WEBVTT 00:00:19.359 --> 00:00:21.600 Turn your Bibles to the Gospel of Luke. 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:25.199 Remain standing, please, is an honor of reading God's Word. 00:00:25.359 --> 00:00:26.879 Luke chapter 8. 00:00:28.079 --> 00:00:33.759 Luke chapter 8, and we're going to be reading a portion of the passage we'll be looking at this morning. 00:00:33.920 --> 00:00:34.880 Luke chapter 8. 00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:39.759 We'll be reading in verse 4 through 8 the parable that Jesus gives. 00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:41.280 Parable of the sower. 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:53.600 Luke chapter 8, beginning in verse 4, and I'll be reading, and as you're listening, when a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were turning to him, he spoke by way of a parable. 00:00:54.000 --> 00:01:03.200 The sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air ate it up. 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:09.840 Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away because it had no moisture. 00:01:10.079 --> 00:01:14.879 Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up with it, and choked it out. 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:21.200 Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great. 00:01:21.439 --> 00:01:28.319 As he said these things, he would call out, He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 00:01:28.640 --> 00:01:30.400 Would you pray with me, please? 00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:35.920 Lord, I thank you for your word, and I thank you for the chance to praise you, to worship you. 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:40.400 And I pray that happen even now as we continue to honor you. 00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:42.959 Speak, your servants are listening. 00:01:43.200 --> 00:01:44.959 In Christ's name we pray. 00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:45.840 Amen. 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:46.480 Thank you. 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:47.920 Please be seated. 00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:58.000 As we're transitioning into chapter 8 of the Gospel of Luke, I hope that you're there with me. 00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:05.280 If you've got your Bibles with you, I wanted to emphasize this parable and what Jesus is doing as he's moving into it. 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:11.840 And there's a word that he uses a number of times, at least nine times, just within the few verses that we're going to read this morning. 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:14.240 The word is hear or hearing. 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:21.439 And as we are listening or as we're hearing, it's that idea of are we really getting what he is saying? 00:02:22.319 --> 00:02:27.199 I had so many thoughts kind of crammed into my head when I got to thinking about this. 00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:35.120 And maybe maybe it's because I was that kind of a teenager, or maybe because I've been around teenagers, or maybe it's because you've been around. 00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:43.199 But sometimes, and this may not even be a teenager thing, it may be a you and me thing, but sometimes people can talk to us, but we're not really listening. 00:02:43.919 --> 00:02:47.759 As a matter of fact, I think that some of you didn't even hear what I just said, so that's okay. 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:54.000 But isn't that isn't that what would what happens is you kind of kind of not really there, you're there, but you're not really there. 00:02:54.159 --> 00:02:55.439 Are you the kind of person now? 00:02:55.520 --> 00:03:07.840 I'm gonna start sounding like Jeff Foxworthy, but are you the kind of person that um when you're someone is talking to you, you spend more time thinking about what you're gonna say when they stop talking than actually listening to what they're saying? 00:03:08.080 --> 00:03:16.319 Can I can I get a can uh anybody uh raise their hands and just go ahead and just admit it or where the altar is open and we'll spend some time trying to figure all that out? 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:19.120 I may I admire the fact that you admit that. 00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:24.960 Uh, but it is a it's a tendency sometimes to not really listen, to not really hear. 00:03:25.120 --> 00:03:27.520 Now it's one thing to not hear what other people are saying. 00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:32.319 It's one thing to not be connected or to be receptive and to really get it. 00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:54.319 Uh one of the frustrations for me, and I I know that other people share this as well in in my circles as we're walking around and doing our thing thing, one of the frustrations is is you you pour your how your heart out and you uh try to be transparent and try to share your needs and what's going on in your life, and the other person starts talking and and you realize that they didn't hear a word you said. 00:03:54.479 --> 00:04:03.759 Their subject or their tone or whatever, it's almost like you didn't all they were doing is they were just waiting for you to stop talking and they just went about their own business that talked about their own thing. 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:22.000 I wonder though, when we talk about our relationships with each other and how we speak to one another, and by the way, the Bible has a lot to say about how we talk to one another, but I wonder sometimes when God speaks and he does, when his word is given and it is, I wonder sometimes how we listen. 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:24.240 I wonder sometimes how I listen. 00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:29.040 I wonder how many times, and I I this produces more shame than anything else. 00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:39.680 I wonder how many times I read a verse of Scripture, and this is inspired, inerrant, sufficient, necessary, clear, authoritative. 00:04:39.920 --> 00:04:47.759 It is without error, without mistake, and I just kind of let it go in one ear and out the other. 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:52.000 I just kind of it just kind of flitters through a little bit. 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:58.800 Well, what's happening in the Gospel of Luke in Luke chapter 8 is Jesus is going to continue his ministry. 