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Merritt: YOU READ THIS BOOK
WITH YOUR EYES.
YOU HEAR THIS BOOK WITH YOUR EARS.
BUT YOU RECEIVE THIS BOOK WITH YOUR HEART.
THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.
JUST LIKE ANY OTHER BOOK,
YOU READ IT WITH YOUR EYES;
YOU HEAR IT WITH YOUR EAR.
BUT YOU RECEIVE IT WITH YOUR HEART.
female announcer: WITH HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR LIFE
THIS IS TOUCHING LIVES WITH JAMES MERRITT.
Merritt: WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT--
THE LAST FEW WEEKS--
ABOUT MISSING PERSONS.
AND WE HAVE DEFINED A MISSING PERSON
AS ANYONE WHO IS FAR FROM GOD
WHO NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT NEAR TO GOD.
ANYBODY WHO DOES NOT HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
THROUGH JESUS CHRIST IS AN EMPTY PERSON.
THAT'S REPRESENTED BY THE EMPTY CHAIRS.
EVERY EMPTY TABLE, EVERY EMPTY CHAIR IN THIS ROOM
RIGHT NOW, THAT YOU'RE SITTING NEXT TO
OR IN FRONT OF OR BEHIND,
THAT REPRESENTS SOMEBODY THAT'S MISSING.
GOD HAS AN AMBER ALERT OUT ON THEM,
AND IT'S OUR JOB TO GO AND FIND THEM
AND LOCATE THEM,
WITNESS TO THEM, SHARE WITH THEM,
INVITE THEM, AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO BRING THEM NEAR TO GOD.
AND JESUS MADE IT PLAIN FROM THE BEGINNING
THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS A KINGDOM
ALL ABOUT THE WORD OF GOD.
IT'S A KINGDOM OF THE WORD.
AND THIS PARABLE THAT WE'RE GONNA READ THIS MORNING
IS A PARABLE ABOUT RECEIVING THAT WORD.
NOW, THE STORY IS REALLY SIMPLE.
IT'S ABOUT A FARMER.
GOES OUT TO A FIELD,
AND HE SOWS SOME SEED,
AND THIS SEED FALLS ON DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOIL,
AND THE QUALITY OF THE SOIL DETERMINES
WHETHER OR NOT THE PLANTING OF THAT SEED IS SUCCESSFUL
AND PRODUCES A HARVEST.
NOW, THERE ARE THREE MAJOR COMPONENTS
OR THREE MAJOR PARTS OF THIS PARABLE.
THERE ARE THREE MAJOR PLAYERS IN THE PARABLE.
THERE'S THE SOWER,
THERE'S THE SEED,
AND THERE'S THE SOIL.
NOW, BEFORE WE INTRODUCE THE PARABLE,
LET ME GO AHEAD AND IDENTIFY TO YOU
WHAT THOSE THREE THINGS REPRESENT.
I DON'T HAVE TO-- I'M NOT GUESSING AT THIS.
THIS IS WHAT JESUS HIMSELF SAID THIS PARABLE REPRESENTS.
HE SAID THE SOWER IS YOU AND ME.
YOU'RE IN THIS STORY WE'RE ABOUT TO READ.
I'M IN THIS STORY WE'RE ABOUT TO READ.
THE SOWER IS THE FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST.
SO IF YOU'RE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST,
YOU'RE IN THE STORY WE'RE ABOUT TO READ.
YOU ARE THE SOWER.
JESUS SAID THE SEED THAT THE SOWER SOWS
IS THE WORD OF GOD.
THE SEED IS THE GOSPEL.
THE SEED IS THE MESSAGE OF THE KINGDOM.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS COME.
SALVATION HAS COME. IT'S FREE.
YOU CAN RECEIVE IT IF YOU WANT IT.
THAT'S THE SEED.
THE SOIL IS THE HEART OF THE MISSING PERSON
THAT WE'RE TRYING TO REACH.
SO KEEP ALL THAT IN MIND.
WE'RE GONNA JUMP INTO THE PARABLE.
MATTHEW 13:1:
"THAT SAME DAY, JESUS WENT OUT OF THE HOUSE
"AND SAT BESIDE THE SEA.
"AND GREAT CROWDS GATHERED ABOUT HIM,
"SO THAT HE GOT INTO A BOAT AND SAT DOWN.
"AND THE WHOLE CROWD STOOD ON THE BEACH.
"AND HE TOLD THEM MANY THINGS IN PARABLES, SAYING,
'A SOWER WENT OUT TO SOW.'"
NOW LET ME JUST STOP RIGHT THERE.
THEY'RE ALREADY TRACKING WITH JESUS
BECAUSE THERE'S FARMLAND ALL AROUND THEM.
SO THEY GOT THE PICTURE IN THEIR MIND.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EVANGELISM,
THERE ARE ALWAYS THREE PLAYERS INVOLVED IN EVANGELISM.
THERE'S US. WE'RE THE SOWER.
THERE'S THE MISSING PERSON THAT WE'RE TRYING TO REACH,
AND THEN THERE IS GOD.
AND WHAT JESUS IS GONNA TELL US TODAY IS,
EVERYBODY HAS THEIR PART TO PLAY,
AND IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE PART YOU'VE GOT TO PLAY,
ALL THIS FEAR THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT EVANGELISM--
"I CAN'T DO IT. I'M NOT GIFTED.
"DON'T KNOW HOW. I'LL MESS IT UP.
YOU KNOW, IT'LL BE WORSE THAN IT WAS WHEN I STARTED."
ALL THAT WILL GO OUT THE WINDOW
WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT EVERYBODY'S ROLE IS.
