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September 20, 2009
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What Were We Talkin’ About?
Learning to hear God’s Voice
Luke 8:4-15
While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to
Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: "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."
When he said this, he called out,
"He who has ears to hear,
let him hear."
His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He 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 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. 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
persevering produce a crop.
"Jesus said.... `He
who has ears to hear, let him hear!'"
(vs. 8b)
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The Farmer - God
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The Seed - His Word
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The Soil - My Mind
How To Hear God Speak
I. CULTIVATE AN OPEN MIND
vs. 5 & 12
The hardened path – CLOSED
MIND
3 Causes
"So get rid of all the filth and evil in
your lives, and humbly accept the
message God has planted in your hearts,
for it is strong enough to save your
souls”.
James 1:21
II. ALLOCATE TIME TO LISTEN
vs. 6 & 13
The shallow soil – Superficial Mind
III. ELIMINATE THE DISTRACTIONS
vs. 7 & 14
The soil with weeds – PREOCCUPIED MIND
3 types of weeds
IV. COOPERATE WITH WHAT HE SAYS
vs. 15
"Do not just listen to the Word, do what
it says!
If you don't obey, you are only fooling
yourself.”
James 1:22
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