If you turn back to Mark chapter
four, I've entitled this message, The
Four Types of Hearers. When I was in Kingsport this
weekend with Brother Gabe Stoniker, I told him I was going to try
to preach on this passage tonight, the four types of hearers, the
parable of the sower. And he said something that I
don't remember ever hearing, before that certainly resonated
with me. He said, all four soils are in
me. What do you think of that? All four soils are in me, present,
tense. The hard beaten path, the stony
ground, the thorn infested ground, and
the good ground. And I thought about that and
I said, yes, I can see all four of those in me, present tense. Now, when we read that passage
of scripture, what was the difference between the good ground and the
bad grounds. Well, if you were following along,
the difference was fruit. The good ground bore fruit. The other three grounds did not
bear fruit. Now there are two things that
strike me about that. Number one, is if there is not
fruit, there is not salvation. Now, that's so. Now, the second
thing that strikes me about that is the danger of looking for
fruit instead of Christ. As soon as I said that, everybody
in here tightened up. What kind of fruit do I have?
Started looking within, and that's always wrong. At all times am
I to look to Christ only. And if I'm starting to look to
see how my fruit is doing, to see what kind of evidence I have
of being saved, I have left the gospel at that point. So I wouldn't
in any way take away from the importance of fruit, no fruit,
no salvation. And he's talking about the fruit
of the Holy Spirit. And I would also warn myself and you don't
Look for fruit. Don't do it. You're fool if you
do. Look to Christ only. The four types of hearers. Now you're going to hear yourself.
I'm going to hear myself described. The four types of hearers. Verse three, Mark chapter four. Harket, Lord says, listen. Wouldn't it be a blessing to
just listen? All the cares and thoughts would
be driven away by the spirit of God and we just listen to
what's being said. Harket, behold, there went out
a sower to sow. Look in verse nine. Hark it. And when he ends up
this part of the message before he expounded it to his disciples,
he said, he that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And not everybody
has ears to hear. That's a sobering thing, isn't
it? Lord, give me ears to hear. I need ears to hear. And if you don't give me ears
to hear, I'm not going to hear. He that hath ears to hear. Let
him hear. Verse 10, and when he was alone,
they that were about him with the 12 asked of him the parable.
Now, if you didn't know the gospel, and if you'd never heard the
Lord's explanation of this parable, would you have any idea what
it meant? I wouldn't have a clue. I couldn't even guess. I wouldn't
have any idea what it means. Verse 11, and he said unto them,
the 12, unto you it is given to know
the mystery of the kingdom of God. But unto them that are without,
all these things are done in parables that seeing they may
see and not perceive. And hearing they may hear audibly,
but not understand lest at any time they should be converted
and their sin should be forgiven them. Now, two or three things
about those words, what a statement regarding the sovereignty of
God in salvation. You've been given ears to hear,
they haven't. Now, that just strikes me like
this, why me? Why me? He also says regarding these
people who don't hear that seeing they may see and not perceive.
Hearing, they hear, but they don't understand. Lest at any
time, if they did hear, if they did see, if they did understand,
they should be converted, turned, and their sins should be forgiven
then. Hearken, what makes me want to
listen, doesn't it, you? Hearken. Behold, there went out
a sower to sow. And we know that that is a reference
to the preaching of the gospel. What's going on right now, the
seed being the word of God. And it came to pass as he sowed,
some fell by the wayside, the hard beaten path. The seed could not penetrate
that. And then the Lord tells us the fowls of the air came
down while I was laying there and gobbled them up, devoured
them. You can just picture that in your mind. It's the seed,
but it doesn't do any good here. It's on the hard beaten path. And then verse five, and some
fell on stony ground. Now the soil looked good, but
underneath it was stones. The seed could go underground,
but because of the stones, it couldn't take root. The stones
blocked it. It couldn't have a root to gather
moisture. And so when the sun came out, the rocks were heated,
it germinated quickly. It came up quickly. People were
amazed. How did that come up so quickly? And the sun scorched
it and it died because it had no root. It had no moisture. It had no way of receiving that
moisture. Verse eight, or verse seven, and some fell
among thorns. And thorns grew up and choked
it and it yielded no fruit. Where these seeds were sown,
was a place of much weeds and thorns competing for the nutrients
of the soil. And the weeds choked this plant
when it came up. It was not able to bear fruit. There it was, but it bore no
fruit. Verse eight, and the other fell
on good ground and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased. brought forth some 30, some 60,
some 100-fold. Now, this didn't have the rocks
in it. I have no doubt that it's ground that had been previously
broken up so the seed could get in there. The furrow was there.
