Four Types Of Hearers

^"Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” Mark 4:8

Have you learned more by asking or by listening?

Before Jesus told the Parable of the Sower he emphasized, "Listen!" And again, when He ended it He said, "Listen!"

Actually, He said, "He who has ears to hear let him hear." In other words, "Listen!"

The parable is about listening, or at least hearing, the message of the Gospel. Jesus identifies four different types of hearers.

First is the Egocentric Hearer as represented by the seed that fell on the path.

This person listens to hear what he wants to hear or for what sounds good to him and dismisses anything else. Ignoring or dismissing truth will harden your heart.

Second is the Emergency Hearer as represented by the rocky soil.

The emergency hearer usually begins listening when things get rocky or painful in his and life. But because he only wants relief but not the responsibility of a relationship he fails to grow roots to sustain him.

Third is the Emotional Hearer as illustrated by the thorny soil.

An emotional hearer listens and learns but falls in love the feeling rather getting grounded in faith. So when the trials of life begin to pressure him and the emotions turn from good to bad his faith wanes.

Finally is the Effective Hearer as represented by the good soil that produced a bountiful harvest.

An effective hearer listens to the Word, he learns the Word, loves the Word and most importantly - he lives the Word. Because he lives the Word it affects other lives through him.

Jesus identifies four types of hearers.

One of those four is you. 

Which is it?

What will you do about it?

March 20, 2019

"Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” Mark 4:1-9

As someone who has been married for over 30 years, I know the importance of listening to my wife, Barbara.

I discovered early and painfully the difference between hearing her and listening to her. It is the one area where I find the most trouble. If she senses that I didn't pay attention to what she told me she will ask, "What did I just say?"

I'd better give her that right answer when she asks or she gets her feelings hurt and I get in trouble.

Failing to listen to Jesus is a sure prescription for disaster as well.

In this part of Mark's Gospel Jesus begins His parable by saying, "Listen!" and ending the portion by again saying, "He who has ears to hear, let them hear!"

Parables were Jesus' favorite and most effective way to teach. In this parable of the sower He is teaching us that there are four types of listeners. And we also discover that hearing happens with the heart, not just the ears.

Over the next several posts I want to explore those four types of "hearing hearts" but this evening I want to call you attention to how Jesus addressed the audience assembled on the lake shore that day. And according to Mark's account it was a large crowd.

Those familiar with this area where Jesus did this teaching tell us the rocks that line the shore are positioned like church pews. Behind those rows of boulders are steep banks that rise above the level of the lake. That combination of terrain made an ideal amphitheater. When you consider that Jesus was in a boat on the water several yards from the shore speaking over the water, he had perfect acoustics for being clearly heard by anyone who was present that day.

So when Jesus began His teaching by saying, "Listen" He had no doubt that everyone could hear Him clearly. He wasn't so sure everyone who was hearing was really listening.

Jesus knows how to position Himself in your life so you can hear Him when He speaks to you. But you must position your heart so you will listen.

Will you listen to God today? 

Will you open your heart to hear what He will say to you? 

He will be speaking! 

I hope you're listening!

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22

  

March 19, 2018

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." I John 4:10

One way the need for significance manifests itself in 2018 is the phenomenon known as "social networking". Millions are texting or tweeting or posting on Facebook. Essentially, they are saying, "Notice me!" or "Let me know I matter!" or "Make me feel significant!"

The more friends you have or the more tweets you get the more accepted you feel. you want to be known and know you matter. I contend that the wild popularity of these social networks is fueled by the fear of not mattering.

I am sure God is beyond fear, BUT if He would have a fear I believe it would be the fear that He would not matter to us. He needs for you to recognize His significance. It is in your best interest as well as His.

So, God texted you! Yes, He did! He sent His Commandments through His servant, Moses! He made it clear what matters to Him. He showed you what should matter to you!

Next, God tweeted us! Through His Prophets and His Patriarchs He inspired the great Scriptures of the Old Testament to let us know what He was doing and what He was planning to do in the future. He did not want you to miss what He was doing in our behalf.

