Measuring Maturity: How Do You Hear the Message?

Series Intro:

Often when we speak about GOD’s people, the first designation we mention is the term “church”. While church is appropriate in its context, we need to recognize that Jesus, John the Baptist, and even the apostles spoke more about the Kingdom of GOD being at hand. It was a message about the rule and reign of GOD in the hearts of humanity, if they became a subject of his Kingdom. I do believe that those in the body, are in the church, are in the house, and are in the Kingdom. However I believe it is important for us to understand what Jesus said about the nature and extreme importance of GOD’s kingdom. Therefore this next series will address Kingdom Principles, which will cover some foundational content about the rule of GOD in the heart of humanity who does his will. Understand that Jesus in spoke about the Kingdom in parables. These parables are similarities, in which a truth about a known field is used to illustrate a truth in the message of Jesus.

The benefit we have and Jesus’ close disciples had is that Jesus explains the meaning of this first parable. Disclaimer: It is not dealing with evangelism as some have asserted, rather it deals with how to hear the message of GOD (his kingdom) properly. Furthermore, it addresses the results in the heart and life of one who hears or doesn’t hear properly. More specifically, if one is growing or desires to grow, it depends on how that person is hearing the message of GOD. Likewise, if a person is not growing or doesn’t care to according to the nature of the word, it is a result of how one is listening to the message. Whatever state of Kingdom maturity we have, it is driven by one of these four heart conditions.

Sower = preacher/teacher; seed = Kingdom message; soil = man’s heart.

Sin-filled Pride

The first condition Jesus mentions is seed sown by the path and resulting in birds eating the seed. This illustrates that one is hearing or listening to the message of the Kingdom, but the problem is that they are not understanding. The term understand is in the active voice. So the issue is not with the ability to understand, rather with the intent and will to understand. Many have heard there’s a difference between hearing and listening, well this addresses the difference between active listening and passive listening. Active listening is listening with the intent to understand and learn the content being communicated. Passive listening is listening to only hear. Since understanding is a matter of the heart or mind, this means the message of the Kingdom never penetrates ones heart. Notice too that the message is not just the mention of the Kingdom, but applies to all aspects of the Kingdom. i.e. The king, his rule, matters of the kingdom, subjects and their roles and responsibilities, purpose, etc. Since this message lies on the surface of ones heart never penetrating it, the message is open for the devil to reach through ones ears and easily grab away all that has been communicated.

Application: This is not only applicable to those outside of the Kingdom, but in the Kingdom as well. What could cause a persons heart to become so hard and dull? The biggest causes are pride and sin! (; ). Jesus describes these sorts of people further in verse 15, saying that their hearts have grown dull, fat, hard, or calloused… Jessyca and I have a 6-year old American Staffordshire/Terrier. After we first got her, she noticed a ground hog going thru a hole under the fence directly behind the house. Since then when she first runs into the yard, she has taken the same path from the patio to the fence. Over time it has created a hard path, and the grass no longer grows as before… It is likewise with our hearts. Are hearts are not hardened all at once, rather over time because of the delight of sin and self, the message of the Kingdom and all its attributes can’t penetrate.

Superficiality

The second condition is the seed scattered/sown on rocky soil. One of the first challenges is that from the surface, the soil seems fit. But rocky soil had rocks right under the surface. This person also hears, and to some degree might understand what’s communicated. Jesus notes that there’s an immediate response of joyful reception. There’s nothing bad about joy, in fact the word should always be received with joy and enthusiasm. But this heart has no space for steadfast longevity. The word penetrates but it is not able to reach down and a latch to the core of this persons soul. As a result, when life becomes pressed, and satan hunts us down through people because of the same message we happily received, the message is no longer as joyful. When the devil asks GOD to examine your loyalty to him, that’s too much to handle. So rather than considering trouble and harassment with the same joy, this heart immediately dismisses the message and all Christian development ceases.

Application: It is great to say “Amen” and shout with joy in acknowledging and accepting all of GOD’s message as true. But we must know that satan doesn’t want to see any of us excited about and firmly alleged to GOD’s kingdom. He wants to maintain his rule in our hearts. So he asks GOD over and over, and at opportune times to examine our loyalty. What are these rocks? It is superficiality. It is when we love to accept all the good GOD provides, but are completely unwilling to accept the evil GOD allows. When our hearts are this way, we’re not willing to mature to the level that the word of GOD is able and intends for our lives. As a result there’s only temporary development to maturity until we face hard times.

Preoccupation

The third condition is seed sown among thorns. This persons heart hears and again to some degree understands the message of the Kingdom and all its attributes. The word is even able to penetrate deep in this persons heart. The problem is that there is a root already alive and in effect at the soul. That root is worry. Jesus has already expounded on worry in . It is care and concern for something. Luke adds pleasures of this life. It is useless to have extreme care for things which we can’t control. And in essence, the things we extremely care about will control our lives. Well this root of worry, care, and anxiety has produced care thorns of the world and being wealthy and having an abundance of possessions. Overly concerned with the affairs of life: needs, wants, looks, opportunities, job, likes, being accepted, etc. Deceitfulness of riches, things that money promise but never deliver: happiness, stress free, importance, power, security, livelihood, etc. Nothing is wrong with the common concern for these things, rather it is when our hearts are so preoccupied by them that the message of GOD has no place to mature us above those things. (see )

Application: The message that brings life beyond this life, is limited because our devotion to the world. The word has its importance and is mainly alive on Sunday, but everything else is more important throughout the week… I’ve hunted since I was a young boy. I remember a time when I killed a rabbit, but it was under briars and thorns. Far worse than on a rose bush. As I reached down, I was cut multiple times on my hand. The harder I reached the more thorns snagged my clothes, and made it almost impossible for me to grab it. I could barely move forward. I couldn’t grab what I was reaching for… That’s the struggle the word is having in developing some people. The word is alive and powerful, but it is struggling to breathe life in some because these worries are constantly choking the life out of it.

Finally, Jesus mentions the good ground, which is the best ground. It is free from pride, superficiality, and preoccupation. This is the heart who is listening and listening to understand and genuinely apply in their everyday activity of life. And as they continue to do so, GOD does his divine work of causing that person to grow and become tremendously productive. Again, the 30, 60, and 100 fold of fruit is not referring to how many people one baptizes! It is describing the level of Kingdom fruitfulness in ones life.

How does one get to this point should be everyone’s question. Because I believe all of us have been and some may be in on of the first 3 conditions. And if we want to be productive and grow in GOD’s Kingdom, it will depend our heart condition in hearing all of GOD’s messaging.

Be humble and be humbled - That is the way to cure any areas of obstinate stubbornness. Deny yourself and surrender to GOD.

Sincere trust - If anyone is going to be steadfast during life’s problems, it takes trust in a being who knows and orchestrates your tomorrow. Know that the same word you rejoice in when heard, is the same message you can rejoice in life’s problems.

Be humble and be humbled

Faith

Loyalty - Everyone must make a choice on who and what their loyalty is going to be. Make every effort to replace loyalties and concerns about this life with meditating on things above. Commit your way to GOD. Pursue what Jesus says about the Kingdom and all matter of it.

Readiness and Keep it - Always yearn for the message. And then keep it, for the day, week, month, and year.