Four Types Of Soil Hosted by English Rose EnglishRose says: Lord Jesus, thank you for this lovely family you have given us at cfw. May we continue to be blessed by each other as we learn and share. Guide us in our thoughts and words tonight as we come together to get to know our heavenly father. I thank you for preparing us to hear your words. EnglishRose says: May we receive them with a joyful heart and savor them. In Jesus' nameAmen. oatker says: amen EnglishRose says: We have been looking at Mark 4 and how our hearts are represented in the four types of ground and how it is important that we as Christians prepare our hearts to receive His word. EnglishRose says: We first looked at Jesus being the sower, but also that we can sow the word into our own hearts and we looked at the 4 types of heart. We are going to go over this again now in Mark 3. EnglishRose says: I love that Mark 3 begins with hearken; behold the sower went out to sow. EnglishRose says: I looked it up in the dictionary and it said: heark·en (verb) 1.Literary . to give heed or attention to what is said; listen. EnglishRose says: This word is used at the beginning of the parable to say, be mindful of what I teach you, pay attention to and hold in regard what I am showing you. Behold means to watch and consider. Jesus is really encouraging people to actively listen here. This stood out to me as the word I got for starting this bible study was ‘savor my word’. I encourage you the think about what type f heart you are as we recap the 4 types of heart. EnglishRose says: Mark 4:3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: 4And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. EnglishRose says: So this is the sinner that hears the word of God but it doesn’t take root. They don’t seem to get it. They may say that’s ok for you but it doesn’t work for me. EnglishRose says: 5And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: This is those that make a commitment, they seem to really be into it and then out of no where they give up and they say, oh I gave the Christianity thing a go but it’s not for me. They may have had an experience or someone they looked up to but they messed up and they give up. EnglishRose says: 6But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. EnglishRose says: These are those that hear the word of God, they may even receive it with gladness but they are distracted by the cares of the world. This could be things like sin or legitimate things like careers or how they are going to feed their family. The cares are like weeds that grow up, oatker says: your right on the money with the first two keep going but weeds don’t grow overnight. They grow slowly over time and suddenly we notice that they are there. EnglishRose says: 8And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. This is the one that flourishes in their relationship with the Lord. They have the relationship with the Lord that allows them to draw their strength from the Lord. These are the people that commit themselves to study the word oatker says: great point weeds slowly choke EnglishRose says: and they sow the word into their own hearts that they then go on the bear much fruit to those around them. They understand that they must savor His word. So the 4 types of heart are:- the sinner.- the fair weather believer.- the believers that get distracted by the cares on the world.- the believer that is plugged into the word and makes that the most important thing in their life. EnglishRose says: The common thing that is lacking for the first 3 types of heart is relationship. They don’t know the Lord so when they are challenged or come up against persecution then they fall away. To become the fourth type of believer we must learn to savor the words of the Lord and understand Him. oatker says: great stuff your spot on EnglishRose says: Matthew 13 shows Jesus explaining the parable to the disciples oatker says: oh im so glad your with us mercy join in as ya will mercy says: thanks EnglishRose says: Matthew 13: 10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, EnglishRose says: and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘ Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; 15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, EnglishRose says: Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’ EnglishRose says: 16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. Those that listen to the Lord are blessed with knowledge of the kingdom and rewarded in abundance and those that do not, loose their reward. Today I feel that we are to focus on the 3rd type of heart which Mark 3:18 describes as 18And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. oatker says: what a privelledge to be part and belive good point rosie EnglishRose says: Where do these thorns come from? EnglishRose says: Genesis 3:18 – explains where the thorns came in EnglishRose says: 17And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; EnglishRose says: note the word hearken again and that this is not used in reference to listening to the Lord oatker says: ahh rosie never conected two before very good EnglishRose says: 18Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. EnglishRose says: Because Adam took his focus off of the Lord and looked to his wife, sin entered the world. Sin causes us to be tempted and distracted. What has this got to do with cares of the world? Well everything, if we put our lives above the Lord then it is idolatry. EnglishRose says: We all are familar with this scripture and that sin causes death EnglishRose says: Hebrews 6:8 gives us a warning not to be like the one who grows with the thorns,8but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. oatker says: exellent again ya spot on focus on gods word is paramount EnglishRose says: But the great thing is that Jesus took the cares of this world to the cross when He put on the Crown of thorns EnglishRose says: John 19:1 So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. 2 And th e soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. 