Finally, He posted on Facebook! Yes, He did! He sent His Son, Jesus - the God-man - to allow you to get a look at His profile. He wanted us to know what He looks like and what He loves. By posting His picture in the portrait of Jesus, God revealed His nature and His heart. He wanted to know you and to be known by you!

One way you can know you are significant to God is to understand through Scripture just how badly He wants to matter to you! He is the One Who created you and is the only One Who can recreate you into His image!

When you decide to let God know how much He matters to you, then you will begin to understand how much you matter to Him.

March 18, 2018

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

When a perfect storm blows into your life your stress level goes through the roof and anxiety tries to take you hostage.

I call your attention to the first five words of this verse "AND THE PEACE OF GOD"! Your first defense against anxiety is not you trying to muster up some peace of mind but it is God downloading HIS peace into your heart, mind and spirit. This peace is HIS personal peace and in fact, it is His Person - the Holy Spirit!

The original language gives us encouraging insights into God's personal and powerful peace. Here is the breakdown of those words:

“huperecho” = compound word “huper” (Over, above, beyond) and “echo” (I have, I possess) = Literally – God’s peace is so above, so superior, so elevated, so excellent that no one peace can be compared to it, nothing else is even close!

GOD’S PEACE IS BIGGER THAN LIFE!

“nous” = “mind” but not just in terms of where you think or reason or remember but also the center of your emotion and will! Today we might call it your core or the center of your being.

GOD’S PEACE CAN CONTROL YOUR CONTROL CENTER!

“phroureo” = soldiers, sentries, security detail who stand guard constantly and continually over the entrance to your control center.

So, literally translated Philippians 4:7 goes like this, “And the peace of God – a peace that is so wonderful that is cannot be compared to any other known type of peace; a peace that stands in a category by itself rising far above and goes beyond anything the human mind could ever think, reason, imagine or produce by itself – will stand at the entrance of your heart and mind, working like a guard to control, monitor, and screen everything that tries to gain access to your mind, heart and emotions”

GOD’S PEACE BECOMES YOUR PEACE!

HOW OFTEN DO YOU THINK GOD WORRIES OR GETS ANXIOUS?

DON'T YOU THINK HIS PEACE CAN KEEP YOU FROM BECOMING ANXIOUS?

March 17, 2018

Do you recognize the image in the picture above?

That is the "No-Name" hurricane of Halloween 1991. It was not given a name so as to not confuse it with a previously named storm, Hurricane Grace. Grace was weakening as it moved north up the U. S. coast and it was absorbed by a powerful nor'easter off of the coast of Canada. A deep low pressure system swallowed up by a deeper and stronger low pressure system created what was called "The Perfect Storm" and it wreaked havoc from Nova Scotia all the way down to Puerto Rico claiming 13 lives and doing an estimated $200 million dollars in damage.

The photo above is what the storm looked like from a satellite in earth orbit. It looked much different for those unfortunate enough to be caught out on the Atlantic in record high waves. One wave measured 100.7 feet high and it was such a wave that swamped the fishing vessel Andrea Gail killing the crew of six.

I have been through a few times in my life when I felt like the Andrea Gail caught in the perfect storm. Tossed about on raging waves of several devastating life events rolling in at the same time.

A struggling marriage complicated by overwhelming financial pressures intensified by the loss of your job. Or, a devastating health diagnosis following the news your teenager was caught with drugs at school on the heals of your car blowing an engine. Trouble comes in waves at times and forms the perfect storm that threatens to take you under.

Is there any hope for surviving such a when it blows into your life?

Paul thought so. In fact, he knew so because he had survived several shipwrecks on the stormy Mediterranean Sea. Once he was in a fierce storm on rolling seas and torrents of rain for two weeks without relief. Another time he was on the sea clinging to broken timber from his wrecked ship for a day and a half.

In those anxious and stress filled moments, Paul learned some life lessons or, should I say eternal life lessons. He learned that the God to Whom he had surrendered his life not only was well able to control his life but also well able to calm the storm. And before His God stilled the storm around him He first quieted the storm within him.

