Who is Jesus? chapter 14 "Jesus teaches about various Soil and different Hearers."

 

Who is Jesus? chapter 14 Jesus teaches about various Soil and different Hearers.

Today's message is from; Luke chapter 8.

Jesus had been teaching on the mountain, about life and attitudes. He encouraged the crowds to forgive those who have offended or hurt you, and not to worry but to trust God to take care of you.   He likened the birds being cared for by God, and we are of so much more value than the birds.   Jesus reminded the crowd to ask in faith, and to realize that Parents only want to give their children food when they are hungry and not a rock or a snake, and that God desires to give us His Holy Spirit. Jesus also encouraged the people to build their life on the solid rock which is a sure foundation and to avoid building on sand that will wash away and leave your life in a stressful situation. After a long time of teaching Jesus dismissed the crowd and began a journey back to the city. 

The Bible tells us that as he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.  And Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them that you are now healed."

That evening they brought to Jesus many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick, physically, mentally, and spiritually. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took our sickness and bore our diseases."

The next day as the crowds surrounded Jesus, he requested to use one of the boats by the sea. He sat in the boat while the people on the shore could watch and hear him. He taught them with stories about good seed being sown on various types of ground, such as a pathway, a rocky area, a thorny place with weeds, and finally good rich soil. Some of the seeds did well but others not so good.

Reading from Luke 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 ate it up.  Some fell on rocky ground, 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.”

When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

And when he was alone, His disciples asked him what this parable meant. Jesus said, “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.’

“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. 

Those on the rocky ground 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. 

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.

But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by perseverance and purpose they will produce a crop.

And he said to his disciples,  “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables. And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?

The sower sows the word.  And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.

And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy.  And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.

And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word,  but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 

But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty fold and sixty fold and a hundredfold.”

With many such parables he spoke; teaching them, as they were able to hear it.  He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear; with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

Today as we read or hear God's Word, we must also come with a willing heart and mind to learn what is truth and have a teachable spirit to welcome all that Jesus is - - into our life.

Friend today, if you have never invited Jesus into your life, you can do so today. Just talk to him and tell him you believe he is the Messiah, you believe He died on the cross so that you might not perish, and he rose from the dead on the third day, and is now seated in heaven praying for you. Tell Jesus that you invite him into your life, and that you will follow Him all the days of your life. Jesus is real and He is alive and His desire is to become your Personal friend and Savior. Jesus loves you and he is waiting for your invitation to receive Him into your life.

So friend, may you understand God loves you so much that He sent his son (Jesus) to take your punishment on the cross, and to make you a new person in Him.  Today are you willing to open your spiritual ears, and allow your hearing to be that of good soil and then for you to take action about what Jesus is asking you to do this day?   Jesus is saying: Listen well,  hear, understand, and invite me into your heart and life.