“Do We Have Ears?”
Luke Chapter 8
Last week we finished up a five week series on the Impact of the Cross. I don’t know about you – BUT I really was impacted by the cross this Easter season like never before.… I don’t want to be unmoved or distressed by the cross ever again – rather I want to be saved & transformed by the cross of Christ – because the cross is the power of God. Thank you Lord for the cross…
Next week we are going to begin a 3 week series that I am very pumped about – called; “Rediscovering An Essential Truth.” Actually I was so pumped about it that I thought I was supposed to start it this week…
You see, I plan to preach the last message of this series on Mother’s Day (a message entitled, “How much are they worth”) And let me tell I hit the ground running on this message series – Monday morning at 3 am. And then on Tuesday afternoon I looked at the calendar and realized that – to end on Mother’s day I had to start not on the 22nd but on the 29th of April.
So then I had to figure out what I was going to talk about today. And after much deliberation I decided to talk about communication. I think Communication is an important topic.
And communicating is something that we find ourselves doing everyday. Therefore, we are all very familiar with it. And I am sure that most of us have found that in effective communication you need to have more than a message/you need more than mere words going out – but you also need to have those words received clearly by whoever it is you are talking to – AND if the message for whatever reason, is not received the way the sender intended, you then have a breakdown in communication…
Have you ever experienced a communication break down? (once or twice, right?)You know, this reminds me of a couple of stories I have heard about MISS-communication.
There was a man who lived up in upstate New York and he was getting tired of the cold weather, so he decided to go to Florida. His wife was on a business trip at the time so he called her to let her know what he was doing and to tell her not to go back to New York but to meet him in Florida.
When he arrived he sent her an e-mail to let her know he was there, but he got a few letters wrong in the address and instead of going to his wife the e-mail went to a little old lady in Iowa, who was a pastors wife. And whose husband had died the day before.
The little old lady turned on her computer – read the e-mail, screamed and fainted right on the spot. Her family and friends who were there came in saw her on the floor – and when they read the screen they understood why she fainted..
Dearest darling just wanted you to know I arrived safely
Looking forward to you being with me, tomorrow
Signed, your husband – PS, it sure is hot down here…
Communication – is important… And I think you will agree with me, that it is important, NOT, just for the message to go out, whether it is an e-mail, a letter or spoken words - BUT it is also essential for the message to be properly received.
Poor communication can led to all kinds of problems and miss-understandings. Now, it is fun to laugh about it – but when you are the victim of poor communication, it rarely is a laughing matter.
Today, I want us to talk about the most important communication of all (the sending and receiving of the word of God) in a message called, “Do We Have Ears?”
Luke 8:4-8
[once of first times Jesus said – he who has ears…]
The word parable comes from the Greek word "parabole" and literally means that which is cast along side," or something placed parallel. Someone has described parables as " earthly stories with heavenly meanings."
When Jesus taught in parables he placed spiritual truths in familiar settings, He put truths in every day scenarios that people could both understand and relate too. And by so doing Jesus fired up the imaginations of the people, allowing them to view the truth many times from an entirely different perspective...
Another advantage of teaching in parables, is that BY positioning spiritual truths in neutral settings, people were not immediately threatened by what Jesus was saying and turn him off -- but rather they would have their attention grabbed by the story and before they even realized it; they would be involved.
(A great example of this in scripture is the parable that the prophet Nathan told to King David -- in 2 Samuel chapter 12.
Like a master artist, Jesus’ Parables skillfully framed the truth in a form that was easily remembered (of all the messages that Jesus gave and taught -- most of us remember the parables best)... His parables are like sticks of dynamite that are disguised as candy bars - They are time bombs planted in the minds of the listeners --- they sneak up on us and before we know it; they grab us and hit us square between the eyes, with a powerful spiritual truth.
Today we are going to talk about the "Parable of the Sower" sometimes called the Parable of the soils. And understand that God has a great spiritual truth for those who have ears to hear.
The First point in your outline is:
Plant The Word
Now, this parable of the soils was something Jesus’ audience could easily relate too. Many of them probably were farmers and had themselves had sowed seed, and those who were not, had no doubt seen farmers walking the land with a grain sack over one shoulder throwing seed to the right and to the left.
