OPENING NOTES:

* Did you know that there are certain sounds that reach all the way to heaven?

* Out of all of our 5 senses, our sense of hearing might be the one that gives us the most surprises!

* Cmon, I know it has happened to you – It’s late on a summer day, dark clouds roll in, suddenly – a BOOM of thunder. Jump ten feet in the air.

* But there are other sounds that aren’t so loud or piercing or overwhelming, but they grab our attention in a mighty way!

* Our God is all-knowing!

* But certain sounds reach his ears in a special way.

* The Bible declares this for our encouragement, so that we might know these truths, despite our own feelings or conclusions!

1. The Sound of My Crying


* There is something intensely personal about crying. Laughter we usually do with others. But crying is usually alone.
** But in those moments of misery and tears, the muffled sobbing rises up
and straight to the ears of the God in heaven.
Exodus 3:7-9 (NIV)
7 The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. . . .
9 “The cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them.”

* The Israelite people had been slaves in Egypt for as long as they could remember.

* Saw an animal documentary some time ago, about Penguins.

* Specific frequency that the daddy penguin and mommy penguin have!
So, with 1000's of voices going at once, they find each other – without fail.
Psalm 18:6 (NIV)
In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.
Psalm 31:22 (GWT)
When I was panic-stricken, I said, “I have been cut off from your sight.” But you heard my pleas for mercy when I cried out to you for help.
Lamentations 3:55-57 (NLT)
55 But I called on Your name, Lord, from deep within the pit. 56 You heard me when I cried, “Listen to my pleading! Hear my cry for help!” 57 Yes, You came when I called; You told me, “Do not fear.”

* We dug it, we fell in it, and we are stuck – and it’s nobody else’s fault. And we feel that we can't cry out for help.
** Or that, if we DO, God won't really listen!
2 Chronicles 6:26-27 (NIV)
26 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, 27 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.

2. The Sound of Blessing

* This next one is so beautiful!

* God hears from heaven in a special way when YOU take time to bless someone in His name!

* Back in the OT times, God’s representatives were the Levites, the priests. They had chosen to be set apart especially for God, not living and acting like everyone else.

* Numbers tells us that God gave the Levites instructions
Numbers 6:22-26 (NIV)
22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

* Oh, that was probably just a routine prayer – “Now I lay me down to sleep…”
> Part of a meaningless ritual, … right? Wrong. Check this out:
Numbers 6:27 (NIV)
27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

* When the Levites would bless the people, God would come down in his glory, and put “his name” and his power and his blessing right there in the middle of the situation!

* 700 Hundred years later (after this instruction was given), it was still true!
2 Chron 30:13,27 (NIV)
13 A very large crowd of people assembled in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread in the second month…
27 The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling place.

> God honored His word! He gave special attention to the prayer of blessing!
>> And even today, he does!

* When you bless one another!
James 5:16 (NLT)
Pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

* When you bless your children!

* When you bless a stranger!

* When you bless an enemy!

1 Peter 3 (NIV)
9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called! . . . 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer.

3. The Sound of Faithful Prayers

* I can admit that I understand that God can pay special attention to those special moments of distress. Those unique moments of blessing.
> But sometimes I’m praying about something faithfully, regularly, daily – and the haunting thought creeps in: What if God isn’t really listening?
** What if these prayers aren’t making a difference?

* And so, for all you faithful pray-ers out there, sit up a little extra tall right now – and take notice.
> God’s ears are tuned in to your dedicated praying!
> Satan wants to convince you that its useless and vain.
That whether you pray or not today, doesn’t matter.

* This Biblical principle is illustrated beautifully by the story of Cornelius.
Acts 10:1-2 (NIV)
1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.

* Cornelius didn’t have all the spiritual background and experience that others did. Being Gentile, he didn’t have certain advantages.
> But he knew this – there is a God in heaven, and I will lay my request before Him. Yesterday, today, tomorrow.

* Do you do that? Do you sometimes feel that is ALL you can do?
Acts 10:3-4 (NIV)
3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.”

* God answered Him by telling him a powerful truth: Your faithfulness in prayer has come up before me. I’ve noticed! I’ve seen the whole time!
* Here’s what God did for Cornelius:
A. God worked miracles in his circumstances!
* God sent an angel to him directly!
* God simultaneously touched the heart of Peter 40 miles away,
and gave Peter a vision to be ready.
Luke 18:7 (ERV)
God’s people shout to him night and day, and he will always give them what is right. He will not be slow to answer them.

B. God poured out His Spirit on him and his house
* Cornelius gathered with his relatives and Spirit came down!
Isaiah 44:3 (GWT)
I will pour water on thirsty ground and rain on dry land. I will pour my Spirit on your offspring and my blessing on your descendants.
- - - - - -
* Does God hear? Does He care?

> Yes! His ears are attentive to you!
* When you cry – when you’re burdened!
* When you take time to bless someone in His name!
* When you are faithful in prayer!