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:04.959 He's about to make a transition from the northern region moving to on his way to Jerusalem, and it's not there yet, but he's about to. 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:14.879 And as he's getting to this point, we have a bit of a summary of how people are not really hearing the way that they are supposed to be hearing. 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:17.519 They're not listening the way they're supposed to be listening. 00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:26.639 And it doesn't take much for us to realize as we're reading this and thinking about this and kind of walking through it in the next few minutes, is that that really has to be our question as well. 00:05:26.800 --> 00:05:28.399 Do we do we really listen? 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:30.720 Do we really hear when God speaks? 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:36.399 Do we really have our creator, our our our maker, our sovereign, our king, our Lord? 00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:38.639 Do we have his best interests at heart? 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:41.519 Do we really want to hear what he is saying? 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:48.959 And unfortunately, Jesus is walking in a community and a people that many of them don't want to listen. 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:54.879 They don't want to hear, stiff-necked, stopped up their ears, not really matter, they think they're right. 00:05:54.959 --> 00:06:00.560 I know you've never met anybody like this, but uh they think they're right regardless of what the logic or the facts or what anyone else says. 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:10.720 They have this idea of the stubbornness, this obstinate, where they say, this is the way, this is what I want, and this is the way it's going to be, regardless of what anyone, especially what God says. 00:06:10.959 --> 00:06:16.639 This happened in the Old Testament, and now Jesus is going to refer to it here in a reference as he's giving this parable. 00:06:16.720 --> 00:06:17.839 So let's let's walk through it. 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:22.800 If you don't have your Bibles open, I don't know where you were about five minutes ago, but I hope you get them now. 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:28.240 And I want to go back and just look first about this hearing and receiving the word. 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:30.639 Hearing and receiving the word. 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:33.519 So this this is where he's going with it to begin with. 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:40.720 It's not just about listening, it's listening so that you can actually bring it into your life, that you can believe what he is saying. 00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:46.480 This is the end of the Sermon on the Plain when we talked about those who are foolish versus wise. 00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:51.519 The wise are those who hear and actually put it into practice, the foolish are those who don't. 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:56.160 So we as we go into this, understanding uh what he's talking about. 00:06:56.319 --> 00:07:00.800 Let's let's begin at the verse of the of the chapter, Luke, chapter eight, verse one. 00:07:01.199 --> 00:07:09.199 Soon afterwards, he began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:10.879 The twelve were with him. 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:30.959 And also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses, Mary, who was called Magdalene, and from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Husa, Herod Stewart and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their contributing to their support out of their private means. 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:33.839 So understanding that I I love the way he does this. 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:34.879 Luke is so detailed. 00:07:34.959 --> 00:07:35.279 The Dr. 00:07:35.439 --> 00:07:42.399 Luke, as he comes through, he's saying, now we've got this, we've got this transition statement, this summary of Jesus is not going to stay put. 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:47.920 He's already said he's got other places to go, he's got to proclaim the kingdom, he's got to be on the Father's mission. 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:48.959 He's he's going. 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:50.560 And he refers to these women. 00:07:50.639 --> 00:07:53.519 And it kind of prompts some questions as he's he's going through this. 00:07:53.680 --> 00:07:56.560 Well, wait a minute, what what does this have to do with anything? 00:07:57.279 --> 00:08:02.079 It has everything to do with it because Jesus is not a lone ranger in terms of just doing his own thing. 00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:06.480 He has a gathering, he has a crowd, he has followers, both men and women. 00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:13.279 And the the argument has been made over the generations, and I know that that you probably don't see this or agree with this, and that's very okay. 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:17.360 The argument has been that that the church suppresses or pushes down women. 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:24.879 Jesus Christ actually raised, elevated the role of women, and I think Luke is bringing that into the forefront for just a few moments. 00:08:25.040 --> 00:08:34.960 We understand that both men and women are created in the image of God, and at the cross, the the playing field is level, and we are neither male nor female, but we are all one in Jesus. 00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:39.279 All of that is happening here as they come together and they they follow Jesus. 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:45.120 But now we get to the passage, the parable itself, where he talks about this crowd coming together. 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:47.440 He's preaching, proclaiming the kingdom of God. 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:51.440 He tells the story, they all come together and they're listening. 00:08:51.600 --> 00:09:01.440 And then you scoot down to verse 9, and he says, it says, His disciples began questioning him as to what this parable meant. 