Uncertain Times Part 4 - The State of our Soil
Notes
Transcript
Text
Text
And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Introduction
Introduction
The Gathering Crowd -
Jesus was beginning to gather crowds as his popularity spread and we have a record here in Luke of one such occasion where a crowd had gathered to meet him. In the gospel of Matthew and the gospel of Mark we find a similar record but with some additional details. For instance both Matthew and Mark tell us that they gathered next to the sea and that Jesus was in a ship. All throughout the gospel records you find multitudes coming to Jesus. Some were coming because they had heard of his healing power. Some were coming because he had the ability to meet their material needs and still others were coming just to observe what he might do next (there was no Netflix in Jesus’ day).
The Parable of the Soil
In each individual soul that come to Christ was a heart that would either receive his truth or reject it. In some cases the rejection took a bit more time but ultimately it would be revealed. Through this Jesus was teaching some valuable lessons to his disciples and to us as well.
The heart of man...
The heart of man is something that only God can see:
But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
A picture of the different heart conditions...
A. The Hard Soil -
A. The Hard Soil -
vs 12 “hear…then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word”
they have allowed Satan to have influence in their life and when the word is sown it is snatched like a bird running away with its catch
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
B. The Shallow Soil -
B. The Shallow Soil -
vs 13 “receive the word with joy…and in a time of temptation fall away”
Like many who were following Jesus in his day that they wanted some material benefit from Jesus and when circumstances did not reveal themselves to be favorable they walked away from Christ
The word “temptation” here means testing
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
C. The Crowded Soil -
C. The Crowded Soil -
vs 14 “heard, and go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures”
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
D. The Good Soil -
D. The Good Soil -
vs 15 “having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience”
This is a picture of one who is truly saved
In other passages it teaches us that Christians will not all bear the same amount of fruit but all will bear fruit
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.
And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
Application
Application
In light of Jesus’ teaching on these various soil types there are three truths we must keep in mind...
We must continue to sow
We must continue to be sensitive
We must continue to remain patient
1. Sowing -
1. Sowing -
A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
“A sower went out to sow his seed...”
All of the various soil types represented here are found in our day as they were in Christ’s
The final evidence of the fruitfulness is not revealed many times until much later
Share what Christ has done for us
Remember that we are not always harvesting
2. Sensitivity -
2. Sensitivity -
And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
“he that hath ears to hear, let him hear”
We need to be careful what we listen to:
And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
The source of our hearing is important - espesually in these days
We need to be careful how we listen:
Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
How we hear has a determination on what we hear next ....
we must receive what the Lord is giving to us - those who receive will eventually get more truth
3. Suffering
3. Suffering
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
“and bring forth fruit with patience”
We are in such a hurry - God never is
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Conclusion
Conclusion
We will encounter many types of soil as we do the work of the ministry. In spite of the responses we get to the Word of God we must remain faithful to God and continue to sow the seed. We must remain sensitive to the Word of God and listen for his voice and finally we must stay patient as we wait for fruit to mature.
Are you continuing to Sow?
Are you continuing to Hear?
Are you remaining Patient?