And it took root. It was able to get the moisture
and the nutrients from the soil. And it grew up and brought forth
fruit, some 30, some 60, and some 100-fold. Now, we know that the disciples
in Matthew's account says, why are you speaking in these parables?
And I can understand that question, because I try to put myself in
their place. If he told me that parable and did give me the explanation,
I could just see all the disciples looking at, what's he talking
about? Anybody know? I wouldn't have known. But he
said, it's given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom.
And all they're going to hear is parables that they're not
going to understand. and I'm going to expound them to you. Verse 14. The sower soweth the word. Now, Matthew calls it the word
of the kingdom. Luke calls it the word of God. But it's the gospel message.
The word, the word, the message from the word, the written word
that reveals the living word, the Lord Jesus Christ. That's
what is meant by the word, the word, the message. It's an actual
message, a gospel message from this book, the word that reveals
the living eternal word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. I like
what Paul called it in 1 Corinthians 1.18. the word of the cross. You know where it says the preaching
of the cross? It's the Greek word logos. It
is the word of the cross. And I love saying this. I would
like to think I came up with it, but I heard Henry Mahan say
it. The cross is the whole counsel of God. I love saying that. The cross of the Lord Jesus Christ
is the whole counsel of God. It's the theme of the eternities.
Before time began, before the creation of the universe, what
do we know? The lamb slain from the foundation
of the world. And after time is wrapped up
and eternity begins, what is the song gonna be? Worthy is
the lamb that was slain. The cross, the word of God, is
the full revelation of God's character. The cross of the Lord Jesus Christ,
the word of God, is the purpose of this creation. For the cross
to be displayed. It's the purpose of the fall.
I love saying this. The cross was not a response
to the fall. The fall was for the cross of
the Lord Jesus Christ. The cross is the whole counsel
of God. It's the message that tells us
how God can be just and justify the ungodly. Paul said to Timothy,
preach the word. That's the word that's being
sown, the gospel message, the word of God. Now, all Hearers
hear the same message, the word of God and the word of God, the
gospel, this entire book made of 66 books written over a 1500
year period only has one message. And the only way you're going
to understand that is if God himself reveals it to you. And
you will not understand this unless he reveals it. The word
of God, the sower sows the word. Now look in verse 15. And these are they by the wayside
where the word is sown, but when they have heard Satan cometh
immediately and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. Matthew's account said, They
understood not. They heard the truth and they
understood not. And this is not a thing about
IQ. This is a thing about revelation. If God doesn't reveal himself
to me, if he didn't reveal himself to you, we will not understand. And if I don't understand, I'll
prove myself to be one of those wise and prudent that he has
hid these things from. I think of that passage where
the Lord rejoiced in spirit and said, I thank thee, O Father,
Lord of heaven and earth, because you've hid these things, the
things of salvation, the word of God, from the wise and prudent,
and revealed them unto babes, even so, Father, for so it seemed
good in thy sight. Now, why is it that they don't
understand? Why is it that they don't understand? Let me give you one reason. They
don't hear as a sinner. Now, it really is that simple.
They do not hear as a sinner. It's only as a sinner that you
can really understand salvation by grace. And if you're not a
sinner, and I've... Somebody says, well, I'm a sinner,
I make mistakes. That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking
about somebody who all you are is sin. All you do is sin. All you think is sin. That's what a sinner is. I'm
not talking about somebody, well, I make mistakes. I know, I don't always do the
right thing. No, we're talking, it's a lot worse than that. You
were born evil and you're still evil. You know what I'm saying
is so. Every sinner does. Now, it is
only a sinner, and I love that song, a sinner is a sacred thing. The Holy Ghost hath made him
so. It is only as a sinner that you
can have any understanding of the Word of God. It's only as
a sinner that you need the Word of God. It's only as a sinner
that you can respect the God of the Bible and be awed by Him
and reverence Him and wonder, how can this God have something
to do with somebody like me? But this person does not hear
that way. And the devil will come and introduce
something else to their mind and it's gone. It's gone. How many times have people come
here, heard the word of God and walked out the door and never
give it another thought? The devil has injected something
into their mind and it just wasn't important. Verses 16 and 17. And these are
they likewise. which are sewn on stony ground,
who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it
with gladness. They hear the gospel, and I'm
talking about the true gospel, and they say, that's the first
thing that's ever made sense to me. I see that the Bible actually teaches
that. They receive it with gladness, not madness. You know, I tell
you what, I'd rather somebody first get mad than get glad.