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:08.320 They heard the words, didn't really understand, so they started to ask Jesus, What's going on? 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:09.840 And he explains it to them. 00:09:10.159 --> 00:09:19.039 Starting in verse 10, he says, And he said, and he said, To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God. 00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:28.240 But to the rest, it is in parables, so they seeing may not see, and hearing they may not understand. 00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:34.559 So this this is the context, and this is this is why all of this is significant, but just see where he's going with this. 00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:38.080 I'm gonna tell you a story, I'm gonna give you a picture, a word picture. 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:42.559 And as I'm giving you that story, there are some of you who aren't gonna care at all. 00:09:42.720 --> 00:09:44.720 You're not gonna listen, you're not gonna pay attention. 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:52.799 And just like in Isaiah from generations before, he's saying, Some of you aren't gonna hear this, they're not gonna get it, you're not gonna, you're not gonna understand what I'm saying. 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:56.639 But come back to the verse and look at the way he's put this in verse 10. 00:09:57.360 --> 00:10:03.120 To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God. 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:05.600 You get to know. 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:07.840 You get to be on the inside. 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:11.679 You get to know the revelation, you get to know the gospel, you get to know the truth. 00:10:11.840 --> 00:10:19.919 Back in verse 1, when he's saying they went and he was proclaiming the kingdom of God, he was preaching and proclaiming the mysteries, and not everyone is going to get it. 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:22.879 Some of them, some are gonna listen, but they're not really gonna hear. 00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:29.600 Some are gonna be right there, and you're gonna think that they're right with you and they're tracking as you go along, and you realize they didn't get a word of it. 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:34.240 They didn't get it, they didn't comprehend, they didn't compute, it just wasn't there. 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:40.240 Coming back to verse 10, he says, That's why I'm using the parables, the coming alongside. 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:42.159 That's why I'm telling the stories. 00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:46.000 So that not everyone is going to get this, but some of you will. 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:47.039 Not everyone. 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:51.200 Seeing they may not see, hearing they may not understand. 00:10:51.519 --> 00:11:07.360 Now, as we're reading this as children of the Lord, as we're reading this as followers of Jesus Christ, I I would hope and I would pray that our yearning, our urgency, our unction would be, boy, I want to hear. 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:08.879 I want to know. 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:19.759 I I don't want to presume, I don't want to assume, I don't want to take for granted, I don't want, I don't want to say, well, he's gotta love me, he doesn't have a choice, I'm gonna just do my own thing, and then when it's all over, I'll just ask forgiveness and everything will be fine. 00:11:19.840 --> 00:11:23.679 I I hope, I pray that we want to hear. 00:11:23.919 --> 00:11:25.519 We want to listen. 00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:31.600 We want him to speak, just as in Samuel as a little boy, speak, Lord, your servant is listening. 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:34.240 We want, we want to know what he's going to say. 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:37.279 We want to hear what he has to tell us. 00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:55.919 If for no other reason, because of our relationship with him, and there are many reasons, but if for no other, just because of our relationship with him, we trust him to know what is best, we trust him to know what is good, we trust him to take care of us, we trust him to guide us, to be our shepherd, to be our comforter, to be our physician. 00:11:56.080 --> 00:11:56.879 We trust him. 00:11:57.200 --> 00:11:59.039 And because of that, you go to verses like this. 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:06.159 He says, Not everyone's gonna get it, not everyone's gonna understand it, but I really, I really want to be one of those who hear and understand. 00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:09.200 So then he begins to explain the parable, verse 11. 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:13.039 The parable is this the seed is the word of God. 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:34.879 So he's got the imagery of the sower of the seed, broadcasting the seed everywhere, and then in verse 12, he says, Those beside the road are those who have heard, and when the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:44.480 You've got those who hear the word, and then when they hear it, verse 12, this is actually this is terrifying, verse 12. 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:54.399 They hear the word, but then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:56.399 There's been a lot of debate over these parables. 00:12:56.720 --> 00:12:58.559 It's the same parable in the other gospels. 00:12:58.720 --> 00:13:06.559 There's been a lot of debate about how to make analogies out of this, metaphor out of this, how to say, well, this soil represents this, this soil represents that. 00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:10.399 Be really careful about pushing into Scripture things that aren't there. 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:16.000 This, I believe, is very black and white in terms of there are two categories of people. 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:18.960 There are those who receive and those who do not. 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:23.120 And the first three soils are examples of those who do not receive. 