Take Heed How You Hear

VIDEO

Take Heed HOW You Hear:

4 Types of Soil

(Luke 8:4-18)

Jesus presented a verbal illustration about 4 types of reception—4 ways in which what is heard is received or understood. He used the concept of farming whereby seeds fell: (1) by the way side, (2) upon a rock, (3) among thorns, and (4) on good ground.

Luke 4:4-18
4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.
17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

Luke 8:18 warns to, “Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.”

TAKE HEED
Pay Attention To. Care About.
Spend Time On. Watch.
Seriously Think About.
Be Responsible For…

HOW YOU HEAR
Invest the time and energy
that is required to carefully
evaluate the way in which
you receive Scripture.

TEST the SOWER.

TEST the SEED.

TEST the SOIL.

Is the teacher (SOWER) worldly and greedy requiring money or attempting to shame those who do not follow by fattening his pockets. Does he, himself, refuse to practice what is in Scripture or, as it should be, is he or she an ever-maturing Believer who bears fruit according to Scripture?

Is the information (SEED) a popular doctrine which twists Scripture into some feel-good, occult-rooted dynamic deception? Is it a “you’re a king”, “you’re a queen”, “you’re a god” teaching or is it, instead, sound doctrine directly from the Bible which reveres God and teaches worship of him only?

Are you (SOIL) half-listening with other things on your mind? Are you more interested in being accepted than obeying God? Have pains or pleasures, preset beliefs or false doctrines dulled your hearing or hardened your heart against biblical correction or, rather, are you receptive with truth-oriented ears?

Do you notice HOW YOU HEAR? Have you read the Bible for yourself to determine if what you’re hearing is actually written there and if it is being interpreted in context and in line with other scriptures? Have you compared different "versions" for yourself to see how differences may affect your understanding? Do you check to see if what you're hearing is supported by Scripture and not based on feelings or trust in some leader?

Luke 8:15
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

TAKE HEED. Try the spirits! (1 John 4:1).
When the word of God seed has been planted into repentant and receptive hearts, there is godly productivity—always. Guaranteed. It can't be hidden. If it's present, it will be seen. (Luke 8:16, 17). If growth is not seen, it's because it is not present. That's Scripture. Spiritual maturity. Growth.

Question:
What is Proof of “Good Ground”?

Answer: (re-read Luke 8:15)
Having heard “the word” (scriptural teaching), you will “keep it” (remember it, treasure it, live by it) and you will “bring forth fruit” (be changed by it and be a part of godly change in others) with patience (progressively over time). The word itself will become living within you and you will live it. The fruit becomes visible to others. It is undeniable growth in truth.