Recognizing the Receptive
Series: Spring Life - Identify
Matthew 13:1-9, Luke 19:1-10
March 4, 2007
Morning Service
This message was prepared using the Springlife materials supplied by the Wesleyan Headquarters.
Introduction
When I was young, we always planted a garden at my grandmother’s house. It was a lot of work and seemed like a major pain at the time. One of my favorite parts was actually getting the ground ready for planting. Depending on what we were planting, we either used the actual plow, I was allowed to drive the tractor a few times, or the roto-tiller. No matter how you did the garden, you still got to mess around in the dirt and mud.
It would have been incredibly difficult to plant the seeds or small plants without first getting the ground ready. The same is true for outreach and evangelism. Many times we want to reap a harvest without doing the hard work of cultivating and sowing.
Before any ground can be ready for planting the ground must first be prepared for the seed. It must be cultivated. The first section of study that we will be looking in Spring Life is the aspect of cultivating. We are called to labor in the field of souls and do the work of Christ’s Kingdom and this begins with cultivating. How do we cultivate for Jesus?
In your bulletin, you will find a sheet marked Cultivating List. This sheet is a simple and straightforward way to begin your cultivating. Take just a moment right now and think of two people that you know who do not know Christ or attend church. Write down those names in the places provided. You can finish your list later
We begin cultivating in areas where we are familiar. How many of you invited someone to the Christmas program? That can be a starting point for cultivating. Any person that you know who does not know Christ is a target for cultivation.
This morning if you have your Bibles open them to Matthew 13:1-9
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 He who has ears, let him hear." Matthew 13:1-9
The goal of personal evangelism is to scatter seed. Our hope is that people will be won to Christ through our service. However, it is important to remember that the average person has to hear the gospel at least 18 times before they will respond.
When Jesus tells this parable it is not just about the efforts of spreading the gospel but about different kinds of people who hear the gospel.
Four Kinds of People
The Unresponsive – The soil on the path
The paths in the ancient day would have been packed down to allow for ease of walking. There are people who feel like they have been walked on and stomped down in life. As a result they become hardened and cynical. Many people like this become indifferent to anything spiritual. They are focused entirely on self – self centered, self sufficient, self satisfied, self serving and self righteous.
The Superficial – The rocky soil
These are people who are quick to respond and even quicker to turn away from their belief. People who make commitments out of the depth of a mud puddle. Their faith was on the outside for others to see. The focus is on being religious. It is nothing more than showing an outward appearance with no inward change. The old phrase: “fake as a three dollar bill” would seem to fit.
The Worldly – The thorny soil
These are people who busy trying to live two separate lives. These are people who never make a commitment to live the Christian life. They go through life with a double focus on both the world and on God.
The Receptive – The Good soil
These are people who allow the Word to take root and grow. Their hearts have been cultivated by the Holy Spirit to receive spiritual things. It is this cultivating that creates openness to the gospel. These are people who produce spiritual fruit.
What happens when Jesus finds a receptive heart?
Lost souls find direction. Hopeless people discover that there is a new hope. Those who are world weary are given new strength. Thirsty spirits find refreshment. Broken lives are mended. Hurting hearts are healed.
Let’s take a moment to look at what happens when seed finds good soil. Open your Bibles to Luke 19:1-10.
1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a `sinner.’ " 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." 9 Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
Zacchaeus was ready
Zacchaeus was miserable in his life and was in desperate need for a change. He was no longer satisfied with the trappings and treasures of material wealth. How many people do you know who are miserable in the midst of their stuff? The toys and gizmos will only satisfy on the short term.
Zacchaeus realized that he needed something more and his desire was to see Jesus. There was a small problem. (no pun intended) He was too short. Zacchaeus could have wallowed in self pity and let things end there but instead look at what he does. “So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him” Luke 19:4
Zacchaeus runs ahead of the crowds, which would have been a difficult task. This would have required a long and fast run. The when he gets ahead of the crowds he wants to guarantee that he sees Jesus so he climbs a tree. Again this would have been no easy task. He wanted to see Jesus. How many people do you know who are miserable but have no idea why?
Zacchaeus was receptive
Jesus stops to speak with Zacchaeus and the whole procession comes to a grinding halt. One of the things that Jesus notices is that Zacchaeus was ready and simply speaks to his deepest need. Zacchaeus needed acceptance and friendship. There are times when you can be a great witness by just being a friend to someone in need.
Jesus starts a conversation with Zacchaeus and invites Himself to his house for the day. Why does Jesus do this? Jewish customs show that eating at another person’s house was a sign of friendship.
Zacchaeus was responsive
Zacchaeus is a changed man and reveals the change by his next actions. He gives half of his wealth to the poor. He then pledges to make restitution of four times anything he cheated anyone out of. This was twice the normal amount for Jewish restitution. More than likely Zacchaeus would have ended bankrupt.
Why was Zacchaeus changed? Jesus cared about him. Zacchaeus was the person that nobody cared about and most people probably hated him. When he saw how much Jesus cared about him, it was enough to change his life. We need to care about others the way Jesus does. We need show others the kind of gracious love that Jesus showed to Zacchaeus.
People want to know how much you care before they hear how much you know. The heart of the gospel is nothing short of compassion for the lost. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. The mission of Jesus needs to be our personal mission.
Everywhere that there is a hurting person, it is a mission field. Every place that has people who need to be loved, it is a mission field. We need to remember that lost people mean more to Jesus than life itself.
What do we need to do?
1. Pray
Everything rises and falls on prayer. Pray and begin to ask God to show you who He wants to influence through you between now and Easter. Martin Luther once said: Work as if everything depends on you and pray like everything depends on God.
2. Perceive
There are certain people who are more open to spiritual conversations than others. Even Jesus said, (paraphrase) “I have come to seek and to save those who are sick, not those who think they are already well.”
Rick Warren, author of the Purpose Driven life, identifies two types of people who tend to be more receptive towards the message of Jesus Christ: Those in transition and those under tension.
Do I know anyone like that? Is the Spirit leading me to reach out to them?
3. Persevere
If after a few days of seeking God’s plan in this, you don’t have a clear sense of direction about a particular person God wants you to reach out to, don’t get discouraged or give up! Maybe it’s someone you’re going to meet for the first time later this week. Just continue to pray the prayer of “God, who?” And God will reveal to you someone He wants you to reach.