OKAY? SO HERE WE GO.
NUMBER ONE.
OUR PART-- OUR ROLE IN EVANGELISM
IS SOWING THE SEED.
THAT'S ALL GOD TELLS US TO DO.
WE SOW THE SEED.
SO THERE'S NO MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHAT JESUS MEANT,
HE TELLS US IN HIS OWN WORDS.
VERSE 18:
"HEAR THEN THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER."
THIS PARABLE IS SO IMPORTANT
THAT THEY UNDERSTAND-- JESUS SAID,
"I'M NOT GONNA LEAVE ANYTHING TO CHANCE.
I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHAT THIS STORY MEANS."
HERE'S THE PARABLE:
"WHEN ANYONE HEARS THE WORD OF THE KINGDOM..."
SO AUTOMATICALLY WE KNOW WHAT THE SEED IS;
THE SEED IS THE WORD OF THE KINGDOM.
IN LUKE'S GOSPEL, HE SAYS IT THIS WAY,
"NOW THE PARABLE IS THIS.
THE SEED IS THE WORD OF GOD."
NOW, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT,
IT'S VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND
WHY JESUS WOULD COMPARE
HIS WORD TO SEED,
BECAUSE SEED IS SUPPOSED TO BE PRODUCTIVE.
A SEED ONLY HAS ONE FUNCTION; IT'S SUPPOSED TO GROW.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE A PLANT.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO GIVE A HARVEST.
DO YOU KNOW HOW AN UNBELIEVER BECOMES A BELIEVER?
THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY.
IT HAPPENS THE SAME WAY FOR EVERYBODY.
THE WAY IT HAPPENS IS
HAVING THE SEED OF THE WORD OF GOD
PLANTED IN YOUR HEART.
THAT'S HOW AN UNBELIEVER GOES TO BEING A BELIEVER.
NOW, THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID.
PETER SAID THIS IN 1 PETER 1:
"YOU'VE BEEN BORN AGAIN."
IF YOU'RE SITTING HERE THIS MORNING AND SAY,
"HEY, THAT'S ME. I'VE BEEN BORN AGAIN."
YOU KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENED?
WHAT MATTERS IN THE STORY
IS NOT HOW THE SEED WAS SCATTERED.
WHAT MATTERED IN THE STORY WAS
THAT THE SEED WAS SCATTERED.
NOW, WHY IS THAT TRUE?
BECAUSE AS YOU'RE GONNA SEE IN A MOMENT,
IT IS NOT THE EXPERTISE OF THE SOWER THAT MATTERS;
IT IS THE QUALITY OF THE SOIL
THAT DETERMINES THE HARVEST.
OUR PART IS TO GO AND SOW.
THAT'S ALL GOD WANTS US TO DO.
EVERYBODY GOT THAT, RIGHT?
SO WE'RE THE SOWER.
WE ARE TO BE SOWING THE SEED. ALL RIGHT?
SECOND THING I WANT YOU TO NOTICE:
THE MISSING PERSON'S PART
IS RECEIVING THE MESSAGE.
NOW, REMEMBER WHERE I TOLD YOU
THE FOCUS OF THE PARABLE IS, RIGHT?
IT IS NOT ON THE SOWER.
IT'S NOT ON THE SEED.
IT'S ON THE SOIL.
NOW I'M GONNA TELL YOU SOMETHING.
IT PROBABLY MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
I HOPE IT WILL.
YOU CAN BE THE BEST SOWER IN THE WORLD,
AND YOU CAN HAVE THE BEST SEED THAT MONEY CAN BUY,
BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE GOOD SOIL,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE A HARVEST.
IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN,
'CAUSE IT'S NOT DEPENDING ON YOU;
IT'S DEPENDING ON THE SOIL.
AND WHAT JESUS DOES IS,
HE IDENTIFIES THE SOIL AS THE HEART
OF THE MISSING PEOPLE WE'RE TRYING TO REACH.
VERSE 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."
JESUS SAID THE SOIL REPRESENTS THE HUMAN HEART.
"THIS IS WHAT WAS SOWN ALONG THE PATH."
NOW, LET ME TELL YOU,
THERE'S AN IMPORTANT LESSON TO LEARN RIGHT HERE.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT MAKES THIS BOOK DIFFERENT
FROM EVERY OTHER BOOK THAT'S EVER BEEN WRITTEN?
AND BY THE WAY,
DO YOU KNOW WHAT MAKES THIS MESSAGE DIFFERENT--
THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL DIFFERENT
FROM EVERY OTHER MESSAGE THAT'S EVER PREACHED?
NOW, LISTEN TO THIS.
YOU READ THIS BOOK
WITH YOUR EYES.
YOU HEAR THIS BOOK WITH YOUR EARS.
BUT YOU RECEIVE THIS BOOK WITH YOUR HEART.
THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.
JUST LIKE ANY OTHER BOOK,
YOU READ IT WITH YOUR EYES;
YOUR HEAR IT WITH YOUR EAR.
BUT YOU RECEIVE IT WITH YOUR HEART.
AND SO WHAT JESUS DOES IS, HE KIND OF GIVES US A WARNING.
HE SAYS, "LOOK,
"WHEN YOU GO OUT THERE AND SOW THE SEED,
"YOU'RE GONNA HIT FOUR KINDS OF DIRT.
YOU'RE GONNA HIT FOUR KINDS OF HEARTS."
AND BY THE WAY, I PROMISE YOU,
THERE ARE ALL FOUR IN THIS ROOM.
SOMEWHERE, SOMEHOW,
ALL FOUR OF THESE HEARTS ARE IN THIS ROOM.