And perhaps even as Jesus spoke he was able to point to the hills above or the valley below, to a farmer doing just that.
And the seed that was being sown in Jesus parable landed on 4 different types of soil.
SOME FELL ON THE PATH
Now the path was that plot of ground that separated the different fields. It was where the people walked and therefore the soil would have become compacted and hardened. Therefore, the seed that landed here -- never even had a chance to penetrate the surface. And it was not too long after the farmer had sown the seed, that birds came flying in and ate up the seed. And it was gone.
Listen - the essential characteristic of this type of soil is the fact that it remains precisely the same after the sowing, as it had been before.
OTHER SEED WE ARE TOLD FELL ON ROCKY SOIL
And for us to really understand the picture Jesus is painting here we need to realize that in many parts of the Holy Land you will find shallow layers of topsoil covering a huge slab of rock. And the seed that is sown here >> though it spouts quickly >> will whither and die just as quickly because it’s roots have no depth to them >> and therefore they are unable to reach deep down to receive the proper moisture and nutrients.
HERE TODAY - GONE TOMORROW.
AND STILL OTHER SEED FALLS AMONG THE THORNS.
Now, the seed that is cast here -- is able to penetrate the surface and it has enough soil depth so that it’s roots can dig down deep. However, it is surrounded by weeds and thorns that crowd out and block the seed’s light, choking off it’s very life.
So far the farmer is 0 for 3.
BUT FORTUNATELY FOR OUR FARMER
SOME SEED DOES FALL UPON GOOD SOIL
Soil that is rich and fertile. And the seed takes root and sprouts up into new life, yielding a crop that Jesus says >> is 100 times more than what was sown....
And so goes "the parable of the soils" -- It is a good story; Easy to understand. And it is not too difficult at all for us to visualize exactly what Jesus is describing here.
Especially at this time of year when so many people are busy planting in their yards… IF you have been doing this you have no doubt encounter soil… Some hard – some rocky and some with lots of thorns and weeds… Now hopefully you ran into some good soil along the way... Let me ask you what soil do you like best…?
But what does this farmer and his seed have to do with the Kingdom of God/Christianity -- What is the spiritual truth that Jesus is trying to get us to understand? What does He want to hit us square between the eyes with?
Well, the Disciples weren’t exactly sure what Jesus was teaching, so after Jesus had told the parable to the multitudes, they came up to Jesus and ask Him what this parable was supposed to be teaching. And Luke records for us Jesus’ response;
LUKE 8:11-15
OKAY, JESUS SAID THAT IN THIS PARABLE THE SEED REPRESENTS WHAT? THAT’S RIGHT IT IS THE WORD OF GOD.
THE SOIL REPRESENTS THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO HEAR THE WORD..
NOW DID YOU NOTICE THAT JESUS DOES NOT IDENTIFY THE FARMER IN THE PARABLE? WHO DO YOU THINK HE IS?
I AM CONVICNED THAT THE REASON JESUS DIDN’T IDENTIFY THE FARMER, IS BECAUSE THE FARMER CAN BE ANYONE. YOU SEE, ANYONE WHO SPREADS THE WORD OF GOD THROUGH TEACHING, PREACHING, LIVING AND SHARING IS THE FARMER (SO THIS PARABLE HAS BEEN LIVED OUT, AGAIN & AGAIN FOR 2,00 YEARS...)
THEREFORE, I WOULD QUALIFY AS THE FARMER WHEN I PREACH EACH SUNDAY WOULDN’T I?
EACH WEEK, WHEN I BREAK OPEN THE BREAD OF LIFE AND SHARE FROM IT’S PAGES THE TEACHINGS OF GOD -- I AM IN FACT THE FARMER IN THE PARABLE -- WITH THE BIBLE OVER MY SHOULDER SOWING THE WORD OF GOD -- TO THE RIGHT AND TO THE LEFT. .
WHEN I PROCLAIM, HOW GOD EXPECTS HIS CHILDREN TO LIVE -- WHEN I TEACH, REBUKE, CORRECT AND TRAIN IN RIGHTEOUS SO THAT EVERY ONE MAY BE THOROUGHLY EQUIP FOR ALL GOOD WORKS -- I AM SOWING THE SEED OF GOD’S WORD.
