How Well Do You Listen to God?

Are You Listening to God’s Truth—or Just What You Want to Hear?
Have you ever ignored a warning because it didn’t fit your plans? Maybe a friend cautioned you against a risky decision, but you brushed it off, thinking, “I’ve got this.” I know I’ve been there, certain my way was best, only to regret it later. The Bible tells us a story about a man who made that mistake on a grand scale—Ahab, whose refusal to hear God’s truth led to his downfall. His story, paired with the wisdom from Scripture and a modern example of unwavering faith, challenges us to ask: Are we truly listening to God, and are we living out His truth?

A King Who Chose Lies
In 1 Kings 22, Ahab, the king of Israel, had a plan. He wanted to reclaim the city of Ramoth-Gilead and enlisted Jehoshaphat, the godly king of Judah, to join him in battle. When Jehoshaphat urged Ahab to seek God’s guidance, Ahab summoned 400 prophets who eagerly promised victory. Their words were music to Ahab’s ears—exactly what he wanted to hear. But Jehoshaphat wasn’t convinced. “Is there no prophet of the Lord here?” he asked (1 Kings 22:7, CSB). Reluctantly, Ahab called for Micaiah, a man he despised because “he never prophesies good about me, only disaster” (22:8).

Micaiah’s response was stunning. Initially, he echoed the false prophets’ optimism, but when pressed for truth, he revealed God’s judgment: Ahab would fall in battle. Even more shocking, Micaiah described a heavenly scene where God allowed a “lying spirit” to deceive Ahab’s prophets (22:19–22). Why? Because Ahab’s heart was already hardened. God gave him the freedom to choose, and Ahab chose lies. Furious, he imprisoned Micaiah and marched to war—straight to his death.

What’s sobering about Ahab’s story isn’t just his deception but that God allowed it. Scripture reminds us that God honors our choices, even when they lead to ruin. If we think we’re immune to reaching ungodly conclusions, we’re deceiving ourselves. Ahab’s tragedy warns that calling ourselves godly doesn’t guarantee God sees us that way.

A Warning for All Time
Ahab’s error wasn’t a one-time thing—it’s a human tendency. Centuries later, the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy with a similar caution: “The time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3–4, CSB). Sound doctrine—the unchanging teaching of Jesus and His apostles—isn’t up for grabs. It’s a stable standard that shapes our beliefs and actions, from biblical morality to core truths about God (Romans 6:17; 1 Timothy 4:12). Yet, like Ahab, we’re tempted to surround ourselves with voices that affirm our preferences, sidelining God’s word for what feels good.

Paul’s charge to Timothy was clear: “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2). In a world chasing myths, we’re called to hold fast to truth—not to please people, but to honor God, who “examines our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4). The question is: Are we listening to God’s truth, or are we curating a playlist of yes-men to justify what we already believe?

A Modern Witness
This struggle isn’t just ancient history—it’s alive today. Consider Asia Bibi, a Christian woman in Pakistan whose life testifies to the power of clinging to God’s truth. In 2009, while working as a farm laborer, she offered water to her Muslim coworkers on a sweltering day. They refused, claiming her faith “contaminated” it, and demanded she convert to Islam. When she stood firm, they accused her of blaspheming against Muhammad—a lie that led to her arrest. In 2010, she was sentenced to death and spent nearly a decade on death row, often in solitary confinement, facing threats from extremists. Yet Asia never wavered. She trusted God, prayed for her persecutors, and, after her acquittal in 2018, forgave those who wronged her. Now living in Canada under an assumed identity, she embodies what it means to reflect God’s character through love and resilience.

Asia’s story is a modern echo of Micaiah’s courage and Timothy’s call to live out sound doctrine. Her simple act of kindness—offering water—sparked a firestorm, yet her faith shone brighter. She didn’t just believe in God’s truth; she lived it, even when it cost her everything. Her forgiveness mirrors Christ’s love, challenging us to ask: How far are we willing to go to show God’s heart to the world?

Listening with Open Hearts
So, how well are we listening to God? The Bible calls us to receive His word “not as a human message, but as it truly is, the word of God, which also works effectively in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). But listening isn’t enough—our hearts must be pliable, ready to obey no matter the cost. As King David told his son Solomon, “Serve [God] wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands the intention of every thought” (1 Chronicles 28:9). A pliable heart doesn’t say, “I don’t agree” or “That’s outdated.” It says, “God, show me Your way.”

Too often, we’re like Ahab, dismissing truth that stings. We might claim to follow Christ yet dodge His call to forgive, serve, or sacrifice. A fellow preacher, David Chadwell, once said, “Among Christians, there has occurred an enormous spiritual divorce, and that divorce causes most people who are not Christians to be totally unimpressed with us.” This “divorce” shows up in our pursuit of pleasure over holiness, greed over generosity, or grudges over grace. God sees it, even if we don’t. True godliness isn’t just believing the right things—it’s letting Jesus change how we think and act.

Living God’s Truth
The key to reflecting God’s character is applying His truth daily. Scripture urges us to “proclaim things consistent with sound teaching” and be “an example of good works with integrity” (Titus 2:1, 7). That means helping others when it’s inconvenient, praying for those who hurt us, and choosing purity over selfish desires. It’s forgiving when we’d rather stay bitter or serving when we’d rather be served. Belief without action is a divorce God never endorsed.

Think about your life: Do you consider yourself godly because you hold the right doctrines, or because Jesus has transformed your choices? Are you showing God’s love in how you treat your family, coworkers, or even strangers? The world notices when our faith and actions align—and when they don’t. Like Asia Bibi, we’re called to let our lives “adorn the teaching of God our Savior in everything” (Titus 2:10).

A Challenge for Today
As I reflect on Ahab, Paul, and Asia Bibi, I’m convicted to examine my own heart. Am I listening to God’s truth, or am I chasing voices that tell me what I want? Is my heart open, ready to obey, even when it’s hard? This week, I’m asking God to show me one area where I’m resisting His word—maybe a grudge I need to release or a step of service I’ve avoided. I want my life to reflect His character, not just my preferences.
What about you? Take a moment to ask: Is there a truth you’re dodging because it stings? Where can you live out God’s love more boldly—perhaps by forgiving someone, helping a neighbor, or standing firm in faith? God’s truth is a gift, not a burden. It’s the path to a life that shines His light in a world desperate for hope. Commit today to listen honestly, obey wholeheartedly, and let your actions show the world who Jesus is. Will you say yes to Him?

Those Serving
CALL TO WORSHIP/PRAYER
George Wacks
SONG LEADER
Mark Ringle
LEAD LORD'S SUPPER
Russ Robins
 ASSIST LORD’S SUPPER
Greg Morrison
Robert Zehring
Billy Robbins
Luke Powell
SCRIPTURE READING
Boyd Hastings
2 Timothy 4:1-4
PREACHING
Matthew Allen
CLOSING PRAYER
Daniel Spargo
CLOSING COMMENTS
Rich Walker
WELCOME CENTER
Emily McDonald // Keven Shanesy
USHERS
Benjamin Baker // Paul Braden
COMMUNION PREP
Jeri Hastings
CLOSING THE BUILDING
Josh Childers