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Origins of Unbelief

The Condition of the Heart

TEXTMatt. 13:1-9

INTRODUCTION:

A.      JESUS KNOW US AND PROMOTES OR THWARTS GROWTH OF FAITH.

B.      CONDITION OF HEART MUST BE RIGHT FOR RECEPTION OF THE TRUTH.

          1.       Proper seed must be sown for right fruit ( Luke 8:11 ).

          2.       Different results on different hearts – like fire on wax and clay.

C.      VARIOUS “HEART CONDITIONS” THAT PREVENT RECEPTION:

I.      THE WAYSIDE HEARER

 – DOESN’T UNDERSTAND ( 13:418-19 ).

A.      TOO BRIEF EXPOSURE ( vs. 18 ).

          1.       Teachers of error present a danger ( 2 Pet. 2:18-19 ).

          2.       Lack of interest.]

B.      RESULTS IN LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ( 1 Cor. 2:14-16 ).

C.      PREOCCUPATIONS PREVENT DELVING INTO THE WORD. 

          IT IS TO HIM FOOLISHNESS ( 1 Cor. 1:22-24 ).

II.     THE ROCKY PLACES HEARER

 – JOYFUL, THOUGHTLESS ( 13:5-6, 20-21 ).

A.      RECEIVES, BUT WITHOUT THOUGHT – WHEN TROUBLE ARISES BECAUSE

          OF THE WORD, THEY REJECT.

B.      DIDN’T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE GETTING INTO.

C.      SOMETIMES EMOTIONAL, EXCITABLE, IMPULSIVE.

D.      Luke 14:25-33.  DOES NOT ANTICIPATE THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP.

E.      John 15:20;  2 Tim. 2:3;  3:12.

F.      AS JAMES SAID ( James 1:8 ).

III.    THE THORNY GROUND HEARER

 – FAITH IS CROWDED OUT ( 13:7, 22 ).

A.      BY CARES – NECESSITIES, DAILY PROBLEMS ( Luke 10:38-42 ).

B.      BY PLEASURES, ALLUREMENTS OF THE WORLD ( 1 John 2:15-17 ).

C.      DOESN’T SET OUT TO FALL – DRIFTS ( Heb. 2:1 ).

D.      A QUESTION OF PRIORITIES ( Matt. 16:24-26 ).

E.      Luke 9:57-62;  1 Tim. 6:9-10.

IV.   THE RELIGIOUS ROBOT.

A.      ONE WHO CONFORMS BECAUSE OF OTHERS.

B.      SEEKS TO PLEASE MEN ( Gal. 1:10 ).

          1.       Desire for money, power, prestige.

          2.       Intimidated, fear.

C.      UNQUESTIONING, FOLLOWS GROUP, BUT REBELS AT GOD’S WORD.

          SUCH WAS THE JEWS’ SERVICE ( John 5:41-44;  Matt. 15:13-14 ).

V.    THE MORALLY RETARDED.

A.      KNOWS THE WORD AND EXPRESSES VERBALLY A DEVOTION FOR IT,

          BUT ( 2 Tim. 3:1-5 ).

B.      THE CHURCH’S GREATEST PROBLEM – WORLDLINESS AND A LOVE OF

          SIN ( Rom. 12:9 ).

VI.   THE GOOD SOIL ( Matt. 13:823 ).  HEARS AND ACCEPTS.

A.      IT IS FROM GOD – IT WILL BEAR FRUIT ( 2 Thess. 2:13 ).

B.      KNOWS WHAT IS IMPORTANT ( Matt. 6:33 ).

C.      KNOWS IT MUST BE ACTED ON ( James 1:22 ).

CONCLUSIONWHAT IS THE CONDITION OF YOUR HEART?