03-19-2023 – “A Changed Heart Produces Fruit”
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(AM insert) - March 19, 2023
“A Changed Heart Produces Fruit”
Luke 8:1-15
Read Luke 8:1…
1 Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him,
Not long after the dinner at the Pharisee’s house, where the woman had wiped Jesus’ feet with her tears mixed with perfume, Jesus began to travel from one city and village to another, in the region of Galilee, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God.
Although Luke doesn’t record a specific area for this phase of Jesus’ ministry, the parallel narratives
(Matthew 13:1-3;
1 That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea.
2 And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.
3 And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow;
Mark 4:1-3)
1 He began to teach again by the sea. And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that He got into a boat in the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land.
2 And He was teaching them many things in parables, and was saying to them in His teaching,
3 “Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow
tell us, Jesus was teaching by the sea [of Galilee] and such a large crowd had gathered that He got into a boat; the crowd was on the shore, and He said to them, ‘Behold, the sower went out to sow’… and then He proceeded to tell them the parable of the Sower.
Jesus used every opportunity [sea shores, hillsides, public squares, highways and byways, synagogues, and individual homes] to share the good news, God forgives all the sins of those who repent and believe in Him.
Notice again, Jesus was “proclaiming [kerusso = to publicly announce a legal and binding message that was to be heard and responded to] and preaching [evangelizo = to announce the good news of the gospel] the kingdom of God.”
The terms kingdom of God and kingdom of heaven are interchangeable; although kingdom of heaven is only used by Matthew (31 times), because he was writing to the Jews and they believed it was sacrilegious to use the name of God, so instead they used the place where God exists to refer to Him [in heaven].
Jesus used the terms synonymously to refer to the kingdom or sphere of those who are saved
(Matthew 19:23-26),
“Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, ‘Then who can be saved?' And looking at them Jesus said to them, ‘With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'”
In Mark 1:15,
15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
But what is the Gospel?
In John 3:16
Jesus proclaims, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life,”
(John 3:36)
“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides [remains] on him.”
The awesome message of the gospel is repeated three times in God’s Word
(Joel 2:32;
32 “And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the LORD
Will be delivered;
For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
There will be those who escape,
As the LORD has said,
Even among the survivors whom the LORD calls.
Acts 2:21;
21 ‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’
Romans 10:13),
13 for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”
declaring that anyone, everyone, who repents of their sin and believes in God’s Son for salvation will be saved from sin’s condemnation by the sacrifice of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God
(John 1:29),
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
“who takes away the sin of the world!”
So, salvation comes by believing in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and at the moment of genuine belief you are granted eternal life
(Romans 10:17),
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”
1Corinthians 15:1-4,
1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,
2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
Back to Luke 8:1…
1 Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him,
Notice that while Jesus was proclaiming and preaching the gospel, “the Twelve were with Him.” The men Jesus chose as disciples were ordinary men, most of them fishermen, who would become Apostles [except for Judas]. They would be sent out, after receiving the Holy Spirit
(cf. Acts 1:8),
8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
as witnesses and heralds of the gospel, “in Jerusalem, and in all of Judea, and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
At this time in the narrative the Disciples are neither preaching, teaching, or healing, for they are in training, listening, observing, and learning what their mission will be, when they are sent out later in chapter 9.
Read Luke 8:2-3…
2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.
There are others following along with Jesus and the Twelve, including some women who are named here: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna. Mary was from Magdala, a town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. She was healed of seven demons, although we don’t know when or where. Joanna was he wife of Chuza, a high ranking official who served as Herod Antipas’s steward. Both Mary and Joanna were witnesses of Jesus’ burial, resurrection, and most likely His crucifixion. We don’t know anything about Susanna, as she appears nowhere else in the Scriptures.
There are other women followers of Jesus recorded in the Scriptures: Mary the mother of Jesus, and her sister, also Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and Mary the wife of Clopas, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee (James and John), also Salome, Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptizer; Anna the prophetess at the Temple when Jesus was being dedicate to God, Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, and many unnamed women from both Galilee and Jerusalem
(cf. Matthew 27:55-56;
55 Many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while ministering to Him.
56 Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Mark 15:40-41;
40 There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome.
41 When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
John 19:25).
25 Therefore the soldiers did these things.
But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
Jesus accepted all those who believed in Him, people from all levels of Jewish society.
Luke says
(cf. Luke 8:3),
3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.
there were “many others contributing, out of their private resources, to support Jesus and the Disciples.
See Luke 8:4-8…
4 When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable:
5 “The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up.
6 Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.
7 Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out.
