WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.700 But we're going to pick up our reading in Luke's Gospel, chapter number 8, in verse number 4. 00:00:05.560 --> 00:00:11.080 The first three verses kind of just gives a little quick note about Jesus is in the middle of His ministry, 00:00:11.080 --> 00:00:15.439 but I do want to point out that many of His ministry was funded by women. 00:00:16.839 --> 00:00:19.179 People say, well, the Bible doesn't elevate women. 00:00:19.379 --> 00:00:20.580 Well, Jesus does. 00:00:21.240 --> 00:00:22.379 And the Bible does, by the way. 00:00:23.059 --> 00:00:27.740 Jesus was able to do many of His ministry because of some of these ladies that were giving up their substance. 00:00:27.739 --> 00:00:30.659 And that's kind of what's going on is Jesus' ministry is booming. 00:00:30.919 --> 00:00:35.199 But Luke wants us to know that there's people that were involved. 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:37.979 And God intends for people to be involved in the ministry. 00:00:38.379 --> 00:00:39.700 And they helped it to move forward. 00:00:39.820 --> 00:00:41.379 And so Jesus is moving forward. 00:00:41.659 --> 00:00:43.060 He's preaching to the multitudes. 00:00:43.140 --> 00:00:46.200 And that's where we find our place in verse number 4 where the Bible says this. 00:00:46.799 --> 00:00:52.259 And when much people were gathered together and were come to Him out of every city, He spake by a parable. 00:00:53.200 --> 00:00:54.019 Here's the parable. 00:00:54.019 --> 00:00:56.099 A sower went out to sow his seed. 00:00:56.100 --> 00:01:01.340 And as He sowed, some fell by the wayside, and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. 00:01:01.939 --> 00:01:07.260 And some fell upon a rock, and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:12.280 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 00:01:13.099 --> 00:01:17.280 Verse 8, and others fell on good ground and sprang up and bare fruit a hundredfold. 00:01:17.280 --> 00:01:20.460 And when He had said these things, He cried, 00:01:20.939 --> 00:01:24.040 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 00:01:24.040 --> 00:01:26.820 And His disciples asked Him, saying, 00:01:26.920 --> 00:01:28.520 What might this parable be? 00:01:29.400 --> 00:01:30.240 And He said unto you, 00:01:30.340 --> 00:01:31.000 And He said, 00:01:31.100 --> 00:01:33.980 Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, 00:01:34.500 --> 00:01:40.320 but to others in parables that seeing they may not see and hearing they may not understand, 00:01:40.439 --> 00:01:43.180 which would be a reference to Isaiah and a prophecy there. 00:01:43.880 --> 00:01:44.500 Verse number 11. 00:01:44.500 --> 00:01:46.719 Now the parable is this. 00:01:47.379 --> 00:01:49.239 The seed is the word of God. 00:01:50.120 --> 00:01:52.019 Those by the wayside are they that hear. 00:01:52.480 --> 00:01:55.400 Then cometh the devil and taketh away the word out of their hearts, 00:01:55.719 --> 00:01:57.599 lest they should believe and be saved. 00:01:58.319 --> 00:01:59.079 Verse 13. 00:01:59.239 --> 00:02:03.620 They on the rock are they which when they hear receive the word with joy, 00:02:04.019 --> 00:02:07.859 and these have no root, which while for a while believe, 00:02:08.120 --> 00:02:09.740 and in time of temptation fall away. 00:02:09.740 --> 00:02:14.700 And that which fall among the thorns are they which when they have heard go forth 00:02:14.700 --> 00:02:18.159 and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life 00:02:18.159 --> 00:02:21.120 and bring no fruit to perfection. 00:02:22.480 --> 00:02:27.580 But that on the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart, 00:02:28.219 --> 00:02:33.879 having heard the word, keep it and bring forth fruit with patience. 00:02:33.879 --> 00:02:37.139 This morning I want to preach a message entitled this, 00:02:37.379 --> 00:02:39.159 Are You Listening? 00:02:39.939 --> 00:02:40.519 Are You Listening? 00:02:40.599 --> 00:02:41.799 Anybody ever been asked that question? 00:02:43.240 --> 00:02:44.180 Jesus asked the question. 00:02:44.280 --> 00:02:47.099 He says, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 00:02:47.539 --> 00:02:49.099 Let's go to Lord in prayer and then we're going to jump right in. 00:02:49.159 --> 00:02:50.319 Father, thank you for this opportunity. 00:02:50.960 --> 00:02:53.620 Lord, thank you for the beautiful music that was able to be sung this morning 00:02:53.620 --> 00:02:57.620 because it reminds us of who you are and it points us to you. 00:02:58.479 --> 00:03:01.599 But I pray that you were honored and you were glorified in that, Lord, 00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:04.680 that it would stir our hearts and it prepared it for the preaching now. 00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:09.419 Lord, I pray you would just help us to set aside all the things that we may be thinking of 00:03:09.419 --> 00:03:13.819 and the things upcoming and we're in a busy time of year and school starting back 00:03:13.819 --> 00:03:15.759 and all the things we may be worrying about. 00:03:16.659 --> 00:03:19.659 And Lord, help us just to focus for these next few moments on your word. 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:23.659 Help us to really truly listen to what you would have to say, Lord. 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:26.039 I pray that you would empty me of self, Lord. 00:03:26.079 --> 00:03:27.099 You would cleanse me of sin. 00:03:27.159 --> 00:03:28.419 You would fill me with your spirit, Lord. 00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:29.060 I need you. 00:03:29.060 --> 00:03:34.099 I need you to be a help to me, Lord, so I can be a help to your people. 00:03:34.219 --> 00:03:37.599 Lord, I pray that there's someone here today that does not know you as their Savior, 00:03:38.099 --> 00:03:39.180 that today would be that day. 00:03:39.219 --> 00:03:41.280 And we ask all this in your Son's precious name. 00:03:41.979 --> 00:03:42.219 Amen. 00:03:42.340 --> 00:03:43.080 Thank you so much for standing. 00:03:43.140 --> 00:03:43.580 You may be seated. 00:03:46.020 --> 00:03:51.199 Does anybody here suffer from the dreaded disease of selective hearing? 00:03:53.300 --> 00:03:53.620 Yeah. 00:03:54.980 --> 00:03:56.420 Some of you aren't even listening already. 00:03:56.420 --> 00:03:58.259 This is a great start to the message. 00:03:58.259 --> 00:03:59.939 I mean, I know that I do. 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:01.780 At least that's what my wife tells me. 00:04:02.239 --> 00:04:03.939 Sometimes she just starts conversations like this. 00:04:04.039 --> 00:04:05.060 You never listen to me. 00:04:05.099 --> 00:04:07.019 I'm thinking, this is a weird way to start a conversation. 00:04:08.060 --> 00:04:11.679 But probably she's been talking for a while and I haven't really heard what she's saying. 00:04:12.840 --> 00:04:17.379 But if we're honest, there's a big difference between hearing and listening. 00:04:18.300 --> 00:04:19.420 There's a big difference there. 00:04:20.219 --> 00:04:23.899 I mean, I'm going to speak for the husband because I think that I understand this well. 00:04:23.899 --> 00:04:25.359 I've had 18 years of practice. 00:04:25.500 --> 00:04:29.039 I know there's been times where you have nodded your way through a conversation. 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:30.879 Come on. 00:04:31.379 --> 00:04:32.219 I'm not the only one. 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:35.879 And by the end of the conversation, you are repainting the house. 00:04:36.279 --> 00:04:37.539 You're going to Hobby Lobby. 00:04:37.639 --> 00:04:40.500 And apparently, you're going to go gluten-free for the next three months. 00:04:40.500 --> 00:04:44.639 And you're like, wait, what just happened to me there? 00:04:44.939 --> 00:04:48.680 Because you were hearing, but you weren't really listening what was going on. 00:04:49.699 --> 00:04:53.699 For parents, I know we've all been in the boat where you've told your kids to clean your room. 00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:54.819 Yeah, yeah, yeah, I heard you. 00:04:55.040 --> 00:04:56.660 And then you walk in the room and guess what? 00:04:57.180 --> 00:04:58.740 Nothing has happened. 00:04:59.519 --> 00:04:59.920 Parents? 00:05:00.740 --> 00:05:01.019 Amen? 00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:01.860 Yeah. 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:03.660 I mean, that's what it is. 00:05:03.660 --> 00:05:09.700 But I would imagine that all of us have suffered from spiritual selective hearing. 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:15.980 We would maybe not be as readily to admit it as maybe these first two kind of silly illustrations. 00:05:16.260 --> 00:05:21.100 But, you know, there's times in our life where there's verses that we read and we're thinking, I don't really like that that much. 00:05:21.800 --> 00:05:26.280 Some verses we love all the time and we can quote them and we got them hanging on our wall because we went to Hobby Lobby. 00:05:26.820 --> 00:05:28.220 Because it was 50% off week. 00:05:28.940 --> 00:05:31.620 And we were there with our wife and we bought it because that's just what you do. 00:05:31.620 --> 00:05:36.220 And we love that verse and the way that it speaks to us and it makes us feel and it's an encouragement. 00:05:37.459 --> 00:05:41.980 You know, we like the sermons that really, really kind of lift us up and I hope that they all do. 00:05:42.579 --> 00:05:46.319 But let's be honest, sometimes sermons are hard because they meet us right where we live. 00:05:46.740 --> 00:05:49.280 And things in our life need to kind of change and move a direction. 