245. Hear! Hear!

See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall we not escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven. - Hebrews 12:25.

JESUS still speaks to us in the gospel. What a privilege to hear such a voice, with such a message! What cruel sin to refuse Jesus a hearing! Here is a most urgent exhortation to yield him reverent attention.

I. THERE IS NEED OF THIS EXHORTATION FROM MANY CONSIDERATIONS.

1. The excellence of the word. It claims obedient attention.

2. The readiness of Satan to prevent our receiving the divine word.

3. Our own indisposition to receive the holy, heavenly message.

4. We have rejected too long already. It is to be feared that we may continue to do so, but our right course is to hearken at once.

5. The word comes in love to our souls; let us therefore heed it, and render love for love.

II. THERE ARE MANY WAYS OF REFUSING HIM THAT SPEAKETH.

1. Not hearing. Absence from public worship, neglect of Bible reading. "Turn away from him."

2. Hearing listlessly, as if half asleep, and unconcerned.

3. Refusing to believe. Intellectually believing, but not with the heart.

4. Raising quibbles. Hunting up difficulties, favoring unbelief.

5. Being offended. Angry with the gospel, indignant at plain speech, opposing honest personal rebuke.

6. Perverting his words. Twisting and wresting Scripture.

7. Bidding him depart. Steeling the conscience, trifling with conviction, resorting to frivolous company for relief.

8. Reviling him. Denying his Deity, hating his gospel, and his holy way.

9. Persecuting him. Turning upon his people as a whole, or assailing them as individuals.

III. THERE ARE MANY CAUSES Of THIS REFUSING.

1. Stolid indifference, which causes a contempt of all good things.

2. Self-righteousness, which makes self an idol, and therefore rejects the living Savior.

3. Self-reliant wisdom, which is too proud to hear the voice of God.

4. Hatred of holiness, which prefers the willful to the obedient, the lustful to the pure, the selfish to the divine.

5. Fear of the world, which listens to threats, or bribes, or flatteries, and dares not act aright.

6. Procrastination, which cries "tomorrow," but means "never."

7. Despair and unbelief, which declare the gospel to be powerless to save, and unavailable as a consolation.

IV. REFUSING TO HEAR CHRIST, THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY IS DESPISED.

"Him that speaketh from heaven"

1. He is of heavenly nature, and reveals to us what he has known of God and heaven.

2. He came from heaven, armed with heavenly authority.

3. He speaks from heaven at this moment by his eternal Spirit in Holy Scripture, the ordinances and the preaching of the gospel.

4. He will speak from heaven at the judgment.

He is himself God, and therefore all that he saith hath divinity within it.

V. THE DOOM TO BE FEARED IF WE REFUSE CHRIST.

Those to whom Moses spake on earth, who refused him, escaped not.

1. Let us think of their doom, and learn that equally sure destruction will happen to all who refuse Christ.

· Pharaoh and the Egyptians.

· The murmurers dying in the wilderness.

· Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.

2. Let us see how some have perished in the church.

· Judas, Ananias and Sapphira, etc.

3. Let us see how others perish who remain in the world, and refuse to quit it for the fold of Christ.

· They shall not escape by Annihilation, nor by Purgatory, nor by Universal Restitutions.

· They shall not escape by infidelity, hardness of heart, cunning, or hypocrisy. They have refused the only way of escape, and therefore they must perish for ever.

Instead of refusing, listen, learn, obey.

Instead of the curse, you shall gain a blessing.