4 types of people who attend a gospel mission

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM THURSDAY 10 APRIL 2025 - MR JOHN WEIR

MATTHEW 13 VERSES 1 TO 9, 18 TO 23

4 TYPES OF PEOPLE WHO ATTEND A GOSPEL MISSION

This is one of the most famous parables taught by the Lord Jesus. In fact this chapter contains 7 parables of Jesus - the parable of the sower, the parable of the wheat and tares, the parable of the mustard seed, the parable of leaven, the parable of the hidden treasure, the parable of great price and the parable of the dragnet. Many of these parables are easy to understand. It is said "the common people heard Jesus gladly." We can think of other parables - the 10 virgins, the prodigal son, the Good Samaritan, the lost sheep. In the parable of the sower we recognise that the sower is Jesus, the seed is the word of God and the different kinds of seed represent the different ways people receive the word of God.

A stubborn heart - the way side seed. Verse 19 "And when any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side." How often do we see this in gospel meetings. The word of God is preached with power and presented to people. It is explained simply but the heart of the person is rock hard. It is all too familiar. People brought up in a Christian home, have known the gospel from a little child but it does not have an impact any more. Sin can harden the heart. Not long ago I met a man who stated he had plenty of time to be saved. He was 92 years of age. His departure from this life was not long in the future. His brother is a Christian and told me to preach to him, tell him to get right with the Lord. Sad, a man on the brink of eternity who believes the lie of having plenty of time. This type of man is so frustrating for the preacher. A preacher spends ours studying and preparing the message, praying over the message, even fasting over it. To see these individuals never moved, never responding, never touched. They are rock hard. Is that anyone here tonight? They have heard the gospel for years but are still not a Christian. That is this type of ground. No matter what the preacher preaches they are never moved. They know of hell, the second coming of God, God's wrath, God's love but no harvest, no fruit. This type of person cannot wait until the meeting is over. They don't want anything to do with that. Satan's agents come and snatch the seed of the Lord. They love to hinder the preaching of God's word. Sometimes I ask people to leave gospel meetings quietly and reverently because the Spirit of God is working and idle chat could snatch away what has started in their heart. The seed is taken away when the person is under conviction. This seed never knows the power of God. "So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God."  "Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever." That is what we need to pray, that the Lord will raise up preachers, preachers of the word of God. John Wesley said "Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on earth." Our nation has been blessed with the best of gospel preachers. Many have been taken home to heaven, who is there to replace them? Martin Lloyd Jones the Welsh preacher said "the chief end of preaching is to give men and women a sense of God and his presence." This type of ground is always being prayed for. No results seen. People constantly reject the word of God. Oswald Chambers said "no-one has the right to hear the word of God twice." We have so many mission halls in Northern Ireland and missions going on even tonight.  we live in a privileged part of the world. England the South of Ireland is not so blessed. We can hear the word of God expounded so freely.

The superficial heart - the stony ground. Verses 20 and 21 "But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." Picture this type of individual. They come to the mission and respond. The start off so well, respond to the appeal, appear sincere, authentic and genuine. Everyone rejoices over them and spread the news of their salvation. You see them for a while, they come to the prayer meeting and church services. It is all premature. This type of individual has no substance, no depth of experience. They have a false profession. They are people who were never genuinely saved. They were maybe forced to pray a prayer and got caught up in the emotion of an appeal. No deep work is done in their heart. Maybe at one time you made a profession of faith but deep in your heart you know it was not genuine. Before we promote anyone in God's work make sure they prove themselves. That they are truly converted. They need to be ready to mature and grow. Make sure they have sound testimony, that they prove themselves. Matthew 7 verses 20 to 23 "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Fruit is the true proof of testimony. I think of Judas Iscariot. He looked the part. He kept the money bag. No-one thought it would be Judas who would betray Jesus. Jesus sent out his disciples. "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. ... And they went out, and preached that men should repent. And thy cast out many devils and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them." Did Judas do any of those things? Tonight Judas is in hell. "Depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Trials and persecution are part of the Christian faith. Many are going through them right now. Deep down struggling, not able to share with anyone else. No-body else knows what you are going through. It is hard for some. There is persecution in their families. You might lose friends when you become a Christian but you will gain the best friend ever. Remember when trials, storms and battles come, Jesus said "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Keep pressing on, keeping your eyes on the Saviour despite all the circumstances, battles and trials of life. Maybe you have pain in your body. You are attending appointments after appointments - remember one day it will be all over.

