The Way to Listen & Live

Marriage instead of a promotion, demotion, arrived in the form of a pink slip.

Their investments tank and when they realize that Jesus was the tooth fairy. They begin the thing you know, maybe sign up for something I don't want.

That's the point, because they were given an invitation to Christianity and when the real becomes realize they come to the recognition. This is not what I signed up confident that most people can relate to that experience listening to the words and comprehending the meaning of those words are two very different things. Many times Jesus was heard without being understood as he gave a sermon in Luke eight, to a large audience. He continually returned to the same theme. Do you really hear me this is wisdom for the heart. Today Stephen Devi has a message for you called the way to listen and I was sent this by someone in the congregation many years ago. They evidently thought it was funny three friends decided to go deer hunting one beautiful November afternoon, a lawyer, Dr. Anna pastor at that point and I sure want to continue reading. But I do as her walking in the woods suddenly lock him up in a large book is froze. All three men simultaneously raise arrivals in all three fired the exact same time.

Immediately, the buck dropped to the ground. All three men ran over. Sure enough it was dead.

Trouble is I couldn't determine the shot had actually killed the deer in each of them. You know were convinced they brought it down so after a few minutes again Morgan came by. They introduce themselves to them. Told him what happened then asked him to help them decide who the winner was the officer said surely take a look bent down and after just a few seconds stood back up and said the preacher shot this, but the preacher they said how can you be so sure the officer said easy. The bullet went in one ear and out the other very funny.

It is actually it's actually a legitimate problem not in here you hang on every word. Amen. Thank you. One problem with human nature. We can hear to be listening but not really hearing if your mom, your husband, your pastor, Bible teacher, and you found yourself asking the question, are you really listening to me has it occurred to you that that's exactly the question.

Jesus often asked his audience as he preach and find that to be true today because the main idea here in his sermon that is about to deliver is to really listen and not let it go in one year and out the other.

So let me show you Luke's gospel were in chapter 8. Again while you're turning to Luke's gospel account. I'll tell you that Mark's gospel account of the same event informs us that the crowd was so large they come from all these towns that Jesus gets in the boat again and sort of pushes off a few feet and uses that low doses open and many scholars that I research said that this is probably the largest audience to whom he will speak now in his message hearing and listening is the main idea.

In fact, nine different times you'll find in these 18 verses the word here or her you might circle the first wanted to verse eight he who has ears to hear, let him hear.

And then the last line down at the end. Verse 21. My mother and my brothers are those who hear there is again the word you notice your verse four that Jesus delivers to them a parable notice look right and what a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him. He said he spoke a parable by the way, this is the third time in our study through Luke and I'm not really pause at this point, but this is the third time Jesus uses this method of preaching.

He tells a story and I could to find a parable for you. This way, a parable is a natural story common ordinary story delivering a spiritual principle. Now let's let's listen to his his parable in verse five the seller went out to sow his seed and as he so some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot and the birds of the air devoured it in some fell on the rock to as it drew up and withered away because it had no moisture. Some fell among thorns and the thorns grew up with it and choked it in some fell into good soil grew and yielded 100 fold. As he said these things, he called out. He who has ears to hear, let them hear that verbally here in the original languages in in the imperfect tense which means he's he's repeating this expression, so get this idea in your mind as these essays delivering this this story he's calling out any might imagine him as I do.

After each soil calling out and basically saying are you hearing what I'm saying and then gives us another so are you hearing what I'm saying is this course is going and why they are not the other. Are you really listening.

Will call the first soil the footpath again.

Verse five. The middle part of, as he sowed, some seed fell along the path and was trampled underfoot in the birds of the air devoured common illustration field in this day planted by a farmer is a stacker on his way store over his shoulder and he reaches any grab seed and he scatters it in the semicircle pattern as the walks through his field. The second kindness tormented by the Lord will call the rocky place. Notice verse six and some fell on the rock and as it grew up. It withered away because it moisture. This is not sealed with many rocks. So the idea. This is the base of rock probably limestone several inches below the top of the soil wasn't plowed out that plywood down about 8 inches. This was below that into the sea wasn't able to develop because it would dry out because of the rock underneath will call the third soil described here.

Verse seven the briar patch. Some seed fell among thorns and the thorns grew up with it and choked it in others are just too much competition finally give the fourth soil will call the fertile plot and some seed fell into good soil and grew and yielded 100 fold in.