WHEN I DECLARE THAT GOD WANTS THE VERY BEST OF YOUR TIME, YOUR TALENTS AND YOUR TREASURE(THAT GOD DEMANDS TO BE #1 – IN YOUR LIFE IN REAL & TANGIBLE WAYS) -- I AM "THE FARMER" SOWING THE SEED OF GOD’S WORD.
WHEN I EXHORT YOU/MYSELF, TO BE A GODLY -- MAN/WOMAN -- A GODLY WIFE/HUSBAND -- A GODLY CHILD -- A GODLY LEADER;
AND WHEN I REMIND US THAT WE ARE TO TAKE OFF THE OLD SELF AND PUT ON THE NEW "CREATED BY GOD TO BE LIKE JESUS" -- WHEN I PROCLAIM THAT WE ARE TO MAKE OUR LIVES A LIVING SACRIFICE HOLY AND ACCEPTABLE TO GOD -- I AM THE FARMER IN JESUS PARABLE, SOWING THE SEED OF GOD’S WORD.
AND JUST LIKE IN JESUS’ PARABLE EVERY TIME THE WORD IS SHARED -- THE SEED LANDS ON 4 TYPES OF SOIL.
AND IF WE HAVE EARS TO HEAR - JESUS WORDS CHALLENEGE EACH OF US TO ASK OURSLEVES – WHAT KIND OF SOIL AM I?
LIKE THE FARMER IN THE PARABLE, SOMETIMES THE WORD FALLS ALONG THE PATH
Yes, tragically some seed lands upon the soil of a closed mind and a hard heart. You see, many before they even walk through those doors have already decided that Jesus, God, The Bible and The Church have absolutely no answers for them. Some where along the line (that is if they ever did) Somewhere along the line they gave up on God.
[LIKE POPEE THEY SAY – “I YAM WHAT I YAM – I ANI’T CHNAGING…]
And they have now become so hard and numb, that the word can not even penetrate the surface or impact their hearts; it just lays there on the surface. And because they have shut the door on God -- it is very easy for the Devil to swoop down and take that word away. And it is gone.
And let me say this – sometimes a person may be open to ‘some’ of God’s truth – but to others truths --- a classic example is that some men are good soil when it comes to, “Wives submit to your husbands” and are hard as granite when it comes to, “Husbands love your wives as Christ loves the church…”
Question - does this make them good sol or hard soil?
The essential characteristic of this type of person is that they remain preciously the same after the message, as they were before -- lost, cold, hardened, numb, dead.
AND LIKE THE FARMER SOMETIMES THE WORD FALLS UPON THE ROCKY SOIL
NOW, THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO WHEN THEY HEAR GOD’S WORD, THEY IMMEDIATELY RECEIVE IT WITH JOY, THEY AGREE, NOD THEIR HEAD. -- THEY MAY EVEN SAY, "AMEN PREACH IT, STEVE -- RIGHT ON BROTHER -- PRAISE THE LORD..."
"GOD’S WORD IS AWESOME - THAT’S WHAT I AM GOING TO DO."
BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEIR ENTHUSIASM IS A SUPERFICIAL ENTHUSIASM THAT HAS NOT COUNTED THE COST...
YOU SEE, THEIR ROOTS ARE NOT VERY DEEP, BECAUSE THEY HAVE NEVER TAKEN THE TIME TO REALLY DIG DOWN DEEP IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. THEY ARE MORE COMMITTED TO SELF THAN JESUS.
JESUS SAID THESE PEOPLE WILL BELIEVE FOR AWHILE "BUT IN THE TIME OF TESTING (WHEN IT BEGINS TO COST THEM SOMETHING TO BE WHO GOD WANTS THEM TO BE -- MAYBE SOME MONEY, EFFORT, TIME, RELATIONSHIPS, PERSONAL
CONVENIENCE
WHEN IT BEGINS TO COST THEM THEY QUICKLY WHITHER, DRY UP AND FALL AWAY...." (UNTIL THE NEXT SPIRITUAL HIGH) -- HERE TODAY -- GONE TOMORROW.
