January 16, 2014
Pastor Greg
Luke 8
We have all lost things- God
loses things to (people that want to grow spiritually) - hunger for the word is
good for you.
The most famous of Jesus parables
about spiritual growth.
It's up to us if we want to grow,
not God's choice, he gives us that choice.
Philippians 2:12 (NKJV)
Therefore, my beloved, as you
have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my
absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
You have to be filled with the
Holy Spirit like a car needs to filled, meaning constant.
Luke 8:4-15 NKJV
[4] And when a great multitude
had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable:
[5] "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the
wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. [6]
Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it
lacked moisture. [7] And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with
it and choked it. [8] But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a
crop a hundredfold." When He had said these things He cried, "He who
has ears to hear, let him hear!" [9] Then His disciples asked Him, saying,
"What does this parable mean?" [10] And He said, "To you it has
been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is
given in parables, that 'Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not
understand.' [11] "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
[12] Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes
away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. [13]
But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with
joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation
fall away. [14] Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they
have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life,
and bring no fruit to maturity. [15] But the ones that fell on the good ground
are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and
bear fruit with patience.
It would appear that only one out
of four of these seeds make it.
As evangelist we are to try and
reach as many as we can. It's the Holy Spirits job to fill them with God, not
ours.
1 John 2:19 (NKJV)
They went out from us, but they
were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us;
but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of
us.
A prodigal will stray and then
come home.
People that go and never come
back, we're they ever really a Christian.
John 3:1 (NKJV)
There was a man of the Pharisees
named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
Judas Iscariot was a follower
when Nicodemus was not.
John 19:39 (NKJV)
And Nicodemus, who at first came
to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a
hundred pounds.
Category 1: Highway Hearers
Luke 8:11-12 (NKJV)
"Now the parable is this:
The seed is the word of God. [12] Those by the wayside are the ones who hear;
then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they
should believe and be saved.
Like a seagull picking up your
crumbs.
Notice the devil comes,
2 Corinthians 4:4 (NKJV)
whose minds the god of this age
has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of
Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
Satan blinds them, binds them and
then grinds them.
There are those that act like
they don't want to hear but do want to.
Category 2: Rocky Road Hearers
Luke 8:13 (NKJV)
But the ones on the rock are
those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root,
who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.
These are the "I tried the
whole Christianity thing" people.
These can be described as the
impulsive people. Try it for a while and give up or move on.
1. It is possible that they built
their faith on the wrong foundation.
2. Persecution comes.
Matthew 13:21 (NKJV)
yet he has no root in himself,
but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises
because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
2 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV)
Yes, and all who desire to live
godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
If you are never persecuted are
you a Godly person???
3. The cost of discipleship.
John 6:66-68 (NKJV)
From that time many of His
disciples went back and walked with Him no more. [67] Then Jesus said to the
twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" [68] But Simon Peter answered
Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
4. Just unbelief sets in.
Category 3: Choked out by Cares
Luke 8:14 (NKJV)
Now the ones that fell among
thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares,
riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
It's not wrong to care for
yourself, it's wrong if that's all you do.
Philemon 1:23-24 (NKJV)
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in
Christ Jesus, greets you, [24] as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow
laborers.
2 Timothy 4:10 (NKJV)
for Demas has forsaken me, having
loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica-Crescens for
Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.
Demas loved things of the world
A "thorn" or
"weed" is anything that crowds Jesus out. It can be a good or bad
thing.
Job 14:5 (NKJV)
Since his days are determined,
The number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he
cannot pass.
Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV)
"Do not lay up for
yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves
break in and steal; [20] but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where
neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
[21] For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
This is not having possessions,
this is possessions having you.
God created us to love people and
use things, not have things use people.
Luke 18:22 (NKJV)
So when Jesus heard these things,
He said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and
distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow
Me."
He said that to the Rich Young
Ruler because he was obsessed by his possessions.
1 Timothy 6:17-18 (NKJV)
Command those who are rich in
this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the
living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. [18] Let them do good,
that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,
Do your giving while your living;
then you will be owning where you are going.
Category 4: Fruitful Hearers
Luke 8:15 (NKJV)
But the ones that fell on the
good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart,
keep it and bear fruit with patience.
We should hope to be in this
category.
Many many do not listen.
When your life depends on
something you listen.
Luke 12:48 (NKJV)
But he who did not know, yet
committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone
to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has
been committed, of him they will ask the more.
Like coming here to church is a
great thing, but it adds to your responsibility.
Meditate means to chew and take
it in. We want to bring forth fruit.
John 15:16 (NKJV)
You did not choose Me, but I
chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your
fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give
you.
Which of the four are you?
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