00:05:49.560 --> 00:05:52.319 I'm thankful the Lord loves us enough to tell us the truth, by the way. 00:05:53.980 --> 00:05:57.780 You know, we memorize the parts of the Bible that kind of support our preferences, you know. 00:05:57.779 --> 00:06:04.899 I remember vaguely a couple weeks ago, I've tried to block it out of my mind that there was a whole bunch of burnt orange in this auditorium. 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:08.719 And I quoted a verse that the horns of the wicked shall be cut off. 00:06:10.679 --> 00:06:13.839 But if you look at the rest of the verse, there are the horns of the righteous. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:14.459 But you know what? 00:06:14.559 --> 00:06:18.259 I took that verse and made it fit my preferences right there. 00:06:18.739 --> 00:06:20.099 I just had to be honest as your preacher. 00:06:20.100 --> 00:06:23.740 I'm going to ask for forgiveness there, but I don't really mean it. 00:06:27.260 --> 00:06:31.620 And we can kind of laugh about that, but the sad reality is many Christians live their life like that. 00:06:32.720 --> 00:06:36.540 They'll take a verse and they'll wrench it and they'll apply it to their life. 00:06:36.640 --> 00:06:40.939 And the hard parts they kind of just put away and won't really look at it. 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:45.379 Because when it comes to our spiritual life, selective hearing isn't a medical condition. 00:06:45.540 --> 00:06:46.760 It's a heart condition. 00:06:46.759 --> 00:06:50.339 And that's really the heart of this text. 00:06:51.039 --> 00:06:53.360 That's really what Jesus is bringing forth. 00:06:53.599 --> 00:06:57.279 Because biblically speaking, Jesus isn't concerned with how your ears function. 00:06:58.079 --> 00:06:59.899 How you hear certain things. 00:07:00.159 --> 00:07:05.759 What he is concerned with is how your heart responds when the truth is spoken. 00:07:06.420 --> 00:07:08.219 That's what Jesus is really nailing down. 00:07:08.819 --> 00:07:10.740 Because Jesus had no problem drawing a crowd. 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:11.539 We're going to see that in a minute. 00:07:12.060 --> 00:07:14.719 But he didn't want to just draw a crowd so he could itch their ears. 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:16.900 No, he wanted to touch their hearts. 00:07:17.320 --> 00:07:19.760 That's why Jesus says in the end of verse number 8, 00:07:20.060 --> 00:07:23.160 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:28.580 Jesus isn't, he's not asking, he's not like the Verizon guy, can you hear me now? 00:07:28.680 --> 00:07:29.540 That's not what he's doing. 00:07:29.980 --> 00:07:31.420 Some of you kids have no idea what that is. 00:07:31.720 --> 00:07:32.800 I just dated myself. 00:07:33.880 --> 00:07:36.300 It was a big deal, big commercial way back in the day. 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:38.360 But that's not what Jesus is asking. 00:07:38.860 --> 00:07:41.000 He's not saying, hey, can everybody hear me back there? 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:44.959 No, no, here's what Jesus is wanting them to understand. 00:07:45.259 --> 00:07:47.040 Are you really listening? 00:07:48.620 --> 00:07:53.540 Listen, every time we open up the word of God, whether it's in this church, whether it's in a Sunday school class, 00:07:53.759 --> 00:07:57.660 whether it's in your own personal devotion, the question isn't, are you really hearing it? 00:07:57.819 --> 00:07:59.019 No, are you open? 00:08:00.019 --> 00:08:00.759 Are you humble? 00:08:01.639 --> 00:08:05.000 Are you willing to obey what the word of God says? 00:08:05.180 --> 00:08:07.180 Are you ready to respond? 00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:09.420 Listen, that's how you should come to church. 00:08:09.420 --> 00:08:13.699 That's how you should open up your word of God on your own time, in your devotion time. 00:08:13.860 --> 00:08:15.939 Not saying, well, I've got to just check off the day. 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:18.540 No, open it, ready to respond. 00:08:19.259 --> 00:08:20.980 Ready to do what it says. 00:08:21.800 --> 00:08:25.060 That's what Jesus is really kind of telling this crowd here. 00:08:25.620 --> 00:08:32.139 So with that in mind, I want us just to look at how Jesus addresses this issue of listening with our heart. 00:08:32.580 --> 00:08:34.240 Of hearing with our heart. 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:38.539 As the crowd gathers, Jesus doesn't shout louder. 00:08:39.460 --> 00:08:40.200 Here's what he does. 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:41.659 He tells a story. 00:08:42.560 --> 00:08:46.460 Jesus is a master of this, obviously, but he's a great storyteller. 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:48.940 He brings these illustrations in. 00:08:49.180 --> 00:08:55.560 And this parable wasn't just for some people on an Israeli hillside a long time ago. 00:08:56.279 --> 00:08:57.659 No, it's for us today as well. 00:08:58.360 --> 00:09:02.439 It's for us to ask ourselves, are we really listening to the truth? 00:09:02.939 --> 00:09:05.139 Are we really responding to it? 00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:08.679 So with that, let's kind of lean into this text this morning. 00:09:09.459 --> 00:09:11.539 Verse number four kind of lays the setting out. 00:09:12.339 --> 00:09:18.439 And when much people were gathered together and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable. 00:09:18.440 --> 00:09:26.340 Really, when you study the gospels and the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, we notice very quickly he can draw a crowd real fast. 00:09:27.040 --> 00:09:33.440 Especially as he's gotten off the ground here and the public is really excited about everything he's doing. 00:09:34.340 --> 00:09:40.720 And when he's causing blind people to see and lame people to walk, and most importantly, as we got the most amen so far this service, 00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:43.240 at potlucks, he made a lot of food appear. 00:09:43.240 --> 00:09:50.039 I mean, it's just that we laugh at them, but you know, the saying was true in Jesus' day, and it's here. 00:09:50.220 --> 00:09:51.480 If you feed them, they will come. 00:09:53.600 --> 00:09:54.820 And Jesus drew a crowd. 00:09:55.639 --> 00:10:01.399 And when we think back to John chapter 6, when he fed the 5,000, he fed 4,000 at another point, and that's just men. 00:10:02.299 --> 00:10:04.980 Most likely their wives and their children were with them. 00:10:05.480 --> 00:10:06.480 Large, large crowds. 00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:10.940 They continued to follow him, not because of who he was, because they wanted more bread. 00:10:11.820 --> 00:10:16.159 The idea in John 6 was, hey, if this guy can do this, we should make him king. 00:10:16.519 --> 00:10:17.560 He's got my vote. 00:10:17.620 --> 00:10:18.720 That's basically what they were saying. 00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:21.080 Because they were looking at the physical and the material. 00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:24.960 And many came throughout his ministry for the physical miracles. 00:10:25.480 --> 00:10:32.600 And after he did a miracle, and when you really study the miracles of Christ, every time he does a miracle, he preaches a message. 00:10:32.600 --> 00:10:37.879 They were all about the miracle, but then he starts preaching, and they say, hey, this is a hard saying. 00:10:37.940 --> 00:10:38.540 Who can hear it? 00:10:38.759 --> 00:10:42.300 And they begin to kind of filter out, and they think, well, that's not really what we came for. 00:10:43.100 --> 00:10:44.259 But that's why Jesus came. 00:10:44.940 --> 00:10:49.740 Because Jesus didn't come just to fill our belly and to heal physical infirmities. 00:10:49.960 --> 00:10:51.659 By the way, he can still do those things. 00:10:52.399 --> 00:10:54.800 But he came to seek and to save that which was lost. 00:10:55.220 --> 00:11:00.540 He came for the great condition that we all suffer from and sin, and we've all fallen short of the glory of God. 00:11:00.540 --> 00:11:02.080 And that's why he came. 00:11:02.600 --> 00:11:05.279 So Jesus sees this crowd gathered. 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:09.840 And instead of being excited about it, here's what we notice about Christ. 00:11:10.139 --> 00:11:11.680 That his heart breaks. 00:11:12.680 --> 00:11:18.600 Every time a multitude gathers, and many times it doesn't say it per se here, but he had compassion on them. 00:11:19.460 --> 00:11:22.100 Because he looked out and he saw them as sheep with no shepherd. 00:11:22.840 --> 00:11:24.120 And he knew what they needed. 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:26.100 They thought they were there for another reason. 00:11:26.180 --> 00:11:28.060 They thought, hey, maybe we're going to see a miracle this time. 00:11:28.200 --> 00:11:29.040 Hey, I missed it last time. 00:11:29.060 --> 00:11:30.180 I'm not going to miss it this time. 00:11:30.179 --> 00:11:33.279 But Jesus says, this is what you need. 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:37.959 You're looking for the spectacular, but I need you to get a hold of this right here. 00:11:38.719 --> 00:11:41.279 So he doesn't entertain the crowd. 00:11:41.799 --> 00:11:45.219 But he tells this parable to test their hearts. 00:11:45.859 --> 00:11:48.419 To see, check on the soil. 00:11:49.059 --> 00:11:50.939 See how the soil looks there. 00:11:51.639 --> 00:11:52.899 You say, well, what is a parable, preacher? 00:11:52.899 --> 00:11:52.980 Sure. 00:11:53.699 --> 00:11:56.240 The meaning just off the top means this. 00:11:57.120 --> 00:11:59.559 Set something alongside of something else. 00:12:00.500 --> 00:12:04.419 Really, a word that's closely related to parable is parallel. 