AND 3RD
SOMETIMES THE SEED OF GOD’S WORD LANDS AMONG THE THORNS
Now this is good soil, but the problem is there is just too much other junk growing in there.
JESUS SAID THAT THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HEAR THE WORD, BUT AS THEY GO ON THEIR WAY, WHAT THEY HAVE HEARD IS CHOKED BY; “LIFE’S WORRIES, RICHES AND PLEASURES, AND THEY DO NOT MATURE.”
There is a saying that goes this way, "before you plant a garden you have to pull the weeds."
You see, people who are thorny soil -- rather than letting the Lord have their whole life/come first (like God said) -- They instead try to squeeze God in between their desire for; pleasure, pursuit of riches, their career..etc and all these other things make it impossible for the seed of God’s word to really grow in their lives
Now understand – these things are not necessarily bad – they are just not necessary. For example why does a runner in a race not run in a jogging suit… Though a jogging suit isn’t bad – it is just not neccessary – it would hinder him in achieving his goal… SOME things in our lives are like a jogging suit – they hinder us in our goal of being like Christ…
AND GOD NEVER REALY GETS A CHANCE -- AND WHAT LITTLE THERE WAS IS CHOKED OFF AND IT DIES.
BUT Praise GOD THAT SOME OF THE SEED FALLS OF GOOD SOIL
Yes, Sometimes God’s word lands on the hearts and minds of people who are open to God. People who want to please God/who want to live for him/who want to serve him.. Who want to do their best. They are like Children on Christmas morning eagerly waiting to unwrap God’s word, striving to live their lives according to it’s teachings....
These are the people who are growing and changing in the Lord... And they like the good soil in the parable are producing fruits of righteousness and are bearing a crops of service.
I’VE SEEN God’s word take root in good soil – and it really is amazing what happens….
Listen - every time - the word is taught - it falls on these 4 types of soil....
Question – when God looks at the soil of your heart what does he see…
The next point in your outline is;
Experience The Power
AS WE STUDY THE REST OF CHAPTER 8, WE WILL LOOK AT SEVERAL BENEFITS THAT THOSE WHO ARE GOOD SOIL EXPERIENCE IN THEIR LIVES. THINGS THAT THE PATH, ROCK AND THORNY SOIL WILL NEVER KNOW, UNDERSTAND OR EXPERIENCE.
LISTEN - THE CHIEF BENEFIT OR RESULT OF PLANTING THE WORD IN OUR LIVES -- IS THAT ONCE THE WORD IS PLANTED -- WE GET TO EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF THE PLANTED WORD IN OUR LIVES......
AND LUKE RECORDS SEVERAL EVENTS THAT ILLUSTRATE JUST WHAT THE WORD CAN DO. IF WE PLANT IT IN GOOD SOIL…
IT CAN:
CALM STORMS
LUKE 8:22-25
WHY WERE THE DISCIPLES AFRAID? A VIOLENT STORM CAME SWEEPING DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAINS... HUGE WAVES WERE CRASHING OVER THE SIDES. THE BOAT WAS BEING TOSSED HERE AND THERE. SOME WERE FRANTICALLY TRYING TO BAIL OUT THE WATER THAT WAS FILLING THE BOAT -- BUT IT WAS A LOSING BATTLE. LUKE SAYS THEY WERE IN GREAT DANGER.
SO THEY WOKE UP JESUS WHO WAS SLEEPING -- "MASTER, MASTER -- (LITERALLY COMMANDER COMMANDER) WE’RE GOING TO DROWN.." THEY WERE TERRIFIED!
JESUS GOT UP AND WITH A WORD, THE WAVES SUBSIDED -- THE WINDS STOPPED, AND ALL WAS CALM... AND TURNING TO THE 12 HE SAID, "WHERE IS YOUR FAITH? OR AS MATTHEW RECORDS "WHY ARE YOU AFRAID O MEN OF BRIEF FAITH?"
IN OTHER WORDS - "WHAT WERE YOU WORRIED ABOUT -- DIDN’T YOU KNOW I WOULD TAKE CARE OF YOU... DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU ARE WITH ME YOU ARE SAFE?" DIDN’T YOU HEAR ME WHEN I TOLD YOU -- THAT WE WERE GOING TO THE OTHER SIDE? DON’T YOU KNOW THAT MY WORDS ARE TRUTH!”
