Title What kind of person am I?
Contents
Title: What kind of person am I?
Key Verse: Matthew 13:18-23
In today's text, Jesus explains through the parable of the sower that there are four types of people when they hear the word of God or when they believe in God.
“What kind of person am I?” Today, through this parable of Jesus, we pray that you will examine your own faith, become a person of faith that develops more, bear more fruit, and stand in a position where you will receive more blessings and love from God.
1. A person like a seed that fell on the roadside
Think about it. The seeds fell on the roadside, so the birds flew away and said, 'What kind of bread (seed) is this?' and ate it freshly, so it is natural that it does not bear fruit and wither, is it not?
In other words, this person is hard-hearted, hard-headed, and dull. He hears the word of God, but does not understand it at all and does not receive it properly.
When we say, 'Believe in Jesus.' When you evangelize, people like this will say, 'Trust me. I believe in my fist.' and a person who trembles. No, aren't you a pitiful person who believes in fists that break quickly when hit with a hammer?
And 'Do you believe in Jesus and be saved?' If you say, 'Oh, Jesus, what is salvation if it's not even tens of thousands of won? I have four or five checks for 100,000 won in my pocket, so I don't need help. You and I have a lot of salvation.' and a person who despises the gospel.
And 'Believe in Jesus and be blessed.' If you say, 'I have a lot of hanbok and suits at home, so I don't need a blessing.' And those who are completely indifferent to the gospel are like seeds that fell by the wayside.
When I was in Korea, when I was young, I carried the Full Gospel tract and went to evangelism. But one day, I went into a clothing store near my house and preached the gospel. The owner of the clothing store is a woman who appears to be about 30 years old, and when I walk in, I say, 'Oh, welcome.' and greets you kindly.
I said, 'Yes, hello. Believe in Jesus and be blessed.' He handed me the Full Gospel tract, he looked at me fiercely, snatched the Full Gospel tract, wrapped it up, and put it in the trash. And 'don't come into our store again.' And it was shooting. I was so embarrassed that I said, 'Yes, hello.' And I ran out of the store.
And a few months later I was amazed to see this woman. Of course, the woman looked at me and was very upset. Because the place where we met again is the women's section worship service at our house, where we were worshiping together with our mother and other women.
I greeted the woman awkwardly but happily. And I thought to myself. "Hey, God can change a person like that very quickly!"
Ladies and gentlemen, such a strong person can be a member of me and your family, and can be a friend or a neighbor. In other words, if you continue to pray and evangelize, I believe that in the end, just as God changed the woman in this clothing store, so will they change in time.
And even in the church, there are people who are like seeds that fell on the roadside.
And even if you go to church for several years, when you look at the Bible, black is text, white is paper, and there are people who do not understand the truth of the Bible at all.
When I was in Korea, my family moved once. I said this to my sister while I was unintentionally talking about faith. “My sister must also receive the Holy Spirit quickly and believe in God diligently!” Then our sister replied: "Yeah, I got five matches when I moved in!" When I said, "It's not a match, but the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, it's the Holy Spirit," my sister answered. "It doesn't matter if anything turns on well!"
Ladies and gentlemen, in the last days, the days of Noah, Sodom, and Gomorrah will come just as Jesus prophesied. In other words, just as Noah at that time shouted that judgment is coming on this earth and that a flood is coming, people were indifferent to it and did not listen to it. Even today, people are indifferent to the gospel and harden their hearts.
But the Bible says. “Whether you hear it or not, preach the word.” (2 Timothy 4:2)
2. A person like a seed that fell on a rocky ground
Everyone, think about it. The seed fell on a rocky field with thin soil, so it sprouts immediately, but when the sun comes up, it dries up and becomes twisted. In other words, it is shiny and seems to believe in God well at first, but it seems that they pay tithing a few times and do evangelism, but when tribulation or trials come, they say, 'Oh, there seems to be no God. If there is a God, why did this happen?' And he quickly loses faith.
At first glance, it is difficult to tell whether a person has good or bad faith. Moreover, it is more difficult to distinguish when the environment is favorable. However, when the environment deteriorates and problems arise, the true face of the person's faith is revealed. A person who is like a seed that fell on a rocky ground soon loses faith, love, hope, and loyalty when problems arise, eventually resenting God and people, and eventually becoming worse than before believing in Jesus.
And unfortunately, you often see people like this these days. However, no matter how difficult the environment, no matter how difficult the environment, I pray that your faith will become stronger and that this will become an opportunity for you to stand in a blessed place where your faith grows and develops.
3. A person like a seed that fell among thorns
This is a case in which the seed has fallen on the thorns, and the thorns absorb all the nutrients and do not bear fruit. In other words, people who do not believe in God because of the world's worries, the temptations of wealth, other greed, and the pleasures of the world, or they compromise with the world and believe in it.
When I was in Korea, I took a taxi to church on a Sunday and spoke to the driver to preach. “Teacher, believe in Jesus and be blessed.” Then he glanced behind me in the rearview mirror and said, "May I ask you a question?" I said to myself, "Yes, can you tell me?" please."
Then the taxi driver said, "Do you prefer money? Do you prefer God?" and was asking a question. No, isn't it natural for those who believe in God that God is better than money? But when I say, "Yes, I prefer God." If you do, the driver must say, "Can you live without money?" and will take it back.
Then I said, "No. You can't live without money." And the taxi driver must answer, "Oh, what is money? I want to go to church, but I can't go to church because I have to make money." , and then this match is a taxi driver's decision win, and I'm not going to lose by decision? However, people who believe in God cannot say that money is better than God, and they are really in a dilemma.
But in an instant, wisdom came to mind. So I avoided answering the question directly and asked this question. "Teacher, do you have any children?" Then the knight answered. "Yes, I have a son." If you ask your son this question, how will he respond?" 'Son, who do you think is more important to you, money or father?" Then my son said, "I like money more than my dad." How would your teacher feel? Then he could not speak and remained silent.
So I continued to speak. "Teacher, money is important, but it cannot be more important than a father. And just as a teacher loves his son and wants to earn money to feed, clothe, and give good things to his son, so our God also gives money and gives good things for his children. . So God is much better than money." Then the driver looked at me in the rearview mirror and said to himself, "Oh, that's a real Jesuit!" and seemed to be talking.
Ladies and gentlemen, a lot of people immigrated to the church at first, but when they get a job and start doing business, they are busy, tired, have to spend time with their family, and there are quite a few people who turn their backs on the church and then God. These people are like seeds that fell among thorns.
But, everyone, even when we immigrate to a foreign land, we pray that you will put your top priority on serving God. I bless you to serve God more than money and God more than the world. So, I pray that God will be blessed with both gold and silver, and that he may obtain good things from God in abundance. And I pray that you will give more and give more for the work of the Lord.
4. A man like a seed that fell on good soil
Everyone, I hope that each of you will answer this question today.
“What kind of person are you? Are you like the seed that fell on the roadside? Or are you like the seed that fell on rocky ground? Or are you like the seed that fell among thorns? Are you a person who enters into a relationship?"
Our hope is that the members of our church will be faithful to the ground of a kind and good heart like seeds sown on good soil and become members who bear fruit 30 times, 60 times, and 100 times. And this year we pray. "Lord, make me a good and faithful servant! Lord, send me a good and faithful servant!" Amen !