AND JESUS SAYS, "HERE'S THE KIND OF HEARTS YOU'RE GONNA HIT."
THE FIRST HEART HE DESCRIBES IN VERSE 19.
HE SAYS, "SOME HIT THE PATH."
NOW LET ME TELL YOU WHAT HE MEANT BY THAT.
IN PALESTINE, PEOPLE WOULD WALK THROUGH FIELDS.
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ROADS BACK THEN,
YOU WALKED THROUGH A FIELD.
AND PEOPLE GENERALLY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE CREATURES OF HABIT.
SO SOMEBODY WOULD COME ALONG, AND THEY SAY,
"I'M GONNA WALK THIS WAY TO THE CITY."
WELL, GUESS WHAT.
SOMEBODY'D SEE WHERE THAT GUY WALKED;
THEY'D WALK WHERE HE WALKED.
SO EVERYBODY WOULD TAKE THE SAME WALK.
EVERYBODY'D TAKE THE SAME PATH.
WELL, AS THEY DID THAT, GUESS WHAT THAT DID.
THAT TRAMPLED DOWN THE GRASS,
AND IT WOULD MAKE IT VERY, VERY, VERY ROCK HARD.
THIS WAS THE TYPE OF SOIL
WHERE THE SEED SIMPLY COULD NOT GET IN.
IT COULD GET ON THE GROUND,
BUT IT COULD NOT GET INTO THE GROUND.
IT WAS JUST HARD PATH.
NOW, WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE LIKE THAT.
YOU KNOW SOMEBODY RIGHT NOW, I PROMISE YOU,
AND THEIR HEART IS AS HARD AS AN UNDERGROUND BUNKER.
I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT GONNA-- YOU COULD PREACH A SERMON;
YOU COULD GIVE THEM A TRACT;
YOU CAN SHARE A TESTIMONY;
YOU COULD EVEN INJECT THEM WITH BILLY GRAHAM'S BLOOD,
AND I'M TELLING YOU,
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO COME TO GOD.
THEY JUST--I MEAN, IT'S JUST LIKE A RUBBER BALL
BOUNCING OFF A CONCRETE WALL.
THESE ARE THE KIND OF PEOPLE--
MENTION THE WORD "GOD," MENTION CHURCH,
MENTION JESUS, MENTION THE BIBLE,
MENTION ANYTHING LIKE THAT,
THEY'LL LOOK AT YOU AND SAY, "NO!
NOT INTERESTED."
WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE LIKE THAT.
JESUS SAID, "YOU'RE GONNA RUN
INTO THOSE KIND OF HEARTS."
THEY'RE JUST HARD.
THEY'RE NOT HAVING ANY OF IT AT ALL.
AND THEN HE SAYS THERE'S A SECOND TYPE OF HEART.
VERSE 20.
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT JESUS MEANT BY THIS.
'CAUSE THERE'S ONE THING THAT ISRAEL HAS A TON OF;
THAT'S ROCKS.
THEY GOT ROCKS EVERYWHERE.
I MEAN, IT'S THE ROCKIEST PLACE
YOU HAVE EVER BEEN IN YOUR LIFE.
AND MUCH OF ISRAEL IS LIMESTONE AND BEDROCK
THAT'S JUST COVERED OVER WITH A THIN LAYER OF SOIL.
YOU CAN BE IN ISRAEL-- I'VE DONE THIS.
YOU CAN LOOK OUT, AND YOU THINK YOU'RE LOOKING AT A FIELD
OF REALLY FERTILE DIRT, BUT YOU WALK OUT THERE--
IT'S HARD, AND THERE'S ROCKS UNDERNEATH IT
'CAUSE IT'S ALL THIS LIMESTONE,
AND IT'S ALL THIS BEDROCK,
AND IT'S JUST COVERED OVER WITH SOIL.
YOU DON'T SEE THE ROCK. YOU JUST SEE THE DIRT.
NOW, THE FIRST SOIL-- THAT HARD PATH--
THAT'S WHERE THE SEED COULD NOT GET DOWN.
THIS SOIL IS THE-- OR COULDN'T GET IN.
THIS IS THE SOIL WHERE THE SEED COULD NOT GET DOWN.
IT GOT INTO THE GROUND,
BUT IT REALLY COULDN'T GET DOWN INTO THE GROUND.
NOW, JESUS SAID, "THESE ARE THE KIND OF PEOPLE"--
AND I'VE SEEN THESE PEOPLE SO OFTEN IN MY MINISTRY.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE,
THEY RECEIVE THE MESSAGE WITH JOY.
OH, THEY LOOK LIKE-- MAN, THEY GET IT.
THEY'VE GOT IT. THEY WANT IT. THEY LOVE IT.
AND THEY GIVE THE APPEARANCE THEY'RE READY TO FOLLOW JESUS,
BUT THEY REALLY AREN'T.
NOW, LET ME GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL COME TO A PASTOR AFTER A SERVICE,
AND THEY'LL SAY SOMETHING LIKE THIS,
"PASTOR,
"THAT WAS A GREAT MESSAGE.
"OH, MY SOUL.
"THAT IS THE GREATEST MESSAGE SINCE PENTECOST.
WE OUGHT TO GIVE YOU A RAISE FOR PREACHING THAT SERMON."
BUT HERE'S WHAT THEY'RE THINKING,
"BUT IT AIN'T GONNA CHANGE ME.
"I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
"NOT GONNA CHANGE MY LIFE.
"YOU CAN PREACH THAT ALL YOU WANT TO;
I AM NOT GOING TO DO IT."