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:25.840 This is not a this is not a gradual or gradation. 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:31.360 This is not where we say, well, I'm almost I'm almost there, I'm halfway there, I'm I'm three-fourths of the way there. 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:34.879 This is very much the first three soils saying, you didn't get it. 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:38.240 You saw but you didn't see, you heard, but you didn't hear, you didn't get it. 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:43.039 And as he's going through this, he's saying the first one, that's the word that was literally taken away. 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:46.960 It wasn't even it wasn't even there long enough to register. 00:13:47.360 --> 00:14:06.879 You you you see it in the in the stadiums where you've got the posters saying John 3.16 or are the are the billboards that say that Jesus loves you, and you drive down the street and you read the words again and again and again, and every time you hear it, you see it, you understand it, you could probably know it better than most who have have been in the church their whole life, but that isn't the point. 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:10.480 It hasn't registered because it's been stolen from you. 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:22.559 Just as the the farmer or the sower threw out the seed and it it got close to the ground, but the soil wasn't even there, it was just on the ground, and people would walk on it, and then birds would come and take it away. 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:24.080 You're not getting it. 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:29.600 Unfortunately, and I this is one of those where I I've got to be I've got to be truth and love. 00:14:30.320 --> 00:14:35.120 If you're in this category this morning, you're not listening to a word I'm saying. 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:44.320 I mean, you you're hearing me, and you're you're good people, and and you and I love that you're here, come back, but it's gone. 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:47.200 Conviction of sin doesn't register. 00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:49.440 Need for a savior, I'm okay. 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:51.840 Final judgment? 00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:53.440 What are you talking about? 00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:55.600 Because it's not there. 00:14:56.000 --> 00:15:04.639 It it's been given, but there's nothing to take root, there's nothing to get into the soil, there's nothing to make it applicable for us. 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:16.080 And so if you're in this category where the word is taken away, that's that's probably the most grievous because you don't even care enough or know enough to know how much you don't know and you don't care. 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:20.639 Now, Jesus, you gotta be careful. 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:27.759 Jesus isn't doing this to show how great we are and how terrible sinners are that haven't received him. 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:38.720 He's doing this to very simply put the point there will be those who hear and do not receive, and there will be those who hear and do receive. 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:42.000 So he goes to the second one, verse 13. 00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:45.039 It says, Those on the rocky soil. 00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:50.879 Those on the rocky soil are are those who, when they hear, they receive the word with joy. 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:51.279 Good. 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:52.559 So now we're receiving, good. 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:58.399 Receive the word with joy, and they have no firm root. 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:04.240 They believe for a while, and then in time, in the time of temptation, they fall away. 00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:05.519 Oh, okay. 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:07.360 It's not gonna take either. 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:14.240 Now it's better than the snatched away, it's better than the trampled on, it's better than not having it at all, but is it? 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:18.240 Because you received it, but you didn't really, you you got it, but you didn't really. 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:20.320 It began, but it didn't finish. 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:21.919 It didn't take root. 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:30.240 The rocky soil it it dried it up, it it there was none of moisture, there wasn't enough there to make it actually mean something. 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:36.799 And as soon as life got, well, frankly, life, you thought to yourself, well, this wasn't really what I thought it was anyway. 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:39.279 I I thought this Jesus would fix all my problems. 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:46.720 I thought He would be, he would be the cure all, and I could walk through life without any problems, without any issues, without any sin, without any suffering. 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:48.960 Obviously, he's not the way to go. 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:53.840 And I I must have been just an emotional moment where I just thought it was gonna be really good. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:56.480 Uh I just didn't, I just didn't know what I was doing. 00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:58.159 It was a it was a spur of the moment. 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:02.559 I was manipulated, I was shamed or whatever, and you just go on your merry way. 00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:05.039 The word withered. 00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:07.279 It had nothing there. 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:09.440 The word withered away. 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:12.640 You see, I I don't know which is worse, I'm not gonna deal. 00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:17.200 In your life groups, when you're going over these passages, I'd love for you to talk about that. 