That's 10 times the norm of the Lord's audience would have been immediately. This is the purpose of apparel identified with losing seed along the footpath, they would've understood the wilting plants in the rocky place, they would've they would've understood the growth of thorns and weeds in the briar patch and they would've understood the bounty in this fertile plot. Now Jesus's disciples asked him what this parable mean they know that a parable has a point and they want to know what it is. So Jesus responds to them, hear verse 10 to you. It is been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God ministry of the kingdom of God. But for others they are in parable so that seeing they may not see in hearing they may not understand that Jesus is quoting from Isaiah chapter 6 where the people under Isaiah is preaching didn't hear the truth, not because they cut but because they would. They didn't see with spiritual understanding because they were unable because they weren't interested. What they wanted was another sign here with the Lord gathering from all these towns and and they want another sign that they they want another miraculous happy meal with leftovers. They want to.

Another power demonstration. They gonna tell everybody we saw we were there when he did, but disciples they will understand what Jesus is saying the word of God and Jesus then gives them because they want to know what I think are four different ways to listen. He begins to unwrap the package now in verse 11.

Notice now the parable is this the seed is the word of God. The one is along the footpath are those who've heard then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts so that they may not believe in be saved. In other words, these these people are our listening without believing there listening without believing that at first glance of this text, it might look like. It's all the devil's fault. Well, you know they could, but the devil that devil he took it away know what Jesus is doing ears is actually pulling back the curtain on this on the scene battle waging to this very day against the truth is represented here is the seed of truth of the gospel.

These people don't want to believe in their hearts are hardened. That's their part, but what they don't understand is that the devil was doing everything he can do to keep them that way. I've talked to hundreds of people like this. Over the years. They now what they think is an original thought there convinced of it. Their opinion there convinced but it's really nothing more than old allies from the father of lies, whose whose helping them out.

God is going to judge anybody.

Everybody's going to go to heaven in their own way the Bible is only one holy book among others.

Jesus never said he was God I'm a scientist you can expect me to believe in creation or resurrection. Christianity is not a day to change with the time, there's no such thing as sin. What's right for me is right and you have no right to tell me I'm not right. Sound familiar their firing those arguments. But what they don't know is that according to Jesus is parable the devil was providing ammunition. He's essentially saying right right that's right so you need to understand if you are listening to me today and you do not believe the gospel. You need to understand you are not the only person in evolved in your unbelief. Now add Jesus because of explain the second way to listen will call this the rocky place again.

These people are listening without understanding Jesus says in verse 13 of the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word receive it with joy. But these have no root they believed for a while in a time of testing fall away. I mean it was great at first as exciting. They might even join the church but the excitement wore off and the thrill wasn't as thrilling. Christianity started looking more like spiritual disciplines, rather than financial promotions.

Somebody you know might've told them that Jesus would fix their medical records and fill up the bank account.

Maybe somebody told them that you got a wonderful plan for their life. And then it didn't turn out so wonderful, Jesus is here testing time of testing. The hot sun beat down on the trials and disappointments and pressures and troubles that business failed marriage to the rocks good friends moved away instead of a promotion at the motion arrived in the form of a pink slip, their health got worse. Their investments tanked their difficulties just kinda multiplied and when they realize that Jesus wasn't the tooth fairy. They begin to think, you know, maybe sign up for something I don't want. That's the point they did because they were given an imitation.

Christianity and when the real thing becomes realized they come to the recognition. This is not what I signed up for.

They didn't lose their salvation when they walk away. They never believed in the real Savior to begin with. See they listen without understanding Jesus now describes a will call the briar patch again. These people are listening without maturing. Now if I think it's possible that these two soils these last two soils represent believers if you look closely, the first two soils are clearly described as unbelievers. They don't believe verse 12 and are saved. Verse 13 they believed for a while and then leave it all behind. But these last two are actually contrasted with each other.

The briar patch person here at the end of verse 14 has fruit, but it doesn't mature in the fertile plot person has fruit same Greek word, but that fruit is maturing and I think that's the difference that was correct.

Verse 14. Now I know I'm going fast.

I'm covering 18 versus consider that an early Christmas present to you. Thank but I'm actually doing it is I want to keep the theme together because Jesus is main idea here is hearing here all the way to the end of that last person mentioned, numbers 14 and as for what fell among the thorns.

They are those who hear.

But as they go on their way there choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life in their fruit does not mature door for care.

You can understand to be responsibilities riches our possessions, pleasures are ordinary delights.