8 Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great.” As He said these things, He would call out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
A farmer sowed [broadcasted] seed that fell:
1) along a path, birds ate it...
2) on rocky places where it sprang up, but the sun caused the plants to wither and die...
3) among thorns that grew up and chocked the plants...
4) on "good soil," producing a crop up to 100 times as much.
Read Luke 8:9-10…
9 His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant.
10 And He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.
The Disciples question the parable’s meaning. Parables test the spiritual understanding of those who hear them, “He who has ears, let him hear.” It is possible hear something, and not really know or understand what was said. If they would hear the spiritual message and understand their need for forgiveness, they would repent and be saved. Christ illustrates this truth by using an everyday life activity of Palestine - a farmer with a bag of seed over his shoulder walks in a cultivated field throwing handfuls of seed, until the field is covered.
Read Luke 8:11-15…
11 “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.
12 Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.
13 Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.
14 The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
15 But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.
Jesus explains the parable: the seed is the Word of God, the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ; the soil represents four different human heart response to God’s Word.
Soil #1 - Luke 8:12…
12 Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.
Walking paths (narrow roads) were created around the fields; this untilled and hard packed earth prevented seeds from taking root; this refers to those who hear the Word of God (the Seed) but they don’t understand, their hardened heart cannot receive God’s Word, His message of salvation, they remain in unbelief.
This type of hearer is indifferent, for there is no response to the Gospel, no sense of remorse, guilt, or need for the Savior, this is unbelief
(cf. Ephesians 1:13-14)
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
and therefore, without God’s Spirit, remain unsaved, guilty of sin.
Soil #2 - Luke 8:13…
13 Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.
The rocky places were underlying beds of solid rock [limestone] just below the depth of the plow blade, allowing newly germinated plants to spring up and appear healthy and hardy; but because of their shallow root system, they would quickly wither and die as the sun rose and heated the earth.
This type of hearer is superficial, at first appearing active in the church by attending prayer meetings, Bible studies, Sunday worship, etc.; but, because there has been no repentance, no regeneration of his spirit by God’s Spirit, he is unable to resist the pressure of friends, family, etc., who may criticize him for his faith, so he quickly falls away, for he never really belonged to Christ
(cf 1John 2:18-19).
18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.
19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.
Soil #3 - Luke 8:14…
14 The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
Thorns infested much of the soil in Palestine, but weren't visible right after cultivation. However, as the grain began to grow, so did the thistle bearing weeds which would quickly displace the grain by taking away the moisture, nourishment, and sunlight, literally choking the grain to death!
This hearer is worldly, and although he is involved in some of the activities of the church, his real focus is in the world, not in Christ. Being overcome and chocked by the worries of life, deceitfulness of wealth, and influence of pleasure, he is enslaved by the things that don’t lead to godliness, rendering him incapable of producing fruit
(cf. 1John 2:15-17).
15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
Soil #4 - Luke 8:15…
15 But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.
This time the seed is sown on “good” soil. What makes this dirt “good” and the dirt in the other three examples “not good?” Remember, these soils represent different heart conditions and responses to the gospel.
The "good dirt" represents the heart of a receptive and repentant hearer, one who hears and believes the message, acknowledging that he is a sinner, repenting of his sin, and trusting Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
This man not only hears, but also obeys God’s Word, doing what it says, demonstrating that he has responded to the message of the gospel and is born again
(cf. James 1:22-25).
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
In John 3:3,
3 Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Jesus went on to say
(John 3:6-8),
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Romans 3:10,
10 as it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
Romans 3:23,
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23,
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:8,
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 8:1,
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
How do you become “in” Christ Jesus?
Romans 10:10,
10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
John 1:12-13,
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
If God is your Father, you will desire to please Him
(Ephesians 5:1),
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;
If you don’t have a desire to please God, if you don't care about others, if you have no desire to share Christ with unbelievers, you are either totally disobedient and living in sin, or you don’t belong to God and you are still bad dirt.
2Corinthians 13:5,
5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test?
Think about it, God formed Adam out of dirt, and breathed life into him. God created humans and said they were good; but that was before sin entered the world. Ever since the first children were born to Adam and Eve, we have all been born in sin, being born as bad dirt.
It is Jesus who turns bad dirt into good dirt
(Acts 4:12),
12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
(Romans 10:13),
13 for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”
God turns no one away! Hard hearts are softened and made receptive by the message of God’s love made effectual through God’s Son, to all who will repent of sin and believe in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Lord and Savior: crucified, resurrected, and coming again
(cf. 2Corinthians 5:17-21),
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Pastor Mike
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