You know, whenever somebody, I mean, I hate saying it this
way. cynical, but you know, when somebody leaves this place coming
for the first time saying, that was wonderful. I got my doubts about you. I know
I'm cynical, but it's more realistic than cynical. But at any rate,
they hear the gospel and they receive it immediately with gladness. Boy, this is great and have no
root in themselves. They don't have that root that
receives the grace of God. And so endure, but for a time
afterward, when affliction or persecution arises for the word's
sake. Immediately, they're offended. Now, they hear this message. They like this message. They
go to their mom or dad or brother or sister or worker and tell
them what they believe. And they find out that they think,
you're crazy. That's awful. That's it. They're persecuted.
They see something is going to cause trouble. And they think,
I didn't sign up for this. It's not that important to me.
And why is it not that important to you? Because you're not here.
And it's a sinner. If you're here as a sinner, it's of infinite
importance to you. And you cannot take anything
else. But these people hear the truth,
receive it, but they are not willing to have any problems
for the word's sake. Look in Revelation chapter 12.
Verse 10. And I heard a loud voice saying
in heaven, now has come salvation and strength and the kingdom
of our God and the power of his Christ. For the accuser of our
brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day
and night. You know the word devil means
accuser. Accuser. The slanderer. And if he was
watching you for 24 hours, the last 24 hours, and he looked
at everything you did, and he came up and slandered you before
God and accused you before God and said he did this, this, this,
and this, would he be telling the truth? Yes, he would. Yes, he would. I don't care what the accusation
could be. He could be telling the truth.
Now, it says in verse 11, they overcame him. Even though he
was giving all this truth, they overcame him. How? By the blood
of the Lamb. You see, whatever accusation
he brings is void and null. It's gone. Who shall lay anything
to the charge of God's elect? Can't do it. Who is he to condemn? It's Christ that died. Yea, rather
that's risen again, who's even at the right hand of God, who
also maketh intercession for us. They overcame him by the
blood of the Lamb. But look what it says next. and
by the word of their testimony. Do you wanna hear my testimony?
You wanna hear my personal testimony? The blood of the Lamb. Anything
else? Nope. Nope. The only way I stand
before God accepted is through the blood of the Lamb, the blood
of the Lord Jesus Christ, that precious blood. That's my testimony. You know any other testimony
than that? I think it's totally bogus. I can't even stand to
listen to them. These personal testimonies people
give. Here's the testimony that is real. The blood of the lamb. And look what it says next. It
says, they loved not their lives unto the death. You know what
that means? That means the blood of the lamb,
the gospel of the blood of the lamb is a gospel worth dying
for. You believe it is? It's worth dying for. If you
hear the gospel as a sinner, it's worth dying for for you.
Now, these people who were on stony ground, it wasn't worth
dying for for them. They could be bought. They could
be bought. I didn't sign up for this. That's
because the gospel was not precious to them. It wasn't all they had.
If it's all you have, you can't give it up. Well, they leave, they're gone. They went out from us, John said,
but they were not of us. For if they were of us, they
would no doubt have continued with us. But they went out that
they might be made manifest, that they were not all of us.
These people leave with a bang. They start out like shooting
stars. Everybody's impressed with the
religiosity and with their spiritual power. but it's gonna flicker
out right quick. I've seen it happen. Back to
our text in Mark chapter four. Verse 18. And these are they which are
some among thorns such as hear the word. They hear the word.
I'm talking about the word of God. And I have no doubt they
profess to believe the word of God. They hear. The word and the cares of this world. You know anything about that?
The cares of this world. You got a lot of cares of this
world, don't you? The cares of raising a family, the cares of
making a living, being a parent, whatever it may be. The cares
of this world. and the deceitfulness of riches." Well, riches make promises that
they can't keep. The love of money is the root
of all evil, from which some have coveted after and have erred
from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. The deceitfulness of riches. and the lusts, the desires of
other things entering in, that covers a whole lot of things,
doesn't it? The lusts of other things entering in choke the
word and it becometh unfruitful. Now, this thorn-choked hearer
is a complete stranger to really loving God as he is, loving his glorious attributes,
loving his way of salvation. There's no true joy for who God
is. All the joy is based on how my
circumstances are. They don't know anything about
that peace that comes from resting in Christ only, knowing that
he made peace. There's no longsuffering because
they don't understand that God is longsuffering to them. There's
no gentleness or goodness towards other people because they don't
know anything about the mercy of God themselves. There's no
faith, there's no meekness, there's no temperance. They do not bear
fruit. But you know what's scary about
these people? I believe they never leave. There they sit. There they sit. There they sit. I don't wanna be one of those people
and that scares me. Can't you see where that could be you?
