The Proper Response to Preaching

Ezekiel 33:4

Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

The trumpet in Ezekiel 33 is talking about the preaching of God’s Word. God certainly holds the preacher accountable to preaching God’s Word truthfully and to preaching the whole counsel of God. It is amazing how many believers feel they have a right to correct their preacher about his preaching, but the greatest question is, why don't they correct themselves about their hearing of the preaching? If believers responded properly to the preaching, they would find the preaching would not be offensive. The only reason preaching is offensive is because it has hit home, and they don't like that God’s Holy Spirit exposed their sin. Let me share some proper responses you ought to have toward preaching.

First, you ought to hear the preaching that is being preached. It is hard to hear the preaching of God’s Word when you are playing on your phone during the preaching. I am constantly amazed at how many people play with their phones during the preaching. You wonder why you don't know what to do in your times of difficulty, and the answer is that you likely missed what you needed to hear while you were not listening to the preaching. God holds the hearer as responsible for hearing the preaching as He does the preacher to preaching what he is supposed to preach. You have no one to get upset at other than yourself when you didn't hear the preaching due to daydreaming, sleeping, not being in attendance, or simply not paying attention during the preaching.

Second, heed the warning of the preaching. It is not enough to hear the preaching, but you are to heed the warning to what is preached. To hear the warning of preaching and not to do what God has warned you about is to live in rebellion. The only reason you think the preacher is preaching directly at you is because the Holy Spirit is pointing out your sin to you. Now, you can get mad at the preacher for preaching at you, which he is most likely not doing, but the proper response is to heed the warning. Many believers have heard the warning of what to do and what not to do, but they walk out and do the complete opposite of what they were told to do. God holds you accountable to what He has warned you about through the preaching. The fact that you heard the warning now puts the responsibility on you to do right and heed that warning.

Third, respond to the warning of the preaching. Verse 9 says, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Your response to the warning of preaching will determine God’s response toward you. You ought to respond by first going to the altar to confess your sin. Throughout the Scriptures, altars were built to be a remembrance of decisions made. By going to the altar when you heard the warning of the preaching, you are setting up a place of remembrance to remember to always do right when you look at that altar.

You ought also to change your ways after you leave the altar where you made the decision. It is not enough just to say to God that you will do right, but He expects you to follow through. Your response to the warning of preaching determines whether you live a chastened life or a blessed life. Heed right, and you will find God’s blessings on your life.