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:21.680 But either way, the the result is the same. 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:24.559 There's nothing there, there's no hope. 00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:35.519 You see, when in verse 1 again, when he says he began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God, don't read over that too quickly. 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:40.720 He's giving the answer, he's providing the mystery, he's showing us the way. 00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:46.240 And there are those who are going to hear that and it's not even going to register, it's gonna be taken away immediately. 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:56.720 And there are those who are gonna hear it and they're gonna think, This is great, I'm I'm excited, an emotional decision, but the emotion peters out, the temptations come and it's gone. 00:17:57.119 --> 00:17:58.079 Blows away. 00:17:58.559 --> 00:18:01.359 Third one, verse 14. 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:04.799 The seed which fell among the thorns. 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:15.039 These are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way, they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life and bring no fruit to maturity. 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:18.559 So this this sounds a little better than rocks. 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:21.519 So at least you got some moisture, so at least you're growing. 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:26.000 But then as you grow, you're choked. 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:28.319 You're you're you're strangled. 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:32.640 The things of this world, and I I I so appreciate the way he puts this. 00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:40.720 He says, Among the thorns on their way, they're choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life. 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:45.440 Worries, riches, and pleasures of this life. 00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:53.039 Tell me what category doesn't fit into one of those three worries, riches, and pleasures. 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:55.119 You ever worry about anything? 00:18:56.720 --> 00:19:01.279 You ever you ever be consumed with the bad stuff as well as the good stuff? 00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:06.240 Do you ever have something in your heart that shifts you away from the one true God? 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:08.319 The Bible calls that idolatry. 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:26.880 Do you ever have you ever an attitude of, well, I'm gonna use Jesus for a while, but then these other weeds, these other thorns start to grow up and they come alongside and they start to crowd out, they start to push in, and now all of a sudden it's not just about Jesus, it's about Jesus and fill in the blank. 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:39.839 It's not just about I wanna I want to follow Jesus with all of my heart, unless, of course, part of my heart needs to go to my career, or part of my heart needs to go to my family, or part of my heart needs to go to my bank account, whatever it is. 00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:44.960 You say I I I want to be all in as long as all in doesn't cost me anything. 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:51.039 As long as I'm not actually a disciple, next chapter, deny self, take up cross, follow him. 00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:57.519 Unless I have to do that, then I I don't know because you know I'm here for here, right? 00:19:57.759 --> 00:19:59.920 I'm here to live this life. 00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:02.400 Once again, I don't I don't know what's worse. 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:08.160 But either way, all three of the seeds, all three of the outcomes are gonna end the same way. 00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:15.440 They're gonna see, but not really see, they're gonna hear, but not really hear, they're not going to receive it, not the way that God wants them to receive it. 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:19.119 So those those forms of idolatry, whatever it is, it's gonna keep them. 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:21.119 But then then we have the good news. 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:24.880 We're not gonna end on the on the bad stuff, we're gonna end with the good stuff. 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:26.000 Verse 15. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:38.640 But the seed, but the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart and hold it fast and bear fruit with perseverance. 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:42.000 Now let's be real clear, just real quick. 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:47.920 He's not saying that you've got to do this to be saved. 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:50.799 We don't get the fruit before we get the root. 00:20:51.359 --> 00:20:56.799 He's not saying that that you've got to you've got to get all cleaned up before you can get caught. 00:20:57.039 --> 00:21:02.160 You've got to be all pure and holy and and good before Jesus can save you. 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:12.240 What he's saying is that when you receive this, when you truly believe this, what's really happening, when the word of God takes root, then it's going to produce fruit. 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:23.440 The good soil is going to grow up and it's going to produce a crop, but the reason that it's doing that is not because you're any different as a human being than the other three types of seed. 00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:29.039 The difference is that you are prepared both to receive and to believe. 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:30.720 Let me show you this real quick. 00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:31.920 John chapter 1. 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:37.599 If you've got your you're in your Bibles, go go to the go to the right a little bit, a few chapters to John chapter 1. 