Seed That Fell On Good Ground

Matthew 13:23 NCV But what is the seed that fell on the good ground? That seed is like the person who hears the teaching and understands it. That person grows and produces fruit, sometimes a hundred times more, sometimes sixty times more, and sometimes thirty times more.”

To begin with brothers and sisters, Christian Friends, Well Wishers, and Saints of God it gives me the esteemed honor as well as the prestigious privilege to speak a word into thee hearts of the Believers today. This type of text is an examination kind of text.

This text is like last Sunday’s message in that The Lord God Almighty has commissioned, compelled, and commanded me to build the lives of the people of God that He has assigned me to watch for their souls.Listen brothers and sisters the message today deals with our hearts. And Jeremiah 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings

.GOD KNOWS OUR HEARTS

And so with that construct in mind, With that being said the central focus and the main idea in the Matthew 13 text is that Jesus was famous at using parabolic expressions to make a point.Jesus used parables to teach us. In fact when it was something deep deep deep Jesus oftentimes used parables to teach the lesson.

And here Jesus is in Matthew 13:1-2 sitting by the seashore and the crowds came see the Savior, hear a word,get a healing or receive a blessing. Jesus is always available to be our blesseth Savior.

And the text says that Jesus uses Peter’s boat as a Pulpit. He pushes off from the landing. And the people are standing on the seashore. And get this, the sound echoes off the water.This natural process is called Echolocation it make the sound echoes loudly! Naturally! And that’s why Jesus didn’t need a microphone. Teach me Pastor.

And Jesus begins His discourse.He says in Matthew 13: 3 KJV that Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: This is a description of a typical story about a farmer who was walking along the side of the road and the sower the farmer is just throwing seeds out there 2x and the bible says that the fowls of the air comes and eats up the seeds. Well that sounds right if you just throw seeds out with no intended purpose then the birds of the air ought to come and eat them up. Alright 3x that’s the shallow definition but Jesus used this shallow message of sowing seeds to describe the conditions of the heart. let’s read that again in verses 3 &4 Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Jesus is indicating, inducting, and inducing a deeper meaning and Jesus gives the answer in verses 18 &19 He’s saying in verses 18 “So listen to the meaning of that story about the farmer. 19 What is the seed that fell by the road? That seed is like the person who hears the message about the kingdom but does not understand it. The Evil One comes and takes away what was planted in that person’s heart.

Brothers and sisters That’s why it’s imperative it’s significant and it’s important to teach talk and tell the people of God the truth about God’s Word!!! Not what I think, Not what I can offer in terms of Christian Philosophy, Christian Psychology, or Christian Theology… Because all of that is super good but complicated. And What you need to know is that God knows your heart. And the Matthew 13 Text deals with some of the conditions of the heart. Saints of God don’t let the devil come and take God’s Word out of your heart. It’s a trick from the enemy..And what’s worst is criminal.. Ask me what’s a crime and a shame? it’s a crying shame for the preacher to not know the word of God and teach and preach in error and the people come out worst than they started. I know I’m right because the text say in verse 19 KJV When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, Meaning there ought to always be a word from the Lord, and understandeth it not, Meaning it’s the pastor’s responsibility to equip the saints with the word of God with accuracy , Because if I teach wrong doctrine the bible continues and ends in verse 19 saying, then! cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. The devil will tell you, you aren’t really saved,you know you’re not worthy for salvation, and just because them people shouting for joy you don’t have no Joy!!! You’re going straight to hell. And the bible concludes the first character in verse 19 by saying This is he which received seed by the way side.

Tell your neighbor Don’t let the devil fool you baby?

