"Take Care, Now That You Know."

Intro

Last week, we unlocked the parable of the sower.

What is the soil condition of the your heart?

We want to be a person who receives the word of God and lives out His truth.

Jesus called this lifestyle producing “fruit”

UT - “God provides every human being with direction to live a fruitful life, but He does not force His creation to listen.”

Smoking became prevalent in the 1700’s. Medical studies in the 1950’s and 60’s confirmed that cigarettes are unhealthy. (I remember the day I found out that the potato was unhealthy.)

- At some point, our knowledge removes the excuse that we are ignorant.

We read of this idea in . 18 “Therefore take care that you listen.”

The followers of Jesus must let the light that is in the them shine forth in the world.

There is a need for faithful obedience to the word of God.

Jesus told us to listen to this crucial teaching for a reason. His teaching forces His hearers and us as readers to answer 3 crucial questions.

How we respond to each question determines everything about our future.

1. Am I Willing to “Obey” God’s Word? (v. 16)

If you are, you will sacrifice your opinions, habits, and life methods.

Jesus uses the metaphor of light to explain revelation.

Revelation - 1. General. 2. Special

Revelation is not meant for us to keep this message to ourselves.

God speaks in order for hearts to change.

You are not ashamed of who you are.

I’m not ashamed anymore to say that I a a fan of professional wrestling.

In , we understand that the day one is saved by Jesus Christ, they are changed. If you aren’t changed, you either haven’t actually met him or simply rejected Him.

In Christ there is no East or West, In him no South or North, But one great fellowship of love Throughout the whole wide earth. In him shall true hearts everywhere Their high communion find,

In him no South or North,

But one great fellowship of love

Throughout the whole wide earth.

In him shall true hearts everywhere

Their high communion find,

His service is the golden cord

Close-binding all mankind.

Join hands, then, brother of the faith,

Whate’er your race may be!

Who serves my Father as a son

Is surely kin to me.

In Christ now meet both East and West,

In him meet South and North,

All Christly souls are one in him,

Throughout the whole wide earth.

2. Am I Willing to “Share” God’s Word? (v. 17-18)

Christianity, in its very nature is meant to be seen and heard.

We are to share our new identity with Christ through words and action.

Light exposes the truth. All truth will be revealed in the future.

Show your true colors. Don’t keep your witness a secret.

Financial advisors don’t advise people to simply put their $ in savings.

God’s Word, when recieved is intended to multiply over time.

If you’re willing, you must be willing to sacrifice earthly opportunities & your reputation with other people. Why? So that you can gain righteousness and be in position to live for the opportunities that God has for you.

3. Am I Willing to “Live” God’s Word? (v. 19-21)

In Jewish culture, the family had the strongest claim on a person’s loyalty.

Jesus taught that there is a loyalty which surpasses all earthly loyalties.

“Scripture, you will argue, bids us to obey our parents . Yes, but whoso loves them more than Christ loses his own sword.” - Jerome

Jesus called fisherman from their families.

If you’re willing, you will sacrifice all other relationships.

We are called to His kingdom.

The kingdom of God is a society upon earth where God’s will is as perfectly done as it is in Heaven. - William Barclay.

We get to choose if we are in or out.