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:41.519 Let me just walk this through with you just for a moment and show you what he's talking about. 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:43.599 John chapter 1, verse 9. 00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:48.799 There was the true life. 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:51.440 This is talking about Jesus, the logos, the word of God. 00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:56.559 It says there was the true light which coming into the world enlightens every man. 00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:59.599 He was in the world, and the world was made through. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:02.400 Him, and the world did not know him. 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:08.079 He came to his own, and those who were his own did not receive him. 00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:20.559 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in his name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:23.440 And I'm gonna I'm gonna read it again just to make sure we're catching this. 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:24.319 Verse 9. 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:26.480 True light comes into the world. 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:28.000 Every man's enlightened. 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:29.039 Verse 10. 00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:31.759 He was in the world, but the world didn't know him. 00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:37.680 Even though he created the world, even though he was descending Emmanuel God with us, they didn't get it. 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:38.799 Verse 11. 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:40.559 He came to his own. 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:43.279 Those who were his own did not receive him. 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:46.480 That's exactly what we're walking through with Luke chapter 8. 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:51.839 They didn't receive him, they didn't agree, they didn't like, they didn't like, they didn't like what he was saying or the way he was saying it. 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:52.720 They were against him. 00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:54.000 Verse 12. 00:22:54.319 --> 00:23:01.039 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God. 00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:02.079 That's it. 00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:10.400 It isn't about you earning your salvation, it isn't about you doing the very best you can and hope at the end of the day that the scales are more good works than bad works. 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:14.640 It's not you trying to get to heaven in your own ability, in your own wisdom, and your own strength. 00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:22.480 It very much in verse 12, he gave the right to become children of God even to those who believe in his name. 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:24.480 That's how we come into him. 00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:31.680 Verse 13, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:45.200 Not according to someone's DNA, not according to our desires or our will, not even according to a popular opinion or our voting or our uh uh uh uh uh a consensus, but it's because of God. 00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:46.960 That's who saves us. 00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:50.000 Now come back to Luke chapter 8. 00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:54.640 That's the end of the parable, but that's not the end of the message. 00:23:54.880 --> 00:24:05.279 That's the end of explaining what Jesus is saying, but he's got a few little things that he's going to do to kind of clean it up, to make sure that we're getting this, that we're we're actually listening. 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:07.759 In verse 16. 00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:20.640 Now no one after lighting a camp a lamp covers it over with a container or puts it under a bed, but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:21.519 Hold on. 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:22.960 Wait, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute. 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:25.279 I thought we were talking about soil, now we're talking about lamps. 00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:32.480 I thought we were talking about seed, now we're talking about lighting things and putting beds on fire and and lampstands. 00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:33.920 I don't understand. 00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:35.440 Verse 17. 00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:44.000 For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything set secret that will not be known and come to light. 00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:46.799 So let's just consider a little bit of a transition. 00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:48.240 Let me read verse 18. 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:52.960 So take care how you listen. 00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:55.920 He who has ears to hear, listen. 00:24:56.160 --> 00:25:00.720 Now in verse 18, take care how you listen. 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:02.079 He's hit straight up. 00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:03.920 He's it says right at the heart. 00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:06.960 He's saying, I get it that not all of you are gonna receive this. 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:16.640 I get it that some of you are gonna be the three soils that aren't gonna receive, but those of you are receiving, those of you who are getting this, you've got to be careful about how you're getting this. 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:21.359 So go back up to verse 16 and 17, and let's kind of work our way into verse 18. 00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:22.880 How do we take care? 00:25:23.119 --> 00:25:25.119 Verse verback to verse 16. 00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:28.880 Now, no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container. 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:30.079 So that doesn't make sense. 