AND JESUS SAID-- THERE ARE PEOPLE, FOR EXAMPLE,
WHO COME TO JESUS FOR THE WRONG REASON.
THEY COME FOR HEALTH AND WEALTH.
THEY COME FOR SUCCESS AND SATISFACTION.
THEY THINK, "IF I COME TO JESUS, HE'LL SOLVE ALL MY PROBLEMS."
I GOT NEWS FOR YOU.
MANY, MANY TIMES YOU COME TO JESUS,
NOT ONLY YOUR PROBLEMS DON'T GET SOLVED;
THEY GET WORSE.
AND SO THEN PEOPLE SAY, "WAIT A MINUTE.
"THIS IS NOT WHAT I SIGNED UP FOR.
"I MEAN, I WANT THE FAT AND THE SWEET,
"NOT THE THORNS AND THE BRAMBLES.
"AND THAT'S NOT REALLY WHAT I WANT.
"I THOUGHT I WAS JOINING GOD'S ARMY AS A FOUR-STAR GENERAL.
"AND I THOUGHT I'D GET TO SIT BEHIND THE DESK
AND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WRITE ORDERS OUT."
AND THEN THE FIRST TIME A BULLET GOES BY OR A BOMB EXPLODES,
THEY CHECK OUT.
AND THEN WHEN THEY START LEARNING,
"OH, BY THE WAY, IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW JESUS,
"THAT MEANS YOU GOT TO SURRENDER TO JESUS,
"THAT MEANS YOU GOT TO COMMIT TO JESUS,
THAT MEANS YOU MAY HAVE TO SACRIFICE,"
THEY SAY, "NO, I DON'T THINK I'M INTERESTED."
LET ME GIVE YOU A GREAT EXAMPLE.
WE HAVE PEOPLE IN THIS CHURCH-- THIS HAPPENS A LOT.
THEY'LL CHECK OFF THIS LITTLE CARD
THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE CHECK OFF, AND THEY'LL SAY,
"I PRAYED TODAY TO RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST
AS MY LORD AND SAVIOR."
AND WE'LL SAY, "GIVE US YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION,"
YOU KNOW, EMAIL OR PHONE CALL, AND THEY'LL WRITE IT.
THEY'LL GIVE US THEIR CONTACT,
OR THEY'LL GIVE US AN EMAIL ADDRESS.
THEY'LL GIVE US A PHONE CALL.
WE'LL CALL THEM. THEY WON'T ANSWER.
WE'LL EMAIL. THEY WON'T RESPOND.
WE NEVER EVER HEAR FROM THEM AGAIN.
AND WHAT IS REALLY AMAZING IS,
SOMEBODY WILL COME TO US AND SAY,
"MAN, I GAVE MY LIFE TO JESUS,"
AND THEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT BAPTISM,
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THEY GET ALLERGIC TO WATER.
[laughter]
AND JESUS SAID, "HEY, YOU GOT PEOPLE LIKE THAT."
THEY'RE SO ENTHUSIASTIC AT FIRST,
AND YOU THINK, "MAN, THEY GOT IT."
TILL THEY REALIZE, WELL, THERE'S MORE TO IT
THAN JUST KIND OF SAYING THIS LITTLE PRAYER,
AND THEY SAY, "OKAY, NOT INTERESTED."
AND THEN YOU GOT THE THIRD HEART.
VERSE 22.
FIRST SOIL: COULDN'T GET IN.
SECOND SOIL: COULDN'T GET DOWN.
THIRD SOIL: CAN'T GET OUT.
THE THORNS AND THE BREEZE, THE WEEDS CHOKE IT OUT.
AND JESUS SAID
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE--
THEY'LL THINK ABOUT IT, AND THEY'LL SAY,
"YOU KNOW, I KNOW I NEED TO GIVE MY LIFE TO CHRIST,"
OR THEY MAY SAY THEY WANT TO GIVE THEIR LIFE TO CHRIST,
BUT THEN IT GETS CHOKED OUT BY FINANCIAL PROSPERITY--
MONEY, STUFF.
GOLD GETS IN THE WAY OF GOD.
SILVER GETS IN THE WAY OF SALVATION.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD,
AND THEY SAY THEY WANT TO FOLLOW THE SON OF GOD,
BUT THEN THINGS START GETTING IN THE WAY,
LIKE THE GOLF COURSE
AND THE HOUSE AT THE LAKE
AND THE CONDO AT THE BEACH
AND THE BIG PAYCHECK
AND THE CORPORATE LADDER
AND THE EXTRA MONEY.
AND EVEN FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE ALL THAT STUFF,
IT GETS IN THEIR WAY BECAUSE THEY WANT IT SO BAD
THAT THEY'LL SELL THEIR SOUL TO GET IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S AMAZING TO ME--
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT BREAKS MY HEART.
HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED HOW MANY PEOPLE
WHO HIT IT BIG IN HOLLYWOOD
AND HIT IT BIG ON WALL STREET
AND HIT IT BIG IN NASHVILLE,
AND YOU HEAR THEIR TESTIMONY,
AND THEY'LL SAY SOMETHING LIKE THIS?
THEY WERE RAISED IN A CHRISTIAN HOME.
THEY HAD A GOOD SPIRITUAL UPBRINGING.
THEIR DAD WAS A PASTOR.
BUT SOMEHOW, THEY KIND OF WALKED AWAY FROM ALL OF IT.
JESUS SAID, "YOU'RE GONNA HAVE PEOPLE JUST LIKE THIS."
NOW, AT THIS POINT, YOU'RE PROBABLY SITTING THERE,
AND YOU'RE SAYING, "WELL,
"THAT'S WHY I DON'T DO WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME TO DO.