“NOW, I KNOW I DIDN’T TELL YOU ALL THE DETAILS OF THE TRIP, BUT I DID TELL YOU I WOULD GET YOU TO THE OTHER SIDE. AND YOU FORGOT MY WORDS AND LOST YOUR FAITH WHEN THE TROUBLES CAME.."
[AT THIS TIME IN THEIR LIVES THEY HAD NOT YET FULLY CULTIVATED THEIR SOIL]
NOW, IT IS EASY TO LOOK AT THE DISCIPLES AND SAY, "MAN IF JESUS WAS SAILING IN MY BOAT, AND IF I HAD SEEN JESUS HEAL THE SICK, RAISE PEOPLE FROM THE DEAD -- AND IF JESUS TOLD ME HE WAS TAKING ME TO THE OTHER SIDE -- I WOULDN’T LET ANY OL’ STORM SCARE ME OR SHAKE MY FAITH... NO WAY I WOULD HAVE LET JESUS SLEEP."
BUT THE QUESTION IS - HOW DO WE RESPOND WHEN: STORMS AND HARDSHIPS COME CRASHING IN AGAINST OUR LIVES; A LOVED ONE DIES, A SPOUSE IS UNFAITHFUL, A CHILD RUNS AWAY FROM HOME, THE BOSS CALLS YOU IN AND SAYS I’M AFRAID I HAVE TO LET YOU GO, HOW DO WE RESPOND WHEN WE ARE GETTING BURIED IN DEBT, THE DOCTOR TELLS US THE TUMOR IS MALIGNANT, WHEN OUR MARRIAGE IS FALLING A PART – WHEN WE FEEL LIKE QUITING…
WHEN THE STORMS HIT DO WE FORGET THAT JESUS IS STILL IN OUR BOAT... DO WE FORGET THE WORDS HE HAS TOLD US:
"DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED. TRUST IN GOD; TRUST ALSO IN ME. IN MY FATHERS HOUSE ARE MANY ROOMS; IF IT WERE NOT SO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU. I Am going there to prepare a place for you. and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am..."
“Do not be anxious about anything, BUT in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:6,7
JUST LIKE HE PROMISED THE DISCIPLES, JESUS HAS PROMISED THE CHRISTIAN THAT HE IS TAKING US TO THE OTHER SIDE...
AND ALSO JUST LIKE THE DISCIPLES HE HASN’T TOLD US THAT THERE WILL NOT BE ANY STORMS/HARD TIMES ALONG THE WAY... AS A MATTER OF FACT HE HAS TOLD US TO EXPECT THEM...
“In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jn 16:33
BUT HIS WORD IS TRUTH AND HE WILL GET US TO THE OTHER SIDE...
LISTEN - WHEN THE WORD IS FIRMLY PLANTED IN OUR LIVES -- WHEN WE ARE NOT MEN OF BRIEF FAITH, BUT RATHER MEN OF ROCK SOLID FAITH -- WHEN WE REMEMBER THAT JESUS IS IN OUR BOAT, WHEN WE RECALL HIS GREAT PROMISES IN THE MIDST OF OUR STORMS -- (AND SURE AT TIMES IT MAY TAKE A MINUTE OR 2 TO REMIND OURSELVES) --
BUT WHEN WE DO REMEMBER, WE WILL BE LIKE A CHILD WHO WAS FRIGHTENED BY A TERRIBLE STORM -- WHO NOW FEELS SAFE AND SECURE BECAUSE HE IS NEXT TO HIS SLEEPING PARENT. {YOU SEE PARENT’S DON’T EVEN HAVE TO BE AWAKE THEY JUST HAVE TO BE THERE} YES THE STORM IS STILL THERE; THE LIGHTENING IS STILL FLASHING AND THE THUNDER IS STILL CRASHING BUT SOMEHOW THEY DON’T SEEM AS LOUD NOW.
