LISTEN UP!
This was the title of Pastor David’s wonderful message.
Later that same day, Jesus left the house and went down to the shore, where an immense crowd soon gathered. He got into a boat and taught from it while the people listened on the beach. He used many illustrations such as this one in his sermon: “A farmer was sowing grain in his fields. As he scattered the seed across the ground, some fell beside a path, and the birds came and ate it. And some fell on rocky soil where there was little depth of earth; the plants sprang up quickly enough in the shallow soil, but the hot sun soon scorched them and they withered and died, for they had so little roots. Other seeds fell among thorns and the thorns choked out the tender blades. But some fell on good soil, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as he had planted. If you have ears, listen!” Matthew 13:1-9
“Now here is the explanation of the story I told about planting grain: The hard path where some of the seeds fell represents the heart of a person who hears the Good News about the Kingdom and doesn’t understand it; then Satan comes and snatches away the seeds from his heart. The shallow, rocky soil represents the heart of a man who hears the message and receives it with joy, but he doesn’t have much depth in his life, or persecution begins because of his beliefs, his enthusiasm fades, and he drops out. The ground covered with thistles represents a man who hears the message, but the cares of this life and his longing for money chock out God’s Word, and he does less and less for God. The good ground represents the heart of a man who listens to the message and understands it and goes out and brings thirty, sixty, or even a hundred others in the Kingdom.” Matthew 13:18-23
The parable of the soul and the soil. This is the first of 7 parables given by God.
Are you a Good Listener? To listen is an active process. Jesus says…
“Listen”
There are four ways we receive God.
1-Don’t bother me, I’m busy with the crowd (v. 19)
2-Hip-hip hoorah for Jesus! No deep roots – fizzle out (vs. 20-21)
3-I love Jesus, But I love the world more- caught up in life, but this life doesn’t produce much truth. (v. 22)
4-I am willing to grow! I want to live my life for Jesus. Truly invested in the Kingdom of God. (v. 23) This life will produce fruits of the Holy Spirit. They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
If we are believers, our fruits should show in us. Compare your life with these 4 types of soil…
What type of soul are you?
Are you willing to LISTEN and do God’s will?
Are you a child of God and do you have a relationship with HIM?
Susan Fowler