"I MEAN, LOOK, I MEAN, THIS GUY--
I MEAN, HOW'D THAT WORK OUT FOR THIS GUY?"
RIGHT?
HE THROWS IT ON THE PATH. IT BOUNCES OFF.
THROWS IT ON THE ROCKY SOILS. DOESN'T GET ANYWHERE.
THROWS IT IN THE WEEDS, AND THE WEEDS CHOKE IT OUT.
AND IF YOU'RE SITTING THERE SAYING,
"WELL, SO WHAT'S THE USE OF SOWING THE SEED AT ALL?"
JESUS SAYS, "AH, WAIT A MINUTE.
LOOK AT THE LAST HEART."
VERSE 23.
JESUS SAID, "BUT THERE'S THIS OTHER KIND OF HEART."
THIS IS A HEART THAT IS RECEPTIVE TO THE WORD OF GOD
AND HEARS IT.
IT'S RESPONSIVE TO THE WORD OF GOD
AND UNDERSTANDS IT.
IT'S REPRODUCTIVE TO THE WORD OF GOD;
IT BEARS FRUIT.
AND JESUS SAID, "YOU JUST KEEP SOWING,
"BECAUSE I'M TELLING YOU, THERE'S GOOD HEARTS OUT THERE.
"THERE'S FERTILE SOIL OUT THERE.
"THERE'S RECEPTIVE SOULS OUT THERE.
YOU KEEP SOWING."
AND THAT'S WHAT KEEPS
BRINGING THAT FARMER BACK TO THE FIELD
AND THE FISHERMAN BACK TO THE WATER.
AND WHAT YOU'LL FIND IS THIS,
YEAH, SOMETIMES IT'S FRUSTRATING.
YOU TELL PEOPLE; THEY SAY, "NO, I'M NOT INTERESTED."
OR YOU THINK THEY'LL COME,
AND MAYBE THEY COME ONE OR TWO SUNDAYS,
THEN YOU DON'T SEE THEM AGAIN, AND YOU GET SO DISCOURAGED.
BUT THEN THERE'S THAT ONE PERSON,
AND THEY GET IT.
AND THEY SAY, "MAN, I'M GONNA TELL YOU,
"THIS IS THE BEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD.
"I'M GIVING MY LIFE TO CHRIST.
I AM GOING ALL THE WAY."
BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT JESUS IS TRYING TO TELL US?
"LOOK, NOT EVERYBODY'S HEARING IMPAIRED.
"NOT EVERYBODY'S GOT THE BAD HEARTS.
"AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL SAY YES,
"AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL MEAN IT,
AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL BECOME FRUITFUL."
AND THEN HE SAYS THIS,
AND THIS IS THE BEST PART OF ALL.
HE SAID, "BUT LISTEN TO THIS.
"WHEN THE GOOD THINGS HAPPEN,
"WHEN YOU HIT THAT GOOD SHOT,
"WHEN YOU FIND THAT GOOD SOIL
"AND THAT PERSON GOES FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT
"AND FROM DEATH TO LIFE
"AND THAT PERSON GOES ALL THE WAY FROM BEING ON THE PATH
"TO ALL THE WAY TO BEING GOOD SOIL,
"HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS:
IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF YOU."
THIRD PART.
GOD'S PART IS PRODUCING THE HARVEST.
NOW WATCH THIS.
ALL A FARMER CAN DO-- THINK ABOUT THIS.
ALL A FARMER CAN DO IS SOW THE SEED.
ONCE HE DOES THAT, THE HARVEST IS IN GOD'S HAND.
HOW MANY OF YOU--LET'S JUST HAVE A LITTLE CONFESSION TIME.
HOW MANY OF YOU ARE FISHERMEN?
I MEAN, YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT FISHING.
COME ON. HOLD YOUR HAND UP.
COME ON. DON'T BE ASHAMED. HOLD YOUR HAND UP.
ALL RIGHT, HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD SAY,
"I'M A PRETTY GOOD FISHERMAN"?
JUST HOLD YOUR HAND UP. OKAY.
OKAY, THAT'S FINE.
PRIDE GOES BEFORE DESTRUCTION,
A HAUGHTY SPIRIT BEFORE A FALL.
ALL RIGHT, NOW LOOK.
I GOT NEWS FOR YOU.
I'M NOT TRYING TO BURST YOUR BUBBLE.
I'M JUST BEING HONEST WITH YOU.
YOU CAN GET THE BEST BAIT YOU KNOW TO GET.
YOU CAN HAVE THE BEST HOOK,
IT CAN BE A 24-KARAT GOLD HOOK.
YOU CAN HAVE A GUCCI ROD AND REEL,
BUT THE MOMENT YOU THROW THAT BAIT INTO THE WATER,
IT'S ALL UP TO GOD.
IF GOD SAYS TO ALL THOSE FISH,
"KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT,"
YOU'RE NOT GONNA CATCH ANYTHING.
[laughter]
AIN'T THAT RIGHT?
YOU'RE NOT GONNA CATCH ANYTHING.
SO THE MOMENT YOU THROW THAT HOOK IN THE WATER,
IT'S ALL UP TO GOD.
YOU CAN GO OUT AND SOW THE BEST SEEDS YOU KNOW.
YOU CAN WATER IT. YOU CAN FERTILIZE IT.
YOU CAN GO UP-- BUT UP TO THAT POINT,
IT'S ALL NOW UP TO GOD.
OUR JOB IS TO SOW.
GOD'S JOB IS TO GROW.
