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Dr. George C. Johnson
I have discovered that what you say and what people hear are often two different things.
The reason for this is that people hear differently when they are in different situations.
Someone depressed, hears one way, when the same thing said to someone who is excited about life brings a totally different result.
Jesus taught the parable of the sower and the seed. In His explanation He shows us the different perspectives many people come from.
This will help us understand why some things taught seem to really change us, when other things seem to drop to the ground.
Matthew 13:18-23
18 Therefore hear the parable of the sower
19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside
20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy
21 Yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
Based on this text, I want to introduce you to 4 men who come from different perspectives. I hope this will give us some understanding of why some people just don’t get it!
• Mr., I don’t understand, and I am not interested enough to study it out and gain understanding.
The first person lacks understanding, and when someone comes from this perspective, Jesus teaches us, that the things taught never take root, they are lost immediately.
This guy isn’t stupid; he just has little or no interest in the truth, but wants an excuse as to why he isn’t growing.
• Mr. Adrenalin junkie!
The second person was emotional. He receives it with joy, but he has no root, meaning no depth in himself, totally emotional. As long as it’s exciting and I feel goose bumps, I will follow. When life hits he runs!
• Mr., “what’s in it for me?”
The third one is so involved in personal gain that he bears no fruit in the kingdom. The fruit is Love, joy, peace, etc. This guy has all the earmarks of understanding, but his perspective on all teaching is monetary. He is also called, Mr. God wants us rich!
• Mr., I am determined to know!
The fourth and final perspective is that of willing understanding.
This man wants to know truth and does all he can to understand.
He not only bears fruit, but that fruit produces fruit, some a hundredfold, sixty, and some thirty.
All that he does in the kingdom grows.
He has trials and tribulation, but stands strong in Christ.
He has times of real refreshing, and stands strong in Christ.
He is blessed at times with riches, yet stands strong in Christ.
He experiences time of want and need, yet stands strong in Christ.
He continues in the Word so he can stand strong in Christ!
By: Dr. George C. Johnson
Acts 13:22
22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.' NKJV
What a wonderful thing for the Lord to say about someone, “a man after My own heart.” But what does this mean? How was it that David could gain such a statement from the Creator of heaven and earth? I see three possible meanings to this phrase.
I. David was a worshiper, and God loves worshippers!
2 Samuel 2:10
10 Ishbosheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel , and he reigned two years. Only the house of Judah followed David. NKJV
Even in the beginning of his reign as King, David’s legacy as a worship leader was confirmed by the fact that the house of Judah was the first to recognize his leadership. Judah means, “praise.” The Bible is filled with this type of analogies, it was not by chance that this was the first tribe to recognize him, it was God’s design so that throughout history David’s heart to praise would be his chief attribute. Why did God do all of this? He did it so one day it would be spoken to the New Testament Church ;
Acts 15:16
16 'After! this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; NKJV
Psalms 22:3
3 But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel . NKJV
This verse literally means that God loves to sit on His throne in the midst of the praises of His people. God loves praise and worship and the heart of praise was in David, so one of the meanings of a man after His own heart could be that God’s heart went towards David because he was a man of praise and worship.
II. David was a man who wanted God’s full love
Another meaning of a man after God’s own heart could be one who wants God to love him. David was a man, a sinful, fleshy man, but a man who knew the power of repentance. David loved God and when his flesh got the best of him, he didn't’ just say, “sorry,” he repented.
One result of David’s sin with Bathseba was that his son by her died. As this boy lay dying, David fasted and sought God, repentant for what he had done. He wouldn’t eat and his servants worried, when the boy died, David stood up and went and ate. He realized that the death of the boy was a direct result of his sin, he sought God that perhaps He would spare the boy’s life, when He didn’t, David rose up, got on with his life, never blaming God, for he knew that it wasn’t God’s doing, but his. Note that we never see David doing that again!
III. David wanted a Godly heart.
The third thing we could see in David being a man after God’s heart is that David wanted to be a godly leader.
1 Chronicles 17:1
1 Now it came to pass, when David was dwelling in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under tent curtains." NKJV
It was David’s desire to build a house for God. He saw the beautiful house he had and wanted to see the Ark of the Covenant housed in a place even more beautiful. His heart was to make it clear that God deserves the very best. God had to focus David on his call in life, he was a warrior. Praise and worship are warfare and it was important for us to know that the spiritual dwelling place of David, his tabernacle, is a beautiful dwelling of praise and worship, which is the highest form of warfare. God wouldn’t let the warrior become a builder. David, however, had the right heart.
God wants us to be praisers and worshipers first, and builders of His house second. If we are not victorious through our relationship with Him, we will never be good evangels. We need to learn to win in our lives so we can teach others!
Do you want to be a person after God’s own heart?
• Be a worshipper. Don’t just sing, dance, or play and instrument, worship Him!
• Understand that God always loves you! Stop trying to gain His love, it’s yours!
• Daily ask God to put His heart, His desires, His ways deep inside you. God teach
me to respond to people the way you would, with love!
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