Psalm 119:17-24

Tonight I am going to continue with my series of messages from Psalm 119.

In this third section the Hebrew letter Gimel is used to help us understand how to listen to God’s Word.

Why is it that two people can listen to the same Bible being preached or taught. Yet only one person grows, matures is productive and fruitful and the other is not? It’s because of the way they listened to God’s Word.

A man goes into an ice cream store and says, "I'd like two scoops of chocolate ice cream, please." The girl behind the counter says, "I'm very sorry, sir, but our delivery truck broke down this morning. We're out of chocolate," "In that case," the man says, "I'll have two scoops of chocolate ice cream."

"You don't understand, sir," the girl says. "We have no chocolate." "Then just give me some chocolate," he says. Getting angrier by the second, the girl says, "Sir, will you spell VAN, as in vanilla?" The man says, "V_A_N." "Now spell STRAW, as in strawberry." "OK. S_T_R_A_W." "Now," the girl says, "spell STINK, as in chocolate." The man hesitates. Then he says. "There is no stink in chocolate."  "THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL YOU!" she screams.

What kind of listener are you? The way you listen will determine the way you live. Did you know that we forget 95% of what we hear after 72 hours. That’s why we don’t rely just on our ears to hear God’s Word. We also give you an outline and video screen to look at. That’s why we also have you repeat phrases and quote verses out loud during the message. Because the more your senses are involved in the message, the more you’re going to remember.

What does it take to listen to God’s Word properly? It takes the right kind of attitude. The question is, "What kind of attitude does it take?"