Lord. It is to make a firm decision to serve the Lord Jesus “for him to be increased and for yourself to be decreased.” Only when we have this frame of mind, can the Lord Jesus become one with each of us.
主の声を聞く大切さ
2014年11月30日、北米よろこびの集い
ゴットホルド・ベック
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