The Four Heartbeats Of Life Matthew 13: 1-11

Here Jesus tells us that are four types of hearts that will believe and receive The Word of God in this life. Three of the ways is the dangerous way while one is better than the other three types of heart we will look at in this message.

First, Jesus is talking to the ones with:

I.THE HARD HEART. The definition of a HARD HEART tells us that is a person who is not susceptible to persuasion or to strong (especially benevolent) emotions; an unfeeling or obdurate person. There is an old saying that goes, “a hard head makes a soft behind. Believe it or not, this saying is so true. Another old saying that goes, “your head is like a brick wall, you just won’t listen”. These two old sayings are directed to persons, particularly to a child. Now, what does the Word of God tells us about those who have hard hearts? Listen, to what Paul wrote in the Book of Romans 2:5: “But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God...” This was a reprimand to the people he wrote this book to about their stubbornness and hardened heart towards one another.

If you have a heart that is hard, God can break that heart and change it. God can even use a hard heart just like He did with Pharaoh in order to free the Israelites. Then, there is my next point,

II.THE SHALLOW HEART. This is another type of “soil” Jesus talk about in this parable. According to a definition of when a person is SHALLOW-HEARTED is a person who is incapable of deep feelings. What happens when God’s Word falls on that Shallow Heart? Jesus does let us know that He finds this a temporary, unsubstantial and with deep seated rebellion. Have you noticed when Jesus is teaching or preaching somewhere, the crowd who comes to listen in, He is around those shallow souls. In the first place, these folks will follow. Then, they’ll listened, enjoyed His messages-but never could get around to doing anything with they heard. Isn’t this true even today? A minister like myself, gets to be prepared in order to bring the Word and the audience sits like the “chosen frozen”, looking over their “holy than thou” glasses with their eyes seem like they can burn your soul up.

Two verses in the Word that Paul advised us NOT to be shallow. “As result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” Ephesians 4:14. Don’t let anybody deceit and scheme you or trick you concerning The Word of God. The Scripture that Paul tells us all to:” See it no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments principles of the world and not according to Christ.” Colossians 2:8.

III. The Shut off Heart. Let’s look at Romans 1:28-32 and you’ll see what happens to a shut-off heart. “And even as they did not to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate (strife), deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God; despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient in parents, without knowing the judgement of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same , but have pleasure in them that do them.”

This is when you are not accepting the Word so you get shut-off in your mind and your heart making this a very dangerous place for anyone who do not believe in what the Word of God and the Holy Spirit says to us.

IV.OPEN HEART. God has a purpose in your life if you just open your heart to Him. He awaits with open arms to be your Savoir and Lord. Psalm 51:10 is a prayer, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” Make me right Lord and make my life new. Just change whatever is wrong within me and make me new. Rest assured if you just “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your path.” Proverbs 3:5-6. David Jeremiah was once quoted,”God is no further from you on your worst day than He is on your best day. Just open your heart to receive Him and His love”.