{"id":151,"date":"2018-04-15T15:37:02","date_gmt":"2018-04-15T15:37:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.paraklesis.net\/site\/?p=151"},"modified":"2019-08-03T14:22:31","modified_gmt":"2019-08-03T14:22:31","slug":"listen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.paraklesis.net\/site\/2018\/04\/15\/listen\/","title":{"rendered":"Listen"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I watched a TED talk recently on languages.  It started with the premise that by simply\nexhaling and making different shapes with my mouth, I can force you to have\nthoughts that you\u2019ve never had before. Your\nbrain can interpret<\/strong> patterns of vibrations in the air as meaningful\nconcepts. I\u2019ve never thought of speech along those lines before. I guess we\nalso invented a way to encode those vibrations into shapes that we can put on\npaper and share thoughts via the written word. \nLanguage is pretty cool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, there must be some language that God uses that goes\nway beyond the coolness that we experience. \u201cThen God said<\/strong>, “Let there be light”; and there was light.\u201d (Gen\n1:3) Now that\u2019s<\/strong> some language\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, let me restate something: \u201d\u2026your brain can interpret\u2026\u201d Interpretation is a very interesting phenomenon that is potentially dangerous.  Misinterpretations are very common and have caused much of the controversy in the world. To avoid or minimize that danger, we need to rely on God\u2019s spirit for discernment and correct interpretation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Mark 4, Jesus gives us, not just the parable of the sower\nand the seed, but some \u201cinsider info.\u201d That is, the really important stuff \u2013 the\nstuff that will make or break us \u2013 will be delivered as a sort of puzzle to\nsolve. We will need ears to hear, and not everyone \u201chas\u201d those ears.  Just as the parable teaches, some people\ndon\u2019t hear, some people get distracted, some people can\u2019t handle the pressure\nand some people actually LISTEN<\/strong>.\nListening and understanding (correct interpretation) is God\u2019s gift to us, but\nwe need to claim it. His spirit, or our helper, is available to us on demand\nfor this purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He starts in verse 3 \u201cListen!\u201d (or \u201cHarken!\u201d or \u201cBehold!\u201d or\nas other more modern and loose translations might have it, \u201cDude!\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then He gives the short parable (King James version is only\n120 words\u2026.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then \u201c\u2026 he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. \u201c (Mar 4:9)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, to His apostles (and us\u2026) He continues and explains His method<\/strong> of teaching \u201c\u2026so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN.”  (Mar 4:12)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then He \u201cdeciphers\u201d the parable. (He INTERPRETS<\/strong> it for us)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, it seems that He continues right into another short\nparable about light (don\u2019t put your lamp under a basket\u2026) which seems different\n(light not sound\u2026) but I argue that they are the same. (eyes to see, ears to\nhear\u2026)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then He says in 4:23 \u201cIf anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally (for my discussion) \u201cAnd He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. “For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.” (Mar 4:24-25)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look at this (or, more appropriately, listen<\/strong> to this:)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, “<\/em>Listen<\/em><\/strong> to Me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.(Mar 7:14-16)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, we need to be really\ncareful<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul tells the Corinthians (and us) that we are subject to being deceived. \u201cBut I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.\u201d (2Co 11:3)<\/em> In other words, be careful what you listen<\/strong> to \u2013 Eve was deceived through her listening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His speech was smoother than butter, but his heart was war; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords. (Psa 55:21)<\/em> Our trust in God\u2019s spirit will give us discernment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But also, be careful what you SAY<\/strong> \u2013 what others might HEAR<\/strong>.\nYou can defile yourself by simply saying the wrong thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a few places that record the Messiah saying this, but I will stick with Mark: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.\u201d (Mar 9:42)<\/em> Say something wrong, defile a brother, and regret it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we be Really\nCareful<\/strong>? <\/p>\n\n\n\n