God’s word comes that we might have life. But do you hear it in the right way?
God’s word is rich, powerful and alive and by His Holy Spirit, He convinces us of everything – sin, righteousness and judgment. There are different types of people here this morning, and when I read from the Word of God it will either bear fruit for good or it will not affect us. How will you hear these verses?
Romans 6:21–23
John 10:9-10
There were four different reactions to what I have just read.
Mark 4:1–9
There are four different ways of hearing and we are going to look at each category. I want to highlight that if you’re in category one - three, we have a severe problem.
The five verses which I read initially came to you, and you’re one in of these categories.
The disciples couldn’t figure out what Jesus meant. They understood that the farmer would know where the good ground is and would put the seed there as best he could, but if the seed fell elsewhere, it didn’t bear fruit.
Mark 4:10-13
Jesus explained each category of hearer.
Mark 4:14–15
The birds flew down, took the seed, and there was no chance of any fruit. When they have heard physically, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. That’s like the person who came here this morning with an attitude of “This is not relevant to me. This won’t be relevant to me. I’m here under sufferance. I’m here, but in my heart, the Word won’t get involved.”
The moment I read out those first verses, your reaction was “Here we go again. I’ve heard this before”
Psalm 95:7-8
It is possible for us to harden our heart. In our first birth we are born in sin, and we can determine whether or not to let the word affect us. You walked in here having hardened your heart it this morning. I’m trusting God because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, so as we go through these categories, you’ll recognised yourself, and that acceptance is a start – it really is.
The wayside was a pathway through the field. Everyone walked on it and it was like concrete and nothing could take root. The ground was in no way prepared. If you came in like that, I want you to identify it, and ask yourself how it can change – because it needs to change. Don’t think “That’ll always be my attitude – why do I bother coming?” You need to be here. Never rule out the power of God’s word. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 6:21-23
John 10:9–10
Mark 4:16-17
These verses mirror Mark 4:5-6. These are people who will readily agree with what is being preached. They will listen and agree – “That’s true. It’s brilliant. I can see the sense. I can understand it.” And in here it’s fine. But when you get outside, and perhaps are talking to your relations “You go to that church. What does it meant to you?” Or you’re talking to your peer group, and there are some who want to go the right way, but you side with pressure from others to go a different way.
Jesus talked about this sort of problem elsewhere:
Mark 8:37-38
This stony heart has a little bit of earth along the top. There’s just enough soil for the word to have a reaction. But below there is a great big stone, and the roots can’t get down. So when the sun comes up, everything gets scorched. What God wants to do is make the soil right. He wants you to have good soil. He doesn’t want there to be a stone.
Ezekiel 36:25-27
That’s God’s heart for you. Harden not your heart. Realise that there has to be an understanding and acceptance so God can get inside you – not just an imprint, but Christ on the inside. I want to get rid of the stony heart. Because under pressure, it will be gone. We have a Christian school. If anyone is a wayside hearer or a stony-hearted hearer, Come University, forget it – you’re gone. There’s a hardness, no depth. But I’m preaching this this morning because God wants to change that. It’s not too late.
Mark 4:18-19
This mirrors verse Mark 4:7. Three things. The cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, the list for other things - they grow up alongside the Word. These people hear the Word with gladness. There’s some depth, because things grow. The word grows, but then these other things are allowed to grow too and before you know where you are, you find the garden you tended has become overgrown. Everything good has been choked and is gone. This sort of person actually knows what it is to understand the Word of God. The problem is that they don’t keep it. Why? Because other things run parallel. We have the seed growing, but we have thorns growing. And if let the thorns grow, they will kill off the seed.
James 4:1-4
If I have thorns growing, I’m allowing them to grow because I have a foot in two camps. I’m not fully in here. I’m kidding myself, and I’m miserable, because there are times when I realise that this is true, this really is the life I want to lead, but ... It’s a compromise.
What are we listing here as the pleasures of this world? Fame, celebrity, the dream, alcohol, drugs, sex, the National Lottery – it could be you. Well this morning, it is you. What is the state of your heart when we read out those five verses initially? What thorn are you hanging on to? Why is it there? Why are you letting it grow? Why are you getting with others who are cultivating the thorn with you? You know it’s wrong.
1 Timothy 6:9-10
1 Timothy 6:17
James 4:13–14
The cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches...
Romans 6:21–23
John 10:9–10
Mark 4:20
This is good ground. This parable is referred to in Matthew, Mark and Luke. It talks about those who hear the word and receive it, understand it, keep it. Three different verbs. You receive it, understand it and keep it. The word is inside you.
Galatians 5:19–23
It says in Galatians 5:19-23 in the New Living Translation - When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.
Why is God bringing this to our attention? When Jesus Christ came into the world, He did so to save sinners, to eradicate that wall of sin. He broke down the wall of partition through the Cross, through His son giving His life. Jesus wants you to be a good hearer. He doesn’t want you to be a wayside hearer, to have a heart of stone, to cultivate thorns. You could say the thorns represent the world, the stone in your heart, you flesh, and the wayside, the devil. The world, the flesh and the devil were all dealt with once and for all at Calvary. Jesus conquered, too the penalty of your sin. He conquered death for you and me because He does not want you to be that way.
God is speaking to some of you directly by His Holy Spirit. I’m talking about understanding and receiving the words I read at the outset.
Romans 6:21-23
John 10:9-10
If you are by the wayside, if you have a heart of stone, if you’re two-timing with thorns, let’s sort it out.
John 10:9–10
There are cynics who will say if I invite you to put things right with God; they’ll say these are crocodile tears. If that’s you, keep your opinion to yourself, because God is faithful, and by the power of His Holy Spirit, He communicates faith through the preaching of His word. I know there are some here who know that God has been speaking to you. It is as if it is you and God and no one else is involved.
Sunday, 23 November 2008
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