00:12:05.319 --> 00:12:09.899 So here's really what a parable is when you see it in Jesus' ministry especially. 00:12:10.279 --> 00:12:17.379 He's taking an earthly truth and he's laying it parallel or alongside a heavenly truth. 00:12:17.379 --> 00:12:24.080 So something they would understand with plowing and farming is something that everybody would instantly have thought of. 00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:29.759 I would imagine many times maybe they would look out and there would be a sower out there taking the seed and sowing it. 00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:31.960 And they could visualize it in their head. 00:12:33.379 --> 00:12:36.919 But Jesus doesn't just use a parable to illustrate a truth. 00:12:36.919 --> 00:12:44.279 But he tells us here in verse number 10 that he uses a parable to conceal it from those with hard hearts. 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:45.879 You say, what? 00:12:46.379 --> 00:12:47.159 Look at verse number 10. 00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:50.899 And he said unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, 00:12:51.419 --> 00:12:57.779 but to others in parables that seeing they may not see and hearing they may not understand. 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:03.939 See, parables are both a means of grace and a means of judgment. 00:13:04.779 --> 00:13:06.620 You think, what does that mean? 00:13:07.219 --> 00:13:08.439 Here's what Jesus is teaching. 00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:11.959 That they sift the sincere from the superficial. 00:13:13.139 --> 00:13:14.659 That he was bringing them here. 00:13:14.939 --> 00:13:17.179 Listen, Jesus wants everybody to hear. 00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:20.459 But the reality is everybody doesn't want to hear. 00:13:21.719 --> 00:13:23.899 You know, sometimes, you know, we don't do it. 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:25.579 Hopefully you don't do this at work. 00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:29.399 When your boss is saying something like, I can't hear you. 00:13:29.979 --> 00:13:33.480 You know, when kids are little, maybe they try that once or twice. 00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:36.199 You know, when you see a kid like, yeah, I don't know what you're saying. 00:13:36.919 --> 00:13:38.659 But sometimes that's how people come to the word of God. 00:13:39.500 --> 00:13:40.839 Sometimes that's how people come to church. 00:13:41.339 --> 00:13:43.959 Maybe not physically, but their hearts are stopped up. 00:13:44.299 --> 00:13:44.939 Hey, I'm here. 00:13:45.179 --> 00:13:46.839 They're here for whatever reason it might be. 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:50.179 But Jesus is saying, listen, if you're looking for the truth, you'll find it. 00:13:50.179 --> 00:13:55.739 But if you're trying to avoid it, if you're stopping your ears and you're stopping your heart, then that's what's going to happen. 00:13:55.799 --> 00:13:56.620 It's going to be stopped. 00:13:56.620 --> 00:14:01.539 So with the crowd pressing in, some maybe are curious. 00:14:02.259 --> 00:14:03.600 Some are probably skeptical. 00:14:04.200 --> 00:14:07.120 And some are probably genuinely hungry for more. 00:14:07.820 --> 00:14:09.820 So Jesus begins to speak this parable. 00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:12.120 And it's not just a clever teaching method. 00:14:12.360 --> 00:14:15.539 It's really he's filtering out who wants it and who doesn't. 00:14:16.019 --> 00:14:17.840 So here's the parable in verses 5 through 8. 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:35.639 So Jesus describes the sower scattering seed over the field. 00:14:36.300 --> 00:14:39.280 And he says there's four types of soil that it finds. 00:14:40.179 --> 00:14:44.980 But a couple things that he makes clear in the later verses that we're going to pull out right now to help us. 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:50.120 Number one, the seed is the same in every single case. 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:51.439 Here's the seed. 00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:53.419 The word of God. 00:14:54.179 --> 00:14:56.079 Jesus makes that very plain in verse number 11. 00:14:56.579 --> 00:14:57.699 The seed is the word of God. 00:14:58.319 --> 00:14:59.079 It's deep. 00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:01.159 But that's what we have to get a hold of. 00:15:01.379 --> 00:15:04.000 The sower is faithful in casting it out. 00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:06.939 The sower, God uses people. 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:07.579 God uses men. 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:08.179 God uses women. 00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:10.419 God uses you to cast the seed out. 00:15:10.899 --> 00:15:11.859 The seed is the same. 00:15:12.099 --> 00:15:13.259 The sower is faithful. 00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:17.839 The difference in the outcome lies solely in the condition of the soil. 00:15:19.159 --> 00:15:20.679 That's what the difference is. 00:15:21.059 --> 00:15:22.699 And that's what Jesus wants us to see. 00:15:22.959 --> 00:15:25.379 And you think, well, doesn't the word of God, isn't it powerful? 00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:25.959 It is. 00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:28.579 It is of intrinsic power. 00:15:29.139 --> 00:15:30.739 Isaiah chapter 55 verse 10 says, 00:15:30.739 --> 00:15:34.359 As for as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven and returneth not hither, 00:15:34.659 --> 00:15:38.099 but watereth the earth and make it bring forth the bud. 00:15:38.179 --> 00:15:40.799 That it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater. 00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:44.719 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth. 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:47.339 It shall not return unto me void. 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:50.419 But it shall accomplish that which I please. 00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:53.179 And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it. 00:15:54.179 --> 00:15:56.419 Isaiah is reminding us that the word of God is powerful. 00:15:56.959 --> 00:15:58.799 And that it will accomplish its work. 00:15:59.319 --> 00:16:02.439 And the Bible tells us in Hebrews chapter 4 that the word of God is quick. 00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:03.359 And it's sharp. 00:16:03.599 --> 00:16:05.739 And it's more powerful than a two-edged sword. 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:08.679 I mean, it gets down between the bone and the marrow. 00:16:09.659 --> 00:16:12.639 That's why sometimes when you're reading the word of God or the preacher's preaching, 00:16:12.719 --> 00:16:14.219 you're thinking, is he reading my mail? 00:16:14.479 --> 00:16:14.819 No. 00:16:15.539 --> 00:16:16.519 I don't even check my own mail. 00:16:16.659 --> 00:16:17.799 It just has bills in it. 00:16:18.659 --> 00:16:20.179 You open it up like, I'll check that tomorrow. 00:16:21.459 --> 00:16:23.120 No, here's what does that. 00:16:23.359 --> 00:16:24.159 The Holy Spirit. 00:16:24.819 --> 00:16:26.079 The word of God is alive. 00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:26.939 It's not just a book. 00:16:27.839 --> 00:16:29.299 That's why you can read a verse over again. 00:16:29.359 --> 00:16:30.279 You can read a passage again. 00:16:30.459 --> 00:16:32.519 And something comes to you that you've never saw before. 00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:32.679 Why? 00:16:32.919 --> 00:16:34.899 Because the author is reading it to you. 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:36.539 He's speaking to your heart. 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:38.620 And he reminds us of that truth. 00:16:39.979 --> 00:16:41.359 Yes, the word of God is powerful. 00:16:41.740 --> 00:16:42.839 But hold on. 00:16:42.939 --> 00:16:44.959 Don't get scared. 00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:46.539 But it's not automatically effective. 00:16:46.539 --> 00:16:48.959 You said preacher. 00:16:49.079 --> 00:16:50.059 You just said it was powerful. 00:16:50.699 --> 00:16:51.839 Here's what it must be met with. 00:16:52.299 --> 00:16:52.639 Faith. 00:16:53.959 --> 00:16:55.240 Those two things have to meet. 00:16:56.139 --> 00:16:57.879 That the word of God has to be met by faith. 00:16:58.120 --> 00:16:59.519 That faith cometh by hearing. 00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:01.599 And hearing by the word of God. 00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:03.579 That we have to be willing to hear it. 00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:06.700 See, God has sovereignly designed the heart to respond. 00:17:07.539 --> 00:17:09.240 He's created us to respond to him. 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:14.879 But the fruitfulness of the word depends solely on the condition of the hearer. 00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:17.380 Because if you don't want to hear it, guess what? 00:17:17.580 --> 00:17:18.640 You won't hear it. 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:22.060 If you want to be obstinate to it, you can do that. 00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:26.760 See, in this parable, Jesus lays out four responses to the word. 00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:31.340 Four types of soil that really represent four kinds of hearts. 00:17:31.339 --> 00:17:34.720 So we've already seen that the seed stays the same. 00:17:35.779 --> 00:17:38.099 God has promised that he will send his word forth. 