Are You Ready to Listen to God's Word Proclaimed? Part 4

The topic in the fourth chapter of Expository Listening by Ken Ramey is the problem of hearing what needs to be heard. Some people just want to hear an entertaining message and feel good. They aren’t interested in being challenged with their lifestyle. If a preacher goes in that direction, then the listeners will be receiving false doctrine. Indeed, many of them will not even hear the gospel. From 2 Timothy 4:1-4, we see some principles that are helpful for the listeners as well as the preacher. We will look at the commands to the preacher, and see how they might be turned into commands to the listeners.

First, if the preacher has to preach, then the listener has to listen.  That sounds so simple! Paul said in verse 2: Preach the Word. The “Word” is obviously the same message that was proclaimed as inspired at the end of chapter 3. To preach it means that you are acting as a public messenger to announce an important message. If it’s public, then we will be listening with others, meaning we will be in church. If it’s important, and if it’s from God Himself, then the listener better be careful to listen to what is being said. So Paul might say to the church where Timothy was located (Ephesus), “Listen to the Word”. Don’t go looking for something that will just amuse you. You want to be challenged. So here is our command: Listen to the Word. It’s urgent. It’s important. Start listening.

Second, if the preacher has to be ready all the time, then the listener has to be ready all the time. The next command to Timothy was to “be ready in season and out of season”. What do they mean to Timothy? The word “ready” suggests the idea of standing at the ready. A soldier has to be prepared at all times. He does not just prepare for one battle, but for any battle. That requires a preacher to be a student of the Word constantly, a man who walks with God throughout the week. So how about the listener? Are you always ready to hear God’s Word? In fact, are you hungry for it, wanting to get the best message that will challenge you in the way you live?

Third, if the preacher has to reprove those who hear, then the listener has to be receptive to reproof. Timothy is commanded to confront the people with the truth. It may be that their lives are not consistent with Christlikeness. Possibly there has been acceptance of false teaching. Such things need to be corrected. What does the listener need to do? Listen for areas in his life or doctrine that are not consistent with God’s Word. You actually have a desire to see areas that need to be corrected.

Fourth, if the preacher has to rebuke, then the listener has to be receptive to rebuke.  This is the follow-up to reproof. Once the false doctrine or sinful living has been exposed, people need to be challenged to be changed. Expository listeners want to change. They look for problems in their lives or weaknesses that need to be strengthened. Rebuke is not a threat to them; it’s an opportunity to grow.

Fifth, if the preacher has to exhort, then the listener has to be receptive to exhortation. What is exhortation? It is the same word translated as encouragement and comfort. Someone is coming along next to you to help implement the needed change. Often that is in small groups or with just one other person. This is a more positive ministry of assisting someone in bringing about positive change in their life. Listener, are you looking for something that you need to start doing in your life? When you hear the Word, look for something you need to do that you have not been doing. It may be something new, or it may be something you used to do, but you have left it behind.