Apr 28, 2024 "Soft Ground" (Matthew 13:19-23)

 

Soft Ground

Matthew 13:19-23

 

Before the reformation, the written word was rare. Few could read and fewer had bibles. Even today, many people are not allowed to have bibles, so people hold onto every word and write it down secretly.  

 

In our society, we have an abundance of religious freedom and a plethora of bible sermons and commentaries as well as translated bibles.

 

In Matthew 13 we read about the sower and the four types of soil which the seed lands or the types of people who hear the word.

 

Matthew 13:19 ESV

[19] When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.  

 

Matthew 13:20-21 ESV

[20] As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, [21] yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.

 

Matthew 13:22 ESV

[22] As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.  

 

Matthew 13:23 ESV

[23] As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”  

 

In order to avoid the bad soil, we need to do the opposite of what prevents the word from taking root and growth. We must put God first in every situation and praise him no matter what. We need to remove the desires of this world  

 

Also, we need to sow seeds and be like sower. In fact, Jesus has ordered us to do this.

 

Matthew 13:23 ESV

[23] As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”  

 

God softens the ground, fertilizes the ground and removes the rocks so that the plants will grow from the seeds. We do this by loving the people who we share the gospel with. This is the same way that God softened our hearts.

• There Is None Like You
• O Praise The Name
• Agnus Dei

211 There Is None Like You

 There Is None Like You

CCLI Song # 674545

Lenny LeBlanc

Chorus

There is none like You

No one else can touch

My heart like You do

I could search

For all eternity long and find

There is none like You

(2X) 

Verse

Your mercy flows like a river wide

And healing comes from Your hands

Suffering children are safe in Your arms

There is none like You

Chorus

There is none like You

No one else can touch

My heart like You do

I could search

For all eternity long and find

There is none like You

(2X) 

I could search

For all eternity long and find

There is none like You

주님과 같이

CCLI 곡 번호 6596170

Lenny LeBlanc

Chorus

주님과 같이

내 마음 만지는 분은 없네

오랜 세월 찾아 난 알았네

내겐 주밖에 없네

Verse

주 자비 강같이 흐르고

주 손길 치료하네

고통받는 자녀 품으시니

주밖에 없네

Apr 21, 2024 "The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in Our Lives" (Genesis 2:9)

 

The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in Our Lives

 

Genesis 2:9 ESV

[9] And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

 

Sometimes young people might ask how does taking a test glorify God. Yet, it does because when we do our best, we glorify God. Then, the next question is why is work so hard?

 

We know that because sin entered the world, life has become hard. God put the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the garden, and this might seem strange if Adam and Eve were told not to eat from it. The tree is pleasing to the eye and in the middle in the garden. It is not hidden away or made to look hostile.

 

God desired that we love him with free will. God had to give us free will even though it was risky. If our only option was to love God, it would not really be love.

 

It may be that Adam and Eve ate the seductive fruit because their love for God was insufficient. It is true that they were disobedient and did what God told them not to, but they did not hate God or wish God harm.

 

The tree of knowledge exists in our lives today.  They are placed in such a way we are enticed and tempted wherever we go. This tree is very tempting for us. However, God wants the proof that we truly love him. The Devil does not tempt us things that are not appealing or look disgusting. God is looking for our love. He wants us to seek him and desire him.

 

We should reflect on our temptation, we should remember that God wants us to love him more.

Blessed Be Your Name
10,000 reasons (Bless the Lord o my soul)
Goodness Of God

Apr 14, 2024 "Passover" (Exodus 12:3-8)

 

Passover  

Exodus 12:4-8

 

The Gospels in the New Testament give us the best explanation of salvation; however, in the Old Testament the story of Passover was first passage of salvation. The lamb's blood is needed to save the people of Israel.

 

John 1:29 ESV

[29] The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!  

 

In the New Testament, we understand that Jesus is the lamb of God which takes away sin.  

 

Exodus 12:7 ESV

[7] “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.

 

Although the Hebrews were told to eat the lamb, it was not enough to be saved. They needed to put the blood on the doorposts so the angel of death would pass over.

 

Much the same it is no good to hear and know about salvation and what Jesus has done. We have to put into practice what God and His word tells to do.  

James 1:22 ESV

[22] But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  

 

We have to walk in the light and have fellowship with each other. Jesus’ blood has cleansed us from our sin so that we can have fellowship.

 

1 John 1:7 ESV

[7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.  

 

We have to repent and turn away from our wicked ways. We need to do more than just ask for forgiveness and do good works at church. It is a deliberate choice to change our lives and live for God.

 

Acts 3:19 ESV

[19] Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

 

Following Jesus is not easy. Following God is also not easy. The children of Israel went through this in the desert. They wanted to return to their old lives. It is easy to forget the misery we have escaped from.

 

Exodus 14:12 ESV

[12] Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”  

 

God did not want the Israelites to forget the bitterness of slavery. Bread without yeast does not taste as good regular bread and bitter herbs are strong. God did not want us to forget about the misery sin brings. It is not to make us feel guilty but remind us of the grace God has given us.

 

Exodus 12:8 ESV

[8] They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it.  

 

We must remember that God is with us. Just as the Israelites were instructed to remember what God told them to do and how He freed them.

 

God wants them to select largest most perfect of the Lambs. After a year, they are no longer Lambs but sheep.

 

Exodus 12:5 ESV

[5] Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats,

 

 

There is very much a community aspect of sharing. This has always been God's plan to save everyone. It was not limited to one or a certain group.

 

Exodus 12:4 ESV

[4] And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb.  

 

We too need to share the Gospel to others. Jesus is the only path to salvation. If we accept Jesus' grace it will overflow in us.

 

So Will I

King Of My Heart

How He Loves