Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb7bvF5Ucrk

I. Whoever Has Ears

Whoever Has Ears

This morning I am kicking off a new series. We have looked at the Persecuted church found around the world. We have looked at our situation which is not fully the persecuted church yet, however, we have moved into a new culture that does not receive us so openly and we feel exiled in our own culture. Many nations have lived their entire lives in this place, but for U.S. citizens, this is a new place for us.

Now that we have “embraced” our current position, we need to find new ways of accomplishing our mission within this current state of affairs. To do this, we need to look to what Jesus taught us. For the rest of this summer and throughout the fall, we will be looking to the book of Luke to find the “Life and Teachings of Jesus.”

This morning we are starting with the Parable of the Sower found in . This parable is found in Matthew and Mark also. It must have been important for three different apostles to include it in their writings. In each case, Jesus is teaching about the Kingdom of God and He sets the scene for how we find the Kingdom. We find it comes through the Word of God.

Bow your heads with me and lets pray before we begin.

Father, we have prayed acknowledging your presence this morning. We have given praise and worship to You and Your name. Now Father, we turn to you to give us ears that will hear. Direct and guide our thoughts and illuminate within each of us how you would have us apply Your message in our lives that we may not only be hearers of Your Word, but doers of Your Word. In the Holy Name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Background:

After Jesus was Baptized He went into the wilderness to pray before beginning His ministry. At that point, we know that Satan confronted Him and tempted Him to turn Him from His mission. However, Jesus deflected each attach with scripture. When Jesus left the wilderness, He chooses disciples to mentor as leaders for the time when He is no longer here on earth. Then we find Him on the mount teaching the people, feeding the people and as he travels healing people.

The miracles Jesus performed began to draw crowds. People heard of all that Jesus was doing and they came to see and hopefully prosper from His touch.

At this point, He is along the banks of the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd has once again gathered and so He steps into a boat in order to get back from the crowd and to provide amplification of His voice for teaching.

He begins with a story. The story is of a farmer who is sowing seed and what takes place with the seeds.

Many will tell you that Jesus told stories to keep people involved and to help them easily understand what He was teaching, but this is not necessarily correct. Jesus states in this passage why He speaks in parables and it is not for easy understanding, but just the opposite. It is for the purpose of weeding out those who do not really have the right interest in being there. Look at verse 10.

Luke 8:10 NASB95

And He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.

This seems odd to us as we think that Jesus would want all to understand. However, Jesus understands that not everyone is interested in truth. Many are only interested in self-gain. Many wanted Jesus to heal and fix their lives, but they had no desire for Jesus to change their lives. That is the very essence of this Parable of the Sower. So with that explained, let us jump into the Parable itself.

A. The Sower (, )

Luke 8:5a NASB95

“The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up.

Jesus begins with “a farmer.” He does not describe the farmer any further than that as no other explanation is needed. The farmer just describes anyone sowing the seed. It can be me, you, or whoever.Then He describes...

Then He describes...

B. The Seed (, )

He says the seed is the word of God.

That is easy enough to understand. It does not take a pastor or an evangelist to share the word of God. Anyone can share the word of God with people at any time.

So the farmer sows the seed. Now in Bible days, there were no fenced off fields. They were not even plowed necessarily. They would just cast the seed out around them as they walked. So as this farmer cast out the seed we find some fell on different kinds of soil and Jesus tells us...

C. The Soil Represents the Heart of the Listeners.

Jesus then describes...

1. Four Kinds of Soil/Hearts

a. The Path Represents a Hard Heart (, )

There were often well worn paths that ran through a field. These were paths people used walking to and from various places. Over time the ground became hard-packed from all the foot traffic. We see a field and we do not often see paths running through the middle beyond the tracks of sprinklers. More often a field in our day, might have a road that runs around the outside edge, but not through. However, the Jews were familiar with paths running through their fields, so this made perfect sense to them.

