Transformative Responses: The Two Fields of Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing God's Ownership Over Our Lives

Our lives are not our own; we belong to God. This truth is illustrated by the imagery of the two fields in Hebrews 6:7-8, both of which belong to the same owner. Just as the fields are under the care and ownership of the farmer, so are we under God's ownership. This understanding calls us to a life of responsibility and accountability to God. We are reminded that our response to His word is not just a personal choice but a duty to our Creator. Recognizing God's ownership over us is crucial, as it reminds us of our responsibility to respond to His word. [09:44]

"For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's." (Romans 14:7-8, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you been living as if your life is your own? How can you begin to acknowledge God's ownership in your daily decisions today?

Day 2: The Importance of Our Response to the Gospel

The two fields in Hebrews 6:7-8 receive the same rain and care, yet they produce different results. This illustrates that exposure to the Gospel alone is not enough; it is our response that matters. The field that produces herbs represents a life transformed by the Gospel, while the field that yields thorns symbolizes a life unchanged. This calls us to examine our own response to the Gospel. Are we allowing it to transform us, leading to a new birth and a life that bears fruit pleasing to God? [11:35]

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your response to the Gospel. What specific steps can you take today to ensure that your life is producing fruit that is pleasing to God?

Day 3: True Transformation Through Repentance

The difference between the two fields lies in the nature of their response. A true Christian life is marked by a new birth, a transformation that goes beyond mere intellectual assent to the Gospel. It involves repentance, a deep awareness of our sinful nature, and a heartfelt turning to God for mercy and transformation. This transformation is not just about changing behavior but about a complete renewal of the heart and mind. [23:48]

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me." (Psalm 51:10-11, ESV)

Reflection: What areas of your life need true transformation? How can you invite God into these areas for a genuine change of heart and mind today?

Day 4: The Seriousness of Judgment

Both fields face judgment based on their response to the treatment they received. This serves as a solemn reminder of the eternal consequences of our response to the Gospel. The field that produces thorns is rejected and faces destruction, while the field that brings forth herbs receives blessing from God. We must examine our lives to ensure that we are producing fruit that is pleasing to God, as our response has eternal significance. [16:43]

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Corinthians 5:10, ESV)

Reflection: How does the reality of eternal judgment influence your daily life and decisions? What changes can you make today to align your life with God's expectations?

Day 5: Hope in Repentance

While one may be "nigh unto cursing," it is not too late to turn to God and receive His grace. The opportunity for repentance and transformation is still available, and we must seize it before it is too late. This message of hope reminds us that no matter how far we have strayed, God's grace is sufficient to bring us back and transform our lives. [53:04]

"Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts." (Zechariah 1:3, ESV)

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you feel distant from God? How can you take a step towards repentance and experience His grace today?

Sermon Summary

In the epistle to the Hebrews, chapter 6, verses 7 and 8, we find a profound illustration of two fields, each receiving the same rain and care, yet producing vastly different results. This imagery serves as a metaphor for our response to the Gospel. As we stand at the close of another year, it is a fitting time for self-examination, much like an annual audit in business. We must ask ourselves: What has our exposure to the Gospel led to in our lives? Have we merely listened, or has it transformed us?

The two fields represent two types of responses to God's word. One field, upon receiving the rain, brings forth herbs that are pleasing and useful to the owner, symbolizing a life that responds to the Gospel with genuine faith and transformation. The other field, despite receiving the same rain, produces only thorns and briars, representing a life that remains unchanged, despite exposure to the Gospel.

This passage challenges us to consider the nature of our response to God's word. Are we like the field that naturally produces thorns, or have we allowed the Gospel to transform us, bringing forth fruit that is pleasing to God? The key difference lies in the nature of the response. A true Christian life is marked by a new birth, a transformation that goes beyond mere intellectual assent to the Gospel. It involves repentance, a deep awareness of our sinful nature, and a heartfelt turning to God for mercy and transformation.

