Heart Condition

[I’m so excited Sunday is the start of our Revival services with Bro. Sam Davison preaching. As I’ve been praying about the upcoming meetings it has caused me to wonder about my heart condition. Not just for Revival but for all times, am I ready to receive the Word?]

In Luke 8:4-21 Jesus gives us the parable of the sower or you could call it the parable of the soil. This biblical truth is talking of the soil as the condition of man's heart and how or if he receives God’s Word.

The Indifferent Hearer –the soil of the “way side”, borders that are packed down and hard. This man’s heart is totally unreceptive to truth—indifferent. It bears no fruit and is therefore useless.

Impulsive Hearer—the soil is shallow with underlying bedrock. The heart is emotional and insincere. This man does not count the cost of receiving the Word and is unwilling to pay the price. The tests of life reveal that no seed has really take root. Stubbornness keeps God’s Word from deeply penetrating his heart making him useless to God.

Infested Hearer—the soil is infested with weeds. This person seems receptive to the Word but is unwilling to “weed out” the distractions that consume his life—anxieties, riches, pleasures. He doesn’t yield to God making himself useless.

Ideal Hearer—the good soil receives the seed (the Word) and produces fruit. It is the heart that hears the Word and keeps it. It is the heart that has not let anything crowd out or hinder the growth of the seed of the Word. Acts 10:33……hear all things that are commanded –And—Acts 17:11…..received the word with all readiness of mind and search the scriptures daily. This heart goes to whatever extent necessary to nurture the seed to fruit-bearing maturity and is truly useful to God.

“Hearing” in the Scriptures always means more than just auditory reception. It describes a high quality of attention and retention.

• Attention—In choosing to listen to God
• Meditation—in choosing to think like God.

[It is so important to be mindful in preparing our hearts to receive God's Word. Just as a farmer must till and prepare the soil before the seed is planted. Is our heart ready or do we feel hard, cold or indifferent?......or are we being stiff-necked & stubborn?......or are we easily distracted which gives Satan the opportunity to snatch it away? In other words, we must till the soil of our hearts (examine our hearts, yield, submit to God) with the purpose in mind to grow spiritually in our usefulness to God.]