PAY ATTENTION
Today I want to share with you something that I have learned and I want to use what Jesus said to make my experience real to you.
MARK 4:24 And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure of thought and study] you give [to [the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you—and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.
Before I share with you, I have to make sure you know that you are responsible to hear the Word. To put it in your heart and to pay attention to it. If you don't, you will simply live your life deceived, ending in regret that you didn't do this one thing, pay attention to what Jesus is saying to you.
When you pay attention when you hear the Word, you are hearing Jesus. He is His Word. John1:1
That said, if you want to hear Him and I am assuming you do, you must pay attention to the Word. What that doesn’t mean is, you don’t say a quick “hi, gotta go”. You don’t give Him just one worship song a day, or church on Sunday and then you run and do your life. That is not paying attention, no that is being an acquaintance with Jesus.
Just like if you run into someone at the market and say a quick hi, you don’t really know that person. You did talk to him or her for a second in church one day, so you feel obligated to at least say hi. Then a quick bye, gotta go.
Jesus said to the five foolish bridesmaids as they so desperately knocked at the Kingdom door, “I wasn't acquainted with you!” Obviously they never even had time to say Hi!
Matthew 25: 11 Later the other virgins also came and said, Lord, Lord, open [the door] to us! 12 But He replied, I solemnly declare to you, I do not know you [I am not acquainted with you].13 Watch therefore [give strict attention and be cautious and active], for you know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of Man will come.
Now that we have that behind us, I want to share with you the value of sitting at His feet and getting to know Him; the value of really knowing Him. What He is thinking, how He cares for you tenderly, and how He can turn things around for you.
Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. 30 For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.
When you take the time to say more than a quick “Hi jesus, I don’t have much time, but I am here”, you will hear more that you thought you would. If you don’t give Him enough time, you are cutting Him off from revealing to you, the revelation you need.
Let me say it this way. You sat with Him and He really did reveal something to you and you're so excited that He did, but then before He was finished, you run off for whatever reason, and you didn't hear the rest of what you needed to hear. You became distracted, and the enemy is the culprit that will make sure you are.
That is why you need to know this truth Jesus revealed to us.
—Mark 4:13 And He said to them, Do you not discern and understand this parable? How then is it possible for you to discern and understand all the parables?14 The sower sows the Word. 15 The ones along the path are those who have the Word sown [in their hearts], but when they hear, Satan comes at once and [by force] takes away the message which is sown in them.
This is why Jesus said pay attention to what you hear. The enemy will try and keep you from hearing the revelation knowledge you need. Thus, instead of running off, sit with Him and let Him teach you.
—Mark 4:24 And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure of thought and study] you give [to [the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you—and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.
Pay attention then to what you hear, giving Jesus a chance to tell you all of what you need to know to have that wonderful life He promised you.
—John 10:10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).