Shallowness
1 Co. 2:14 to 3:3 (read from Bible)
What is your thought or feeling when someone mentions any of the following?
-tithing
-witnessing
-attending church more than once a week
-daily Bible reading
-family altar time
Your response will depend on how rooted you are in Christ.
4 Types of People
1. Sinner without spiritual inclinations
2. Seeker (Buscador) - sinners who are looking for the truth, who is beginning to desire a relationship with the Lord.
Mat. 7:7 7 ¶ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: (KJV)
7 ¶ "Pedid, y se os dará. Buscad y hallaréis. Llamad, y se os abrirá. (SRVA)
3. Sold Out (Fanático) -the person who fully given to serve the Lord with all his strength, soul, and mind.
4. Shallow (de poca profundidad)
shallow - having no roots or roots that are not deep
A. Next to Rootless
Mark 4:16,17
16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; (KJV)
16 También los que son sembrados en pedregales son aquellos que, cuando oyen la palabra, en seguida la reciben con gozo; (SRVA)
17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. {offended: or, stumbled, or, caused to fall into sin} (KJV)
17 pero no tienen raíz en sí, sino que son de poca duración. Entonces, cuando viene la tribulación o la persecución por causa de la palabra, en seguida tropiezan. (SRVA)
-from the parable of the sower; those who feel the excitement of being a christian, like the benefits and the emotion of following Jesus. The problem is that they never thought about how it would be when the new wears off, or when they are opposed for considering a closer walk with God. They want the rose garden, but without the thorns.
B. Limited Affections
Ezek. 33:31
31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. {they shew...: Heb. they make loves, or, jests} (KJV)
31 Vienen a ti como el pueblo acostumbra venir, y se sientan delante de ti como mi pueblo. Oyen tus palabras, pero no las ponen por obra. Más bien, expresan motivos sensuales con sus bocas, y su corazón va en pos de sus ganancias deshonestas. (SRVA)
-they like to hear an animated discourse; it stirs their emotions, but they will not be moved; it may disrupt their lifestyle.
Shallowness
1 Co. 2:14 to 3:3 (read from Bible)
C. Next to Rootless
Mark 4:16,17
16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; (KJV)
16 También los que son sembrados en pedregales son aquellos que, cuando oyen la palabra, en seguida la reciben con gozo; (SRVA)
17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. {offended: or, stumbled, or, caused to fall into sin} (KJV)
17 pero no tienen raíz en sí, sino que son de poca duración. Entonces, cuando viene la tribulación o la persecución por causa de la palabra, en seguida tropiezan. (SRVA)
-from the parable of the sower; those who feel the excitement of being a christian, like the benefits and the emotion of following Jesus. The problem is that they never thought about how it would be when the new wears off.
D. Emotional People
Ezek. 33:32
32 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. (KJV)
32 He aquí que para ellos tú eres como un cantante de motivos sensuales, cuya voz es agradable y que toca bien. Oyen tus palabras, pero no las ponen por obra. (SRVA)
-emotions are a good thing when they lead us to a positive change; but they can be deceiving to ones self and those around them
-we must be careful that we are not merely seeking an emotional high; this will never satisfy for very long
-one must sacrifice and extend his or her roots so that they will not be easily blown away
E. Preferences instead of Convictions
Eph. 4:14
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (KJV)
14 Esto, para que ya no seamos niños, sacudidos a la deriva y llevados a dondequiera por todo viento de doctrina, por estratagema de hombres que para engañar, emplean con astucia las artimañas del error; (SRVA)
-the tendency is to follow whatever seems most exciting at the moment; you end up on an emotional roller coaster
-a preference is a lame thing; it can change at any given moment
-a conviction in non-negociable; one in willing to die if need be for a conviction
F. Insufficient Footing (foundation)
Luke 6:49
49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. (KJV)
49 Pero el que oye y no hace es semejante a un hombre que edificó su casa sobre tierra, sin cimientos. El torrente golpeó con ímpetu contra ella; en seguida cayó, y fue grande la ruina de aquella casa."
-many will endeavor to build their so-called christian life without having a sure foundation to build on
-just going to church from time to time does not make you a christian any more than going to sports stadium makes you a profesional athlete.
G. No Stomach for the Big Meal
Jn. 6:66
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. (KJV)
66 Desde entonces, muchos de sus discípulos volvieron atrás, y ya no andaban con él. (SRVA)
-serving the Lord should not be likened to an in-between meals snack or a chocolate bar to tame that craving; it is a whole meal deal
John Mark is an example of a young man who was quite shallow at one time (Acts 15:37,38). But thank the Lord, Mark evidently prayed through and became rooted in God. In 2 Tim. 4:11, Paul asks for Mark to come and help out. He calls him "profitable" for the ministry. A person may start out with very shallow roots, but does not have to stay that way. This defect can be overcome and you can amount to something in the kingdom of God.
Psalm 1 gives the contrast between the saint who is rooted and grounded in the Lord and those who are at best, a shallow group.
Ps. 139:23
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: (KJV)
23 Examíname, oh Dios, y conoce mi corazón; pruébame y conoce mis pensamientos. (SRVA)
Let revival begin today in a personal way. Get it for yourself, then you can contend for it on a family level or a national level.