00:17:38.639 --> 00:17:40.019 That the sower will be faithful. 00:17:40.439 --> 00:17:41.079 But the soil. 00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:43.459 That's what makes all the difference. 00:17:43.579 --> 00:17:46.259 So I want us just to walk through these four types of soil. 00:17:47.119 --> 00:17:50.319 The first type of soil we see is found in verse number 12. 00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:52.519 The hard heart. 00:17:53.319 --> 00:17:54.059 The hard heart. 00:17:54.059 --> 00:17:58.519 Those by the wayside are they that hear. 00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:02.000 Then come at the devil and take away the word out of their hearts. 00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:05.779 Lest they should believe and be saved. 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:11.019 See, this type of heart, this type of soil is unresponsive. 00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:16.039 It is a heart that has been trampled down and packed down by life. 00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:17.500 And sin. 00:18:18.099 --> 00:18:18.700 And pride. 00:18:18.839 --> 00:18:21.059 And all of the things that are in that. 00:18:21.879 --> 00:18:22.940 I mean, think about a field. 00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:25.379 Kind of a, as you walk along the edges. 00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:26.700 And they would have understood this. 00:18:27.419 --> 00:18:31.480 Many of the, they would have walked by the fields we see even in Luke's gospel. 00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:34.099 Where Jesus' disciples are walking by the edge of the field. 00:18:34.159 --> 00:18:36.159 And they just grab some corn off because they're hungry. 00:18:36.659 --> 00:18:37.839 So they would have understood that. 00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:40.079 As the sower is sowing the seed out. 00:18:40.379 --> 00:18:42.460 Some are going to fall right by the edge where people walk. 00:18:43.139 --> 00:18:43.940 And you know what happens there? 00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:45.079 It just gets trampled down. 00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:46.779 I bet it may be at your house. 00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:48.940 There's a path that you walk every single day. 00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:50.399 In the grass or whatever it is. 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:51.740 And all the grass looks really good. 00:18:51.780 --> 00:18:54.120 But right in that one spot, it is just trampled down. 00:18:54.700 --> 00:18:56.759 I mean, it's just, nothing grows right there. 00:18:57.480 --> 00:18:59.660 Jesus is saying that's kind of what that heart looks like. 00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:02.160 It's not bad soil per se. 00:19:02.340 --> 00:19:06.100 It's just hard from being repeatedly walked down on. 00:19:07.420 --> 00:19:11.200 And people with a hard heart, they may have been wounded by others. 00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:13.660 There's a reason their heart is in that condition. 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:16.280 Life has happened. 00:19:16.800 --> 00:19:19.580 And maybe some injustices have been experienced by them. 00:19:19.579 --> 00:19:20.419 You know what that does? 00:19:20.539 --> 00:19:21.599 It hardens us. 00:19:22.419 --> 00:19:25.539 You know, kids when they're little, they just think everybody's the greatest and believe everything. 00:19:26.639 --> 00:19:28.399 But unfortunately, as we grow older, guess what we get? 00:19:28.519 --> 00:19:29.279 We get more cynical. 00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:32.319 We begin to think, well, you know, that's just life. 00:19:32.699 --> 00:19:36.279 And we don't trust people maybe like we used to trust people or whatever it may be. 00:19:36.419 --> 00:19:38.240 And those people are in this situation. 00:19:38.379 --> 00:19:39.899 Maybe they've been burned by the church. 00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:41.539 That happens. 00:19:41.539 --> 00:19:47.159 And they're so disillusioned and think, well, if that happened here, then I don't need church. 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:51.000 Maybe they're just disillusioned by life. 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:56.220 If God really loved me, then why would this happen? 00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:58.920 And I prayed for that and nothing changed. 00:19:59.059 --> 00:20:01.380 And I did this and nothing happened there. 00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:03.259 You know what all those things can do? 00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:05.220 They can create a hard heart. 00:20:06.660 --> 00:20:08.799 Maybe others are hardened by pride. 00:20:09.420 --> 00:20:11.039 I don't need all this religious stuff. 00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:12.599 Hey, I'm glad you found it. 00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:13.519 I'm glad that works for you. 00:20:13.640 --> 00:20:14.740 But I have my own way. 00:20:14.740 --> 00:20:17.759 And that hardens the heart as well. 00:20:19.339 --> 00:20:22.500 But it's not just people outside of the church and people disillusioned by life. 00:20:22.779 --> 00:20:25.099 Sometimes people are hardened by routine. 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:34.420 Sometimes people are so familiar with church and so familiar with all the things that they become numb to the truth. 00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:37.740 They say, well, I've grown up in church. 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:40.440 It doesn't matter if you've been here one day or a hundred years. 00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:42.980 Listen, you have to be open to the truth. 00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:44.900 And here's the danger of what Jesus is saying. 00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:48.660 When the ground is hard and the seed is not taking root, Satan is waiting. 00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:51.640 He's going to come and snatch up the seed. 00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:53.640 He's not going to give it time to germinate. 00:20:53.819 --> 00:20:57.599 He's not going to give it time to take root and to begin to think about it and respond. 00:20:58.319 --> 00:20:59.039 That they're waiting. 00:20:59.140 --> 00:21:01.220 It's like the birds that are there as soon as it is. 00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:03.599 I mean, you ever been on a patio eating chips and salsa? 00:21:04.980 --> 00:21:06.099 I know it's almost lunchtime. 00:21:06.140 --> 00:21:06.860 I'm going to keep moving on. 00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:08.400 But, you know, I'm like, oh, listen on the patio. 00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:09.160 It'll be super nice. 00:21:09.460 --> 00:21:11.819 But then you're out there and you're just like guarding your food from all the birds. 00:21:11.819 --> 00:21:13.779 I'm like, get away from me. 00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:15.819 Listen, that's kind of the picture. 00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:17.359 It's like Satan is right there. 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:19.319 Listen, I'll just tell you right now. 00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:22.059 He's not excited you're here in the church this morning. 00:21:22.339 --> 00:21:23.220 Listen to the word of God. 00:21:24.939 --> 00:21:27.039 And what he wants to do is cause distractions. 00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:27.980 Cause problems. 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:29.599 And have your mind thinking about other things. 00:21:29.679 --> 00:21:30.619 And coming up this week and that. 00:21:30.819 --> 00:21:31.500 And here's what he wants to do. 00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:32.419 Take that seed away. 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:35.179 That's what Jesus is speaking of. 00:21:35.299 --> 00:21:37.159 He's really talking about spiritual warfare. 00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:40.180 That Satan is the father of lies. 00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:42.180 And he's the God of this world. 00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:43.960 And he blinds the minds of unbelievers. 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:45.340 And maybe you're here this morning. 00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:46.480 You don't know the Lord as your Savior. 00:21:46.900 --> 00:21:50.540 And the devil's thinking, well, if God really loved you, why did he let that happen to you 20 years ago? 00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:52.220 You know what that is? 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:53.920 It's taking that seed and taking it. 00:21:54.460 --> 00:21:56.420 Not allowing it to take root in your life. 00:21:57.700 --> 00:22:03.259 Listen, he is actively engaged in preventing people from responding to the word of God. 00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:04.660 You know why? 00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:06.559 Because the gospel changes lives. 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:08.720 Still does today, by the way. 00:22:08.900 --> 00:22:10.079 The gospel changes lives. 00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:12.000 Okay, just making sure we're on the same page there. 