The second character presented in the text that we need to lift and shine a spot light on, is in verses 5 &6 KJV Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. wow The second metaphor is found in verses 20&21 NCV  And Jesus ask the question “what is the seed that fell on rocky ground? Jesus says what happens to that type of person? What’s their MO? He says “That seed is like the person who hears the teaching and quickly accepts it with joy”.Wait nah they heard the word and accepted the word of God with Joy. 21 But he does not let the teaching go deep into his life,in other words they don’t let the word go deep into his/her heart, and Jesus says “so he keeps it only a short time” and some Christians can come to church Sunday after Sunday and as long as that word doesn’t offend them they’re good. But the bible says that When trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching he accepted, he quickly gives up. I remember not having the courage to stand up for the word of God, And the conviction from God was unbearable. I felt low as the floor. And let me say to somebody today. Stand up for God even if you have to stand up for God all by yourself. Some things in life are just not worth compromising about. God’s business is not worth compromising over. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Nobody ought to be able to influence you to stop serving God.

Because Pilgrim Baptist Church is God’s Business and we are here serving God. Listen “If you can’t stand for something then you’ll fall for anything”. I’m standing for Pilgrim.How about you?

Then there is the third character in the text, look at Matthew 13: 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: Boy oh boy this is a tough one here.

Tell your neighbor: This a tough one

It’s tough one because in life,, African Americans have had to strive so hard to make a living because we’ve been through so much. Whether you were raised down the bayou like me or live in the city it’s been rough and tough to get where we are today. But the scripture say. Jesus says in Matthew 13: 22 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. The bible says they actually hear the word, Know that the word is right, got an understanding of the holy word of God, But Stuff and things got them tripped up. I tell all men Look Brah go to work and take care of your family. Take care of your family because the bible say that a man that doesn’t take care of his family is worst that an infidel.

But it can’t be that you go to work so much that you don’t have time for God anymore. Your family don’t harder ever see you. I know that overtime makes your money look fat, but all money ain’t good money.

And that fine new car and that fine new home and all of that fine furniture got notes attached to it. And You’ll find yourself working yourself half to death, and stuff and things have taken you away from God, and it isn’t anybody else fault but yours. And then you’ve got to know this “that pressure bust a pipe”. At some point you’ve got to be like Apostle Paul. Paul said I’ve learned that whatever state I’m in I’ve learned to be content. Tell your neighbor: be satisfied with what you have. There was A song back in the 70s that said “just be thankful for what you got because you may not have a big Cadillac diamond in back sun roof top digging in the scene with a gangster lean oo oo.

I’m thankful y’all. And I want to be the person planting seeds on Good Ground Matthew 13:8  But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. The symbolism here is that the person who plants on Good Ground will yield a productive harvest, But don’t take my word for it. Let’s see how Jesus describes this character that planted in Good Ground? Look at verse 23 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. Listen folks certainly I’ve made some mistakes with seed sowing in the past. But I’m too old to still be foolish. I’ve repented from being stingy, prideful, seeing stuff that’s way out of my league, spending money I don’t have, making bills that I can’t afford, and I’m pass putting my wife through my ambitious ego tripping.

And somebody here today need to get a gut check. Yeah 3x. Somebody needs to make an observation of their actions on seed time and harvesting, and somebody here need to make a self assessment with your attitude toward Godly Living.. And make some changes because you know yourself better than anybody else knows you.

And as I close today, I have to live with myself, and so I want to be fit for myself to know, I want to be able, as the days go by, always to look myself straight in the eye; I don’t want to stand, with the setting sun, and hate the things I’ve done. I don’t want to keep on a closet shelf a lot of secrets about myself,And fool myself, as I come and go, into thinking that nobody else will know The kind of man that I really am; I don’t want to dress up myself in a sham.

I want to go out in this life with my head erect, I want to deserve all men’s respect; But here in this struggle for fame and wealth, I want to be able to like myself. I don’t want to look at myself and know That I’m a big bluff just an empty show.

I can never hide myself from me; I see what others may never see; I know what others may never know, I can never fool myself, and so whatever happens next, I have to be able to like myself.

“Pilgrim! plant your seeds on Good ground and God Himself will yield you a productive harvest, The bible says some 100 fold some 60 fold and some 30 fold… and all of that will be up to you and the Good Lord. Because the famous author “Earl Nightingale” said “whatever we plant in our subconscious mind and nourish with our repetitions and emotions will one day become a reality.”

Last thing tell your neighbor: We’ve got to Sow Seeds on Good Ground . Seeds that fell on Good Ground..