The hazard of the path was the seeds would sit on top and not be buried where it could germinate. It would then be trampled on and crushed, or birds would come along and eat the seeds that were so easily available. The road made them easier to spot and devour.

These represent the hard heart. The hard heart comes from repeated and unconfessed sin. They refuse to confess their sin. They will not lower their pride enough to receive the word of God. Unconfessed sin hardens our heart to the message of God. Satan has control of such a heart.

These are the people that in many ways are just not interested. Some may never even enter a church. Others come to church, but for the wrong reasons and they are not interested in hearing the message. They come for status or to please others, but never really listen to the message. In one of the churches I used to attend, one husband came and sat with his arms crossed and a stern look on his face throughout the entire service. It was like he was saying, “There is nothing you can say that will impress me.”

Many of the Pharisees were in this place. They had figured out a place for themselves that was comfortable and they were in control. They fought Jesus because they had no desire to change their ways. Nothing He said or did was going to change their mind.

Many of the Pharisees were in this place. They had figured out a place for themselves that was comfortable and they were in control. They fought Jesus because they had no desire to change their ways. Nothing He said or did was going to change them.

This was what Jesus meant when He quoted .

Luke 8:

Isaiah 6:9 NASB95

He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.’

Isaiah 6:9 ESV

And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “ ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’

The listen and they watch, but they never internalize the message. says,

These are some of the hardest people to win to the Lord.

Isaiah 1:4 NRSV

Ah, sinful nation, people laden with iniquity, offspring who do evil, children who deal corruptly, who have forsaken the Lord, who have despised the Holy One of Israel, who are utterly estranged!

b. The Rocky Ground Represents the Shallow Heart (, )

Sometimes soil covers ground that is rocky. When I was a kid growing up on the farm, dad would sometimes take us to a part of the field where there were rocks in the ground. These rocks would break the plow and cause patches where nothing grew. Oh how I hated this part of farm-work. :-(

The funny part about rocks is that at first the plants sprout up the fastest. When the roots hit the hard surface of the rock and cannot penetrate, the result is all the energy goes in the plant growing up. It looks good at first, but as the son grows hot, the roots cannot access the water and nutrients of the earth, so they quickly shrivel up and die.

It is much the same with shallow heart. There are some people who are fast to accept the message, however they do not count the cost. They looking for a happy, easy life. They hear the good news and are excited to receive it. But when they find out that it costs something, that it is not a quick fix for their troubles, they quickly dessert it. G.K. Chesterton was an English writer and theologian who made the following statement:

“Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; It has been found difficult and not tried.”

However, no good thing comes to us without difficulty though some never give up trying to do so. Why do you think the lottery makes so much money?

There is a unique greenhouse in Oracle, AZ called “Biosphere 2.” When they began, they found that the trees grew well, but then would fall over top heavy. As they investigated the issue, they discovered an important factor was missing from their environment; Wind. They discovered that wind the wind blows and trees sway from side to side, they build stamina, much as we build muscles with weight lifting. The stamina built from swaying in the wind allowed them to grow strong enough to hold the heavy top of the tree erect.

Many great things come to us through salvation, but it does not remove the difficulties of life. It builds us up and strengthens us to endure through them. So many quickly accept the word, but quickly abandon it when troubles come. Their eyes were never on the true prize, that being a relationship with Almighty God, but instead they were looking for an easy life which they are convinced leads to happiness. (By the way, it does not! Check out the number of suicides by people who are rich and have all they want).

c. The Thorny Ground Represents the Strangled Heart (, )

Sometimes seeds fall on good soil that is infested with weeds. When I was a kid, it was the areas nearest the fences that were the problem. They were too close to the road or other pastures that were not cultivated, therefore there were weeds and thistles that quickly spread under the fence into the cultivated field. The fertile soil made it easy for the thistles to take root and they would crowd out and strangle our alfalfa.

