Ready to Hear

Ready to Hear Ready to Hear Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Jesus tells the parable of the soils; Receptive; Fruit; Understanding; Obedience; Gospel / Luke 8:4-15 In order for seeds of truth to be planted, those hearing must be ready to hear or prepared to hear. The readiness to hear Jesus likens to different soils a farmer comes across as he is sowing seeds. This parable illustrates how we can identify our readiness to hear. We can also evaluate what we are more ready to hear - wisdom of the world or the word of God. Introduction 1. Hindrance to fitness has more to do with people than it does with programs, plans, gyms or trainers a. Some people are not receptive to it i. Have you ever wanted to start exercising or getting fit and invited your friend or spouse or sibling to join you? 1. For some - they like the idea 2. For others - they say no way - they arent receptive to it ii. Other times there are people who are on the road to health issues and they need to get fit 1. Their response is that they are unable to - somehow the universe is against them and it just doesnt work b. Others jump in and start their new life of fitness - totally sold out going everyday and working out well. i. Then things happen - to test their resolve - sickness, injury, etc ii. They start strong and then soon they stop - its too early, its too crowded, its too cold, its too hot, my leg hurts any number of things that try them c. Still there are others who invest and get going - soon though they dont have time to workout i. Their schedules and desires cramp out working out d. The ones who get fit and workout and become crossfit i. Receive it ii. Endure even through trials iii. They make it priority over other things 2. Becoming Crossfit spiritually works the same way as it does physically a. It comes down to how ready you are b. Luke's Gospel brings us to Jesus sharing the parable of the Sower and the Seed i. Jesus uses this parable to share the truth - that His disciples must be ready to hear ii. Lets read together and see how Jesus shows us we can be ready to hear in order to get CrossFit › SLIDE Luke 8:4-6 CSB 4 As a large crowd was gathering, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he said in a parable: 5 "A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky devoured it. 6 Other seed fell on the rock; when it grew up, it withered away, since it lacked moisture. › SLIDE Luke 8:7-8 CSB 7 Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 Still other seed fell on good ground; when it grew up, it produced fruit: a hundred times what was sown." As he said this, he called out, "Let anyone who has ears to hear listen." › SLIDE Luke 8:9-10 CSB 9 Then his disciples asked him, "What does this parable mean?" 10 So he said, "The secrets of the kingdom of God have been given for you to know, but to the rest it is in parables, so that Looking they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. › SLIDE Luke 8:11-13 CSB 11 "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and fall away in a time of testing. › SLIDE Luke 8:14-15 CSB 14 As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit. 15 But the seed in the good ground-these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, produce fruit. › SLIDE The Parable › SLIDE Luke 8:4-6 CSB 4 As a large crowd was gathering, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he said in a parable: 5 "A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky devoured it. 6 Other seed fell on the rock; when it grew up, it withered away, since it lacked moisture. › SLIDE Luke 8:7-8a Christian Standard Bible Chapter 8 7 Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 Still other seed fell on good ground; when it grew up, it produced fruit: a hundred times what was sown." 1. Luke doesnt give us much of the scenery but does tell us there was a large crowd gathering a. First off - Matthew and Mark tell us this is occuring seaside and that Jesus taught this from a boat. b. Second we see that right away Jesus goes into a parable i. The idea of a parable is to tell a story alongside a truth in order to teach. 1. Earthly stories with heavenly meanings ii. A parable would generally teach one main point or principle 1. Parables become problematic when we try to extrapolate meanings out of everything in them - in a sense allegorizing them 2. A parable is not an allegory - allegories are stories where everything - every detail has an intricate meaning. a. An allegory must be read and studied and a parable is heard. 2. Jesus tells a story about a sower who goes out to sow seed a. As he sows seed there are four different situations pictured here i. As he sowed, some seed fell on the path - where it was trampled on and birds of the sky devoured it ii. Other seed fell on the rock; when it grew up it withered away - it lacked moisture iii. Other seed fell among the thorns; the thorns grew up and choked it iv. Other seed fell on good ground; when it grew up it produced fruit: a hundred times what was sown 1. Other gospel accounts add different increases some 30 and some 60 and some even 100 b. So what we have is a sower who has sown seed all over i. The seed falls on hardened ground 1. No growth ii. Seed falls on rock or stony ground 1. Growth that springs up but quickly withers iii. Seed falls among thorns 1. Growth that is choked out by thorns among it iv. Seed falls on good ground - fertile ground 1. growth, producing fruit - more than was sown (total of all the seed) › SLIDE The Point › SLIDE Christian Standard Bible Chapter 8 As he said