The church of God is the household of God. In every household, there are ethics that guide the conduct of members of such households. In the church, there are ethics and rules governing our behaviors in the church. As members of the church, we are expecting to obey the doctrines that Jesus Christ laid down for us. Bro Eli Soriano is teaching us nothing but the truth with respect to the commandments of God which Jesus Christ our Savior laid down for us.
Matthew 28:20 (KJV) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
We must prepare our hearts and minds to receive the doctrines and be willing to obey them. There are several types of hearts of men in the church. There are those whose minds are not truly made up to follow the teachings of God. There are those who are in the church because their relatives took them there. We should be wholly given to God if we truly want to please Him.
The Wayside Hearts
Matthew 13:4, 19 (KJV) And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
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.
Bro Eli Soriano explained to us from the Bible in Matthew 13:3-23, that there are different types of people in the church.
The Wayside Hearts are those who are not fully surrendered to God. Their hearts are like the wayside. Easily, the enemies come in and steal the word of God that they have heard.
The Stony Hearts
Matthew 13:5-6, 20-21 (KJV) Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
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.
The stony hearts are hardened. They are not easily broken by the Word of God. The word of God cannot put roots in them.
The Thorny Hearts
Matthew 13:7, 22 (KJV) And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
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.
These kinds of hearts are full of many distractions. They are choked by the cares of this world. Many things drag their hearts away from God. They love the material blessings in this world more than God. This kind of heart cannot be fruits.
The Good Hearts
Matthew 13:8, 23 (KJV) But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
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.
The good hearts are those hearts who are fully surrendered to God. They are not hardened. There are no distractions in their hearts. They have good hearts. Such hearts bear fruits unto the glory of God.
We should be the examples of the good hearts. God expects that we bear fruits unto repentance. Let our hearts be fertile enough for the Word of God to grow.