Truth be Told 1 - the Sower

Scene = Harvest Field

Luke 8:4–8 (NLT)

Luke 8:4–8 NLT

4 One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: 5 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. 6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

4 One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him:

5 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it.

6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture.

7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants.

8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

Truth is God’s Word

Truth comes from God vs your truth- 2+2=3 relative vs absolute

Thy Word is truth

Faith begins where the will of God is known – because God’s Word is truth.

Life Lesson: God’s kingdom is based on truth

Truth is sometimes inconvenient to the flesh

Truth supersedes facts

Truth never changes - consistent - eternal- for all time- every generation- OT and NT

Truth is for all people - no exceptions - all races - both genders

Truth establishes boundaries

Everything – love – faith – healing

Truth Must Be Told

Parable of Sower

The Sower sows the Word = truth

Mark 4:10–14 (NLT)

Mark 4:10–14 NLT

10 Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant. 11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, 12 so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they see what I do, they will learn nothing. When they hear what I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they will turn to me and be forgiven.’” 13 Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? 14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others.

10 Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.

11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders,

12 so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they see what I do, they will learn nothing. When they hear what I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they will turn to me and be forgiven.’”

13 Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?

14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others.

The Sower sows the word – the job of a math teacher is to teach math. The job of a preacher is to teach the Word. Do your job! The Sower did not ask the ground is he would like some seed – or is this a good time?

Sometimes truth is inconvenient – only to the complacent, but truth is heartily welcomed by the hungry and humble.

Direction = from mouth to ears

All the soils were touched by the Word – they heard what was said –

They all started with the same opportunity (same Sower, same Seed) - but each outcome was different

There is nothing wrong with the Seed – ever

There MAY be some flaws with HUMAN Sower, but look past them!

John the Baptist was a rough and crude individual, but Jesus said he was the greatest prophet of the Old Testament.

You pastor may never be on the cover of GQ magazine, but if he or she is good enough for God to send, he or she needs to be good enough for you to receive!

Look past the package to the product!

Truth Must Be Received

Truth must also be respected , listened - loveit –

Direction - from ears to brain –

you tell your truth to others by your reception or how well you listen –

Soil type = rocky soil

Need the seed

Without the Seed you're just dirt - no harvest

· We are made from dirt - we need the seed!

· Heed the seed - let it in

· Weed the seed - keep junk out

Sowing is Initiated by God

Equal opportunity -

same chance - given to all

Same seed – same Word

in nature different seed is used depending on the circumstances - adapting to climate and soil type –

· Growth zone 1-6 temperature and rainfall

The Kingdom of God is the only field where the soil is expected to adapt to the seed!

same Sower - Jesus is the same

yesterday, today and forever

same time – now

not some here now and some there later

same amount – enough

we have all been given THE measure of faith, faith comes by HEARING (or HEEDING) the SEED of the Word

Same price - Free of charge

· Freely given - freely give

Grace factor - God gives you a chance - don’t blow your seed!

· End time warning - last chance to hear and repent - time is running out

Truth Must Be Understood

Soil type = shallow soil –

· shallow faith – shallow understanding – shallow living – temporary results at best - undependable

· comprehend- at least in theory –

· grows roots – for a little while until times get tough – then we revert back to old ways – human reasoning

Direction - drops from head to heart

Life Lesson: the SOIL (hearts) determines the ROOTS of revelation, then the FRUIT

Soil Conditions:

The soil (SOUL) conditions must present BEFORE sowing –

· you don’t spray weed killer after planting! – will kill the seed

· You don’t till the soil after planting – will destroy the roots

Grace Factor: The Human heart is the ONLY field that is allowed by God to till, spray and fertilize after seeding!

Life Lesson: Don’t HARDEN when you HEAR – (Hebrews 3)

· Don’t HEARDEN your HEART when you HEAR the Word – as the children of Israel did in the wilderness – and be destroyed –

· their example was written for our admonition to heed the seed (1 Cor 10).