Redeemer Church Mauritius
The Condition of our Heart - Leigh Kendon
Our heart reflects our spiritual state and relationship with God. Jesus describes four types of soil that represent the condition of our hearts. The condition of our heart determines how we receive and respond to God’s Word. Our heart can be hardened by sin, pride, or hurt. It can be shallow because there is no real commitment. It can be divided by worldly distractions. Or it can be receptive, responding in obedience to God’s truth. It’s important that we maintain a good heart condition. We need to guard what we allow into our hearts.
Locations & Times
Redeemer Church Mauritius
Mauritius
Sunday 9:30 AM
1. What does the bible say about our heart?
- The heart is deceitful and evil (Jeremiah 17:9-11)
- We should guard our hearts (Proverbs 4:23)
- We should watch out for a divided or distracted heart (Matthew 6:24)
- We should ask for an undivided heart (Psalm 86:11)
- We must not have a hard heart (2 Chronicles 36:13)
- Jesus had a soft heart. We need a soft or receptive heart. (King Josiah and King David both repented quickly when confronted with the sin of the nation and personal sin.)
- God will give us a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26)
- The heart is deceitful and evil (Jeremiah 17:9-11)
- We should guard our hearts (Proverbs 4:23)
- We should watch out for a divided or distracted heart (Matthew 6:24)
- We should ask for an undivided heart (Psalm 86:11)
- We must not have a hard heart (2 Chronicles 36:13)
- Jesus had a soft heart. We need a soft or receptive heart. (King Josiah and King David both repented quickly when confronted with the sin of the nation and personal sin.)
- God will give us a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26)
2. What is a parable?
- A parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.
- Why did Jesus speak in parables? Parables either reveal or hide God’s truth depending on the condition of the heart. That is why Jesus says, “Whoever has ears, let them hear."
- A parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.
- Why did Jesus speak in parables? Parables either reveal or hide God’s truth depending on the condition of the heart. That is why Jesus says, “Whoever has ears, let them hear."
3. Explanation of the parable
- Jesus explains the parable.
- The farmer is God and the seed is the Word of God. The soil is the condition of our heart – ie, how we receive and respond to God’s Word.
- Jesus explains the parable.
- The farmer is God and the seed is the Word of God. The soil is the condition of our heart – ie, how we receive and respond to God’s Word.
4. Hard soil (Hard or superficial heart)
Matthew 13:18-19
Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
- These are people with a hard or superficial heart. They don’t hear with understanding.
- The word doesn’t take root and is easily snatched away by Satan.
Matthew 13:18-19
Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
- These are people with a hard or superficial heart. They don’t hear with understanding.
- The word doesn’t take root and is easily snatched away by Satan.
5. Rocky or shallow soil (Shallow heart)
Matthew 13:20-21
The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
- People receive the message with joy. It’s an emotional response; a spur-of-the-moment decision. They haven’t fully grasped the cost of being a disciple.
- They grow a bit, but there is no root. They don’t allow God’s truth to penetrate and make a difference.
Matthew 13:20-21
The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
- People receive the message with joy. It’s an emotional response; a spur-of-the-moment decision. They haven’t fully grasped the cost of being a disciple.
- They grow a bit, but there is no root. They don’t allow God’s truth to penetrate and make a difference.
6. Thorny soil (distracted or divided heart)
Matthew 13:22
The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
- This person does hear the word of God. They start growing a bit, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth distract them. Their selfish desires choke the Word of God.
- They have distracted or divided hearts.
Matthew 13:22
The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
- This person does hear the word of God. They start growing a bit, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth distract them. Their selfish desires choke the Word of God.
- They have distracted or divided hearts.
7. Good soil (Soft or receptive heart)
Matthew 13:23
But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
- The good soil is someone who hears the word, understands it, responds to it, and produces fruit. They are true disciples.
Matthew 13:23
But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
- The good soil is someone who hears the word, understands it, responds to it, and produces fruit. They are true disciples.
Remember:
Spiritual fruitfulness depends on the condition of the heart. Are we willing to let God’s Word take root, or are we allowing hardness, shallowness, and distractions govern our heart?
Spiritual fruitfulness depends on the condition of the heart. Are we willing to let God’s Word take root, or are we allowing hardness, shallowness, and distractions govern our heart?
