ARE YOU LISTENING?

I Chronicles 21:1

Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.

I remember when I was a teenager and I used to look at myself in the mirror. I'd check out my muscles and how good I looked. Not that I was a hunk or anything but I was fit and trim. Not like I am now! I also remember when I was still in high school and we had an undefeated basketball team. We didn't just win our games, we pulverized our competition. For the longest time we just couldn't be beaten. We would remind our opposing team all through the game how they lacked in ability and how we excelled, chanting things like we're #1, we're #1. You're problably wondering where I am going with this. Just keep these memories in mind while I go on.

There is a great man of the God in the Bible that had to deal with a little sin in his life. I personally believe this particular issue was pride but some disagree and think it was fear. I'll address this shortly. Regardless of what the sin was you can replace it with whatever it is in your life at this moment. So this is for everybody, no matter who you are and what your situation may be. As Pastor J.D. Hatfield asks us on occasion,"When you woke up this morning were you God?" Then this applies to you.

King David was on the winning team. He was winning all his games and stomping on all his competition. He beat the Ammonites and the Syrians, he conquered a place called Rabbah and David just destroyed the Philistine giants. And in one instant David took his eyes off God and sinned. Because of all the victory David had been experiencing is why I believe that this was a pride issue and not a fear issue. Don't misunderstand me, David was a great man of God and was obedient in a majority of the areas in his life most of the time. He was very special to God and God, I believe, was overall very pleased with David. I pray that we would all have the zeal to serve God as David did. I point out all this to say that even David made mistakes in his life. So don't be discouraged, be encouraged.

Again, verse 1 reads. Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. If you are familiar with the history of Israel then you know the only time Satan has had any strength over Gods people is when they are sinning, in disobedience or rebellion.

So you say "What is wrong with David counting the people?" Moses did it. He had a census that counted everyone and it was actually commanded by God. Moses did it according to and in response to Gods will. God knew David's heart. I believe David wanted to see how strong he was. Instead of using Gods measuring stick to measure his strength , David used mans measuring stick. Pride was Satan's tool. The only reason Satan had a way in and was able to stand up against Israel is because David allowed sin in the camp. What tool is Satan using on you? Satan's main goal is to take your focus off God. As long as David was trusting God for his strength, Satan had no power. If I am facing a mirror the only thing I see is myself. I assure you there is no God in that mirror. Remember I explained earlier this isn't just about pride. It's about anything that takes your focus off Jesus Christ. What's in the mirror when you look at it? You are! Start looking at Christ!

So, we see that sin can enter into our lives with one look the wrong way. What about our hearing? David not only took his eyes off God, he apparently wasn't listening to God either.

My kids don't like to hear me and my wife "COO" at each other, so when we do they stick their fingers in their ears and make a lot of noise so they can't hear us. Are you intentionally doing something that makes it so you can't hear God? Is there something in your life that is preventing you from hearing God? Do you even want to hear from God? Or are you afraid at what He might say? If you can't hear God it is problably because you're too far away from God or not even faced in the right direction. Who are you close to? Who are you hearing?

If you are too far from God to hear Him then you are way to close to Satan. If you do hear something there is a good chance it won't be God. What is it that takes your focus off Jesus? Is it pride like David? Lust? Unforgiveness? Fear? Anger? The list goes on.

How close are you listening? Remember the story in Acts when Paul and Silas were in prison and they were praising God and there was an earthquake that opened all the prison doors and loosed everybody's chains and they were able to walk out the door. How many of us would have said PRAISE GOD, THANK YOU LORD FOR DELIVERING ME and walked out praising God? You would have missed the whole point. As brother Danny Morgan, the evangelist, would say, "We have missed an opportunity". But Paul and Silas must have been listening close. The noise of the earthquake, falling walls must have been almost deafening. But in the midst of all that they knew they were to stay as if they were still chained up. A soldiers life and his whole household was changed forever because of that! And Paul and Silas still ended up free!! Every moment is an opportunity to serve God. How far are you willing to go? Would you be willing to stay in that jail cell even if the doors fell down? Are you close enough to God that you would even hear Him speaking to you?

Again, in Acts chapter 12, Peter is in prison and is awoken in the middle of the night by an angel that is freeing him. If Peter had his fingers in his ears, the angel would have never awakened him. There scripture says that Herod was about to bring him out. Problably for sentencing, maybe even for death. But peter was listening.

Are you close enough to God to hear Him? Would you hear Him if He told you to stay? Would you hear Him if He said run? If you're not even willing to read your Bible or pray, or fellowship with other believers then you're not going to be able to hear Him. You need to turn away from that mirror, take your fingers out of your ears and start getting closer to Jesus so you can hear Him. He wants to talk to you. He wants to save your soul. He wants to guide your every moment. Are you willing to let Him?

David was looking the wrong way to hear God. God never spoke directly to David through this whole ordeal. God spoke to Gad, David's seer, but not to David. God didn't speak to David until David repented and offered the proper sacrifices for his sin. If there is something preventing you from hearing or being close to God it is as simple as repenting and turning towards God. As far as the sacrifice goes...Sorry, but there is nothing you have that is enough of a sacrifice for your sins. But!!! Praise God, Christ has made the ultimate sacrifice that is more than enough for your and my sins. Have you allowed sin in your camp? Remember David isn't the one who really got hurt for sinning. 70,000 men died from plague. Our sins affect those around us. It may not be in death but in some way, even if it is just you being a poor witness for the Lord. Repent and mean it. How do you repent? Turn away from whatever it is that you are looking at and look at God, read the Word, pray, fellowship with other Christians and don't take your eyes off Christ no matter what.

Dan