00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:13.640 And he's not about that. 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:15.660 Listen, he knows he's already lost. 00:22:15.819 --> 00:22:18.180 But he's going to take as many down with him as he can. 00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:21.119 That's, we find it all throughout scripture. 00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:25.759 So how do we make sure that our hearts aren't hardened? 00:22:26.299 --> 00:22:29.519 That our soil of our life is not like that? 00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:34.139 Because even after salvation, we can just become so, just kind of go through the motions. 00:22:35.059 --> 00:22:37.879 And we can come to church and we can just kind of not be moved at all. 00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:41.519 We should never want to find ourselves in that place. 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:43.720 So how do we make sure that we're not? 00:22:43.900 --> 00:22:45.559 We need to prepare our hearts before the service. 00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:51.480 Listen, coming to church on Sunday is usually a Saturday decision and even sometimes earlier in the week. 00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:54.879 That you prepare your life, you prepare your heart for it. 00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:59.160 You should get up in the morning and say, Lord, would you speak to me today? 00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:01.180 That's a great thing. 00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:02.319 It's just a simple prayer. 00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:06.559 Another thing we can do is we can confess sin that hardens our life. 00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:14.440 The Bible tells us in 1 John 1.9 that if we confess our sins, he's faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 00:23:15.400 --> 00:23:17.900 Sometimes we know things in our life should not be there. 00:23:18.379 --> 00:23:19.579 But we think it's not that big a deal. 00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:20.160 You know what it's doing? 00:23:20.299 --> 00:23:21.519 It's just hardening the soil. 00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:22.599 Hardening the soil. 00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:25.099 And the seed's not able to take root. 00:23:25.400 --> 00:23:26.099 Here's what we can do. 00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:27.379 Refuse distractions. 00:23:27.380 --> 00:23:27.620 Distractions. 00:23:28.140 --> 00:23:29.880 We can be distracted so many times. 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.720 Anybody distracted? 00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:31.760 Squirrel. 00:23:33.080 --> 00:23:35.500 Listen, I can get as distracted as anybody. 00:23:36.940 --> 00:23:42.520 But sometimes we need to take, you know, maybe reading the Bible on your phone is not the best idea. 00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:44.260 Not against it if you're doing it right now. 00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:45.420 I mean, I've got an iPad up here. 00:23:46.380 --> 00:23:46.840 But you know what? 00:23:46.839 --> 00:23:50.480 Sometimes I have to stop reading it on my phone because a text would come in. 00:23:50.819 --> 00:23:51.220 Or this would. 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:52.119 I need to check my mail. 00:23:52.299 --> 00:23:52.859 I need to do this. 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:53.419 I need to do that. 00:23:53.659 --> 00:23:59.279 Listen, we've got to put some distractions away so we can focus on what's really important in our life. 00:24:00.819 --> 00:24:01.919 Here's one that we all should do. 00:24:02.119 --> 00:24:04.139 Just beg God to soften our heart. 00:24:05.679 --> 00:24:10.079 Listen, if your soil of your life is hard, Hosea says, 00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:14.139 Break up the fallow ground for it is time to seek the Lord. 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:15.679 That's what we have to do. 00:24:16.259 --> 00:24:17.720 We have to look for those opportunities. 00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:19.599 We don't want to find ourselves in this place. 00:24:20.699 --> 00:24:23.639 But if you don't know the Lord as your Savior, this is kind of where you are. 00:24:23.839 --> 00:24:25.079 But the Lord is trying to get in. 00:24:25.139 --> 00:24:27.720 He's trying to make room in your heart for Him. 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:32.799 But not all unfruitful soil is hard and resistant. 00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:36.279 Some receive the word with smiles and raised hands. 00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:37.440 Oh man, that was awesome. 00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:38.039 That was a blessing. 00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:41.000 But Jesus tells us it doesn't last. 00:24:41.900 --> 00:24:43.200 Verse number 13, it shows us this. 00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:44.400 The shallow heart. 00:24:45.100 --> 00:24:45.860 The shallow heart. 00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:52.180 They on the rock are they which when they hear receive the word with joy. 00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:59.799 And these have no root which for a while believe and in time of temptation fall away. 00:25:01.060 --> 00:25:03.420 Listen, we're all kind of prone to be this way. 00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:07.720 That we respond emotionally but not deeply. 00:25:08.580 --> 00:25:13.380 We respond just kind of out of a response but maybe not really thinking about it. 00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:15.259 We get super excited about things. 00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:16.820 But it really doesn't last. 00:25:17.799 --> 00:25:20.620 It's kind of that idea, hey, we're going to shout amen on Sunday. 00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:22.779 But on Friday we're thinking, I'm done with all this. 00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:25.039 Sometimes that's the reality. 00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:27.079 That's the shallow heart. 00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:28.859 It's not that we didn't believe it when we heard it. 00:25:29.099 --> 00:25:32.559 Jesus says, listen, they hear it and they know it's true and they receive it with joy. 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:38.439 But Jesus doesn't intend for His word to be just kind of some shot in the arm. 00:25:38.659 --> 00:25:41.299 No, it's supposed to be something that changes us throughout our week. 00:25:41.699 --> 00:25:42.919 It's not just a Sunday thing. 00:25:43.439 --> 00:25:45.879 It's not just a in your devotion type thing. 00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:50.419 The person with the shallow heart, they like the word of God. 00:25:50.619 --> 00:25:52.539 They just don't live the word of God. 00:25:53.179 --> 00:25:54.479 That's really what Jesus is saying. 00:25:55.479 --> 00:25:57.259 There's a lot of people if you say, hey, you like the Bible? 00:25:57.319 --> 00:25:58.579 Oh, yeah, I like the Bible, I like the church. 00:25:59.239 --> 00:26:00.719 But their life doesn't match it. 00:26:01.699 --> 00:26:03.019 You know what Jesus shows us over and over again? 00:26:03.159 --> 00:26:04.619 We should match what we say. 00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:06.659 We should practice what we preach. 00:26:07.579 --> 00:26:13.279 Their faith sprouts fast but it dies just as fast because there's no depth to it. 00:26:13.279 --> 00:26:16.139 Listen, we're to grow. 00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:19.180 Paul tells us that we're to be rooted. 00:26:19.940 --> 00:26:22.200 We're to dig our faith deep. 00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:24.720 Not shallow because it's not going to last. 00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:25.779 I mean, we understand that. 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:26.359 We live in Texas. 00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:30.399 If you don't plant something deep enough, it's dead right now, is it not? 00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:33.920 Yeah, you're looking out there, you're thinking, I've been watering this forever. 00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:35.139 It's got no roots. 00:26:35.740 --> 00:26:36.420 It's dying. 00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:41.400 It seemed really good and you were excited when you planted it but it's not surviving right now. 00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:43.000 That's kind of the idea. 00:26:43.100 --> 00:26:47.500 It's that thin layer of limestone and the seed looks like it's growing but it's just surface level. 00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:49.900 And as soon as last week happened, it's done. 00:26:50.840 --> 00:26:53.400 It's 100,000,000, 5 degrees or whatever it was. 00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:58.500 See, the moment, that's what Jesus is saying in verse 13. 00:26:58.740 --> 00:27:05.259 The moment hardship comes, that temptation comes, that testing comes, the joy fades. 00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:07.160 And so does the commitment. 