Take Heed How You Hear

This title comes from Luke 8:18 and is spoken by Jesus of his parables. What was he saying?

Read Luke 8:1-25

v. 4 -We see Jesus telling a parable (story with a meaning that may be hidden) to the crowd that gathered around

In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 4, where it also records this parable, Jesus said that understanding this parable is key to understanding all the other parables he taught.

Luke 8:9 KJV 1900

9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?

When we don’t understand something, ask. God wants to see if where our heart is at, where are our desires?

Matthew 7:7 KJV 1900

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

We are Responsible for the Condition of our Heart

v. 10 -Why were only his disciples given the explanation to the parable? Matthews account makes it clear.

Matthew 13:14–15 KJV 1900

14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

The people had hearts that were not able to receive the seed of the truth, so Jesus didn’t bother even telling them

v.11 -the beginning of Jesus explanation of the parable

The good seed is the word of God

The ground is the condition of our heart

Our mind is what gives access to the sowers and the seed. It usually comes in through our eyes or ears.

There are 4 Types of Soil

The ground next to the road

The seed is not buried but is out in the open, easily accessible to the devil to steal it

Stony ground

It isn’t deep, there is no place for the roots to get nutrients and water

Thorny ground

Cares

Riches

Pleasures of life

There are two types of sowers and two types of seed

Today, how is the good seed being planted into people’s hearts?

The Kingdom is based on faith on God’s promises

We could say that the seed represents the promises of God

Faith in God is from a heart that trusts God

Hebrews 11:6 KJV 1900

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

We may not think about it, but here we see thorns were also sown

Today, how is the bad seed sown into people’s hearts?

The Kingdom of Satan is based on fear & pride

Fear is faith in what the devil can do -steal, kill & destroy

In Rev. 21:8, the first two descriptions of those cast in the lake of fire for eternal punishment are fearful & unbelieving

4. Good Ground

A. Honest & good heart

B. Keep the word -hold fast, cling

Keeping the seed in the ground = Holding to God’s promise by faith -staying in faith

If we grow weary in faith and doubt God, it is like digging up the seed

It takes time for a seed to sprout, grow up and produce more seed

See the word “patience”? We like microwave results, but God’s M.O. (mode of operation) involves seasons which takes time

Hebrews 6:12 KJV 1900

12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

James 1:3–4 KJV 1900

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Parable of the Candle

verse 16 & 17 -In the same way that a candle that is lit will be placed in a prominent place so all may see the light, every seed planted in our heart will grow up and bear fruit for all to see

Take Heed How You Hear

How are you listening? What filter is in your mind? On what do you place value?

Is God’s word, his supernatural promises filtering what you hear?

Or does our natural mind filter what God is saying to us?

It isn’t just how we hear, but also being careful what we hear & receive, because

Mark 4:24 does say "take heed what you hear”. We can’t expect to constantly be exposed to evil or negativity without it having an affect on us.

Who are some of the most influential people that try to control how we hear?

Popular News Media are Today’s False Prophets

There is an agenda of fear and control

The tell us who or what to trust

Government -as long as the leader hates Trump and supports the BLM organization

CA -thousands of people protesting are ok, but singing in church is illegal

The leaders of BLM admitted on video in 2015 that they are trained Marxists -meaning they followed Karl Marx who wrote the Communist Manifesto. A Marxist doesn’t believe in God and believes socialism and finally communism is the best way for a country to operate!

They along with the media have convinced most people that saying, All lives matter, is racist. They told you how to think.

Academia -those who are highly educated

They are anti Christian

They have successfully indoctrinated millions of young people that socialism is the answer to our problems.

Millions of people are going to die from the virus, people must stay home in order to be safe.

NIH, WHO, FDA and other government agencies

There is no solution for the virus until a vaccine is available…Really?

The NIH, who Dr. Fauci works for, had a study done and the paper published in 2005 that said Chloroquine is effective against the SARS-CoV in their lab tests. Why didn’t they do the same research as other doctors around the world and confirm that it has good results? Instead they called it anecdotal (based on or consisting of reports or observations of usually unscientific observers). But at the same time they recommended ventilators -which was also anecdotal! Again they told us how to think. They only want to rely on their own case studies

Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) has been used to treat malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, & lupus for decades, but it isn’t safe for those who have COVID or want to prevent serious health complications?

Dr. Zelenko -did his own research

Don’t drink the Cool-Aid. (Jim Jones -1970s) Think for yourself. Better yet, ask God to guide you into all truth.

Who is Sowing Seed in your Field?

How are you listening?

If you have the truth, more will be given, if you don’t have the truth, you will lose even the illusion of truth that appears to have.

v. 19-20 -the family of God consists of those who hear the word of God & act on it

v. 22-25 Jesus & the disciples take a boat across the sea of Galilee

Where is Your Faith?

That is such a deep question.

Is your faith in Jesus Christ? Have you made him Lord of your life?

What is God saying?

Are you in a position to hear?

Do you have peace to continue on? Then do -no fear.

Do you sense a need to make a change? Then do -no fear.