UNDERSTAND - AND NOTHING CAN HURT US WHEN WE ARE WITH JESUS... AND HE IS WITH US WHEN THE WORD IS TRULY PLANTED IN OUR LIVES… AND WHEN IT IS WE WILL EXPERIENCE THAT PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING EVEN IN THE MIDST OF A STORM…
THE PLANTED WORD CAN CALM STORMS -- DO YOU HAVE SOME STORMS THAT NEED CALMING?? LET ME ASSURE YOU OF THIS, THEY WILL NEVER SUBSIDE AS LONG AS YOU REMAIN THE; HARD, ROCKY, OR THE THORNY SOIL.
THE PLANTED WORD ALSO HAS THE POWER TO
Change Lives
HE LIVED ALONE -- IN THE REGION OF THE GERASENES -- HE DIDN’T HAVE MANY FRIENDS -- AND HE WAS NOT THE KIND OF GUY THAT YOU’D BRING HOME TO MEET MAMA... HE DIDN’T LIVE IN A HOUSE, HE DIDN’T LIVE IN A TENT AND HE DIDN’T EVEN LIVE IN A CAVE. NO, HE LIVED IN A GRAVE YARD AND HE SLEPT IN THE TOMBS. HE DIDN’T WEAR ANY CLOTHES AND HE WOULD SPEND THE NIGHT HOURS, CUTTING HIMSELF WITH STONES AND PIERCING THE DARKNESS WITH HIS SHRIEKS AND SCREAMS - HE A MAN WAS POSSESSED BY DEMONS. HIS NEIGHBORS EVEN TRIED ON ONE OCCASION TO SUBDUE HIM WITH LARGE CHAINS, BUT HE SNAPPED THOSE CHAINS LIKE A MAN SNAPS A WOODEN TOOTHPICK.
NEEDLESS TO SAY HE WAS NOT CHOSEN BY HIS HIGH SCHOOL YEAR BOOK STAFF TO BE THE ONE "MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED." AND CERTAINLY WE WOULD NEVER CONSIDER HIM A CANDIDATE TO BE A TOP EVANGELIST FOR JESUS CHRIST.
BUT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HE BECAME, LUKE RECORDS HIS STORY IN 8:26-38 -- YOU SEE THIS NAKED, SCREAMING MAN MEET THE SON OF GOD.
THE PLANTED WORD HAS THE POWER TO CHANGE LIVES....
LISTEN - I HAVE SEEN COUNTLESS PEOPLE RADICALLY CHANGE - AFTER AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE LORD...
I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE TURN THEIR BACKS ON A LIFE OF SIN AND RUN WITH ARMS OUTSTRETCHED TO A NEW LIFE IN CHRIST..
IT IS AN AWESOME SIGHT, TO SEE THE LORD DO HIS TRANSFORMATION THING.
I’VE SEEN:
NEGATIVE ATTITUDES REVERSED
SINFUL HBAITS BROKEN
POOR PEROSNALITY TRAITS REFINED
STRAINED RELATIONSHIPS MENDED
TALENTS SHARPENED
UNDERSTAND - IF JESUS COULD TURN AROUND THE LIFE OF A NAKED, BLEEDING, SCREAMING DEMON POSSESSED MAN -- HE CAN CHANGE ANYONE’S LIFE. EVEN YOURS. AND IT IS A LIE TO SAY HE CAN’T...
LISTNE - CHANGE IS WHAT JESUS IS ABOUT – AND AS YOU READ THE GOSPLES YOU FIND THAT EEVRY PEROSN WHO REALLY HUNG OUT WITH JESUS, WHO REALLY LET HIM GET CLOSE – WENT THROUGH A TRANSFORMATION….
TAX COLLECTORS STOP CHEATING PEOPLE
PROSITUTES HUNG UP THEIR WALKING SHOES
THE SON OF THUNDER BECAME THE DISCIPLE OF LOVE
PROUD PEOPLE BECAME HUMBLE
UNDERSTAND - THE REAL QUESTION IS THIS:
DO YOU WANT TO CHNAGE?
AND WILL YOU LET HIM CHANGE YOU?
JUST WHAT TYPE OF SOIL ARE YOU?
LISTEN - ALL YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE IS THE SOIL AND GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF THE Changing..
AND IF YOU THINK YOUR TO HARD OF A NUT TO CRACK -- JUST ASK THE DEMON POSSESSED MAN TURNED GOSPEL WARRIOR -- AND HE WILL TELL YOU OTHERWISE.