THE KEY, JESUS--THIS IS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE PARABLE,
JESUS SAYS, "LOOK,
"THE KEY TO REACHING THAT GUY THAT'S NOT EVEN HERE,
"THE KEY TO REACHING THAT MISSING PERSON,
"IT IS NOT THE PRESENTATION OF THE MESSAGE.
"IT IS THE PENETRATION OF THE HEART.
AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THAT."
THE PRESENTATION IS YOUR PART.
THE PENETRATION IS GOD'S PART.
SO LET ME GIVE IT TO YOU IN THE FORM OF AN EQUATION.
"A" PLUS "B" EQUALS "C."
LISTEN TO THIS.
FAITHFUL SHARERS
PLUS FERTILE SOIL
EQUALS FRUITFUL SUCCESS.
THAT SIMPLE.
FAITHFUL SHARERS
PLUS FERTILE SOIL
EQUALS FRUITFUL SUCCESS.
IN OTHER WORDS, HERE'S WHAT JESUS IS SAYING,
"ALL I WANT YOU TO DO IS THIS.
"GET OUT OF THIS CHURCH, GO GET IN YOUR CAR,
"GO BACK TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, GO BACK TO WHERE YOU WORK,
"GO BACK TO WHERE YOU GO TO SCHOOL,
"AND HERE'S ALL I WANT YOU TO DO:
"SHARE WHAT YOU KNOW AND LIVE UP TO WHAT YOU SHARE.
"THAT'S ALL I WANT YOU TO DO.
I'LL TAKE CARE OF THE REST."
THAT'S IT.
NOW, WE'VE ALREADY PROVEN,
YOU CAN SOW AND HAVE NO HARVEST.
THAT'S PROVEN IN THE PARABLE.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU ONE THING EVEN MORE CERTAIN THAN THAT.
YOU SAY, "WELL, PASTOR, NOW, YOU KNOW,
"YOU JUST TOLD ME, IF I GO OUT THERE AND SOW,
THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF TIMES I'M NOT GONNA HAVE A HARVEST."
THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU SOMETHING
EVEN MORE SURE THAN THAT.
IF YOU DON'T SOW AT ALL, YOU'LL NEVER HAVE A HARVEST.
YOU WILL NEVER HAVE A HARVEST.
YOU WILL NEVER FILL A MINUTE--
YOU WON'T EVEN FILL ONE CHAIR UP
IF YOU NEVER GET OUT THERE AND SOW THE SEED.
SO HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA CLOSE--
WE'RE GONNA CLOSE OUR SERVICE WITH THIS.
YOU CAN MOVE PEOPLE THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD
FROM ONE SOIL TO THE NEXT.
YOU JUST HAVE TO TAKE PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.
THERE ARE PEOPLE...
SOME OF THE MOST ON-FIRE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST
I'VE EVER HAD COME INTO MY MINISTRY
WERE PEOPLE THAT, IF YOU HAD $1 MILLION,
YOU WOULD HAVE BET $1 MILLION
WOULD HAVE NEVER COME TO CHRIST,
EVER.
AND I'M GONNA CLOSE BY TELLING YOU ABOUT ONE.
RIGHT AFTER WE STARTED THIS CHURCH, I GOT A CALL
FROM A LADY IN LAUREL, MISSISSIPPI.
I WAS PASTORING A CHURCH IN MISSISSIPPI,
AND THIS LADY CALLS ME, AND SHE SAID, "PASTOR,
I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT MY HUSBAND DIED."
HER HUSBAND'S NAME WAS PACEY COHEN,
AND I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT PACEY COHEN--
ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING STORIES I'VE EVER HAD IN MY MINISTRY.
CHURCH I PASTORED IN LAUREL, MISSISSIPPI--
WE DID A STARLIGHT CRUSADE.
WE RENTED OUT THE FOOTBALL STADIUM,
AND WE HAD A FOUR-NIGHT CRUSADE.
DID THIS TWO YEARS IN A ROW.
AND WE WOULD INVITE FAMOUS CELEBRITIES
TO COME TO DRAW A CROWD.
THEN I'D GET UP, AND I'D PREACH THE GOSPEL,
AND WE'D SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO CHRIST.
WELL, ON THIS PARTICULAR NIGHT,
I'D INVITED TERRY BRADSHAW, WHO AT THAT TIME
WAS THE QUARTERBACK OF THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS.
I'D INVITED BRADSHAW TO COME UP.
WE FLEW HIM UP FROM LOUISIANA TO GIVE HIS TESTIMONY.
PACEY COHEN WAS DRIVING HOME FROM HIS WORK THAT NIGHT
TO KILL HIMSELF.
HE ALREADY HAD THE PISTOL. HE'D BOUGHT IT.
HE HADN'T TOLD ANYBODY.
HIS MARRIAGE WAS GOING TO POT.
HIS HOME WAS JUST-- I MEAN, HIS WHOLE LIFE
WAS GOING TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET.
HE'D HAD ENOUGH.
HE'D ALREADY WRITTEN OUT HIS SUICIDE NOTE,
AND HE WAS DRIVING HOME TO BLOW HIS BRAINS OUT.
HE ALWAYS TOOK THE SAME ROUTE HOME,
WHICH, OH, BY THE WAY, ALWAYS USED TO HAPPEN--
NORMALLY WOULD GO RIGHT BY OUR CHURCH WHERE I PASTORED,
BUT FOR SOME REASON-- I NOW KNOW WHY--
BUT FOR SOME REASON, ON THIS PARTICULAR NIGHT,
HE DIDN'T GO ON THE ROAD THAT WENT BY OUR CHURCH.
