The Word of God
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Sowing the Word
Sowing the Word
INTRO
Johhny Apple Seed
Jesus uses this Parable, which is a made up story that hides or reveals truth depending on the hearer. He uses this story as it relates very well to the people and culture that He was talking to. But there is a message in this story that goes beyond culture and is relevant for us today.
It seems to me that Jesus uses this opportunity to teach the Apostles about the crowd that is following Him and the effect that His Word is having on them. The Apostles don’t understand what the meaning behind the Parable is. I want us to look at Matt for the response, Mark does a great job at capturing the essence of what was said but Matthew has a little more detail that I think is important. So when they ask him about it He says...
And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”
He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:
‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not perceive;
For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.’
But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
A couple things to note in these verses. One is they were “given to know the mystery” they were chosen and given the mystery of the kingdom of God. Most of the crowd was not going to be able to get it because this was about prophecy being fulfilled. The Apostles had a front row seat yet again to the fulfillment of another prophecy by Jesus. And this mystery that is being revealed to them was something the prophets had longed to know. Isaiah was talking about these Jews at this time, but the meaning goes much deeper than just an application to the people of that day. By Jesus unlocking this parable for them they would be able to know the meaning of the rest of the parables. But it’s bigger than that, Jesus is revealing to them how the human heart works in a sense. As they grow in their knowledge of the Word they would then spread that word all over the world. In fact we have been given that knowledge as well and we plants those seeds in the soil of children’s hearts and to those around us. As disciples ourselves we need to be planting the word wherever we go but this parable is less about the planter and more about the dirt.
SEED
The three things plants need to grow are light, food and water. Light, whether from the Sun or an artificial light source (like a light bulb), gives the small plant the energy it needs to begin photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process the plant uses to convert light energy into food.
Like all living things, plants need water. Once a seed sends out roots, these roots will deliver water from the soil to the plant. As the plant grows and needs more water, roots will grow longer and stretch farther to find the necessary water in the soil.
When you get dry seeds at a gardening store, the seeds are dormant, which means they're inactive. All it usually takes to wake them up, though, is just to add water. Whether you plant them in moist soil or simply wrap them in a moist paper towel, they will begin to come to life.
Amazingly, scientists still don't fully understand what all happens inside of a seed as it comes to life. (finish the story later)
http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-do-seeds-sprout
https://vimeo.com/7608720
The Path or The Hard Heart
The Path or The Hard Heart
Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.
Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.
“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.
This is a more direct attack from Satan, the danger for us and for anyone that hears the word will be under attack from Satan, He does not want the words of life to get a hold of someone. This hardness can come form a lot of sources, friends, family, media there can be a hardness of heart that happens just by being in the world. This is not an impossible condition to return from but it’s gonna hurt.
For thus says Yahweh
to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem,
“Break up for yourselves prepared virgin soil,
and you must not sow among thornbushes.
The Rocky Ground or the Shallow Heart
The Rocky Ground or the Shallow Heart
This is the type of person that maybe has been overcome by an emotional experience of some sort, a counterfeit religious feeling and accepts the Word of God but without knowledge or understanding of what it means to be a Christian. The enthusiasm may continue for several weeks but since there is no depth to their faith rooted in the truth of God’s word and when the first sign of opposition comes they cave. This shows the importance of any Christian to be in the word often in order to allow it to grow an renew our mind.
Among Thorns or The Crowded Heart
Among Thorns or The Crowded Heart
This is like someone that has not fully repented in their heart. They have lots of plants growing in their hearts its like a flower bed that has been neglected for a year or so. The weeds have grown up and have chocked out the flowers.
And behold, someone came up to him and said, “Teacher, what good thing must I do so that I will have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why are you asking me about what is good? There is one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments!” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “Do not commit murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and your mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give the proceeds to the poor—and you will have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me.” But when the young man heard the statement, he went away sorrowful, because he was one who had many possessions.
“Enter through the narrow gate, because broad is the gate and spacious is the road that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it, because narrow is the gate and constricted is the road that leads to life, and there are few who find it!
You can’t walk both the narrow way and the broad way at the same time.
The Good Soil or The Fruitful Heart
The Good Soil or The Fruitful Heart
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
The evidence of true Christian will be seen by the fruit that they bear. They are active, they remain vigilant during tuff times.
Secret vs 11
(story continued) As the seed soaks up water, its food stored inside begins to be converted into energy in the form of enzymes. These enzymes start the process of sending out roots and sprouting the first parts of the plant. Exactly how all this works is still a bit of a mystery, but it is fascinating to watch whether you're a child or an adult!
I believe that the mystery of the heart is answered with Holy Spirit. Al the prep work the softening, the tilling and preppingI believe is done by the Holy Spirit.
HARVEST
HARVEST
This parable looks to the coming kingdom and we look to it as truth about the human heart but also just as a seed is sown and bears fruit that fruit is harvested one day.
Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”
He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
Read the Word
Be Repentant
Be Fruitful