00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:12.140 Because let's just be honest, it's real easy to make a spiritual decision in here. 00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:14.579 Because everybody wants to make one. 00:27:15.140 --> 00:27:16.660 And we're at church and I mean, that's what you do. 00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:20.579 And you hear a message, you hear a song, and you think, you know what, I'm thankful for that, I need to do that. 00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:24.019 And the question is, do you take it outside these doors with you? 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:27.660 Because sometimes we just leave it in our seat and it doesn't go to our car. 00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:29.759 It doesn't go to work with us. 00:27:30.140 --> 00:27:31.339 It doesn't go to school with us. 00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:32.599 It's shallow. 00:27:32.599 --> 00:27:37.500 No, emotional excitement is not the same as spiritual transformation. 00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:40.419 That Jesus wants us to grow. 00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:42.779 That he wants us to dig deep. 00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:44.059 That he wants us to handle that. 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:47.339 And we see that sometimes this can kind of represent a false conversion. 00:27:48.339 --> 00:27:52.179 People that make it a superficial profession, but really it falls away under pressure. 00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:55.959 We need the Lord to give us a new heart. 00:27:56.879 --> 00:27:59.359 God doesn't say, get emotional and happy and excited about everything. 00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:01.199 He says, let me renew you. 00:28:01.899 --> 00:28:05.259 Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. 00:28:05.879 --> 00:28:07.259 That's what God wants to do in our life. 00:28:07.719 --> 00:28:10.839 He doesn't want us to just say, well, let's just make it look pretty for a little bit. 00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:12.759 No, he wants us to last. 00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:15.959 He wants us to grow over a long period of time. 00:28:16.179 --> 00:28:23.419 Without the work of the Holy Spirit to establish a rooted faith, no amount of enthusiasm will last. 00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:24.039 It will not. 00:28:24.819 --> 00:28:26.259 I mean, you can be excited for things for a while. 00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:28.619 I mean, some of you are excited about the Cowboys right now. 00:28:30.339 --> 00:28:31.200 Okay, maybe you're not. 00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:32.180 That was a terrible illustration. 00:28:32.359 --> 00:28:32.859 Sorry about that. 00:28:35.059 --> 00:28:37.500 At some point, you know, you're going to lose it real quick. 00:28:38.059 --> 00:28:38.940 Like the first game. 00:28:40.059 --> 00:28:41.339 You're like, man, I thought this was our year. 00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:42.059 Next year. 00:28:44.440 --> 00:28:46.519 That's okay when it's the football team. 00:28:47.160 --> 00:28:48.660 What about your spiritual life? 00:28:49.579 --> 00:28:50.799 What about your walk with the Lord? 00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:54.440 God doesn't want you to just come on Sunday and get excited about things. 00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:59.799 He wants you to come on Sunday to take some notes down and to realize, I need to put this in practice in my life. 00:29:00.359 --> 00:29:01.579 Because that's how it happens. 00:29:02.180 --> 00:29:07.579 I mean, we see it all the time that somebody maybe is excited about baptism, excited about certain things in their life, and then they disappear in a month. 00:29:07.579 --> 00:29:14.659 And I'm thankful for what God is doing in our youth group and our teens, and I really think they desire to grow in the Lord. 00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.679 But we've all seen it. 00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:17.199 I was there as a teenager in my own life. 00:29:17.419 --> 00:29:17.960 Went to camp. 00:29:18.139 --> 00:29:18.720 Got excited. 00:29:18.919 --> 00:29:19.539 Told a testimony. 00:29:19.899 --> 00:29:23.079 But it had been a month or two since I opened my Bible, since I've been back from camp. 00:29:23.899 --> 00:29:24.980 Just the reality of it. 00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:26.720 Just how it goes. 00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:32.379 Sometimes people get excited about church because they've got a lot going on in their life, and they join the church. 00:29:32.380 --> 00:29:36.140 But as soon as the crisis kind of dies down and life gets back to normal, they're gone. 00:29:37.300 --> 00:29:39.660 That's not how Jesus intends for us to live our life. 00:29:40.260 --> 00:29:41.720 So how do we avoid shallow hearts? 00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:44.040 We cultivate our hearts between Sundays. 00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:48.580 Listen, we have to make sure that Sunday's not the only morning we crack this open. 00:29:49.620 --> 00:29:50.900 We need to read it. 00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:51.500 We need to pray. 00:29:51.700 --> 00:29:52.780 We need to obey it. 00:29:54.460 --> 00:29:57.200 Listen, don't just respond to a sermon emotionally. 00:29:57.820 --> 00:29:59.420 Respond obediently. 00:29:59.420 --> 00:30:02.400 That's what Jesus was saying at the end of Luke 6 when we were there. 00:30:02.840 --> 00:30:04.620 A wise man built his house on the rock. 00:30:04.680 --> 00:30:05.740 You know what the rock is? 00:30:06.080 --> 00:30:07.420 God's word obeyed. 00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:09.960 That's what God wants us to build our life on. 00:30:10.580 --> 00:30:16.620 That we should take some things from a Sunday morning service, Sunday night or Wednesday, and take them out there and apply them. 00:30:17.360 --> 00:30:18.720 That's how we begin to dig roots. 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:21.779 Paul told the Colossians, 00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:27.860 As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him, rooted and built up. 00:30:27.859 --> 00:30:30.159 So we see the hard heart. 00:30:30.259 --> 00:30:31.019 We see the shallow heart. 00:30:31.359 --> 00:30:33.059 But some people go even a step further. 00:30:33.579 --> 00:30:37.119 They hang around and they stay active and they may be even looking fruitful. 00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:39.079 But beneath the surface there's something wrong. 00:30:40.179 --> 00:30:43.459 So we see in verse number 14, we see the crowded heart. 00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:58.680 And they which fell among the thorns are they which when they had heard, go forth and are choked with the cares and the riches and the pleasures of life and bring no fruit to perfection. 00:30:58.680 --> 00:31:05.620 This type of soil, this type of heart receives the word but really never bears fruit. 00:31:06.340 --> 00:31:12.380 Not because of rejection, not because it doesn't love the Lord and know Jesus as their Savior, but because of distraction. 00:31:14.680 --> 00:31:16.580 Have you ever noticed maybe you have tried a garden? 00:31:16.900 --> 00:31:19.019 Your weeds grow faster than your garden does sometimes. 00:31:20.620 --> 00:31:23.340 I know my weeds grow way faster than my yard does. 00:31:23.680 --> 00:31:26.720 I got to mow my yard because the weeds are more than my grass is. 00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:28.319 I mean that's just what it is. 00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:36.539 These may be good hearted people in the sense that they want to do what the Lord wants them to do, but they're pulled in a hundred different directions. 00:31:37.680 --> 00:31:43.180 That worry crowds their mind, riches consume their time, pleasures of this life numb their spirit. 00:31:44.440 --> 00:31:46.339 They know the right things to do. 00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:49.380 They've heard it and they're trying, but there's all kinds of things. 00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:52.240 Listen, think of a garden that's overrun with weeds. 00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:54.000 It's not because the soil is bad. 00:31:54.220 --> 00:31:56.420 It's because nobody's tending the garden. 00:31:57.380 --> 00:31:58.180 That's why weeds happen. 00:31:59.160 --> 00:32:02.380 You know, if a gardener's out there every day, you know what they do when they see a weed? 00:32:02.620 --> 00:32:03.420 They pull it. 00:32:04.079 --> 00:32:05.039 They get rid of it. 00:32:05.420 --> 00:32:06.940 They toss it to the side. 00:32:07.460 --> 00:32:12.720 And this type of heart, Jesus is teaching us this, that it really reflects this divided allegiance. 00:32:14.140 --> 00:32:18.680 That we want to do what the Lord wants us to do, but we also, you know, have things that we want to do. 00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:20.700 That we want to be in here and there. 00:32:20.700 --> 00:32:24.019 Jesus made it real clear in Matthew 6, no man can serve two masters. 00:32:25.660 --> 00:32:30.779 That we're not called to serve the Lord on Sundays and Wednesdays and live our life any other way we want to during the week. 00:32:31.360 --> 00:32:32.819 No, that we're supposed to be all in. 00:32:33.080 --> 00:32:36.600 That we're supposed to love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength. 00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:38.740 That includes us anytime, anywhere. 