Finally, none of these are cast here in this text in a negative or sinful light because, in and of themselves they aren't sinful. The only negative thing were given regarding these individuals is that they're living with a life that's got competition going on and and it's competition that keeps them from maturing with spiritual fruit. This really kind of echoes Paul's command to submit to the spirit and bear fruit by means of that submission to the spirit and that fruit then that shows up and matures is love, joy, peace, patients, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 522, 23, but these people in the briar patch are distracted chasing so many good things, the better.

Things are being ignored. Is it possible for that to be a Christian experience. In other words, the briar patch can become the believer's life that becomes so crowded with thing's that the things of God. Crowded out there, effectively saying to God I'm listening but you you need to hurry.

I don't have much time.

That kind of distracted life is not contrasted with the fourth and final way to listen, calling this the fertile plot. These are individuals who are listening without demanding verse 15 reads as for that of the good soil.

They are those who hearing the word hold it fast in an honest and good heart and bear fruit with patients know the man just open, willing, trusting hearts is the attitude in the hearts of the couple called me from another city of North they been let the Christ a few years ago by a retired couple in our church who noticed this younger couple and their apartment complex and begin the witness to them and let them the Christ and then begin to meet with them to disciple them. They've invited me over one afternoon and they were teaching them, but just the Scriptures within the hymnal.

They were teaching with him church. They eventually moved away. This young couple. He's now a teaching position in the University they have endured over a year of cancer treatments for their two-year-old son three weeks ago. They've been given the news that they had around one week left with their little boy before he died.

I didn't detect bitterness. Tears certainly they were clinging to the word of God and such maturity at a young age in the face. Then a couple of days ago studying this passage called again three weeks after that warning that they really only had a week, perhaps a little more left. A new experimental drug unexpectedly been offered to them and it was surprisingly bringing some positive results just the faintest glimmer you know of hope no guarantees, no, no promises, no, no miracle cure. Just a few more days or weeks, perhaps even remission. He told me over the phone. This he said we are clinging to the word of God and is teaching us patients and I'm reading this verse. This is a heart that is fertile soil. No Luke doesn't break the narrative between verses 15 and 16, probably because Jesus did. Jesus is describing a maturing Christian. A Christian as solicitor who matures and now we just segues right into describing Christians as lamps who are lit notice for 16 no one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bit, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light but nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest towards anything secret that will not be known and come to light unnoticed. Take care, then how you hear photo I knew as like that is more will be given. They want the light will be given more insight from the one who has not. That's one really don't want it anyway well but little they have been lights can be taken away. Eventually the point. So the question here is someone who is truly hearing the word and proving it by shining the light were no longer in the dark were in the light, but we don't just sit in the light when we got that's not his challenge. Here we we shined it, we we show it again. There is no break between verses 18 and 19. The conjunction in the original language ties in the gutter.

In fact, I believe it gives us the final statement of his theme. The main idea truly listening to the Rigali verse 18 that his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowded. He was told your mother and your brothers are standing outside desiring to see you. They want see you while what's wrong that why I need to interject that in Mark's gospel were told that they have come to to basically take Jesus aside because they think he's lost his mind's half brothers born to Mary and Joseph after Jesus's virgin birth are actually named in other New Testament accounts. One of them is James who becomes the pastor teacher in the church in Jerusalem. He's also the one who writes the book we call the book of James. Another half-brother is chewed writes that little letter you bump into just before you get the revelation.

None of them right now at this point believe the claims of Jesus that can happen until after the resurrection number. Told her I looked at Mary is with them, so this is an innocent at a hospital saying this is born out of concern that Jesus needs rest little too far, which also is really an insight in the Mary's own understanding of Jesus, which is developing as well that I don't to the misunderstanding or this text. Jesus doesn't renounce his family ties is not saying family is an important he's is merely pointing to the reality of a family.

This relationship is actually on eight different. One author says higher. We can certainly say internal claim does verse 21 but he answered them. My mother and my brothers are those who hear there is again who hear the word of God and to thereby family is always as it descends like we'd say this after my kind of people they are developing the fruits of the spirit shining the light of the gospel were giving a priority as members of the family. God that I believe is the right way to listen, which is evidenced by the right way to this lesson way to listen and live here on wisdom from the heart. We hope it was a blessing to you.

We'd really enjoy hearing from you and learning how God is using this ministry to build you up in the faith. Please take a few moments and drop us an Notes. Our mailing address is wisdom international PO Box 37297 Raleigh, NC 27627. Let me give you that. Again, you can write to us at wisdom international PO Box 37297 Raleigh, NC 27627. Finally, let me give you our phone if we can help you in any way dial 866 48 x 8 six 648 Bible thanks again for joining us make plans to join us next time. For more wisdom for the heart