So when Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "No temptation(trial) has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted (tried, tested) beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, (tried, tested) he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." I Corinthians 10:13 he had learned from harrowing experiences that the God Who controlled him also had control of the storm!

And when he declared, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 he had been through some storms and learned that a good God has the power to make a super storm into a stepping stone!

After enduring beatings and stoning and shipwrecks and storms and snake bites and imprisonments and betrayals and abandonment and now chained to a Roman guard awaiting execution Paul was able to rise above the storm of doubt, defeat and despair to testify "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

Do you know that peace?

Have you surrendered control of your life to the God Who controls the storm?

And while the storm rages around you tossing and threatening will you ask Him to still the storm within you until He chooses to calm the storm around you?

As The Storm Clouds Gather...

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

When you promise something as significant as the peace that comes from God, the peace that only He can give, you had better know what you are talking about.

Assuring people that they can experience a supernatural level of peace in the midst of painful experiences would be extremely cruel if it cannot be proven in actual seasons of suffering.

Here are two more powerful and precious promises that Paul gave to the Christians at Corinth and at Rome.

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[ beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." I Corinthians 10:13

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Both of these promises testify to the faithfulness of God in times of struggle and suffering. They also confirm the fact that God was in control of his life when his life seemed out of control.

He makes two confident statements about God's involvement in his trials:

1) God knew the limits of Paul's strength and endurance when He permitted the evil one to test him and made sure the trials never tested him beyond those limits.

2) God has the sovereign power to turn the painful experiences of life into positive outcomes!

How could Paul make these bold claims with such confidence? How did he know about God's supernatural peace? How did was he so sure of God's power and sovereignty? 

The answer to each of those questions  is rooted in the personal life experiences the Apostle Paul had had. Paul had faced perils and painful suffering and opposition as he led the Church during chaotic days. And each time he experienced God's presence and power. And each time he discovered God was true to His promises. God is, indeed, sovereign and gracious!

Here is Paul's testimony of his sufferings:

"I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones,three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.  Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches." II Corinthians 11:23-28 

God is in control of everyone of your storms as He was with Paul. He won't allow it to storm until you are equipped to weather it, just as He did with Paul. 

He will control the intensity of the storm so you can survive it and it will strengthen you, just as He did with Paul. He will come to you in the storm and bring His peace, just as He did with Paul.

Believe it as the storm clouds gather.

March 15, 2018

"If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

Storms are frightening because they are powerful, destructive and far beyond your control. As a result you feel powerless and out of control. And in fact, you are!

When you are in the midst of a storm all you want is to get out of the storm immediately or as soon as possible. You are looking for a path out of the storm.

In this verse, the Apostle Paul, writing to the Christians at Philippi offers a path to peace. Notice, he doesn't offer a path out of the storm but a path to peace while you are in the storm!

What is that path to peace you may be wondering?

It is found in the previous verse:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

A path requires steps. The steps are clearly laid out for you!

1) Choose not to be overcome by anxiety

Jesus said to his anxious disciples, "Let not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me."

Feelings of fear or anxiety may not be a choice, but giving in to them is! Paul says, "Choose prayer over despair!"

2) In every situation choose not to be anxious

If you can choose not to give into anxiety once, you can choose not to every time! 

I've heard it said that if you do something consciously three times it becomes a habit! Worrying and fretting is a habit so why couldn't faith become a habit?

3) Choose prayer over despair

When you begin to feel anxious or fearful or out of control, choose to cast your anxiety on Christ! How? Through prayer!

How do I pray?

A simple way to remember prayer is the ACTS of prayer!

Adoration - begin by praising and worshiping God as you come into His presence

Confession - come into alignment with God by confessing the sins His Spirit convicts you of.

Thanksgiving - express gratitude to God for Who He is, for what He has done in your life, and for what He longs to do as you trust Him and allow Him His way with you!

Supplication - once you have aligned your heart, mind and spirit with God, you will know what to ask God for and how to ask Him! The key to supplication is to ask specifically! When you ask specifically you will recognize when God has answered your prayer and be encouraged!

The first step down the path to peace begins with a decision to prayer over despair!

Will you choose the path of panic or the path of prayer today?