3 Then they said,[a] “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands. 4 Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.” EnglishRose says: Even though Jesus never took His eyes off of His Father He took all of our sin and distractions on the cross EnglishRose says: so that they cannot hinder us anymore EnglishRose says: so man bought the thorns into the earth mercy says: He defeated the enemy and death EnglishRose says: and we see Jesus taking them away on the cross EnglishRose says: so back to our hearts ... EnglishRose says: Today at work we have been talking about performance reviews and how each of us have different ideas about what a fully effective person should be like. Too often we set the bar too low in our Christian life and we allow ourselves distractions. EnglishRose says: We have been given important knowledge here, make sure we find time to listen and seek understanding. Don’t allow yourself to be condemned by our sin and seek forgiveness. Lastly make sure that we put effort into our relationship so that we can stop cares of the world from becoming part of our lives EnglishRose says: know that your enemy is defeated! EnglishRose says: this is what Jesus is setting out what he sees a fully effective relationship to be. Praise God we don’t get performance reviews but we can seek Him to understand where we need to deal with things… oatker says: jumps for joy EnglishRose says: I challenge you to look at your relationship. EnglishRose says: Mark 4:21And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? 22For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. oatker says: oooooooh thats good EnglishRose says: And this is confirmed in Luke 6:44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. EnglishRose says: If we don’t put the effort in it will show, it is a kingdom principle that we are known by our fruit! We may try to portray that we are all sorted but actually the things that are in your heart, that you are in rebellion over, will show. This is why we see many Christians get into a place of offence or they are frustrated because they know the word but they don’t understand why it isn’t working for them. EnglishRose says: Be careful of your focus, let no thing be an idol to you that it becomes more important than your relationship with the Lord. This requires an active diligence in your thought life to ensure that you remain focused on Him and rebuke the things that are not in line with the word. EnglishRose says: I am not saying this to condemn you but in hope that you can get the best out of your relationship with the Lord. The good news is that the Lord wants to help us have a better relationship with Him EnglishRose says: John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;[a] and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. EnglishRose says: God wants us to be the best we can be… oatker says: slow down tha tis such a good point rebuke the things that dont comply EnglishRose says: John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. EnglishRose says: He wants to bless us, but we can get the most out of our prayers if we pray His word to Him as we are praying His will. oatker says: your so right but it can be people that can get in the way of focus and ya cant rebuke them so go in ta depth here rose EnglishRose says: If we dont do this then that is why sometimes we may see a break through but then it appears to be taken away from us all i have is hope says: The fight is not of flesh and blood EnglishRose says: it is because the word grew up in us amoung thorns EnglishRose says: Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. EnglishRose says: But we must have faith when we read the word. This comes by savoring the word and holding it above all else. all i have is hope says: amen EnglishRose says: faith and grace are both gifts from the Lord oatker says: your so right again EnglishRose says: Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? EnglishRose says: We must believe for our victory. James tells us about how we can be victorious when we come against trials. oatker says: faith comes by hearing EnglishRose says: James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing all i have is hope says: been there this week EnglishRose says: 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. EnglishRose says: 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. the double minded man is like the one that looks at the cares of this world James goes on to explain what happens if we focus on the cares of the world. 9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. EnglishRose says: So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. EnglishRose says: James shows us how to love God under trials EnglishRose says: 12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. all i have is hope says: amen EnglishRose says: notice how the crown of thorns has now become the crown of life EnglishRose says: 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. oatker says: well im learning rosie i have never conected that EnglishRose says: 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. EnglishRose says: 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures. EnglishRose says: James goes on to tell us what qualities we should have… EnglishRose says: 19 So then,[a] my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. EnglishRose says: note how Mark asks us to hearken to His voice and again here we a called to listen, and not speak out or become offended oatker says: ah another challenge EnglishRose says: yes it is James tells us to be doers—Not hearers only! EnglishRose says: 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. EnglishRose says: implanted word, that we have sown intou our hearts all i have is hope says: big point EnglishRose says: 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; EnglishRose says: 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. EnglishRose ,26 If anyone among you[b] thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless EnglishRose says: 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. EnglishRose says: So I challenge you all to look at James 1 and ask the Lord how you can be like the fourth type of heart and grow and bear fruit thirty, sixty or a hundred times! EnglishRose that is your homework :) |
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