"A Matter Of The Heart," Mark 4:1-20

A MATTER OF THE HEART Mark 4: 1-20 (jA{f{f 13 <+ t,_iz b God.- /))041o{;o 0Gt-v r:: agrees that the condition of the heart determines the quality of life. Everybody growing diseases is heart condition; clogged arteries, blood clots, fluid build up, high blood pressure, Jr"lek One of the fastest all anuverisms, It is -/v-d. otlJc:L W6' "(M.,J/ ,- a_ a matter of the heart.· Pf k'-\"d Y e. .JL;:r. +-r-6!_s-ha,J_ fa r While many of us have heard Jesus' parable of the sower, the soil, and the seed, we think of it more about the condition of soil. So when Jesus it out of His own mouth we explains get lesson after lesson about the condition of the heart. For the soil is the prepared place to be and where the seed is bound to land. Listen at the four heart conditions 1 J y"ur- 1"1 J s: I that the Master tells us about. taught the multitude from the boat down by the seashore, He started the parable by saying "Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:" (v. 3) When Jesus This invitation to listen and to was an look at the them who walked among to make a positive sower trying disciples did not understand what He was talking about difference. The when he got them alone He said, "The sower soweth the word." (V. 14) The seed He was talking about is known by the Word of God, the testimonies of God, the statues of God, many names: the commandments of God, the judgments of God, the law of God, the truth of Go ,the precepts of God, the 2 so counsel of God, the delight of God. By you know them, the Master reminds us that a heart in good whatever name condition is the heart that both hears and obeys. First, Jesus wants us tragic condition of the (4, 16-17) the first seed "fell on to know the HARD HEART. stony ground where it had not much earth. It sprang up immediately but with no roots was scorched by the sun and withered just as The soil of many of our hearts has not been tilled and is hard. We are quickly. emotional when we hear it but it sinks in. It takes not root persecution and affliction immediately offended. 3 so never that when comes we are Second, Jesus tells us to beware of the (5-6,114-15) invaded by the SHALLOW HEART. wayside soil is soon The enemy and the sown word is taken away. We become indifferent to what we hear and it does not matter. Third, we warning HEART. (7, hear the Master's of the OVERCROWDED 18-19) Here the seed of possibility fell among thorns and when the thrones that grew up choked it and it not productive yielded no fruit. It and with the was passing of time, it was of no good. The word was heard but the ca s of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things took seed and cause over. They it to bear 4 no choked the fruit. This is the worldly hearer who tries to straddle the fence, doesn't know where he wants to be. Fourth, we get the good the GOOD HEART. news about Praise God (8,20) good soil. It is tilled and prepared, ready to receive what God has for the to say. It will last when the storms come and the winds blow because the seed has taken root and is watered with living streams. The seed bears fruit like you have 60 never seen before, at 30 some fold, and 1 00 fold. This hart is recevtive to the Word of God ...... fold, . thought about the condition lately? Do you know is spiritually healthy or not? Have you of your heart whether it How would you know? When 5 was the last time you had a thorough heart check up? I recommend you get an appointment, check in with the Physician and order an EKG. E-Examine your heart for that clogs it. K-Know you heart and Jesus alone. Great anything belongs to Jesus G-Grow up spiritually and strive toward perfection. morning, sowing seeds of kindness, Sowing in the noontide, and the dewy eve; Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping, W e shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves." Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows, fearing neither clouds not winter's chilling breeze." "Sowing in the 6 CHANGING THINGS Ezra 7: 1-10 always changing around us, intentional, good, positive, and effective change is not always easy. In voluntary organizations such as a church, change is even more difficult. The longer people have been around the more they will remind you that they have been the way the are and they are not about to change. So I thought it might be a good idea for our Church on it move toward becoming truly the "Church of Great Expectations" to consider what The Bible says about changing things. In Ezra, the seventh chapter and the first ten verses, we find five important While things are 1 things to remember when trying to change things. First, to effectively change things, we must APPRECIATE OUR HERITAGE. Look at 5 and see verses 1 lineage of this man of had deep and long lasting the ri ch God Ezra. He through roots. He could trace his roots back some generations to the Chief Priest Aaron. His image of himself has been shaped by that heritage. We are all who sixteen we are because of where we have come leadership forefathers, change is from. Because of the provided by his possible now and in the future. Their tested and tried foundation change had a goodly heritage. roots on which 2 can provided the rest. Yes, he Second, change is possible when we have SKILLS IN THE AREA. text says in verse 6a, "Ezra ... The was a ready scribe in the law of Moses." This word "ready" suggest "well-versed, prepared, available, handy, having all of one's wits about one. He was prepared, available and ready for the task of change. Ezra was not slack with the Word of God. He urged his son do, "Study to show thyself had done what Paul later Timothy to approved unto God a workman that ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (II Timothy needeth not to be He had put in the time and made the sacrifice to be ready when the time 2: 15) was right. made Because he room for him. 3 prepared, his gift . Third, change is possible when we are UNDER DIVINE ANOINTING. "The Lord God of Israel had given: and king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him."(Ezra 7: 6b) What a wonderful blessing. The king was an the instrument in the hand of God to insure well-being of His servant for service. When God gets ready to do something, he sends help however He wants. The widow helped Elijah. The king helped Nehemiah. The girl helped the leper. Without the hand of God, we can do nothing. Fourth, change comes when we have the GOOD HELP. Ezra had with him "some of the children of Israel, and of the 4 and the Levites, and the singers, " Nethinims and the porters, and the priests, ... (Ezra 7: 7) Like Moses with Aaron and Hur holding up his arms and the battle was won. Ezra had a good team helping him. Some sensers, were thinkers, some were some were Fifth, change is possible when we are COMMITTED TO THE WORD OF GOD. Ezra . approached the task of change only after he devoted himself to the study, the obedience, and the teaching of the word of God. "F or Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statues and judgments." (Ezra 7: 10) There is strength in knowing the Word of God. There is power in doing 5 the Word of God. There is change is teaching the word of God. When can lead, influence, and change the word when we are equipped with these five tools: a goodly heritage, personal skills, Godly anointing, a good team of helpers, and a devotion to the Word of God.