00:32:39.420 --> 00:32:40.519 That's what he wants us to see. 00:32:40.519 --> 00:32:46.539 See, the thorns, it reflects something that's taken the place of where Christ should be. 00:32:47.579 --> 00:32:51.700 You know, we think of Old Testament idolatry and you think, well, I don't have any statues in my house I bow down to. 00:32:53.680 --> 00:32:56.099 Idolatry is anything you place before the Lord. 00:32:57.279 --> 00:33:03.059 Anything you put up more importance, you spend your time, you spend your treasure, you spend all your talents on those type of things. 00:33:03.059 --> 00:33:11.799 And that's why God is reminding us that as we grow in him, as we're sanctified, it's not just about what we add, but also what we get rid of. 00:33:12.619 --> 00:33:19.879 Because sometimes there is things that we need to get rid of that aren't bad things, but they're not helping our priorities. 00:33:21.460 --> 00:33:23.259 I mean, we keep going back to the phone. 00:33:23.859 --> 00:33:25.319 I think I used this illustration a couple weeks ago. 00:33:25.659 --> 00:33:28.799 I'm really kind of looking at my life in my phone. 00:33:29.679 --> 00:33:31.859 Because how many times are we on that thing? 00:33:32.839 --> 00:33:34.759 You really want to get serious about it? 00:33:34.959 --> 00:33:37.279 You can go look on your phone, it tells you how many times you pick it up a day. 00:33:38.899 --> 00:33:40.659 Don't, it will convict you. 00:33:42.599 --> 00:33:44.059 But how many times do we pick this up a day? 00:33:45.099 --> 00:33:47.319 I'm not saying we have to pick it up all the time, we have to read it 87 times. 00:33:47.479 --> 00:33:49.819 But if we pick our phone up 150 times a day, 00:33:50.939 --> 00:33:52.500 because if you're like me, sometimes you know what I do? 00:33:53.079 --> 00:33:54.000 As soon as I wake up. 00:33:54.000 --> 00:34:02.819 We make time and prioritize what we want to do. 00:34:04.099 --> 00:34:07.819 That if we really want to have this crowded heart, if we really want to allow it to grow, 00:34:07.980 --> 00:34:13.079 we're going to have to prioritize the word above entertainment and above media and above good things. 00:34:13.300 --> 00:34:15.940 Because I'm not saying we can't ever have a time and do fun things. 00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:17.239 I love to do that stuff. 00:34:17.239 --> 00:34:18.799 But are we willing to grow? 00:34:19.799 --> 00:34:21.859 Maybe the question we need to ask ourselves this morning, 00:34:22.259 --> 00:34:24.799 what weeds are choking out God's word in my life? 00:34:25.839 --> 00:34:30.899 Is there something I'm allowing in the garden of my life that's not allowing everything else to grow like it should? 00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:34.599 That we have to regularly pull the weeds, we have to cut those habits, 00:34:34.819 --> 00:34:36.939 we've got to repent of misplaced priorities. 00:34:37.879 --> 00:34:39.619 It's not that God doesn't want you to do those things. 00:34:40.319 --> 00:34:41.739 There should always be a priority. 00:34:41.739 --> 00:34:43.559 And God's always at the top, by the way. 00:34:44.539 --> 00:34:49.239 Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. 00:34:49.559 --> 00:34:51.739 And all those things you're worried about and all those things you want to do, 00:34:51.859 --> 00:34:53.759 you'd be surprised what God lets you do. 00:34:54.459 --> 00:34:57.519 What God allows in your life and how God blesses you in certain areas. 00:34:57.799 --> 00:35:02.459 But I'm thankful that we can look at our life and Jesus is not doing this to be mean, 00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:03.899 but he wants to help us. 00:35:05.059 --> 00:35:07.359 He's not over here just kind of lamb blasting people and say, 00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:08.859 listen, check the soil. 00:35:09.500 --> 00:35:11.579 He wants your life to grow. 00:35:12.279 --> 00:35:15.459 He wants you to be closer to him today than you were yesterday. 00:35:16.599 --> 00:35:19.919 But I'm thankful that all soil is not unproductive. 00:35:20.939 --> 00:35:26.619 There is one heart that receives the word and clings to it and produces lasting change. 00:35:26.619 --> 00:35:28.659 It may take time, but here's what it is. 00:35:28.759 --> 00:35:29.479 It's worth it. 00:35:30.259 --> 00:35:31.279 That's the receptive heart. 00:35:31.379 --> 00:35:32.839 Verse 15, we'll close with this. 00:35:34.339 --> 00:35:36.359 But that on that good ground are they, 00:35:38.159 --> 00:35:40.739 which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, 00:35:40.739 --> 00:35:44.659 keep it and bring forth fruit with patience. 00:35:46.399 --> 00:35:50.399 See, this is the ready, humble, teachable heart. 00:35:51.159 --> 00:35:56.059 The one that doesn't just hear the word but keeps it has this idea of holding it tightly. 00:35:56.899 --> 00:35:58.399 You ever see a little kid with a toy they love? 00:35:58.679 --> 00:36:00.000 I mean, try to get it out of their hands. 00:36:00.339 --> 00:36:02.359 It's amazing how strong babies are, by the way. 00:36:02.360 --> 00:36:06.240 When they have something they shouldn't have, I'm like, this is like a full-grown gorilla 00:36:06.240 --> 00:36:07.780 and you're trying to get it out of their hand. 00:36:09.120 --> 00:36:11.860 Listen, how tightly are you holding on to the word of God? 00:36:12.700 --> 00:36:15.160 It should be the dearest thing to you. 00:36:15.860 --> 00:36:17.300 And when you do that, here's what it's going to do. 00:36:17.420 --> 00:36:18.820 It's going to bring forth fruit. 00:36:18.960 --> 00:36:20.039 Not by accident. 00:36:20.280 --> 00:36:23.320 No, this type of heart, this type of soil is cultivated. 00:36:23.320 --> 00:36:25.720 It's tilled with repentance. 00:36:25.980 --> 00:36:27.080 It's watered with prayer. 00:36:27.280 --> 00:36:28.460 It's guarded from the thorns. 00:36:28.660 --> 00:36:32.120 And it's fertilized with regular obedience to the word of God. 00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:34.680 That's how you grow as a Christian. 00:36:35.100 --> 00:36:36.360 That's what Jesus is teaching. 00:36:36.720 --> 00:36:37.740 Jesus says this too. 00:36:38.019 --> 00:36:39.740 It comes forth with patience. 00:36:41.240 --> 00:36:46.360 See, true fruit bearing is the evidence that God is working in your life. 00:36:46.360 --> 00:36:50.860 We're looking at it in the Sunday school class here in the auditorium. 00:36:51.120 --> 00:36:52.599 John 15 is what it's all about. 00:36:53.400 --> 00:36:57.660 When you're abiding in Christ, when you know him as your Savior, here's what will happen. 00:36:58.120 --> 00:36:58.920 You will bear fruit. 00:36:59.660 --> 00:37:00.880 You will bear it through him. 00:37:01.720 --> 00:37:06.539 But this fruit is not merely external activity, but it's internal transformation. 00:37:07.460 --> 00:37:10.340 It's a Christ-likeness that cannot be faked. 00:37:11.559 --> 00:37:14.320 We've all been around, and I hope that people can say it about you. 00:37:14.320 --> 00:37:16.000 Hey, they're the real deal. 00:37:17.160 --> 00:37:20.180 Listen, we should all desire to be the real deal kind of Christian. 00:37:20.960 --> 00:37:22.480 You know what this world needs to see? 00:37:22.680 --> 00:37:24.700 You know what your classmates need to see when you start going back to school? 00:37:24.940 --> 00:37:27.860 You know what your employees and your coworkers need to see? 00:37:28.599 --> 00:37:31.019 Authentic Christians living their life. 00:37:31.820 --> 00:37:32.960 That's what makes a difference. 00:37:33.740 --> 00:37:34.579 We're not perfect. 00:37:34.780 --> 00:37:36.400 We're not claiming that we've got it all figured out. 00:37:36.559 --> 00:37:41.019 But there's a heart, and there's a hunger for God, and others can see it. 00:37:41.019 --> 00:37:44.519 And we see that taking place, that this growth is progressive. 00:37:44.519 --> 00:37:46.759 It's not instantaneous. 00:37:47.759 --> 00:37:49.739 You know what you should be able to do this morning? 00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:52.340 Look back at your life over the last year. 00:37:52.699 --> 00:37:53.960 You know what you should hopefully see? 00:37:54.500 --> 00:37:54.900 Growth. 00:37:56.059 --> 00:37:56.300 Why? 00:37:56.340 --> 00:37:57.940 Because that's what God intends for you to do. 00:37:58.539 --> 00:38:00.159 He doesn't intend for you to stagnate. 00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:03.820 He doesn't intend for you just to reach a level and think, well, I'm good here. 00:38:04.500 --> 00:38:06.639 No, I'm pressing on the upward way. 00:38:07.239 --> 00:38:10.059 New heights I'm gaining every day is what the old song says. 00:38:10.059 --> 00:38:13.139 We're reminded that's what God has for us. 00:38:14.320 --> 00:38:19.340 See, this path of sanctification, this path of growth, I love this phrase. 00:38:19.500 --> 00:38:22.320 The Lord has been laying it on my heart over and over again. 00:38:22.559 --> 00:38:25.980 It's long obedience in the same direction. 00:38:27.059 --> 00:38:27.840 That's what it is. 00:38:28.739 --> 00:38:29.900 That's how God grows us. 00:38:30.759 --> 00:38:32.719 It's just step by step. 00:38:33.239 --> 00:38:37.960 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. 00:38:37.960 --> 00:38:39.920 It doesn't say it lights the whole path. 00:38:39.960 --> 00:38:40.340 You know what it does? 00:38:40.519 --> 00:38:45.539 He just wants us to take that step today and take that step tomorrow and apply that truth to our life 00:38:45.539 --> 00:38:50.380 and apply this truth to our family and apply this principle to where we are. 00:38:52.599 --> 00:38:55.780 One of my really good friends, Brother Michael Jones, he's preached camp a couple times. 00:38:55.840 --> 00:38:56.579 He's preached here before. 