THE PLANTED WORD: CALMS STORMS --- CHANGES LIVES
AND has
The Power To Restore Hope
LK42b-48
And Mark adds the following in His Gospel account;
"SHE HAD SUFFERED A GREAT DEAL UNDER THE CARE OF MANY DOCTORS AND HAD SPENT ALL SHE HAD, YET INSTEAD OF GETTING BETTER SHE GREW WORSE. WHEN SHE HEARD ABOUT JESUS, SHE CAME UP BEHIND HIM IN THE CROWD AND TOUCHED HIS CLOAK, BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT, `IF I JUST TOUCH HIS CLOTHES I WILL BE HEALED..."
Here was a woman who was at the end of her ropes... No one could help her, she had tried doctor after doctor -- specialist after specialist. Until all of her money was gone... AND After 12 years of suffering she had given up, she had lost all hope -- she had reach the conclusion that life simply had no answers for her -- she would just reside herself to live a cold, dark and hopeless existence..
And then one day a farmer came to town (she didn’t know who he was -- and neither do we, but we know he was there). And this farmer WAS sowing Word’s about Jesus the Son of God -- He told HER how Jesus HAD walked among the people speaking with power and authority -- and how he healed many who were sick...
And as he spoke some of the seed fell on the good soil of this women’s heart...
Mark tells us that when she heard about Jesus -- she had her hope restored -- she knew that all she had to do was touch his clothes, and she would be healed...
Yes, After years of searching for the answer -- and after coming to the conclusion that their simply was none -- She then found the answer in Jesus. And she, reaching out in faith and radiating with hope – stretched out her hand…
But understand her hope was restored before her health was; BECAUSE SHE PLACED HER HOPE IN THE LORD
"EVEN YOUTHS GROW TIRED AND WEARY, AND YOUNG MEN STUMBLE AND FALL; BUT THOSE WHO HOPE IN THE LORD WILL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH. THEY WILL SOAR ON WINGS LIKE EAGLES; THEY RUN AND NOT GROW WEARY, THEY WILL WALK AND NOT BE FAINT.’ IS 40:31
MAYBE LIKE THE WOMAN IN OUR TEXT -- YOU HAVE TRIED MANY OTHER THINGS -- SEARCH IN MANY DIFFERENT PLACES FOR THE ANSWERS TO YOUR LIFE... AND MAYBE YOU ARE ABOUT READY TO GIVE UP; RESIDE YOUR SELF TO LIVE A COLD, DARK AND HOPELESS LIFE...
BEFORE YOU DO, STOP & HEAR THE WORDS OF THIS FARMER:
JESUS LOVES YOU, YOU ARE VALUABLE TO HIM RIGHT NOW, RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE... JESUS WANTS TO CLAM YOUR STORMS, RESTORE YOUR HOPE AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE...
BUT HE CAN ONLY DO THIS WORK IN GOOD SOIL -- DO YOU HAVE AN OPEN MIND AND HEART TOWARDS GOD?
IF WEEDS NEED TO BE REMOVED FROM YOUR LIFE -- PULL THEM! IF ROCKS ARE IN THE WAY -- GET RID OF THEM AND DIG DOWN DEEP!
AND IF YOUR HEART IS HARD – BREAK UP THE GROUND….
Listen to the following words from God to his people; WRIITEN AT A TIME WHEN THEIR LIVES WERE NOT GOING SO WELL AND WHEN THEY HAD TRUN THEIR HEARTS AWAY FROM God.
“This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: “Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste good seed among thorns…” Jer 4:3
“I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of my love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12
Listen – being hard towards God and is word does not make any sense – in Him & in his word is life…real life
Don’t be like the Pharaoh of Egypt who keep hardening his heart towards God…Do you remember where it got him? He destroyed himself and took his family and nation with him.
There is a brief encounter with Pharaoh that shows how stupid it is to harden our heart towards God. Check out this account – in Exodus chapter 8:1ff
Kind of stupid don’t you think….
Why spend one more night with the frogs – why spend one more night without hope; without change; without peace in your storms?
When all you have to do is;
PLANT THE WORD AND EXPERIENCE THE POWER
“This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: “Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste good seed among thorns…” Jer 4:3