00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:36.640 Why would you get a lot a lamp to light, to enlighten or to illuminate a room in the dark? 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:39.039 Why would you cover it up after you get it? 00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:42.480 And especially they lived on mattresses and that would be very flammable. 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:44.079 Why would you hide it under a bed? 00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:46.240 That makes no sense, verse 16. 00:25:46.400 --> 00:25:52.799 But he puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see the light. 00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:55.599 The very purpose of the lamp is the light. 00:25:55.759 --> 00:26:04.079 Now I understand that the imagery of lamp and light, especially in the Gospel of Matthew, has a little bit of a different twist, a different angle, but that's not where he's going with this one. 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:05.920 Listen to this, verse 17. 00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:14.559 For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:22.240 Nothing is hidden, or anything secret that will not be evident, will be known, will come to light. 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:26.240 Just a few verses earlier, we talked about the mysteries that are being known. 00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:27.119 Just go back up with me. 00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:28.640 I don't want to I don't want to make this up. 00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:29.680 I want you to see it. 00:26:29.920 --> 00:26:32.400 When he he talked about why didn't you get this? 00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:44.559 He says, I uh verse ten, to you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, hearing they may not understand. 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:47.519 We've been granted the mysteries of the kingdom of God. 00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:59.200 Now back to verse 17, for nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. 00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:01.759 You've got the hearing and the receiving. 00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:05.200 Now he's talking about hearing and heeding. 00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:10.079 Hearing and receiving, but now hearing and heeding. 00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:14.160 In other words, be careful how you listen to this. 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:17.039 Be careful how you respond to this. 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:18.480 Come back to verse 18. 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:30.799 So take care how you listen, for whoever has to him more shall be given, and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has has, shall be taken away from him. 00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:32.480 So here's the hard truth. 00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:34.400 Here's the rough truth. 00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:52.319 Jesus doesn't light the lamp, Jesus doesn't reveal the mystery, Jesus doesn't give you the truth and allow your heart, your soil, the seed to come into your heart, the word of God, so that you can know the truth, for you to go back in a corner and just cower and just be all on your own. 00:27:52.559 --> 00:28:03.440 He says the reason that I'm exposing all this is so that you'll be careful as you're listening to this to realize how first to apply it to yourself, and then how he wants you to apply it to everyone else. 00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:07.279 First, how you are to receive it, of course, how you receive it first. 00:28:07.440 --> 00:28:14.079 But just as on an airplane, when you take the oxygen mask, and I don't know if you've ever been in an airplane when you've actually had to use the oxygen mask. 00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:16.240 I'd like to hear your story, but not right now. 00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:23.200 But if you've been an airplane and they say put the oxygen mask on first before you help the child or someone else, it's the same thing here. 00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:24.960 It's put the oxygen on. 00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:29.839 Make sure that you've received it, that it's coming to you, that you know Jesus is your Savior. 00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:34.160 That's the message, that's the gospel, that's what Jesus is proclaiming, that's what he's preaching. 00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:40.720 But then he says, now when you get it, and you gotta get it, when you get it, don't just get it, give it. 00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:46.319 Don't just, don't just hide it away, don't just put it under a cover, don't just pretend that it doesn't matter. 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:47.599 It matters. 00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:54.160 It matters in how you speak to other people, it matters in how you engage in your business. 00:28:54.400 --> 00:29:00.000 It matters in how you live your life and you live your witness as a follower of Jesus Christ. 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:11.200 Because the word of God has permeated, has infiltrated, has gotten deep into your soul, and you know Jesus is your personal Savior and Lord, that word is going to start producing fruit. 00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:17.920 And as the light starts to shine, he says, You be careful, please, be careful, be careful how you listen. 00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:23.039 This, this, this, this dynamite, this power, this poison, whatever. 00:29:23.359 --> 00:29:25.519 So you take it and you you be careful. 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:27.200 You hold on to that. 00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:34.480 You make sure that you don't downplay it, you make sure that you don't put it in the wrong category, you make sure that it belongs where it belongs. 