The Sower Sows the Word Part 5
The Good Heart Hearer
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
I. The Sower Sows the Word
A. The Secret of the Kingdom of God
1. (Mark 4:3-20) Parable of the sower and the seed.
2. Key to the parable of the sower:
#1 We are the sowers.
#2 The Word of God is the seed.
#3 The four different types of ground (wayside, stony ground, among thorns, and good ground) are four conditions of the heart that affect how the seed grows.
#4 Only one ground was able to produce and sustain a harvest – good ground.
#5 Common denominators – all heard the same word.
#6 Every believer fits into one of these 4 categories.
3. The “Wayside” hearer doesn’t understand the Word so Satan comes immediately and steals it.
4. The “Stoney heart” hearer receives the Word with joy, yet does not have root in himself (doesn’t know who he/she is in Christ) because the word doesn’t get rooted in them. So when affliction, trouble, or persecution arises on account of the Word they are offended and fall away.
5. The “Thorny heart” hearer has the Word sown in their heart so they endure for a while, but then the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke the Word and it becomes unfruitful.
B. The Good Heart Hearer
1.(Matt. 13:23 AMP) he grasps and understands the Word
(Mark 4:20 AMP) well adapted soil causes them to receive, accept and welcome the Word and then continuing to grow up and increasingly yield fruit.
(Luke 8:15 AMP) hold the Word and don’t let it go away in a righteous, noble, virtuous and worthy heart, and steadily bring forth fruit with patience.
a. The most notable characteristic of the good ground hearer is that it has less. Less stones and thorns, therefore there is no mention of cares, anxieties, distractions or Satan. The Good Ground hearer’s life is simpler because his primary focus is on the Word and he allows no distractions.
b. (Prov. 4:20-23 AMP) Getting the word in your heart.
c. (Prov. 27:19 NIV) Your life is a reflection of what is in your heart!
d. (Prov. 23:7) your heart reflects your life!
e. (Matt. 7:17-20 AMP) change the root and the fruit will change.
f. (Matt. 12:33-35 AMP) change the root and you’ll and the fruit will change.
[Pastor Lee Stokes]