It is much the same with the strangled heart. Some people are so busy trying to make something of themselves in this life and it quickly chokes out the spiritual life God is calling them to. I meet these people every day. They apologize for not being in church more often, but they are just so busy. The cares and concerns of this life are more important to them than God. The Rich Young Ruler was just such a person. He was not willing to pay the cost of following God. He cared more for his wealth than he did for God.

Jesus told another parable regarding the strangled heart. It is found in . It was about a man who was determined to build bigger and better barns to store up enough to allow him a carefree life. We find God’s response in verses 20-21.

Luke 12:20–21 NASB95

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

None of these three hearts have any real focus on God and the truth of God. They are each focused on the wrong things. However, there is one final soil that is comprised of good, fertile soil ready to receive the seeds of truth.

d. The Good Ground Represents the Open Heart (, )

This ground is fertile and ready to receive the seeds of life.

tells us what happens in this case.

Ezekiel 36:25–27 NASB95

“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

In the heart with good soil we find a bountiful harvest. Not only does this person grow in their relationship with God, but they have a positive influence on others that they may come to know God and grow also. Luke tells us...

Luke 8:15 NASB95

“But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.

Luke 8

The word and experience of God was never meant to be held to ourselves, but is something to be shared so that others can benefit from the same truths of God.

Now I do not want to dwell here. Many of you may have already heard this parable and may be familiar with its meaning, but I want to take it a step further. I hope as you listened, you have taken time to identify which soil you are. But now I want us to look at what we can do about it. Do we just accept the condition of the soil, or can we cultivate it to be something different?

2. Cultivating the Heart

I remember as a child taking time to disc and plow the ground. Doing these things dug up the old plants and weeds, loosened the soil and then created nice even rows of mounds ready to receive the seed. I liked this part. This was much more fun than digging up rocks!

But are there things we can do that have the same effect on our hearts for receiving God’s word and His love? I believe there is. First, lets look at...

a. Cultivating Our Own Heart

Lets face it. God can use anyone at anytime He chooses. I remember being asked one time, “Can God use a pastor who is not following Him to accomplish something positive in another person’s life?” The answer is “yes.” The spreading of the good news has not as much to do with us as it does with the Holy Spirit and the soil of the person listening. However, God is able to do far more with someone who is connected to Him! Here are things we do to cultivate the soil of our hearts. (I will not spend too much time on these as they are somewhat repetitive of past sermons).

1. Self-Examination

What are we focused on? What are our priorities? Is there any sin in our hearts we have not confessed and sought His forgiveness on?

2. Prayer

Taking time to pray daily and continually throughout our day is essential to being fertile soil.

3. Reading & Meditating on God’s Word

We need to read God’s word, study God’s word, and meditate on it. We need to seek understanding so we are not mislead or mislead another.

4. Obedience to God’s Word

Are we following God’s word? Do we tithe, attend church, serve others, serve the church, and follow God’s precepts according to God’s Word? If we are not obedient in all God’s laws, we have effectively placed a barrier between us and God, therefore are not the fertile soil we need to be.

Too many today pick and choose what they want to accept out of God’s word and ignore the rest. For this reason, divorce, living with the opposite sex outside of marriage, lack of tithing, and so much more continues within the body of believers leaving us impotent of making a difference in our world. We are living the world’s culture, not God’s culture.

So to cultivate the soil of our hearts we need to examine, pray, read, study, and follow God’s instructions according to His word.

Matthew 6:33 NASB95

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Now if we are doing all those things, we need to take this even further. That is...

Now if we are doing all those things, we need to take this even further. That is...

b. Cultivating the Hearts of Others

5. Church Involvement

Can we cultivate the hearts of others? If so, how do we do so?

Cultivating the Hearts of Others

1. Love them (; ; Luke 6:34)

The Bible talks a lot about love. It tells us we are to have a special love for the believers that they will know us by our love (), we are to love others as ourselves () and we are told this is just as important as loving God. We are also told to love our enemies ().

John 13:35 NASB95

“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Matthew 22:39 NASB95

“The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Luke 6:34 NASB95

“If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.