Can't you see how easily that could be you? I sure can. Verse 20. Now, let me say again, the reason
these people heard like this is because they didn't hear as
a sinner. If they heard as a sinner, the gospel would be more important
to them than the deceitfulness of riches and the cares of this
world and the lusts of other things. It would be more important.
And if I'm not hearing as a sinner, I'm going to, see things as important
or more important. Verse 20, and these are they
which are sown on good ground, such as hear the word and receive it. They welcome
it. They embrace it. It's good news. And they bring forth fruit, some
30 fold, some 60, and some 100. Now, why is it that these men
hear and receive the gospel? Because they're hearing as a
sinner. And it comes as good news to them. They love what
they're hearing. This is exactly, precisely what
they need. You know who needs grace? A sinner.
You know who needs Christ is all somebody who doesn't have
anything else. If you don't have anything else, Christ is all
is mighty good news to you. Everything God requires, He looks
to His Son for. If you really believe you're
a sinner, that's the only thing you find peace in. That's the only thing
you find rest in and rejoice in. It takes a sinner to understand
the need of grace. I tell you what, a real sinner
is not going to have a hard time with total depravity because
he knows that's him. A real sinner is going to love God's electing
mercy because they know they won't be saved without it. A
real sinner is going to rejoice and delight in the effectual,
successful, definite atonement of Christ. That's the only hope
I have is that Christ died for me. A real sinner wants grace
to be irresistible and invincible. Now, to the fellow that received
the word in stoning ground, it was just doctrine to him. It
was just doctrine. He wasn't hearing as a sinner.
But someone that hears as a sinner Oh, it's a complete different
perspective, a complete different understanding. Now, if somebody
says, what do you mean by hearing is a sinner? I've got one word. Need. Need. The whole need not a physician. but they that are sick. You know, as long as I'm feeling
pretty good, you know, good to have a doctor if I ever need
one, but it's not something that enters my mind much. But oh,
if you're sick, it becomes completely different. A sinner is someone who needs
the grace of God. Now, Matthew says he understands
what he hears, and a sinner understands the necessity of Christ being
all, of salvation being all, of grace. I didn't understand.
I understand my need of the Bible being the word of God. I mean,
it's not just something I argue over or believe in. I have to
have this revelation from God, because I don't trust myself,
what I think. I don't trust what you tell me.
I've got to see it written in the word of God. I need this. You need this. this. I love what Luke says. He says
they receive the word in an honest and a good heart. This is the new heart given in
regeneration. It's honest before God. It doesn't pretend to be what
it's not. It's honest before God. It knows all it is, is sin. And do you know the only heart
that knows that's a good heart? The good heart that He gives
us is the only one that can recognize what sin is in the first place.
Honest and good. The heart in regeneration. Unlike the man who claims fellowship
with God and walks in darkness, I think that's scripture. In
1 John, if we say we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness,
we lie. We do not the truth. If we say we have fellowship
with him and we walk in the darkness of salvation by works, all of
our pretended fellowship is a lie. Plenty of people claim it, but
we do not the truth. Mark tells us he receives the
word. He keeps the word. He believes the word. He welcomes
the word. Now I'm talking about hearing
as a sinner. Listen to this statement. I made
this statement a couple of weeks ago. I want to make it again.
I love this. I believe this. The only thing
that gives me assurance that Jesus Christ died for me is that
I'm a sinner. How about you? You think Jesus
Christ died for you because Anything other than that? Well, I feel
sorry for you if you do. But the scripture says Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the
chief. Therefore, I can conclude on
the authority of God's word, he died for me because I'm one
of those. Now this is the only one who
bears fruit, the fruit of love to God, love to his gospel, joying
in the character and attributes of God, joying in his way of
salvation, having the peace that comes from justification, being
long-suffering. You know God's been long-suffering
to you and you know he's on the throne. Gentleness and goodness,
having experienced the mercy of God, faith, meekness and temperance
before God. Now, the difference between the
good ground hearer and the other hearers is God's grace. And that is seen by how you hear. Do you hear right now as a sinner. Now, somebody may get irritated
with that. I'm sorry. Sorry. I say it again. Do you hear as
a sinner? If you do, you're on good ground. The gospel is for you. Let's
pray. Lord, we ask that you would take
your word. And so it in a heart that you've
given. The good and honest heart that
comes from the spirit that receives the word that keeps the word
that holds on to the word that believes the word Lord, how we
thank you for the simplicity of the gospel. How we thank you
for the word of God. Now we ask in Christ's name that
you would bless this to our hearts for the glory of your name. In
Christ's name we pray, amen.