00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:54.799 And as it's coming to you, as you're talking to your neighbor who's over the fence crying and grieving over a tragedy in their life, the word of God has permeated your heart, and you realize, wait a minute, the God of all comfort, I can I can tell the same truth to them. 00:29:56.160 --> 00:30:05.279 As you're sitting in the classroom and you see some of your friends kind of look over as you're taking a test and thinking to yourself, I I could cheat just as easy as they can. 00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:09.200 I can get away with it probably better than they can, but but wait a minute. 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:11.839 Integrity, honesty, purity. 00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:14.079 I'm I'm supposed to live this out. 00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:17.359 And I'm supposed to help other people live this out. 00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:20.640 This one-anothering is a big deal. 00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:26.160 And receiving the word of God to hear it, we also have to be careful how we hear it. 00:30:26.319 --> 00:30:27.519 Let me show you an example. 00:30:27.680 --> 00:30:30.799 You you went to John, now go all the way to the book of Acts. 00:30:31.119 --> 00:30:33.599 Example of Paul, Acts chapter 26. 00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:37.519 This won't take about a second, but I really like the way that this plays out. 00:30:38.400 --> 00:30:47.279 Acts 26, one of the testimony times in the in the in the book of Acts where Paul is saying, This is what happened, and I hope it happens for you too. 00:30:47.599 --> 00:30:49.119 His conversion experience. 00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:51.519 Acts 26, verse 14. 00:30:56.160 --> 00:31:09.759 He's before Agrippa, and he's telling his story, and then he says, And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? 00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:12.640 It is hard for you to kick against the goads. 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:15.440 And I said, Who are you, Lord? 00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:20.640 And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:24.000 But get up and stand on your feet. 00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:56.960 For this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness, not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you, rescue rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the dominion of Satan to God, and they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in me. 00:31:57.119 --> 00:31:58.799 Are you catching what he's saying here? 00:31:59.039 --> 00:32:01.599 Paul, you're gonna it's gonna be it's gonna be rough. 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:07.200 I'm not gonna lie, this is gonna be hard, and they aren't gonna like you, and you're gonna be persecuted. 00:32:07.359 --> 00:32:09.839 You are really gonna be persecuted. 00:32:10.079 --> 00:32:14.480 But I want you to remember why you're going, because you received the word of God. 00:32:14.720 --> 00:32:17.119 Come back to verse 17. 00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:20.240 I'm gonna rescue you from the Jewish and the Gentile. 00:32:20.880 --> 00:32:22.000 Verse 18. 00:32:22.400 --> 00:32:41.839 But this is why you're there to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, and they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in me. 00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:48.000 Paul, you're not just supposed to just kind of walk through life and just do your own thing. 00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:49.519 You're not supposed to just exist. 00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:53.759 Paul, I rescued you so you could help me rescue other people. 00:32:54.319 --> 00:33:06.720 Paul, Paul, you're gonna be in the thick of it, but the reason you're in the thick of it is because the very same light that has shined in your heart and has created you as a new person, that's the same light I want other people to have too. 00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:08.880 And I want you to be a part of that mission. 00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:12.160 Can I tell you this is the best way to think about evangelism? 00:33:12.400 --> 00:33:17.440 It's not the shame and the guilt of, well, I better tell 23 people about Jesus or I'm letting God down. 00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:28.160 How about those people that are in my eyesight, those people that I'm locking eyes with, every one of them is a soul created in the image of God, and they need Jesus just as much as I do. 00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:35.680 And when my heart is hard or cold or indifferent, and brothers and sisters, it often is, ask God for help. 00:33:35.920 --> 00:33:41.440 The same God who calls you is the same God who provides for you, who equips you, who leads you. 00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:45.440 This is not a shame message, this is an empowerment, hopeful message. 00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:52.160 When you receive that seed and that that goes into the soil and things start to happen, you're gonna start seeing things differently. 00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:53.359 Your eyes are gonna be open. 00:33:53.599 --> 00:34:11.280 And as you engage with your siblings or your family members or your friends or your neighbors, coworkers and students in your classroom, all of a sudden, instead of worrying so much about what they think about you, you want to be real careful about how they think about their Savior and whether or not they know him or not. 00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:13.039 You don't have to be you don't have to be rude. 00:34:13.199 --> 00:34:13.920 Please don't be rude. 00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:15.920 You don't have to be mean, please don't be mean. 00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:17.199 Don't yell at them. 00:34:17.360 --> 00:34:18.880 They don't need to be yelled at. 00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:20.800 Just tell them the truth. 00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:24.559 Tell them that without Jesus, there is no forgiveness. 00:34:24.719 --> 00:34:26.559 There is no light. 00:34:27.199 --> 00:34:29.599 There is nothing without him. 00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:31.039 That's the point. 00:34:31.280 --> 00:34:32.480 All right, one more. 00:34:32.800 --> 00:34:34.719 Come back to the Gospel of Luke. 00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:44.079