The Garden Within (Part 1)
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 4 viewsNotes
Transcript
Dr. Anita Philipps
Dr. Anita Philipps
“A garden’s condition depends on its soil; the condition of the garden with you-spiritually, mentally, and physically-depends on the soil of your heart”
(Testimony - This week)
Healthy - Spiritually / Emotionally / Mentally / Physically
What is a parable?
A parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.
In other words, there is always a lesson behind a parable.
In the book of Luke
Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him,
And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable,
Jesus speaking in parables was a fulfillment of the prophet
I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
Even though there was a “great crowd” around Jesus. Jesus was not looking at the outer appearance but He was looking at the heart.
And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”
The disciples did not understand why Jesus used parables.
Jesus told them… “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to “them” it has not been given.”
Jesus quotes Isaiah 6:9-10 to explain that many people will hear his words but not understand them, and will see but not perceive.
Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:
“ ‘ “You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’
Jesus was focusing on the hardness of their hearts, their closed ears, and their shut eyes.
Throughout the Old Testament, especially in books like Exodus, Judges, Kings, and the Prophets, there are numerous accounts of Israel's disobedience and rebellion against God. Despite experiencing God's miracles and guidance, the Israelites frequently turned to idolatry and ignored God's commandments.
This pattern of behavior demonstrated a recurrent hardening of the heart.
“For this people’s heart has grown dull”
The purpose of this parable was to expose the “garden” called the heart.
Jesus begins to explain:
When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.
Luke said… “The seed is the word of God”
When the seed (the Word of God) is sown, if it is not understood, it remains exposed.
Remember the seed is sown on a path/road.
Matthew A. The Kingdom: For Listeners Only (13:1–23)
packed and hardened by traffic
Mark said Satan… Immediately comes in
Snatches: to rob v. — to take something away by force or without the consent of the owner; whether something physical or something abstract.
This lack of understanding can be due to spiritual blindness, distraction, or a closed mind.
Ultimately is a person who chooses not to understand…
I know we say I’m going to the enemy’s camp and I’m taking back what the devil stole…
But is He robing me because of my choice to not understanding?
A lack of desire to understand, leaves the door open to Satan stealing the seed sown in my heart.
How can the Garden within grow effectively without the right seeds?
As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.
Rocky Ground - No place to anchor
Immediately receives it with Joy…
There initial response is joyful acceptance—but only because the circumstances are favorable.
The cost of commitment is not yet obvious.
No root - no foundation (This person’s commitment is not deeply rooted.)
“Endures for a while” - I can only endure for so long!
Without a root....
When tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word…
The cost of committing to Jesus comes in the form of Tribulation and Persecution.
Tribulation: distress (state) n. — an oppressive state of physical, mental, social, or economic adversity.
Persecution.
Matthew A. The Kingdom: For Listeners Only (13:1–23)
As quickly as this individual had committed, just as quickly he defected, distancing himself from the word or message.
As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
Just like the others “they hear the word”
But the influence which draws this person away from a sustained interest is not tribulation or persecution.
The thorns are our desires that choke the word.
to inhibit ⇔ choke v. — to inhibit the action, function, or development of something (entirely); conceived of as choking someone to deprive them of life.
The the concern for the world… (Lust of the flesh / Lust of the eye / The pride of life).
The deceitfulness of riches! (The deception of riches).
Help! My desires are destroying my Garden…
As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
“This one who hears the word and understands it.”
This person chooses to understand and accept the truth
None of the other soils bore any fruit, but this soil yielded much fruit.
A sign of a Healthy Garden is a fruit bearing garden.
100 / 60 / 30 e
These varying degrees of fruitfulness reflect the reality that different people will respond to the Word of God in different ways and will bear fruit to different extents.
It acknowledges that while not everyone will have the same capacity or opportunity for spiritual productivity, any level of genuine fruitfulness is valuable and significant in God's kingdom.
I am not waiting until January!
I will be productive…
I am producing the fruit of the seed
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control