The Secret Gardens of Our Hearts

8/4/2019 The Secret Gardens of Our Hearts

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THE SECRET GARDENS OF OUR HEARTS

The Parable of the Sower

Text: Luke 8:1-15 Mathew : 13 1-9 18-23 Isaiah 5: 1-10

1. Introduction

There are 3 keywords in this passage

i. The Sower ii. The seed iii. The soil

All 3 factors are needed to produce a crop

i. The Sower is the Preacher ii. The seed is God¶s word iii. The soil is your response!

Here the Bible does not say that the Sower planted the seeds one by one in descent rows. Rather he scatters them randomly. He doesn¶t¶ care where the seeds land. This reminds me of public

preaching of God¶s word. Of course the Pastor does not preach the word ignorantly, but neither he speaks to each person in the congregation individually. He is aware of the flock¶s spiritual,

physical and emotional needs and preaches to meet them.

What is being preached and how it¶s done is important. But even the most anointed messagecould fail depending on the recipient¶s attitude. So what kind of soil really are you?

The seed landed on 4 types of soil«

1. Some fell on the path. It was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up«, (v. 5)

2. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture«,v. 6)

3. Some fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants«, (v. 7)

4. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more thanwas sown. (v.8)

The meaning of the parable

1. People who listen but don¶t receive (The seed that fell on the path)

i. How receptive are you?

ii. The degree of your spiritual growth depends on how much you are willing receive.



iii. Reasons why a person becomes unreceptive

A. Spiritual pride B. Ignorance / laziness C. Unwilling to submit D. Procrastination (James

1:22-24--- 22

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.23

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his

face in a mirror

24

and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what helooks like.) E. Arrogance F. Fear G. Callused with Sin

iv. Growth terminates

iv. You never grow to be a child of God, because the seed is gone.

v. If there¶s any life within you it fades and ultimately you become empty

2. People who listen but don¶t root in the word (The seed that fell on the rocky

ground)

Represents one who reacts with shallow impulsiveness. Their response is purely emotional. Theyare very receptive to the Word, but have no depth of character upon which the word can take root

and grow. They have found it easy to become a Christian, but hard to remain one. The first signof trouble destroys the emotion and sentiment upon which the decision was based. When they

begin to suffer because of the word of God, they fall away. The word dies in their heart asquickly as it was made alive.

i. Too emotional

A. Overly sensitive B. Attends church to feel God

ii. Not interested in exercising the faith

A. Never move on to discipleship

B. No desire to serve others, lot of excuses (Proverbs 22:13) 13 The lazy man says, ³There

is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!´

iii. Such faith cannot last longer

A. Stumbles before the face of hardships and persecution.

B. Weak like a Banana tree, not strong as a bamboo stem.

3. Christians who compromise with the World (The seed that fell among thorn

bushes)



i. No true commitment

A. No backbone to stand for the truth.

B. Desire of the flesh and the will of the spirit cannot co-exist. One overcomes the other.

(Galatians 5:17)

17

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and theseare contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

C. Care of the world

D . Deceitfulness of riches. (matt 13:22 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he

who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word,and he becomes unfruitful.)

ii. Wrong priorities

A. Worries of life B. Chase after wealth

C. No relationship with Jesus D. Top priority is given for natural pleasures

4 "The Good Mature Christians" (The Fourth Soil)...

1. This soil represents the one who...

a. "hears the word and understands it" - Mt 13:23a

b. "indeed bears fruit and produces" - Mt 13:23b

c. Luke adds that he hears "the word with a noble and good heart", and then "keeps it and

bears fruit with patience" Lk 8:15

2. Those with "a noble and good heart", then, are the ones...

a. Who will understand the Word

b. Who will keep it, and with patience produce fruit in their lives!

3. Note the importance of "understanding" in relation to "bearing fruit"...

a. Jesus made the connection between the two in this parable - Mt 13:23

b. Paul connects the two when he writes of the gospel producing fruit among theColossians "since the day they heard (NASV says "understood") the grace of God in truth"

- Co 1:5-6 -- When one "understands", they will more likely "bear fruit"; but the key tounderstanding is having a "good and noble heart" that is willing to listen and learn!



