Well, good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen of Hamel Hempstead. It is again our joy and privilege to come and to minister the Word of God amongst you here this afternoon. I hope that you'll take some time to hear the Word of the Lord. The Scriptures declare the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says this is a faithful saying, worthy of all acceptation. that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of who the Apostle Paul said, I am chief. I'll read a short passage from the Gospel of Matthew and the 13th chapter, the Gospel of Matthew chapter 13. The Lord Jesus here speaking a parable of the sower. And that is what we're going to do today, is to sow God's precious Word of Truth. I pray that you'll take some time to hear the Word of the Lord today. The same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the seaside. And great multitudes were gathered together unto Him, so that He went into a ship and sat And the whole multitude stood on the shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow. And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside. And the fowls came and devoured them up. And some fell on stony places, and where there had not much earth. And forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth. And when the sun was come up, they were scorched. Because they had no root, they withered away. Sun fell among thorns, and the thorns sprung up and choked them. but other fell unto good ground and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. This afternoon we wish to bring a short message to your ears. The Word of God speaks to us, our never-dying souls, The Word of God, this message, is given by the Lord Jesus Christ in this parable, the parable of the sower. In Luke's Gospel, he describes that the seed that falls is the Word of God. Would you hear the Word of God today, friends? The Word of God is a message from heaven, and the Word of God tells us that we've all sinned. and come short of the glory of God. The Bible tells us that no, not one is righteous, but all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And the message of salvation, the message of the gospel is preached in your hearing today. And as the Lord Jesus said, he that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Here the Lord Jesus Christ describes four kinds of hearers. The first set of hearers are likened unto that seed which fell by the wayside. The wayside, that hardened path, and as we look at the high street here, there is that hardened path, we notice on both sides, of course, this pavement, But you can imagine if you were passing by a field, and in that field alongside it there was a hardened pathway where many passed by. And it's true to say that many passed by here on the high street. Very few stopped and really listened to God's Word. And those that hear by the wayside, they hear a little something and the Lord Jesus says that the devil steals that word away. They're not really interested in hearing. They hear a little and then soon they've forgotten that seed is taken away. Other things preoccupying your mind and your heart at this time. My dear friends, we have shops all around us and the shops tend to needs of the body. But your body is not here forever, you're not here forever. You have a never dying soul. And that is infinitely worth more value than your body. Your body is temporal. But many, so many in this life, will just hear like the wayside hearer. A little seed here, they hear something, and then quickly the message vanishes away. And there's no thought, there's no care for matters of eternity, matters of eternal life, matters of God. how we will soon have to face our Creator. Many pass by. The wayside is a well-beaten path. Again, I see so many walking past, very few stop, listen. Sometimes people, as is in the case right now, sit and listen on the benches. And that is important. And then there is that seed which fell upon stony places. You can imagine if you threw seed where there was just stone, a little bit of earth, and then it springs up, this is what he says. They had not much earth, they spring up, and because that they have no deepness of earth, when the sun was up, they were scorched. It's very true. He later goes on to describe this parable, how that for many, the Word of God is sown in their hearts, and then they go along to a church just for a little while, and then trials come in the life, and that person doesn't endure going to church, doesn't come and read his Bible regularly. and what happens soon because that seed has no real root in the heart. It takes no effect ultimately and doesn't bring any fruit. Was that person saved? No, they were really a fair weather hearer. So long as the weather was mild, so long as life was easy, oh, they They like to hear the Word of God, they like the thought that there is a heaven, and at the end of this life there's something for me. But they never really let the Word of God take deep root in their souls. They had no interest in bringing fruit unto the Lord. Are you such a person? I meet many, you know, often in the open air here, sometimes in tears, and they tell me, that once they used to go to church, once they used to hear God's Word, once they spent time, and then other things, the cares of the world, the riches, and trial and tribulation, well, those things took them away. Well, the Lord Jesus says, that one will perish. Are you such a hearer of the Christian life? is one of adherence