Dull of Hearing (A Sermon from Hebrews 5:1-14) Are You Hearing God When He Speaks?

Hebrews 5:1-14

Note: A child has this incredible talent where they can listen, yet they don't actually hear.

Note: Have you ever listened to a sermon but did not hear the sermon?

Mark 4:8-9 “And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” 

James 1:22 "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
It can reach you ears and not heart. It can reach your heart, but your life."

Note: I can attest that I have listened to many messages that I didn’t hear, and I have heard messages that I knew I needed to act, but in foolishness, I walked away, not doing anything about who I was, not making a change.

Note: The writer of Hebrews is dealing with the Work of Christ in the life of a believer.

The writer of Hebrews gives five qualifications for men to be a high priest: 

1. The High Priest must be anointed by God (Vs. 1)
2. The High Priest must offer gifts and sacrifices for sins (Vs. 1)
3. The High Priest must deal with people with compassion (Vs. 2)The High Priest must offer sacrifices for His Own Sins (Vs. 3)
4. The High Priest must be God-appointed and not self-appointed (Vs. 4; Like Aaron)

Note: The Pastorate today should always be about something other than a Career. It should be about a calling.  The pastor is established, ordained, and appointed by God.

Five Qualifications for the Great High Priest: 

1. Christ was begotten or born as a man (Vs. 5)
2. Christ Sacrificed Himself (Vs. 7) 
3. Christ willingly sacrificed Himself and suffered for humanity (Vs. 7) 
4. Christ was Perfect: He is the Author of Salvation (Vs. 9) 
5. Christ was the appointed High priest by God (Vs. 10) 

Note: Obviously, there is a big difference between the Great High Priest and the human High Priest. In the comparison of the failure of the Human High Priest: The writer of Hebrews is rebuking this church for their lack of spiritual growth. 

• It wasn’t because they didn't have resources
• It wasn’t because they had no spiritual help
• It wasn’t because they had no power available
• They had a Great High Priest.
• By the way, so do we.

Note: The Problem was these Believers weren't listening.

Note: They were not digesting the Truths of the Word of God.

Note: The writer of Hebrews says that they were "Dull of Hearing."

Note: The Word dull here means “lazy or sluggish.” 

Note: Hebrews 6:11-12

Note: Listening to the Bible takes work. 

Note: Listening to the Bible takes effort. 

Note: These believers were lazy in their Christian life. 

Note: Because of this laziness, they were not growing

Note: When they should have been teaching others

Note: ”One must teach you again” 

2 John 1:4 "I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father."

Note: Walking in the Truth brings rejoicing, a right relationship, and rewards.