HE TOOK THE NEXT ROAD OVER,
WHICH HAPPENED TO GO BY THE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL STADIUM.
AS HE'S DRIVING BY THE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL STADIUM,
HE SEES THAT GIANT MARQUEE OUT THERE THAT SAYS,
"COME HEAR TERRY BRADSHAW,
QUARTERBACK OF THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS."
IT JUST SO HAPPENED THAT TERRY BRADSHAW
AND THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS-- THAT WAS HIS FAVORITE TEAM,
AND TERRY BRADSHAW WAS HIS HERO,
AND HE SAID, "MAN, THIS WORKS OUT GREAT.
"I'M GONNA END THIS ON A GOOD NOTE.
"I'M GONNA GO HEAR TERRY BRADSHAW.
"THEN I'M GONNA GO BLOW MY BRAINS OUT,
AND I'LL DIE A HAPPY MAN," RIGHT?
SO HE COMES INTO THE STADIUM.
HE WALKS ALL THE WAY UP, GETS ON THE VERY TOP ROW.
TERRY BRADSHAW-- WE SING FOR A WHILE.
TERRY BRADSHAW GETS UP, GIVES HIS TESTIMONY,
AND THEN BRADSHAW HAD TO LEAVE.
HE HAD TO GO FLY BACK, 'CAUSE HE HAD ANOTHER GIG
HE HAD TO DO IN LOUISIANA, SO HE LEAVES.
WELL, AT THAT POINT, PACEY COHEN COULD HAVE WALKED OUT
AND LEFT AND THOUGHT ABOUT DOING IT
AND TOLD ME LATER, "I TRIED TO GET UP THREE TIMES,
BUT I COULDN'T GET UP."
NOW, HE'S SITTING ON THE TOP ROW.
THERE'S ABOUT 3,000 PEOPLE IN THIS FOOTBALL STADIUM,
AND PACEY'S SITTING THERE-- I'VE NEVER MET THIS MAN.
I DON'T KNOW THIS GUY FROM APPLE BUTTER.
HE'S UP THERE IN THE TOP ROW, RIGHT?
SO I PREACH THE GOSPEL,
AND THEN I GAVE AN INVITATION.
I SAID, "IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME FORWARD
"AND YOU'D LIKE TO GIVE YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST,
I WANT YOU TO DO IT."
PEOPLE BEGAN TO COME.
10 PEOPLE, 20 PEOPLE, 30 PEOPLE,
40 PEOPLE, 50--
90-SOMETHING PEOPLE CAME THAT NIGHT,
CAME RIGHT DOWN AND SAID,
"YES, WE WANT TO GIVE OUR HEART TO JESUS."
PACEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.
DIDN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND IT.
HE'S GOING, "WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE DOING?
"WHY DO THEY WANT TO FOLLOW A GUY THEY'VE NEVER EVEN MET?
"WHY DO THEY WANT TO FOLLOW THIS JESUS GUY?
"I DON'T EVEN BELIEVE JESUS WAS WHO HE SAID HE WAS.
"WHY ARE THEY DOING THAT?
WHY WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR LIFE TO A GHOST?"
AND THEN I SAID SOMETHING
I DID NOT INTEND TO SAY,
WAS NOT IN MY NOTES,
DIDN'T PLAN TO SAY IT,
BUT THIS IS WHAT I SAID.
I WROTE IT DOWN AFTERWARDS
BECAUSE HE TOLD ME WHAT I SAID WORD FOR WORD,
AND I WROTE IT DOWN.
HERE'S WHAT I SAID.
"THERE IS SOMEONE HERE TONIGHT,
"AND IT WILL BE YOUR LAST NIGHT ON THIS EARTH
"IF YOU DO NOT COME AND GIVE YOUR HEART TO JESUS CHRIST.
"YOU WILL NOT BE ALIVE TOMORROW,
AND YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY SEPARATED FROM GOD."
NOW, THE AMAZING THING IS, PACEY TOLD ME LATER
HE WOULD SWEAR IN A COURT OF LAW
I WAS LOOKING RIGHT AT HIM.
NOW, I WASN'T. IF I WAS, I DIDN'T KNOW IT.
I DIDN'T KNOW THE GUY.
I MEAN, THERE'S STILL, YOU KNOW, 2,900 PEOPLE UP THERE.
AND I-- YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW HIM,
BUT I WAS LOOKING RIGHT AT HIM.
AND HE SAID IT WAS AT THAT MOMENT, HE SAID,
"PASTOR, IT WAS LIKE A LIGHT CAME ON IN MY HEART,
"AND I JUST KNEW THIS IS THE REAL DEAL.
THIS IS FOR ME."
SO WE SANG ONE LAST SONG
FOR PEOPLE TO COME FORWARD.
HERE'S THE AMAZING THING.
THE ONLY PERSON THAT CAME DOWN WAS PACEY.
NOBODY ELSE CAME. HE CAME ALL BY HIMSELF.
ALL THE WAY FROM THE TOP ROW, HE COMES DOWN,
AND, I MEAN, THIS IS SO AMAZING.
I'M WATCHING THIS GUY,
AND I'M JUST MESMERIZED.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS GUY'S COMING."
I DIDN'T KNOW HIM.
AND I LOOKED AT A COUPLE OF OUR DEACONS.
I SAID, "YOU KNOW WHO THAT GUY IS?"
GOES, "I'VE NEVER SEEN HIM IN MY LIFE."
SO I SAID, "I GOT TO FIND OUT WHO THIS GUY IS."
SO THAT'S WHEN I RAN OVER.
