Sower 4

The Story of the Sower

Part 4

“Fruitful”

Matt. 13:1-3, 8 “On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow…(and some fell on hard ground, some on stony ground, and some on thorny ground) 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

For the explanation we’ll read from Luke’s gospel:

“But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it (hold it fast) and bear fruit with patience” (8:15).

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In the last few weeks we’ve looked at this powerful story of the sower, because it’s all about whether the seed of God’s Word sown into our hearts, and His purpose for us is either fulfilled or aborted.

Jesus has presented 4 types of soil representing 4 conditions of the human heart.

There is the hard soil representing a hard heart—this person is never saved because the devil immediately steals away from their heart the gospel they’ve heard.

The rocky soil represents a shallow heart—it is rootless because the rocks within stop the seed from putting down roots.

The thorny soil represents a crowded heart—the seed of God’s word is choked and smothered by worries and the lure of riches.

And then there is the good soil representing the fertile heart—here and only here the seed of the Word has the desired effect.

The striking fact of this parable is that it presents three failures and one success!

So today we’re going to look at the good soil and why it successfully brings forth fruit.

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In the good ground the seed brings fruit because the soil is soft, deep, and clean.

The seed sinks in, puts down roots, germinates, has light and air, and brings forth ripened grain.

And thankfully, Jesus reveals to us the characteristics of this person’s heart that made the soil successful!

So let’s look at them…

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The first cause for success is that the Word is received…

I. With an ‘honest and good heart’

This is the person ‘whose aim is noble.’

They are sincere in their commitment, they genuinely want to serve the Lord, their devotion to the Lord is genuine.

This person considers the message, then puts their hand to the plow without looking back.

They successfully overcome each of the obstacles that made the first three stumble:

Unlike the HARD-HEARTED person of the hard soil, they considered the message carefully, understood it, and said “Yes!” I will do it!

And unlike the SHALLOW HEARTED person of the rocky soil, they grew deep roots by practicing the word and applying it to their life…

—They were not just “hearers” of the word, but “doers” of what they heard.

And unlike the CROWDED HEARTED person of the thorny soil, they were not deceived by worldly pleasures…

Nor did they become so caught up with other concerns and worries that they were unfruitful.

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Then secondly, having heard the word, they…

II. Hold it fast

Jesus said, “having heard the Word, they KEEP it.”

This means they keep a firm grip on it so that whoever or whatever tries to steal it from their mind or heart will not succeed.

FACT: The devil is always looking for a way to steal the Word of God from your heart.

It must be held onto like a bulldog refuses to turn loose of a bone!

ILLUS: My Yorkie growls anytime my much larger dog gets near his food…he GUARDS it!

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—The seed of the word of God in our lives is not to be treated like a cheap styrofoam cup you throw away, but like a valuable treasure you hide in the safe of your heart.

—If you had ten thousand dollars cash, you would not put it on the kitchen table for all to see, but would keep it safe in a safe!

Jesus said, “For surely, I tell you, if anyone keeps My Word, that one will never die.” (John 8: 51 NLV)

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We’re told that, following all the wonderful things different people prophesied over the baby Jesus, Mary “…kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often” (Lk 2:19).

She guarded, watched over, protected, treasured and meditated on the Word God had spoken to her!

God’s word to her was about her Son, her destiny, and her life’s purpose…

And so Mary kept a tight grip on that Word, and never allowed circumstances, doubts or time to steal it away.

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David said, “Your word I have hidden (kept) in my heart, That I might not sin against You” (Ps 119:11).

Hidden also means to "lay up" or "treasure.”

Only you can hide, lay up, treasure God's Word in your heart.

No one else can hide it…lay it up…or treasure it in your heart….YOU must do it!

—Do you treasure and guard God's Word containing His purpose and destiny for you, His word of eternal life?

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So….The good ground represents those who receive the Word with a noble and honest heart, and protect it from being stolen…

And finally, the person with the fertile heart practices…

III. Patient perseverance

Jesus said of the good, fertile heart, they “bring forth fruit with patience.”

The fruitful Christian must patiently persevere in the face of obstacles and spiritual warfare.

Listen: A farmer growing corn knows that it doesn’t happen overnight, it is a PROCESS…

First comes the blade, which then becomes the ear, and after the ear the full corn, and he’s patient with the process!

James asks us to think about this in relation to our own spiritual growth…

“See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient” (James 5:7-8).

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The life of the Christian requires a lot of patience.

Each and every day we fight the good fight—resisting the flesh, swimming upstream against the world, doggedly keeping on in a direction that many things try to pull us away from.

ILLUS: In Greek mythology there are creatures called the Sirens.

They have the head of a female and the body of a bird.

They live on an island and lure sailors to their destruction on the rocks surrounding their island with the irresistible charm of their song.

In one scene a man named Odysseus, along with his crew, had to sail by the island of the Sirens.

Odysseus was able to resist their bewitching song by having his ship's crew tie him to the mast, while ordering his crew to stop up their own ears so they couldn't hear the deadly song.

Likewise, each and every day we must tie our heart to the Word of God, fill our ears with the Promises of God, and patiently persevere in the kingdom of God.

The Bible says we’re not to “…become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Heb 6:12).

It says of Abraham that, “…after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise” (Heb 6:15 NKJV).

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The kingdom fruit Christians are called to produce comes by honestly receiving the good seed, holding it close, and persevering with patience.

LET’S PRAY