this, he called out, "Let anyone who has ears to hear listen." WHY JESUS USED PARABLES 9 Then his disciples asked him, "What does this parable mean?" 10 So he said, "The secrets of the kingdom of God have been given for you to know, but to the rest it is in parables, so that Looking they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.,ab THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER EXPLAINED 11 "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 1. As Jesus finished the parable He called out - to make His point a. The language dictates that Jesus was making a major point of emphasis › SLIDE Let anyone who has ears to hear listen i. Those have have ears to hear ii. He is saying receive it - dont just hear it 2. The disciples ask Jesus what this parable means a. They inquire as to the meaning - and the original language states that is was a frequent and eager questioning b. Jesus responds and says that to them the secrets of the kingdom of God have been given them i. The parable relates to the kingdom of God and the secrets of it 1. Some translations say mysteries 2. In the Bible a mystery isnt something you cannot figure out - instead it is something that you would never know unless God revealed it to you. › SLIDE A biblical mystery can be known and still be a mystery because you only know it because God revealed it. ii. Jesus quotes from Isaiah 6:9 in verse 10 › SLIDE Isaiah 6:9-10 CSB 9 And he replied: Go! Say to these people: Keep listening, but do not understand; keep looking, but do not perceive. 10 Make the minds of these people dull; deafen their ears and blind their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their minds, turn back, and be healed. 1. People can become so dull and heavy blunted in mind that when God's truth comes to them they cannot see it a. Jesus is saying that the blindness and deafness of people to God's truth is not God's fault b. Jesus preaching in parables was not the cause of their unbelief - their unbelief was the result of Jesus' preaching › SLIDE The responsibility lies upon those who hear or reject the word of God iii. The key to the parable - Jesus gives in verse 11 1. The seed is the word of God a. If you miss the key you miss the parable i. If you think the seed is money - you missed it ii. If you think the seed is love - you missed it iii. You only understand the parable by understanding that the seed is the word of God 2. Therefore the seed is thrown out by the sower - Jesus and anyone who preaches and teaches the word of God a. They dont make the seed, the seed is given to them and they throw it out › SLIDE Jesus uses this parable to explain why some accept and some reject the word of God - its not the seed thats the issue › SLIDE The Plots › SLIDE first Unreceptive › SLIDE Luke 8:12 CSB 12 The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 1. Seed along the path - the path being the space between fields the farmers would use to travel out to their field so not to trample the crops. a. This ground would be so walked and used by all that the ground was compressed and hard i. This ground - the seed merely fell on it and stayed on top of the ground ii. The ground is hard and unreceptive b. Jesus in the parable said that the seed would be trampled under foot and that the birds would come and steal it 2. Here the explanation is given - these are those who hear the word of God - but the devil takes away the word so that they may not believe and be saved a. The devil works to snatch up the seed from the heart i. Understand when God's word is preached Satan is at work during and after › SLIDE The devil believes in the power of God's word more than some who preach it ii. Jesus acknowledges not only that the devil is at work but that he actually steals the seed - meaning he does have power and comes to steal kill and destroy iii. The devil is punctual in his and knows the right time to come 1. Bringing a distraction 2. Sometimes the preacher is the distraction 3. A wandering mind 4. A cute child, screaming child - or clearly whispered remark iv. Never think of the devil as omnipresent or omniscient though - those qualities belong to God alone 1. However Satan has legions of demons b. This is one who does not receive the word of God › SLIDE The word has no penetration in the heart, just as the seed fails to penetrate the ground before it is stolen › SLIDE second Shallow › SLIDE Luke 8:13 CSB 13 And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and fall away in a time of testing. 1. Seed on the rock - Israel has land where the soil is a shallow layer on top of a limestone shelf a. The sower would scatter seed and some would fall on shallow soil i. This seed would germinate in the soil and grow up b. However the plant withered away - since it lacked moisture 2. Here is the explanation - the seed on the rock are those who hear, and when they hear, they receive the word with joy. Having no root - these believe for a while and fall away in a time of testing a. Unlike the first group - this one receives the word with joy and enthusiasm i. The text clearly says that they believe the word and acted upon it - for a while ii. Indicating they stopped acting upon it, why why did they stop acting upon it? b. They had no root and so they fall away in a time of testing i. Roots are necessary for a plant to absorb moisture or water - which is essential for the plant's life 1. The deeper the root - the better the water and the stronger the plant 2. The rock shelf prevented deep roots - so the roots were shallow ii. Deep roots are necessary for times