and, of course, the Lord will never lose any truly. Those are His people. I meet some so often who say, well, I was a Christian and now I'm no longer a Christian. My friend, no such thing at all. Once a Christian, you will be saved. And you know, because the Bible says, he that has begun a good work in someone will see it to completion to the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. So there are those kinds of hearers who hear the Word of God just for a little while, and then when trial and tribulation come up in their life, well, they're nowhere to be seen. They may be touched with a little prick of conscience now and then, but then soon again they give these things up. And then he speaks of that seed which is sown among thorns. And he says here, and the thorns sprung up and choked them. And then he says later on, as he explains the parable, that the thorns represent the riches of this world. I remind you, the Lord Jesus said, what will it profit a man if he gained the whole world and lose his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Are you somebody that many thorns, many things have been, as it were, in your side And those things have kept you from God's Word. Why not come along this Lord's Day, this Sunday, to hear the Word of God? You know, people spend so much time in front of the television. People spend so much time playing computer games and all kinds of things. But friend, let me ask you, what will that do for you in eternity? You will not be thinking about computer games and wealth and pleasure and hobbies in eternity when you are cast away from the Lord. There are many thorns, there are many cares, there are many things that sap us of real life and meaning of life. And let me just say this, you are not living the best life or a good life without God. If you are living without the Lord, you're living really an impoverished life. Man is made to know God and to enjoy God and to glorify Him forever. So if you're living without the Lord in that sense, my dear friends, it is a great impoverished life. Imagine a thorn. A thorn in the side, we speak of a thorn in the side. How painful that can be. But cares, riches, wealth. There's a parable which the Lord Jesus Christ gives of the rich farmer. Well, one year he had many crops. And he said, well, I'll build up bigger barns, more barns, more storage space, and I'll put all that I have in that barn. Well, he had to labour more for the more barns and he had to care for all that he had and he couldn't spend all that he had acquired. So is the man who has taken up with all the riches of this world and not thinking about the riches of heaven, peace with God, forgiveness of sins, eternal life, a relationship with God. You have a conscience, and right now, if you're unforgiven, that conscience surely weighs heavy upon you. Are you ready to meet the Lord? Do you have forgiveness of sins? Do you have peace in your heart? You can't know peace. Friends, you can't know rest at night. If you have to face a holy and an angry God, you can't. And you mustn't mistake the fact that God, the Bible says He is angry with sinners every day. God is not pleased with sin. And when He sees sin in us, David says, O Lord, if You should mark iniquity, if Thou shouldst mark iniquity, who would stand? It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that the judgment. But friends, you allow even right now, thorns and cares to hinder you in your life. And these things, you know, will not really make for a life. You're sapping your energy, your time. But what about God? You are made as His creature. You didn't come here by accident. You're not here by chance. It takes greater faith to believe that there is no God than that there is a God. For nothing cannot make anything, but God has made the heavens and the earth. He has made you, and He has made you and I accountable to Him. We will stand before the Lord. Are you ready for that hour, dear friend, to meet the Lord? What will He say? And then he speaks, here in this parable, of that seed which fell upon good ground. That good ground, of course, is that ground that has been broken up. Word of God says, break up thy fallow ground. Our hearts can be so hard, but you know, it is God alone that breaks the heart. There's a sense in which we need to humble ourselves and come before the Lord and ask that He will humble our hearts, that He will make our hearts receptive to His Word. Well, dear friends, it is important that we hear the Word of God. The Lord Jesus said, blessed is he that hears the Word of God and keeps it. As you hear the Word of God today, what is the message of God's Word? It's simply this, that we've all sinned. that we've come short of His glory, that the wages of sin is death. And then that same verse says, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. Not only a life now and a relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ, but friends, eternal life. You know, many years ago, I think it was in the 70s or 80s, they came out with some Perfume, it was called eternity. Well, nothing here is eternal. But friends, eternity is forever and forever. That perfume, I think, is long gone. And really, it's just a myth, isn't it? Just a name. Nothing lasts forever. James says, what is your life? It is but a vapor, friends. You're here for a little while, and soon you're gone. Yesterday we heard the tragedy of two men just shot down, killed, taken in their prime of life. It happens all the time, people taken in the prime