Matthew 22:39 NASB95

“The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Matthew 22:37–39 NASB95

And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment. “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Matthew 22:39 NASB95

“The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Matthew 22:37–39 NASB95

And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment. “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Luke 6:34 NASB95

“If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.

John 13:35 NASB95

“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

As we love others, we are cultivating the soil of their hearts.

2. Acceptance (Romans 5:6-8)

Romans 5:6–8 NASB95

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Now listen to me very carefully for this is one that is greatly misused today. We accept people, but we do not accept their sin. When someone enters our presence we acknowledge them with love and we receive them. This does not mean we condone and accept their sin. Our hope is that they be saved from sin.

‘

Now listen to me very carefully for this is one that is greatly misused today. We accept people, but we do not accept their sin. When someone enters our presence we acknowledge them with love and we receive them. This does not mean we condone and accept their sin. Our hope is that they be saved from sin.

A young friend of my families has gotten confused on this matter. She recently proudly displayed that she had walked in a rally celebrating homosexuality. In her mind, she was being accepting of people in this life style. However, what she missed is that she is also saying that this lifestyle is okay. God’s word is clear it is not okay.

Jesus spent time with sinners. He accepted invitations to eat at their homes. He loved them and enjoyed their company, but He never told them their sin was okay.

Now let me make something else clear. We stand against it because it is wrong, this is true, but it is not that alone. We stand out against it out of love, not judgement and the reason is that it destroys lives. Sin is bad this is true, but even more, sin brings harm to those doing the sinning. It destroys their lives here on earth and later in eternity. We stand out against it to save them, not condemn them. When we hold up the biblical standard in love and acceptance of the person, their hearts are softened and cultivated a little more to receive the word of God.

3. Compassion (:34-40)

When I say compassion, I am not just talking the emotion, but the actions of compassion.

We have a compassionate ministry here. Compassionate ministries as been an emphasis of our denomination from the very beginning of its days. Why? Because in actions of compassion, we cultivate the soil or the hearts of those we serve giving space for us to share God’s word.

Matthew 25:34–40 NASB95

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

4. Pray (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

Finally, we need to pray. We intercede on behalf of others as Christ intercedes for us.

1 Timothy 2:1–4 NASB95

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

1 Timothy 2:1–4 NRSV

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Prayer overcomes boundaries. Prayer allows the Holy Spirit to work in all hearts no matter what the soil condition is.

1 Timothy 2:1 NASB95

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,

Recently I saw an old Unsolved Mystery rerun where a man had an experience that changed his life. He was obviously the hard path. His heart was closed to all things relating to God. He was a confirmed atheist. His said he was mean and angry all the time to his family and co-workers. But one day on vacation he was checking out of his hotel and he was gripped by terrible pain. He was rushed to the hospital where they determined his small intestine had ruptured. He was in real bad shape and was dying. They doctors did not hold out much chance for him. During this time, he had what he calls a near death experience. I am not going to go into all the details, however it was an experience of hell. In the course of this, he saw himself as a little boy sitting singing “Jesus Loves Me” and he cried out to God to save him. He suddenly awoke and sat up. The doctors were astounded and when they examined him, they found his infection had abated and he was better. He said his life changed from that day forward. He has lived a life with God ever since. His entire family is amazed by the change. Watching that I could not help but feel that there was someone in his life that was praying for him. In answer to those prayers, God gave this man a Scrooge experience in seeing where he was headed that he may be saved.

Conclusion:

Conclusion:

If we are to cultivate the soil of those living in our community, we have to interact with them. We have to pray for them. We need to take action showing God’s love, acceptance, mercy and grace. When we have our eyes on the right prize (God Himself), we can help others recognize when their sites are on the wrong things.

Isaac Watts wrote a hymn that was so profound, that Charles Wesley who wrote that he would give all the hymns he had ever written (6500) to have written this one. The hymn goes like this:

When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God! All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Stand with me as we sing this special hymn as our benediction this morning.

Close with prayer