of drought - the deep roots allow plants to withstand drought as they arent looking for water on the surface but far below the surface 1. It is interesting to note that in the parable Jesus says the plant withered because it lacked moisture and here He says that without a root they fell away during a time of testing › SLIDE Testing or trial is through fire which will dry us out if we dont have moisture or water a. Water - could be a reference to God's word Jesus or the Holy Spirit b. The times of testing means more water not less - more of God's word more of Jesus and more of God's Spirit 2. These are those who believed God's word and followed it until it became tough or challenging to live it › SLIDE The word did not change them so they died in the heat of testing › SLIDE third Crowded › SLIDE Luke 8:14 CSB 14 As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit. 1. Seed among thorns - The thorns in Israel are unforgiving and plentiful if they are not cleared out a. The thorns can quickly overtake an area of land and become so thick as to be more diffcult to remove b. On top of that when they grew up with other plants - such as crops the farmers would be unable to harvest the fruit due to the thorns i. Despite being on fertile ground - thorns created competition for anything that would be planted 2. Here is the explanation - the seed that fell among thorns - these are they who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit a. The first group outright rejected the word, the second group received the word of God but only lasted until things got hot, and this group - the danger is in the crowding i. Like the thorns - the things of this life crowd our life and without care they will crowd out God's word from our life ii. The cares of this world crowd out the truth of God's word 1. Worry - we have many things to worry about › SLIDE - Gods word says this Philippians 4:6-7 CSB 6 Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. a. How many times do we listen to this and follow this - how many times does our worries crowd out what God's word says? 2. Riches - we seek riches because we feel it makes us secure › SLIDE Luke 12:20-21 CSB 20 "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared-whose will they be?' 21 "That's how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God." 3. Anxiety › SLIDE Luke 12:22-24 CSB 22 Then he said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, don't worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: They don't sow or reap; they don't have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren't you worth much more than the birds? 4. Pleasures of this life a. They arent bad or evil in and of themselves - God gave us life to enjoy b. The issues is when these things crowd out receiving the word of God i. It chokes the life from us and the fruit we produce if any at all is not mature but sour and worthless › SLIDE This ground was fertile for all things and choked the receiving of the word of God due to crowding › SLIDE finally Responsive › SLIDE Luke 8:15 CSB 15 But the seed in the good ground-these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, produce fruit. 1. Seed in the good ground - this ground is the ground capable of producing growth and fruit a. Good ground is desirable plants can grow and produce much fruit b. Sometimes a single seed can produce 100 fold of what was sown 2. Here is the explanation - the seed in the good ground these are the ones who, having heard the word with and honest and good heart, hold on to it by enduring, producing fruit a. Obviously this is the desired outcome for both the farmer and the preacher of God's word i. The word is received with depth - it penetrated deep enough for good roots to develop 1. An honest and a good heart - more interested in receiving God's word than preserving anything that would be contrary to or opposition against ii. Not only does the word go deep and produce good roots - but because of this notice that this one is able to endure 1. The one holds onto the word of God with endurance - which speaks in times of trouble and testing b. Producing fruit - a fruitful life is tied to the one who is responsive to God's word Conclusion It would be wrong to view this parable fatalistically. Thats just the soil I am - rather we need to see a challenge to cultivate our hearts so that the word of God is received and has the fullest effect in our lives. What do we do with the word we receive? › SLIDE The difference was never the seed - it was the soil, the ground on which the seed fell Why is it so easy to believe the words of self-help gurus, counselors, news outlets, governments, etc but when it comes to the word of God we question and doubt God has proved Himself faithful and true THROUGH HIS WORD - Prophecy, Gospel, etc We benefit the most if we see bits of ourselves in all four soils Like the pathway - sometimes we allow Gods word no room in our lives Like the rock - sometimes we have flashed of enthusiasm in receiving the word but testing withers us Like the thorns - business, and other cares constantly threaten to choke out God's word Like the good ground - the word bears fruit in our lives How do we have ears to hear so we can listen? › SLIDE 1 Thessalonians 2:13 CSB 13 This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the word of God, which also works effectively in you who believe. › SLIDE We must receive the seed as it truly is - the Word of God Then we are ready to hear what He has to say to us Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 1:43 PM April 18, 2020.