Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Sower and Four Types of Soil (Matthew 13:3-8,18-23, Mark 4:3-20, Luke 8:5-15) (01/25/24)
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TITLE: Jesus and The Four Types of Hearts | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lakella Davenport
02/01/24 -
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The heart is a very important organ in our bodies. It may be the most important organ in our body. Without a functioning heart we would die or cease to exist. The heart supplies blood (which carries oxygen and nutrients) to all parts of the body. If the arteries in our hearts become clogged, our blood won’t flow properly throughout our bodies, and we will develop some sort of heart failure or heart ailment or disease. Therefore, we must diligently work to keep our hearts healthy. What we put into our bodies or consume as food matters a lot. We must aim to have a diet rich in heart healthy foods that will provide nourishment and strengthen our hearts.
Metaphorically speaking, the word of God is our daily bread, our food for our hearts. Jesus is the living word of God (John 1:14). Jesus is the Bread of Life. Jesus said in John 6 verse 48: “I am that bread of life.”
Our hearts are the soil for the word of God. The word of God is the seed that is planted in our hearts when we turn from our sins (repent) and commit our lives to God. The Bible tells us to keep our heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life,” (Proverbs 4: 23). We must not let sin and worldliness enter into our hearts. Our hearts are the ground for the planting of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. What seeds should we plant in our hearts to give it the best nourishment? We must plant seeds that will give rise to the fruits of the Holy Spirit. These fruits of the Holy Spirit will give our hearts the nourishment it needs to live and inherit eternal life.
The Four Types of Hearts
Heart Number One-Heart that Received seed (word of God) by the Wayside (Matthew 13: 19). (Heart that lacks understanding and has disbelief.)
To avoid having this type of heart the believer must believe the word of God that they have heard (Luke 8: 12). In believing, they must get an understanding of the word by dedicating themselves to prayerful studying of the word and they must come to a knowledge of who Christ is and his purpose for us on earth.
Heart Number Two-Heart that Received seed (word of God) into stony places (Matthew 13: 20-21). (Heart that loses hope and faith in the face of trials, tribulations, and temptations. Heart that lacks roots). Luke 8: verse 6 states that as soon as these individuals bear fruit “it is withered away; because it lacked moisture.” To avoid having this stony heart, we must be rooted and grounded in the love of Christ Jesus. We must abide in Christ. We must put all our faith and trust in him. When trials and tribulations come because of the word we must keep our faith and not lose heart or give into worry and anxiety. We must not let the spirit of offense take place in our lives. We must continue to live according to God’s word no matter what situations may arise in our lives.
Heart Number Three-Heart that Received seed (word of God) among thorns (Matthew 13:22). This type of heart is unfruitful. To avoid being unfruitful when we receive the word of God into our hearts; we must not let sin and the desires for worldly riches and things choke the word of God out of our lives. We must put on the new man. We must not live a worldly life seeking after the things and riches of the world. We must seek God and the riches of his kingdom. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also,” (Matthew 6:21).
Heart Number Four-Heart that Beareth Fruit that remains. Heart that received seed on good ground (Matthew 6: 23). This type of heart not only receives the word but has an understanding of God’s word. All believers should seek to have this type of heart. This type of heart seeks God and his word above anything else in their lives. They take time to learn of Christ and his ways through prayerful study of God’s word. They obey his commands and forever strive to love God with all their heart and loves their neighbor as they love themselves. This type of heart bears the fruits of the Holy Spirt and is faithful toward God’s word no matter their circumstances.
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