DO YOU HAVE THE HEART?

MF Blume
April 13, 1997 am


Luke 8:4-10 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. [Truths not given during Old Testament times only intended for those whose hearts could UNDERSTAND].

Luke 8:11-18 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. [if someone seems to have, then that one is faking something. This will be brought into the open].

I. THE CONTEXT

II. THE PARABLE

III. THE FIRST GROUP - THOSE WHO EVENTUALLY ABANDON CHURCH

LET US DEAL WITH THE FIRST GROUP AT THIS TIME

IV. NO RESPONSE

James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

When mentioning the creation of plant life, we see a special detail, out of all details of plant life God could have described. That detail is this:

Gen 1:11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

God did not want us to look at this and argue whether a pumpkin is a fruit or not (since it contains its seeds) but to notice something special about our relationship with Him! Jesus later picked up on that special picture in this parable.

Adam should have eaten the FRUIT of Life and received a SEED which would GROW in His heart. God's Word in His heart. And a life to be lived forth in beauty. THAT would begin the TRUE Garden of Eden. A person's heart fruitful with the fruit of the Spirit from God.

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 Pet 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Speaking of CHARITY (love)...

1 Cor 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.

GIVE ALL YOUR HEART.

Mat 13:45-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Unimaginable LOVE!

Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Luke 8:10 - "hearing they might not understand."

TAKE HEED HOW YE HEAR

Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.