The final verdict for each field is starkly different. The field that produces thorns is rejected and faces destruction, while the field that brings forth herbs receives blessing from God. This serves as a solemn reminder of the eternal consequences of our response to the Gospel. Yet, there is hope. The text reminds us that while one may be "nigh unto cursing," it is not too late to turn to God and receive His grace.

Key Takeaways

1. Ownership and Responsibility: Both fields belong to the same owner, symbolizing that all of humanity is under God's ownership. We are not autonomous; our lives are not our own. Recognizing God's ownership over us is crucial, as it reminds us of our responsibility to respond to His word. [09:44]
2. Equal Treatment, Different Outcomes: Despite receiving the same rain and care, the two fields produce different results. This illustrates that exposure to the Gospel alone is not enough; it is our response that matters. We must allow the Gospel to transform us, leading to a new birth and a life that bears fruit pleasing to God. [11:35]
3. The Nature of True Transformation: The difference between the two fields lies in the nature of their response. A true Christian life is marked by a new birth, a transformation that goes beyond mere intellectual assent to the Gospel. It involves repentance, a deep awareness of our sinful nature, and a heartfelt turning to God for mercy and transformation. [23:48]
4. The Seriousness of Judgment: Both fields face judgment based on their response to the treatment they received. This serves as a solemn reminder of the eternal consequences of our response to the Gospel. We must examine our lives to ensure that we are producing fruit that is pleasing to God. [16:43]
5. Hope in Repentance: While one may be "nigh unto cursing," it is not too late to turn to God and receive His grace. The opportunity for repentance and transformation is still available, and we must seize it before it is too late. [53:04]
** [53:04]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:13] - Introduction to Hebrews 6:7-8
[01:54] - The Importance of Self-Examination
[03:06] - The Danger of Mere Listening
[04:56] - The Two Fields: A Metaphor for Response
[06:27] - Commonalities Between the Fields
[10:51] - Equal Treatment, Different Outcomes
[16:27] - The Nature of True Transformation
[19:26] - The Contrast in Responses
[26:08] - The Quality of the Produce
[32:05] - The Uselessness of Natural Products
[38:16] - What God Expects from Us
[45:03] - The Proof of True Belief
[50:09] - The Final Verdicts
[53:04] - Hope in Repentance

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What are the two different outcomes for the fields described in Hebrews 6:7-8, and what do they symbolize in terms of our response to the Gospel? [00:27]
According to the sermon, what is the significance of both fields receiving the same rain and care? [11:07]
How does the sermon describe the nature of the response of the two fields to the treatment they received? [19:58]
What does the sermon say about the final judgment for each field, and how does this relate to our lives? [49:31]

Interpretation Questions

How does the sermon illustrate the concept of God's ownership over all humanity, and why is this important for understanding our responsibility to respond to His word? [09:44]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that mere exposure to the Gospel is insufficient for true transformation? [04:13]
How does the sermon explain the difference between intellectual assent to the Gospel and true transformation? [23:48]
What does the sermon imply about the eternal consequences of our response to the Gospel, and how does this shape our understanding of judgment? [49:31]

Application Questions

Reflect on your own life: Are you producing fruit that is pleasing to God, or are there areas where you feel unchanged despite exposure to the Gospel? What steps can you take to allow the Gospel to transform you more fully? [04:56]
How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of your sinful nature and a heartfelt turning to God for mercy and transformation in your daily life? [40:42]
Consider the concept of God's ownership over your life. How does this understanding affect your daily decisions and your sense of responsibility to respond to His word? [09:44]
The sermon emphasizes the seriousness of judgment based on our response to the Gospel. How can you ensure that your life is aligned with God's expectations and that you are producing fruit that is pleasing to Him? [16:43]
The sermon offers hope in repentance. Is there an area in your life where you feel "nigh unto cursing"? How can you turn to God and receive His grace before it is too late? [53:04]
Identify one specific way you can demonstrate true transformation in your life this week, whether through an act of kindness, forgiveness, or service. How will you hold yourself accountable to this action?
How can you engage with others in your community or church to encourage them in their journey of transformation and response to the Gospel? What role can you play in supporting their spiritual growth?

