Sermons

Your Ears Matter!

Posted by Alex on
Sermon on July 1 by Pastor Roland Eskinazi

Scripture: Mark 4:1-20

Why did Jesus use parables? Parables are pictures, that provoke us to think – and push us to make a decision.

1. HOW IS YOUR HEARING? (v10-13)

  • Hearing God’s Word may confuse you
    The same Word that rescues and is good news to some can be judgement for those who don’t want to hear.
  • Hearing God’s Word will confront you
    The gospel is God’s filter to expose our hearts. Either it will warm our softened hearts, or harden resistant hearts.
  • Do you cherish God’s Word?

The Lord said to me, “You have seen me correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.
Jer. 1:12

2. WHAT IS YOUR HEART SAYING ABOUT YOU?

  • Are you stubborn-hearted, so that nothing sticks? (v4; 15)

From him come wandering thoughts and roving imaginations; listless minds and dull memories, sleepy eyes and fidgety nerves- weary ears and distracted attention. In all these things Satan has a great hand’.
J.C.Ryle

  • Are you shallow-hearted, all crackle and pop? (v5-6; 16-17)
    Initial professions of faith are sometimes no more than that. Where there is no root, how can there be any fruit?
  • Are you strangled-in-heart, torn between two masters? (v7; 18-19)
    It is not that true believers won’t know any strangling. But do you desire the weeding?

Gospel repentance is tapping into the joy of our union with Christ in order to weaken our need to do anything contrary to God’s heart.
Tim Keller

  • Are you sincere-in-heart, and fruitful? (v8; 20)
    − Productive, not fruitless
    Do you love Jesus more now and serve others more cheerfully now?
    Are you slower to assume the worst and quicker to forgive?
    − Persevering, not falling back
    Soil is good when the seed does not shrivel up and die. The heart is surely regenerate when it keeps persevering.

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God
1 Pet. 1:23

Remember! There are not two or three, but four types of hearts. Our ears really do matter! Since Jesus has shed His blood for all and the worst of sins, there is not an unbelieving heart that cannot be softened. If you have ears to hear – go after God’s Word; grab it and do not let him go.

Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear

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Joanna Myszak