00:38:57.059 --> 00:38:57.860 He says this. 00:38:58.199 --> 00:39:01.019 This is a good way to help our heart stay receptive. 00:39:01.500 --> 00:39:04.159 That we let our Sundays touch our Mondays. 00:39:04.440 --> 00:39:05.019 I love that. 00:39:05.019 --> 00:39:13.659 That what we hear here today, what we're reminded of, what we write down, we don't just write it down for today 00:39:13.659 --> 00:39:14.619 and think, man, that was really good. 00:39:15.199 --> 00:39:16.139 Take it with you tomorrow. 00:39:17.059 --> 00:39:17.840 Take it to work. 00:39:18.500 --> 00:39:19.440 Take it to your friends. 00:39:20.059 --> 00:39:21.960 Let your Sundays touch your Mondays. 00:39:23.019 --> 00:39:28.039 Hey, when you're reading your Bible on your own time, and I pray that you are, journal what God is teaching you. 00:39:28.360 --> 00:39:29.280 Well, I'm not a journaler. 00:39:30.360 --> 00:39:31.099 Why don't you try it? 00:39:31.980 --> 00:39:33.059 Hey, this is what God's teaching me. 00:39:33.059 --> 00:39:34.059 You know why? 00:39:34.159 --> 00:39:36.599 Because you can go back and you can look at it six months later. 00:39:37.279 --> 00:39:38.460 You think, well, I'm not growing. 00:39:38.539 --> 00:39:39.099 You know what I like to do? 00:39:39.139 --> 00:39:41.559 Look back and say, well, God was doing this in my life, and guess what? 00:39:41.779 --> 00:39:44.199 I can see how he did this and brought me here and brought me there. 00:39:44.659 --> 00:39:46.099 It reminds us of what God has done. 00:39:47.239 --> 00:39:49.199 Apply what you've learned one truth at a time. 00:39:50.539 --> 00:39:53.500 And don't be satisfied with being stirred. 00:39:54.759 --> 00:39:56.099 You know what you need to aim for? 00:39:56.199 --> 00:39:57.159 To be changed. 00:39:57.159 --> 00:40:02.559 God is aiming for us to be conformed to his image. 00:40:03.219 --> 00:40:04.259 That's the goal. 00:40:05.359 --> 00:40:10.579 James tells us this, but be doers of the word and not hearers only. 00:40:11.159 --> 00:40:13.539 Because when we hear the word and we don't do it, here's what we do. 00:40:13.739 --> 00:40:15.940 We deceive our own selves. 00:40:17.920 --> 00:40:19.719 We're contaminating our own soil. 00:40:19.719 --> 00:40:29.559 So now that we've heard Jesus' parable, we realize this, that we've been invited to find ourselves in it. 00:40:30.759 --> 00:40:32.500 He wasn't teaching this for this crowd. 00:40:34.439 --> 00:40:35.859 He's showing it as a mirror. 00:40:36.639 --> 00:40:38.839 And you should be able to look in this mirror and say, you know what? 00:40:39.419 --> 00:40:40.379 This is where I'm at. 00:40:41.539 --> 00:40:42.779 This is where my life is. 00:40:42.779 --> 00:40:43.939 This is where my heart is. 00:40:44.539 --> 00:40:45.779 Which heart describes you? 00:40:45.780 --> 00:40:47.620 Is it hard? 00:40:47.800 --> 00:40:49.080 It's unmoved by the word? 00:40:50.040 --> 00:40:53.800 Is it shallow, excited, but really kind of inconsistent in your life? 00:40:55.040 --> 00:40:55.860 Maybe it's crowded. 00:40:56.060 --> 00:40:58.100 You really want to do it, but you're just distracted. 00:40:58.240 --> 00:40:58.860 You're just busy. 00:41:00.180 --> 00:41:01.580 Or maybe it's receptive. 00:41:02.260 --> 00:41:04.420 You're hearing and you're keeping and you're obeying. 00:41:05.620 --> 00:41:06.360 We know this. 00:41:07.060 --> 00:41:08.680 The seed is good. 00:41:09.480 --> 00:41:10.060 It's perfect. 00:41:10.600 --> 00:41:11.340 It's the word of God. 00:41:12.380 --> 00:41:13.480 The sower is faithful. 00:41:13.780 --> 00:41:15.600 God has placed people in your life. 00:41:16.200 --> 00:41:18.700 God has placed me as the pastor of this church to sow the seed. 00:41:19.000 --> 00:41:21.260 He's placed other people in your life that are sowing the seed. 00:41:22.220 --> 00:41:24.480 The only variable is the soil. 00:41:26.240 --> 00:41:29.500 And if you're not where you should be, it's okay. 00:41:30.560 --> 00:41:31.900 Because soil can change. 00:41:33.180 --> 00:41:35.540 Maybe some of you this spring, you went out to the garden. 00:41:35.880 --> 00:41:39.040 You went out to put flowers in your flower bed because you just nodded through that conversation. 00:41:39.120 --> 00:41:41.280 Your wife said you're going to plant flowers and now you're at Home Depot. 00:41:41.280 --> 00:41:43.800 You went out there and you thought, you know what? 00:41:44.220 --> 00:41:45.240 I need new soil. 00:41:46.019 --> 00:41:48.340 And you went to the store and you got new soil. 00:41:48.880 --> 00:41:50.480 Because you realize the necessity of it. 00:41:52.100 --> 00:41:53.460 The same is true in our life. 00:41:53.460 --> 00:41:55.380 Hard ground can be broken up. 00:41:56.420 --> 00:41:58.220 Maybe there's some weeds in your life this morning. 00:41:58.280 --> 00:41:58.960 Here's what needs to be happening. 00:41:59.159 --> 00:42:00.099 They need to be taken out. 00:42:00.679 --> 00:42:01.579 They need to be pulled out. 00:42:03.119 --> 00:42:06.380 These shallow roots give them an opportunity to grow, to dig deeper. 00:42:06.559 --> 00:42:08.720 But it takes intentional cultivation. 00:42:08.719 --> 00:42:12.739 And we do that by preparing for the word. 00:42:13.559 --> 00:42:15.359 Listen, every time you come to church, prepare for it. 00:42:15.980 --> 00:42:16.439 Say a prayer. 00:42:16.559 --> 00:42:17.500 Even if it's on the way. 00:42:17.739 --> 00:42:19.059 Lord, speak to my heart this morning. 00:42:20.379 --> 00:42:21.579 Prioritize the word in your life. 00:42:22.219 --> 00:42:24.459 Listen, is this as much of a priority as it should be? 00:42:25.759 --> 00:42:27.539 In your daily, weekly life? 00:42:28.659 --> 00:42:29.559 Practice the word. 00:42:30.779 --> 00:42:32.879 What it says, do. 00:42:33.899 --> 00:42:36.119 And lastly, persevere in it. 00:42:36.719 --> 00:42:38.239 Because here's sometimes what happens. 00:42:38.619 --> 00:42:39.779 All right, Lord, I'm going to do this. 00:42:39.879 --> 00:42:41.359 And I'm going to see immediate results. 00:42:41.779 --> 00:42:45.319 You remember in elementary school when you plant in your little Dixie cup? 00:42:45.959 --> 00:42:46.899 They put the soil in there. 00:42:47.019 --> 00:42:47.699 You put the seed. 00:42:48.639 --> 00:42:50.939 God bless you teachers that do that, if that's any of y'all. 00:42:51.479 --> 00:42:52.859 Because you know what my kids do the very next morning? 00:42:55.199 --> 00:42:56.179 It's not growing. 00:42:57.459 --> 00:42:58.000 You know why? 00:42:58.000 --> 00:42:58.799 Because it takes time. 00:43:00.179 --> 00:43:01.919 Listen, that same works in our life. 00:43:03.179 --> 00:43:05.099 You may not see immediate results. 00:43:05.959 --> 00:43:06.579 Keep watering. 00:43:07.199 --> 00:43:07.859 Keep reading. 00:43:08.239 --> 00:43:09.199 Keep praying. 00:43:09.579 --> 00:43:10.539 Keep getting plugged in. 00:43:10.739 --> 00:43:13.139 Listen, the seed is being scattered today, right now. 00:43:14.039 --> 00:43:15.539 Don't just hear it with your ears. 00:43:16.319 --> 00:43:17.279 Hear it with your heart. 00:43:18.199 --> 00:43:22.599 He that had ears to hear, let him hear. 00:43:23.019 --> 00:43:25.379 Would you stand with your heads bowed and with your eyes closed? 00:43:25.380 --> 00:43:38.340 Jesus gives these parables because he cares, because he loves you. 00:43:39.680 --> 00:43:42.320 He wasn't saying, well, these people can't get in and these people can't get in. 00:43:42.440 --> 00:43:43.519 Only this one group. 00:43:43.760 --> 00:43:48.960 No, he wants us to take a real look at our life and to see where we are. 00:43:48.960 --> 00:43:53.220 Because there's nothing that's impossible. 00:43:53.860 --> 00:43:56.280 You think, well, God can't do that for me because I did this, this, and this. 00:43:56.340 --> 00:43:56.659 No, no, no. 00:43:57.800 --> 00:43:58.619 He's already done it. 00:43:58.679 --> 00:43:59.860 He's already paid the price. 00:44:00.420 --> 00:44:02.260 That's what the cross of Calvary is all about. 00:44:02.260 --> 00:44:05.620 All have sinned and comes from the glory of God. 00:44:06.260 --> 00:44:08.040 But Jesus paid the debt. 00:44:09.320 --> 00:44:11.040 He wants to give you a new heart. 00:44:12.060 --> 00:44:13.640 He's not looking just to fix you up. 00:44:13.680 --> 00:44:16.340 He's looking to transform your life completely. 00:44:17.640 --> 00:44:19.360 And maybe you're here and that's what you need. 00:44:19.360 --> 00:44:24.059 Not trying to just put new paint on your life. 00:44:24.820 --> 00:44:26.280 Do a little bit of outside renovation. 00:44:26.420 --> 00:44:29.340 No, you realize this, that you need a new heart. 00:44:30.120 --> 00:44:32.720 That Jesus loves you. 00:44:32.840 --> 00:44:33.740 He came to save you. 00:44:35.500 --> 00:44:38.039 If that's you, I'd love to meet you down here this morning after church. 00:44:38.079 --> 00:44:39.120 I'd love to talk to you about it. 00:44:40.760 --> 00:44:44.720 Maybe you're here and your soil's kind of shallow. 00:44:45.260 --> 00:44:48.140 You get excited about things, but it's not consistent. 00:44:49.360 --> 00:44:51.700 Maybe you're distracted by all the things of life. 00:44:51.840 --> 00:44:55.140 And you know the Lord is your Savior, but you're just not really moving forward. 00:44:55.200 --> 00:44:56.300 Because there's all kinds of weeds. 00:44:56.380 --> 00:44:57.180 Maybe get rid of it. 00:44:58.420 --> 00:45:02.860 That we would all desire to have the heart that's receptive to God's word. 00:45:03.579 --> 00:45:06.539 Listen, I don't know where you are, but I know this. 00:45:06.599 --> 00:45:07.460 God wants you to respond. 00:45:08.220 --> 00:45:09.660 His word will not return void. 00:45:09.740 --> 00:45:10.640 The seed has been sowed. 00:45:10.800 --> 00:45:13.559 The question is, how will you respond today? 00:45:13.660 --> 00:45:14.840 Father, thank you for this opportunity. 00:45:14.840 --> 00:45:15.840 Thank you.