5. And what kind of "fruit" will one bear? There are different kinds...

a. The fruit of winning souls to Christ - Ro 1:13

b. The fruit of practical holiness - Ro 6:22

c. The fruit of sharing material things - Ro 15:27

d. The fruit of the Spirit (i.e., a Christ-like character) - Ga 5:22-23

e. The fruit of good works - Co 1:10

f. The fruit of praise & thanksgiving - He 13:15

6. An important observation is that not all will bear the same amount...

a. "some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty" - Mt 13:23

b. As illustrated in The Parable of the Talents, some may be given more according to their

ability to use what God has given them - Mt 25:14-15

c. Whatever our ability, we should exercise it accordingly - cf. 1 Pe 4:10-11

4. Application

Luke 8:8 Says,

µWhen Jesus said this, he called out, ³He who has ears to hear, let him hear.´

Jesus said this several times, the book of Revelation uses the phrase 8 times. The phrase is a bell

ringer. It¶s a wake-up call. It¶s an urgent request to listen to God¶s word and do as he has said.Then you should ask µWhat must I do so that I can be that fruitful Christian«?¶

i. Start by changing your unreceptive attitude.

A. Learn to listen (Isaiah 6:9)

B. Your response to word has been like the seeds fell along the path.

C. But still you can change by making yourself receivable.

D. Submit your self to godly rebuke and confrontation (2 Timothy 4:1-4)

E. Don¶t let pride to prevent God¶s word from shaping your character.



F. Don¶t listen to enemy¶s whisper, that makes you feel offended about your Pastor¶s preaching.

G. Don¶t be ignorant. Non of us are perfect. Let the Holy Spirit to search you inside out.

ii. 2nd category? Let¶s root deeper

A. Grow up! Don¶t get carried away by emotions

B. Learn to forgive and forget

C. Don¶t feel satisfied by being a spectator

D. Get involved: Stop giving excuses why you can not get involved, Have a desire to serve

others on behalf of God

iii. Be teachable

A. Never make this mistake; µI know everything¶

B. Take part in regular Sunday service, fellowships, prayer cells. Let your faith be strengthen

C. These help you to become a Almond tree Christian instead of a Banana tree Christian.

iv. Stop compromising!!!!

A. Remember flesh and the spirit can not co-exist

B.Stop scratching your head and stop bargaining with sin.

C. You cannot cuddle sin, it will devour you one day.

C. Judgment is promised to those who compromise with the world

v. Don¶t be too late

A. Repent and ask God to forgive you

B. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you strength

C. Stay away from compromising situations

vi. Set your priorities

A. Let God be the top priority in your life (Matthew 6:24)

B. Don¶t let the worries of life to distract you (Luke 12:22-27)



C. Make a fresh commitment right now«!

vii. What if you are like the seed that fell on right soil?

A. Non of us are perfect, still you have to go on a long journey till you are graduated .

B. Therefore look out for snares of the enemy

C. Seek to grow in every possible situation (2 Timothy 4:5-6)

D. Don¶t seize to bear fruit

E. Let the Holy Spirit of God to shape you in every day of your life

F. Pray for those who haven¶t made it yet

Conclusion:

Can you be honest with yourself for just a few minutes? If you can, ask yourself

the following questions:

�What kind of soil is my heart?

�Have I become hardened to the things of God?

�Am I shallow in my commitment to Him and His work?

�Am I constantly distracted, burdened and defeated by sin and the cares of the

world?

�Am I bearing the kind of fruit I should be bearing?

Everyone here this morning knows where they stand with the Lord Jesus Christ. I

am asking you to be honest with yourself and with Him about what you need to do

this morning. If you need Him in salvation, in repentance, in rededication, in

anything, this altar is open for you. You come, if He is calling you!

The Secret Gardens of Our Hearts

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