of their life, not ready to go. Are you ready to meet the Lord? It's a solemn thing, friends, to fall into the hands of the living God. The Lord Jesus said, He, if you believe not that I am He, you will die in your sins. It's a terrible thing to die in our sins without forgiveness, without peace with God. There's only peace through the Lord Jesus. He is called the Prince of Peace. You know, in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 9, verse 6, we read some wonderful words. Unto us a son is given, unto us a child is born, and his name shall be called Wonderful, the Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Our first father Adam fell and died, but Christ is the Everlasting Father. He is the representative of all that believe upon Him. The Bible says, all that are in Adam shall die, but all that are in Christ shall be made alive. At His coming, the bodies of His people will be raised. When they die, their spirits go to be with the Lord. Friend, if you were to pass this world today, where would your spirit go? Where would your soul go? Your soul is eternal. I address you, friends, in love and concern for your never-dying soul. Have you peace with God? Have you assurance? Have you that hope of everlasting life? You know, the Bible says that God is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto Him by Christ Jesus. Oh, my dear friend, He is the Savior. Even if someone has taken His name, and I dare say there will be a multitude of people out here today that have taken the name of the Lord Jesus as the swear word. Or even God's name, it's a terrible thing to do. But you know, sins, if one is the Lord's, they truly come, they repent, and God forgives of sin. No matter what that person has done, The Bible says of God's people, as they look to Him and as they repent and confess their sin, the Bible says, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin. Nothing can cleanse the sin but a holy Savior, even God the Son, who made the world, who created all things and became man. All my dear friends, this is why the Apostle Paul said, God forbid that I should glory, save, or accept in the cross of Jesus Christ, my Lord. Such a wonderful thing that Jesus Christ did. You see, because God is just, He had to punish the sin of His people. Christ had to be the sin bearer. He had to suffer. He had to die. And this is what the Scriptures say, Isaiah 53 verse 11, the Lord says, of His Son, and My righteous servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquity. Thereupon the cross, Christ Jesus, bear the sin of His people. He suffered, He died, the Bible says, the just for the unjust. that He might bring us unto God. As we approach this time of year that many call Christmas, you know it's not actually in the Bible to celebrate this time, but nonetheless, we do rejoice in the advent, the first advent, that of Christ coming into this world. And what does the Bible say? God was manifest in the flesh, that is He appeared. in the flesh. He stepped into time, space, history, was born bone of our bones, flesh of our flesh. Emmanuel, that is one of the names of the Lord Jesus, God with us. And you know He is coming again. He says in His Word, behold, I come quickly and my reward is with me. to give every man according as his work shall be. What has been your work? Sin? Yes, that's the amount of man's life. You know, the Bible says even the ploughing of the wicked is sin. That is because a man, a farmer, may work hard, but he is not giving thanks to God. God who gave him the air, the water, the seed, the earth, That's why even the Bible says the plowing of the wicked is sin, because he does not acknowledge God. My dear friends, it's a great sin not to acknowledge your Creator and especially not to ask for forgiveness and to seek His pardon through the Lord Jesus. That is a great sin. And you will receive due reward of that in separation from the Lord. But the Lord has a work in His people. He says, my reward is with me. Christ's reward is that He will save His people from their sins. And even now, the life they live, they live by faith of the Son of God that loved them. It's a gracious work. You see, even when the Lord saves His people and He works in them, that is His gracious work. Would you hear God's Word today? Dear friend, hear as we gave the parable of the sower. Where now, I ask, has that seed fallen? Has it fallen by the wayside? Have you cast it aside? Will it fall among the thorns, the riches, the cares of this life? Will it fall among stone, the stony heart? Or has God prepared your heart? Will you go away? Will you think on these things? Well, I pray that you will. Do come along this Lord's Day Sunday, it is. We meet on the corner of Lower Road and Redline Lane. The name of the church is Bethel Reform Baptist Church. And I'd like to give you a very warm welcome and invitation to our services this coming Lord's Day. We call it the Lord's Day because the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the grave, triumphant over sin. Well, I'm meeting in the morning this Sunday. This Lord's Day is 10.30am and then the evening service is at 6pm. Plenty of car parking space there. We meet on the corner, as I said, of Lower Road and Red Lion Lane. I'll be out here for the next few moments. If you'd like to speak to me, I see some people out here today listening. Please do take a tract and I'll be glad to give you one afterwards. Dear friends, seek the Lord while he may be found. Turn to him while he is near.