Sermon Clips

The first thing I notice about the two Fields is that they both belong to somebody now there's a correction here which I must make in the translation in verse 7 for the Earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh after upon it and bringeth forth herbs meet for them for whom it is dressed not by whom it is dressed for whom it is dress. [00:06:49]

The picture is you see of a man here who owns two Fields if you like and uh they are both given the same treatment as I'm going to show you but the results are very different but the point I'm emphasizing now is that the same man owns the two fields and what has been done to the two Fields has been for his benefit not for their benefit but for his benefit. [00:07:34]

The two groups belong to God that's the first thing that's emphasized here and this is the thing that the modern man is so constantly forgetting he lives as if he owned himself as if he owned his own life people say why shouldn't I do it with myself what I like why should I be subject to your Bible or to any moral teaching. [00:08:39]

We are not our own we've not made ourselves we've not given being to ourselves we are not even owners of the powers and the faculties that we possess not one of us has created them we are born with them they've been given to us Our Lives even are not our own and I suppose finally the greatest sin of all is to live as if we did own ourselves. [00:09:12]

The Earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh s upon it well well here this first one it drinks in the rain but so does the second the same rain falls upon the two fields in exactly the same way it isn't that only one of the fields receives the rain and the other nothing at all no no the rain comes down upon the two in exactly the same way and at the same time. [00:10:51]

The response is so entirely different very well then let's not let's not fail to take hold of this p and this is one of the most astounding things haven't you often thought about this think of two people two brothers if you like or two sisters or brother or and sister brought up in the same family same circumstances the same everything go to the same chapelo church listen to exactly the same gospel have exactly the same instruction come under the same influence in the service and yet one of them is a Christian and one of them's not a Christian. [00:11:35]

The difference is this this word Beth which he uses in the eth verse is a verse that carries with it the reference of a natural product it's what it does by Nature that's which it produces if you do nothing at all to it now we know that don't we all of us if you do nothing to a garden what happens well weeds will grow if you do nothing to this type of field well Briars and Thorns will grow in it or thorns and thistles. [00:21:04]

The nature of the soil since it was cursed in the fall is to bring forth Briars and Thorns yes but now if you do certain things to it well you affect the nature and then it's capable of bringing forth something leading to birth you see when birth takes place there's a process been going on there's no such thing as pathogenesis you've got two factors coming together before there can be a birth there's a change there's something new brought into being. [00:24:00]

To be Christian doesn't mean that it's your own nature that is in evidence somewhat improved perhaps here and there no no there's something quite new about the Christian it isn't a mere use of the natural the old no no there's a new birth there's a new being a new creation there is something that is the result of the interaction of the Divine Force upon the soul an operation and a birth takes place brings forth brings to birth. [00:25:01]

The product of the natural men is in and of itself poor poor in nature poor in substance poor in quality who wants Briars and Thorns who wants Thorns or thistles no no the quality is poor you can't imagine anything worse there's no value in it in any shape or form you can't even use it as good good fuel on your fire it's all useless poor in quality in its very essence and that is what the Bible always tells us about the natural life the unregenerate life and all that it produces. [00:28:08]

The life of the unbeliever is so profitless selfish yes briers and Thorns that's why the world is as it is tonight you try and handle Briars and thorns and they'll stick into you and they'll pick you and they'll pierce your skin and cause blood to come out and they'll give you pain and the sinful life of the world is producing this pain this evening it's nothing but Thorns Briars Nettles producing its rashes and its pain thorns and thistles spiky angular hurtful malicious isn't that the life of the world. [00:33:30]

The greatest benefactors that this world has ever known of always been Christian people you tell people that my friends when they talk about their National Health scheme you remind them that it was the church that started hospitals the church that started poor law relief the church that started education every one of these benefits has come from the Christian church it's it's meat it's herbs it's something of value it's something that benefits the whole race. [00:37:48]

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