What soil are you?

Luke 8:1-15

1 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him,

2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;

3 Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable:

5 "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up.

6 Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.

7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.

8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant.

10 He said,

"The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, "'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.' Isaiah 6:9

11 "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.

12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

13 Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.

14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.

15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

NIV

Introduction:

A few months back before winter, I had spread some grass seed out on the lawn; here in front of the church. As I had finished and was about ready to leave, Toby was with me; every bird in Empire showed up. Toby thought it was funny here; I had spent time spreading that seed and I am fairly certain that there was none left by the next morning.

Warren Wiersbe says: “ Jesus continued touring Galilee with His disciples and the women who ministered to them. Jesus had cast seven demons out of Mary from Magdala (Mark 16:9). Joanna’s husband worked for Herod Antipas; about Susanna, we know nothing. In his Gospel, Luke often mentions women, and it was not unusual in that day for Jewish women to share their wealth with the rabbis. However, it was unusual for women to travel with a rabbi; no doubt Jesus was criticized for this practice. (See Gal. 3:26–29.)

The first 15 verses of this chapter discuss the word of God and how we respond to it. Jesus gives this parable and explanation so we see that there are many responses to hearing His word. Luke points out that a large crowd was forming from many towns. The crowd must have had people present who would respond to one of the 4 ways in this parable.

This parable is perhaps a warning to His hearers that obstacles would be ahead of them.

Farmers would sow seed by tossing it with their hand, of course the ground would have been plowed. We see that the seed that this farmer is sowing falls on four different types of ground.

Some fell along the path

Some fell on rock

Some fell among thorns

And then,some seed fell on good soil

Seed—v. 11. God’s Word—It produces faith—(Rom. 10:17). God’s Word cleanses from sin—(Ps. 119:9.)

Rom 10:17

17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ

NIV

Ps 119:9

9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.

NIV

Point I

Some fell along the path

5 "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up.

12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

These are the people who come to church on Sundays and go away hearing the word and feeling good about it.

Path—v. 12. Those along the path are the ones who hear; but Satan steals it away. See 1 Peter 5:8.

1 Peter 5:8

8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

NIV

Don’t be hearers only of the word. (James 1:22)

James 1:22

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

ESV

Point II

Some fell on rock

6 Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.

13 Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.

Rock—v. 13. They receive the Word, but have no root. Temptation and sin steal it away. (Col. 2:7; Matt. 7:24.)

Col 2:6-7

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,

7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

ESV

Matt 7:24

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

ESV

The second group are those who listen and rejoice but then do not stick with the truth of the message for they have no root. The fact that they believe for a while but fall away means that they only accept the facts of the Word mentally and then reject it when “the going gets rough.” It does not mean they lose their salvation, for they had none to lose.

Point III

Some fell among thorns

7 Other seeds fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.

14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.

Thorns—v. 14. Thorns choke out the good seed: (1) Cares—1 Peter 5:7 (2) Riches—1 Tim. 6:10 (3) Pleasure—Matt. 6:33.

Think about thorns.

We once had a field that was full of black berries. What do black berry bushes have; thorns. The fruit is good but the bush is not so good. When you go to pick those berries you have to be careful because of the thorns. That same field also had a lot of sticker weeds; that I had to deal with every year. Nothing grew around those berry bushes or sticker weeds.

The third group are those who listen but never come to maturity (v. 14). These may be those who are interested in Jesus’ message but who cannot accept it because of their devotion to material things—life’s worries, riches, and pleasures.

Point IV

And then,some seed fell on good soil

8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Good ground—v. 15. Some hear God’s Word and keep it. See Josh. 1:8. Note: “Bring forth fruit with patience.”

The fourth group consists of those who listen, retain the Word, and produce a crop, that is, they bear spiritual fruit, evidence of their spiritual life. Their hearts were changed for they were noble and good.

Look at Joshua 1:8 this is what God instructed Joshua and the Isrealites to do. We must do the same if we are going to be good soil.

Josh 1:8

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

ESV

Gal 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

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Col 1:6

6 that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth.

NIV

Conclusion:

What do you want to be;good, fertile soil; or one of the other three. They look good but only for a while; but they don't get you to heaven.

Rev 3:20

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

ESV

Today is the day don’t be like the virgins who didn't have enough oil in their lamps. The story is told in Matthew 25:1-13

Matt 25:1-13

25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,

4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.

5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.

8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, rather go to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’

10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’

12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

ESV