Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

Free Grace Media

Of Princeton, New Jersey

 

AuthorClay Curtis
TitleFour Kinds of Hearers
Bible TextLuke 8:5-18
Date01-Jun-2018
Article Type Article
PDF Format pdf
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Audio HI-FI Listen: Heed How Ye Hear (32 kbps)  /  [go to notes]
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FOUR KINDS OF HEARERS

 

Very few hear and rejoice in the gospel of Christ.  In the parable of the sower only one out of four heard. (Lu 8: 4-5) I have seen young people grow up, move out and cease coming to hear the gospel.   Do not ever take for granted the fact that God has sent the gospel to you nor forsake the preaching of the gospel.  If God saves us this will be the means by which God does it from the first hour to the last. (1 Cor 1: 21; 1 Pet 1: 23-2: 3; Rom 10: 12-15) Take heed how ye hear!

 

Wayside Hearers: “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… 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.” (Lu 8: 5, 12)  These are most common. The fowls of worldly care and fleshly lusts take the word away as soon as the message is over. Take heed therefore how ye hear. (Gen 15: 11)

 

Stonyground Hearer: “And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture…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.” (Lu 8: 6, 13)  The truth of the gospel finds an entrance with these hearers but only as far as the natural understanding. So when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.” (Lu 8: 13; Mt 4: 17)  Christ is not formed within, (Lu 8: 13; Gal 4: 19), they have no new heart created of God in righteousness and true holiness and they do not have the love of Christ dwelling in their hearts! Without this it is impossible to stand with Christ against loved ones or opposition of any kind. So they side with others against Christ and his people and disappear.  Take heed therefore how ye hear.

 

Thornyground Hearers: And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it….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.” (Lu 8: 7, 14) The thorny ground hearer attempts what Christ says cannot be done: to serve God and mammon.  Ccares such as a spouse, children, occupation, bills, community, the deceitfulness of riches, the pleasures of life, applause, position, and power steal their hearts. Something is more valuable to them than Christ. So they fall away. (Lu 12: 34; Mt 6: 24) Take heed how you hear!

 

Goodground Hearers. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold…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.” (Lu 8: 8, 15)  These are God’s elect given a new heart of God in regeneration. (Eph 2: 8-9) All their fruit is of God. They do not all bring forth the same amount of fruit but all bring forth fruit. One of the fruits of a “good-ground hearer” is that they take heed how they hear. (Lu 8: 8-9)

 

    It is a rare thing to hear the gospel with spiritual ears. In this parable, only one in four was given ears to really hear and believe. Take heed how you hear.