Sermon Central
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The Good And Honest Heart
Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Jan 19, 2016 (message contributor)
Summary: To establish that the good and honest heart hears, receives, believes, and obeys the gospel of Christ - the seed of the kingdom. This lesson describes the type of heart that will believe and obey the gospel. It also discusses a "significant emotional event."
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INTRODUCTION
Outline.
1. The Sower (The Preacher)
2. The Seed (The Word of God)
3. The Soil (The Hearers)
Introductory Remarks.
1. There is much warning in the bible to the hearers of the word of God. Jesus spoke: "of the wise and foolish hearers," Matthew 7:24-27. James declares: "we ought to be doers of the word and not just hearers only," James 1:22. And Paul states: "Not the hearers of the law shall be justified, but the doers of the law," Romans 2:13. Thus, our lesson today is concerning the hearers of the word of God. Jesus again is preaching of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with Him. He likened His work to "sowing the seed of the kingdom." He spake unto the people in parables. The word “parable” in Gr., is parabole or par-ab-ol-ay', which means to place a thing alongside another for comparison: (a spiritual truth alongside a natural one). Someone has said it is “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.” Jesus places His work in preaching alongside sowing seeds in a field. Ordinary people then would understand the truth of His teaching of the kingdom of God. He outlines three factors at work in this parable. They are,
2. First, He describes the sower’s work in this parable. He says: "A man went forth to sow seed in a field," Luke 8:5. After that, the sower's job was done. Ministers and teachers are all sowers of the word. We may plant or water, but the job of raising the plant is the work of God. Members and ministers are often discouraged when they see loved ones and friends continually visiting, listening to the word of God, but never obeying. Today we are going to learn why! And consider just what the responsibilities of the sowers entail. Paul speaks to the questions of the prophet Esaias. "But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?" Romans 10:16. Further, he asks: "But I say, have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world," Romans 10:18.
3. Next, He defines the seed sown in the fields. It is the word of God. It is a precious seed—the seed of the kingdom of God. The Lord has placed the life of every seed within itself. God's word is "quick and powerful," Hebrews 4:12. It is "the spirit that quickeneth…these words I speak unto you," John 6:63. And we have His eternal promise, "So shall the word be that goeth forth from my mouth, it shall not return unto me void, but it will accomplish which I please, and prosper in the things whereto I send it," Isaiah 55:11. Jesus said: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall never pass away," Matthew 24:35. And even with unimaginable odds working against it: somehow, it always finds root in the "good and honest heart."
4. Finally, He explains the soil to be the human heart. The soil is pictured as four types of hearts. Each represents the believer’s faith after hearing, believing, and receiving the word of God. The "wayside soil" was void of faith; because "the devil came and stole the word from his heart, lest he should believe and be saved." The "rocky soil" is one with a "little faith" because it lacked roots, "he believed for a while and in time of temptation fell away." The "thorny soil" is one of a "weak faith." It is involved in the activities of the world and became choked with the "cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and did not bring forth fruit to perfection." And lastly, there is the "good ground," which represents a "great faith" where the word fell on receptive hearts, which "having heard it, kept it, and brought forth fruit with patience." I now ask this audience, "what type of soil are you?" Only God knows! Let's notice the sower's work in this parable as we begin.
BODY OF LESSON
I THE SOWER (THE PREACHER)
A. Luke wrote: "A sower went forth to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it," Luke 8:5. The Lord begins by describing the sower's work in this parable. And that was to sow the seed (preach the word). The seed that the sower sowed was the preaching of the kingdom of God.
1. Sowing the seed is the work of preachers, teachers, and leaders. They are charged to sow the seed of the kingdom, to preach the word. We should examine this verse more closely. Observe,
a. The word “sower: in Gr., is speiro or spi'-ro, which means to scatter or to (sow): —sow (-er), one that soweth seed or seed sown. This is the person doing the sowing.