AFTER THE SERVICE WAS OVER, I RAN OVER,
AND I SAID, "I HAVE GOT TO MEET THIS GUY FOR MYSELF."
AND HE TELLS ME THIS STORY.
GIVES HIS LIFE TO CHRIST. THAT WAS ON TUESDAY NIGHT.
GIVES HIS LIFE TO CHRIST.
I BAPTIZE HIM SUNDAY MORNING IN OUR CHURCH.
HE THEN COMES TO ME AND SAYS--
NOW, THIS IS A BRAND-NEW BELIEVER.
HE COMES TO ME, AND HE SAYS, "LOOK, I DON'T KNOW--
"I MEAN, I LOVE JESUS, BUT THAT'S ALL I KNOW.
I JUST LOVE JESUS."
AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO.
I STARTED TO SAY, "TITHE," BUT I SAID,
"THAT'S PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT TIME TO SAY THAT."
SO I SAID, "WELL, PACEY," I SAID, "LOOK,
I'M ABOUT TO START A PASTORS' SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS."
WE CALLED IT SUNDAY SCHOOL BACK THEN.
I SAID, "WOULD YOU HEAD UP MY PASTORS' CLASS?"
HE SAID, "I'LL HEAD IT, AND I'LL BUILD IT."
HE BUILT THAT CLASS UP TO 70 PEOPLE JUST LIKE THAT.
I MEAN, IT WAS INCREDIBLE.
ABOUT THREE MONTHS LATER,
HE COMES INTO MY OFFICE, AND HE SAYS,
"GUESS WHAT I'M GONNA DO."
SAID, "I HAVE NO CLUE, PACEY."
HE SAYS, "I HAVE QUIT MY JOB."
SAID, "WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?"
HE SAYS, "I'M GOING INTO EVANGELISM."
SAID, "YOU'RE KIDDING ME."
HE SAID, "ALL I KNOW IS JUST TO PREACH JESUS.
THAT'S ALL I KNOW."
GUY STARTS IN EVANGELISM.
I MEAN, GOD BEGAN TO BLESS. PEOPLE BEGIN TO GET SAVED.
IT WAS ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE.
TEN YEARS LATER, I GET THIS PHONE CALL.
SHE SAYS, "PASTOR, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT
PACEY DIED OF LUNG CANCER TODAY."
AND SHE SAID, "BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU
WHAT HAPPENED ON MONDAY."
I THINK THIS WAS WEDNESDAY.
"I GOT TO TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED ON MONDAY."
SHE SAID HE HAD GOTTEN TO THE POINT,
HE COULD ONLY BREATHE 60 SECONDS WITHOUT OXYGEN.
AND SHE SAID, "I JUST THOUGHT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW
"THAT WITH HIS LAST WORDS AND WITH HIS LAST BREATH,
HE LED HIS NURSE TO JESUS CHRIST."
NOW--
[applause]
THIS WAS A GUY...
I'D HAVE LAID YOU 100-TO-1 ODDS
AND TAKEN ANY MONEY YOU WANTED TO BET--
THIS GUY WILL NEVER GIVE HIS LIFE TO CHRIST.
NEVER.
HE DRIVES BY A FOOTBALL STADIUM, NOT EVEN INTENDING TO,
HEARS HIS HERO, STAYS AND HEARS A GUY
HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW,
HEARS THE GOSPEL FOR THE FIRST TIME.
GOD, NOT ME.
I HAVE NEVER WALKED AROUND--
AND I NEVER ONE TIME SAID,
"DO YOU SEE THAT GUY RIGHT THERE?
THAT'S WHAT I DID."
IT'S WHAT GOD DID.
I JUST PRESENTED THE MESSAGE.
GOD PENETRATED THE HEART.
AND HERE'S A GUY
WHOSE HEART WAS AS HARD AS STONE MOUNTAIN,
AND GOD TURNED IT AS SOFT AS A PILLOW.
AND I AM TELLING YOU TODAY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
YOU DO YOUR PART;
GOD WILL DO HIS.
announcer: THE BIBLE TEACHES
THAT THERE ARE THREE COMPONENTS OF EVANGELISM:
THE SOWER, THE SEED,
AND THE HEART OF THE MISSING PERSON.
SOWING THE SEED OF JESUS WITH A MISSING PERSON
CAN BE SCARY.
BECOME CONFIDENT IN SHARING YOUR FAITH.
CALL TOUCHING LIVES AT...
TODAY.
WE WANT TO PRAY WITH YOU.
JESUS SPENT THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT YEARS OF HIS LIFE
DOING TWO THINGS:
OF ALL OF THE THINGS HE COULD HAVE DONE,
HE GAVE HIS LIFE TO THOSE TWO THINGS,
AND HE WANTS US TO DO THE SAME.
FIND OUT HOW SIMPLE IT IS TO FOLLOW JESUS' EXAMPLE
BY SHARING THE GOOD NEWS
WITH THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW HIM YET
WITH THE SERIES MISSING PERSON.
ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY AT:
OR CALL:
SOMETIMES THE ONLY MESSAGE
A MISSING PERSON IS WILLING TO HEAR
IS OVER THE INTERNET OR ON TV.
AT THE MINISTRY OF TOUCHING LIVES,
IT'S OUR PASSION TO BE THE VOICE OF HOPE AND LOVE
TO THOSE WHO MAY NOT HEAR THE GOOD NEWS ANY OTHER WAY.
BECAUSE OF YOUR FAITHFUL PRAYERS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT,
TOGETHER WE CONTINUE TO SHARE JESUS
WITH MISSING PERSONS.
- ♪ TOUCHING LIVES ♪