The strangled heart - the thorny ground. Verse 22 "He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word and the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word and he becometh unfruitful." This type of seed is choked by the thorns.  There are 2 big thorns mentioned here - the care of the world and the deceitfulness of riches.  They choke this type of person. They don't bring forth fruit. There could be a difficult marriage, work issues, bad health, children or grandchildren, unemployment, caring for a loved one. They can get in and choke us. They take our joy and peace. Maybe you have lost the joy of being a Christian, the peace the Lord gives. You are not as bright as you used to be. Peter said "cast all your care on him for he careth for you." The true Christian rests on the sovereignty of God. Maybe you are going through something in your life that you cannot understand. "All things work together for good to them that love, to them who are called according to his purpose." Mary sat at Jesus' feet while Martha was so busy. Mary had chosen the better part. We get so busy in life with all the cares and burdens. The Lord wants us to sit at his feet. It is lovely to get alone with him, to pour our your heart to him. He hears our prayers. The second big thorn is the deceitfulness of riches. The prosperity of riches, the love of money. Wealth can bring ease in many lives. "For the love of money is the root of all evil." I think of many young men who once were giving out tracts, knocking on doors. The love of money or deceitfulness of riches overtook them. They started missing meetings in the house of God on the Lord's day then they started to work on the Lord's day. The love of money is the root of all evil. The church in Laodicea were lukewarm. They were half hearted Christians. The Lord had nothing to say of them. They were wretched, poor, miserable, blind and naked. He was knocking to get into their church. Maybe that is you. You are going through the motions but not serving God. You are not giving your life completely to him. Maybe he is knocking at your heart. "Behold I stand at the door and knock." The Lord has amazing ways to get through to us. "whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." 

The sincere heart - the good ground. Verse 23 "But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." Notice that this type of individual hears the gospel and responds to it. It is real within the heart. What does the Lord mean by 30 fold, 60 fold and 100 fold? Moderate development can be seen in some lives. They love the Lord, they love His people, and they love the Bible. They are genuinely saved and take the initial steps toward fruitfulness, yet certain areas of their lives somehow remain untouched by the Word of God and the Spirit of God. That is the meaning of the 30 fold.  The 60 fold - Marked development can be seen in other lives. They become the backbone of a local church. They are helpful, cooperative, and zealous members of the family of God. They teach in Sunday school, witness to others about Christ, give conscientiously to the Lord’s work, maintain an interest in missions, and stand behind the local leadership. Their lives give evidence that they love the Lord and are seeking to grow in grace and increase in the knowledge of God. What about the 100 fold? Marvelous development can be seen in a few lives. They go all the way with God. They are Spirit-filled, Christlike, soulwinning Christians. The 100 fold Christian lives for another world. It is good to get to the stage where you just want the Lord. Nothing else matters. You want to fulfil God's plan for your life. Is that you? Do you know why the Lord has saved you? Are you using your gift for the Lord. 

4 types of people that attend a gospel mission. Which are you? I trust you are saved and know you are saved. Maybe you are not sure. Don't leave until you know for sure that you are ready for heaven. I don't want you to be a lost soul in hell. Get right with the Lord before it is too late. 

Recently I visited a lady who showed me 2 tress in her garden - one was an apple tree and the other a pear tree. The apple tree was flourishing while the pear bore no fruit. They are like many in churches. One is on fire for God, zealous. They attend the prayer meetings and bible studies. Others bear no fruit. You only see them now and again. They have no prayer life and no testimony. There is no evidence of the new birth in their lives.