Lord’s Day, Vol. 5 No. 11

Our Christian Testimony at Home

The Christian testimony is proof of the power of God unto salvation through the gospel of Christ. The Christian testimony in the home is the surest proof of the Christian profession. In the home, where a person is most at ease, relaxed and free, we can see what conduct is natural to him. If his conduct is holy, spiritual and heavenly, he is indeed consistent in his profession; there is no cause to doubt his profession. But if his testimony shows no evidence of spiritual life, living faithlessly and in the flesh, there is indeed cause for alarm.

What are the effects that come from the ministry of the Word in your life? Have you ever wondered why one may hear much of God’s word and yet so little seems to come out of that life? Has God’s Word lost its power? The parable of the sower is given by Jesus to help us examine the impact of God’s Word in our lives. In this parable, the seed is the Word of God, the sower is one who shares the Word, and the soil is the human heart. Jesus explains that there are four kinds of hearts. He identifies them according to the way they respond to God’s Word.

(1) Hardened Heart – No Evidence of Spiritual Life (Matthew 13:3-4, 18-19)

 19 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.

In verse 19, we see the hardened heart. Such a person does not comprehend the Word of God. The seed lies on the surface of the soil and never sinks in. Satan sees it, and like a bird swoops down and snatches it away. It is gone! The problem is with the soil; it is too hard. Can a hard heart be changed? Yes, it can be ploughed and prepared for the seed. A hard heart has no victory over sin. The ravages of hopelessness and guilt plague the unredeemed soul, there is no peace and joy to speak and rejoice about. It is a miserable life.

(2) Stony Heart – Faithless Life (Matthew 13:5-6, 20-21)

 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 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.

Seeds sown in stony places, without deepness of root, the plant cannot withstand the ravages of the weather. The scourging sun causes the plant to die. The word “offended” in v21 means to give up believing, to distrust and desert the One whom he ought to trust and obey, to cause to fall away, to be stumbled. A heart that is not established and grounded in the truth, with just a cognitive understanding of the word produces no true faith to withstand the stress of the external environment pressing upon it.

When one member of the home is converted and there are others who do not believe, Jesus says in Luke 12:51-53 to expect trouble, this division is spiritual, between light and darkness, between God and Satan, “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”

(3) Crowded Heart – Fleshly Life (Matthew 13:7, 22)

 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them…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.

Here is a description of the crowded heart, filled with the covetous worldly ambitions for money and position, building barns and tearing down barns to one’s eternal regret (Luke 12:16-21).

The cares of the world are the worries, anxieties and distractions of this present life that hold captive the hearts and minds of the hearers to the extent that there is no room for God in their lives; no room to consider, ponder, receive and give priority to things eternal. Jesus described riches as deceitful because they fail to give true and lasting happiness, comfort and security to their pursuers. More often than not, those who possess material prosperity deny the existence of God. They ascribe success to self or factors other than God. Hearts deluded by riches are often full of conceit.

(4) Good Heart – Fruitful Life (v8, 23)

8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold…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.

This heart is good in that it receives the Word (unlike the shallow heart that was faithless) and hold fast what it receives (unlike the crowded heart that was fleshly). It is acknowledged that the heart of man is sinful and apart from the working of God’s grace, it could never receive God’s Word and produce fruit for God’s glory. Promoting family worship in the home is important to building a strong family and a consistent family witness.

May the Holy Spirit be mightily outpoured in your life that it may be fruitful for the Lord and a life separated from the world, a testimony to God’s power working in and through you to your family. Amen.

Yours lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee