Sermon 05062005 AM

5th June 2005 AM HE WHO HAS EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR! Pastor Linton Smith.

HE WHO HAS EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR!

You have probably heard it said that God made us with two ears and one mouth – so we should listen twice as much as we speak. But few of us do that.

It seems that most of us far more interested in having something to say rather than listening. And often we are thinking about what we are going to say next rather than listening to what the other person is saying.

As someone has said - Conversation is a vocal competition in which the one who is catching his breath is called the listener [Anonymous].

And another anonymous person has said, If you want your spouse to listen and pay strict attention to every word you say, talk in your sleep.

Today we are looking at something Jesus said about listening.. not so much about listening to

each other.. but listening to Good News about Him.

A large crowd was gathering on the shore of the lake of Galilee. People were coming from town after town. Jesus sat in a boat a little out from the shore and told a parable - an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

Luke 8:5-8.. A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.

The disciples were puzzled and asked Him to explain it to them [Lk 8:9].

His answer contains a warning, four challenges, and two things to remember as we share the Good News.

A WARNING.

The disciples asked Him what the parable was all about.. but underneath that was another question.. Why are you speaking in parables? Jesus:

Luke 8:10.. The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’

Jesus quoted from Isaiah 6:9.. and to understand what He was saying we need to refer to that section of Isaiah. God had sent Isaiah with a message.. His message for the people.. but God knew that they would not listen to Isaiah. They had made up their minds. They were stubborn. And so God said to Isaiah..

Go and tell this people: ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;

be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts,

and turn and be healed."

What was God saying? They have had many opportunities to listen to me.. but refused to listen. Now.. the day of opportunity is past! It is too late.

As Jesus looked at the people gathering.. He saw among them many people who were there to find fault in Him. They were not there to listen. They were like the people in Isaiah’s time.. and He used to parables to keep them from seeing. It was God’s judgement on them!

What a warning. Listen to what God has to say.. Don’t shut your mind to what He may say.. be willing to listen.. willing to change!

Jesus answers their deeper question.. why parables.. and then goes on to explain what the parable is about..

It is about the way people listen to the Good News. It explains why people hear the same message and respond so differently. Jesus gives us..

FOUR CHALLENGES

LISTEN

Jesus says.. Luke 8:11,12.. This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

The sower went out to sow.. threw the seed on the ground as he walked.. later he would come along with a plough and plough the seed in.. Some of the seed fell on the pathway he was walking on.. long before the plough.. birds settled there.. and ate the seed.

The seed, says Jesus, is the word of God.. the message that Jesus is speaking.. Some hear it.. but do not retain it.. it goes in one ear and out the other.

And it not only the hearer that is at fault. The Devil plays a role here. He does not want people to believe. He snatches away the word.

Paul writes.. 2 Cor 4:4.. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Be aware of this.. and pray! Pray against the devil.. pray for the people!

LISTEN CAREFULLY

The sower threw the seed and some fell on shallow soil with rock just below the surface.. moist and warm. Very quickly the seed sprung into life.. but just as quickly died. It had no depth of soil in which to take root.

Jesus says.. Luke 8:13.. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.

These people had selective hearing. They heard what they wanted to hear and responded quickly.. impulsively to the message. They heard about the blessings of believing.. but not the challenges.. They ignored the challenge to surrender their wills to God.. to be prepared to suffer at the hands of persecutors. And when tough times came.. they fall away.. They had not listened carefully!

A challenge to hearers.. and also to people who share the message. Tell it as it is! Don’t lure people with false promises.

LISTEN AND WATCH OUT FOR DISTRACTIONS

Jesus says.. Luke 8:14.. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.

Some of the seed fell on thorn-infested ground. The later ploughing did not kill the thorns. The seed came up and so did the thorns. They choked the new plant. This happens to some of the people who hear the Good News. The seed grows.. then it is choked by life’s worries.. riches.. pleasures.. and never matures.

We need to listen.. and receive the message.. and watch out for distractions.. and deal with them. When they come.. when worries bob up.. when riches or lack of riches trouble us.. or pleasures.. we need to hand them over to Jesus.. and let Him be Number One.. We need to do this time and time again! Watch out for distractions!

LISTEN AND PERSEVERE

Jesus says.. Luke 8:15.. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Some of the seed fell on good soil.. deep.. free of thorns.. and here the seed sprung into life.. grew to maturity.. and produced a crop.

Jesus looks at the crowd.. knows some people will hear.. will understand.. will think about what is said.. and respond fully to Him.. giving themselves to Him.. and they will persevere.. they press on with patience.. and bear fruit. They will be changed. They will become mature, Christ-like people!

Jesus challenges us today.. hear the Good News.. retain it.. watch out for distractions and press on with patience.. day by day and little by little.. and we will grow.. and become mature, Christ-like people.

TWO THINGS TO REMEMBER AS WE SHARE THE GOOD NEWS.

IT IS THE SOIL THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE.

In each case the seed was the same.. it was all good seed.. the teaching of Jesus. It was the soil that varied.. it was the soil that made the difference. It was the way people listened that made the difference!

There is a challenge here for us as we share the Good News.. make sure it is good seed.. the Good News.. and tell it as it is.

There is encouragement here for us when we are disappointed.. do the best we can.. and remember.. it is the way that people hear that makes the difference.

That invites a question. Is there anything we can do to prepare the soil?

Yes. Some will not listen. They have been ‘put off’ by people they thought were Christians. Remember Jesus said [Mt 5:16], Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Prepare the soil by living good lives… doing good deeds!

And another thing we must do to prepare the soil – pray! Pray that God will open their eyes.. pray that He will bind the devil.. pray that they will hear.. and understand.. and respond.

THERE WILL BE FRUIT!

Yes.. some will believe and grow to mature believers.. Christ-like and effective..

Praise God that this is the case.. and be encouraged.. read the Bible.. listen to Jesus day by day.. continue to share the Good News.. never give up!

Scripture quotations from The New International Version

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