Untitled Sermon (2)

Phillip Jones

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The seed is sown in various types of soil. By some, it is received; by others, the seed is rejected. What will you do with the seed of the Word of God?

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How many of you read about the large number of people who said they were going to raid Area 51 and reveal all the secrets the government is hiding there?

This group of people said they were going to gather in the middle of August, and at a given time or signal, they would all run into this restricted area to capture aliens being held there.

These “space invaders” would not just run, but they would utilize a style adopted from anime known as naruto running. This is where a person runs while leaning forward with arms outstretched behind the runner. It is reportedly believed that this style of running makes you go faster - so fast in fact that should the runner be fired upon by the soldiers stationed to guard Area 51, the bullets would not be able to harm them.

I don’t know about you, but I am not inclined to believe this, especially because the man who started the movement to invade Area 51 bailed on his idea and admitted that it was just a gag! Regardless, several thousand people showed up and made an event out of it. Two people were arrested for trying to actually enter the restricted area - I guess they ran incorrectly.

The disturbing fact is that people will believe things like this Area 51 invasion gag enough to travel for hours and even get arrested, but they want to call the Bible fiction even though It has been proven to be true historically, logically, archaeologically, geographically, and scientifically among many other ways.

If you would like more information regarding these proofs, I would love to talk with you about them after the service. Let me just say that there is far more proof for the truth of the Bible (including the virgin birth, sinless life, amazing miracles, sacrificial death, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ) than many other major events in history.

Historians such as Josephus, Tacitus, and Pliny the elder wrote of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ and His followers, the early church even though they were not believers in Jesus Christ as Messiah. The events of the New Testament accounts of Christ have been proven to be factual.

In fact, such proof has been made available that upon hearing the evidence, the only reasonable explanation for unbelief is that one simply chooses not to believe - whether one had predetermined that they would not believe or just determines to stubbornly continue in unbelief.

In , we find the Lord Jesus addressing a crowd that gathered to hear Him speak and to see Him work miracles. Both were things that He regularly did in their presence. They just could not get enough! I can understand. When I hear the life changing message of God’s Word and see the transformation in my life and others, I just cannot get enough!

Jesus recognized that there were some that were only there to be entertained by the miracles. He knew that some had made up their minds that they would not believe Him to be the Messiah, the Son of God in the flesh.

Perhaps we have some here today that have come because you were invited by a family member or a friend, but you have made up your mind that church is not for you, that you don’t believe what the Bible says, and that Jesus is just a good teacher at best.

Let me say, I am glad you are here. I am honored that you would come and hear what is said. I pray that we can at least open a channel of communication.

My sincere desire is to present the truth of God’s Word to you in such a way that whether or not you believe today, you will be willing to talk, ask questions, and honestly engage in dialogue. Ultimately, our prayer is that you will open your heart and believe in Jesus Christ.

A recent study of millennials and those classified as Gen Z shows that you are done with fake and truly want something real and meaningful - whether it be in the area of relationships or faith.

Let me tell you as one who has experienced both, a real and meaningful relationship is available as is a real and meaningful faith. Both are contingent upon you and the tenderness or hardness of your heart.

Across the United States, farmers work their lands to provide fruits and vegetables for us all to enjoy. In 2012, the USDA found that just over 40% of land in the US is used for farming. Some of that is pastures used for livestock, but a little over 42% of farmland is used for crops.

The rest of the land in the US is mostly either municipalities, infrastructure, residential areas, or mountainous or desert regions that are not conducive to farming.

The number one crop is corn, 95% of which grown for feed for livestock.

The process of preparing and maintaining cropland is tedious to say the least. It is one of the hardest jobs a person could perform, yet one of the most rewarding.

Preparing the soil, sowing the seed, fertilizing, irrigating, harvesting, and storing are all major components of the crop growing process. If you attempt to skip any of these, you will greatly reduce your yield at harvest time.

Some simple principles of agriculture are:

You reap what you sow

You reap after you sow

Through the several millennia in which man engaged in farming, it has been learned that there are three main requirements for germination of seeds:

You reap more than you sow

Oxygen

Three requirements for germination of seeds:

Water

The Seed must be watered

Proper Temperature

Soil

The seed will not grow until it has been planted in the soil, received the appropriate amount of water/moisture, and experiences the proper temperature. However, once these three are met, the seed will grow and has the opportunity to produce the desired crop.

Jesus speaks of the growth of the seed in when He says that some of the seed that fell on good ground yielded 30 fold, some 60, and some 100. That means that the farmer was able to see a return of 30, 60, or 100 times what he sowed in the good ground. I like those results!

You reap what you sow

You reap after you sow

I like those results!

You reap more than you sow

In fact, those are the kind of results God desires to see in our lives as we receive the Word of God that is sown each time the Bible is opened.

Let me say, I am glad you are here. I am honored that you would come and hear what is said. I pray that we can at least open a channel of communication.

But there were other places the seed fell where it did not yield anything. Knowing the love God has for us, the power of God and His Word, and the potential He has planned for us, I want to open myself up to Him so that He may produce as much fruit in me and through me that He desires.

A recent study of millennials and those classified as Gen Z shows that you are done with fake and truly want something real and meaningful - whether it be in the area of relationships or faith.

Let’s take a look at the 4 types of soil that Jesus identifies here and see where we may find ourselves.

We often

Characteristics of the soils

Wayside

Condition: Packed down, hardened

This group of people said they were going to gather in the middle of August, and at a given time or signal, they would all run into this restricted area to capture aliens being held there.

Response to the seed: Seed lay on top of the soil - not received.

Results: Birds came and stole away the seed - No Fruit

Spiritual application: Hardened hearts will not receive the Word of God. Satan comes along and steals the message. Perhaps he distills it in a way that leaves you empty and embittered.

What could be done? Plow, Water, fertilize, and plant more seed

These “space invaders” would not just run, but they would utilize a style adopted from anime known as naruto running. This is where a person runs while leaning forward with arms outstretched behind the runner. It is reportedly believed that this style of running makes you go faster - so fast that the bullets fired by soldiers stationed at Area 51 would not be able to harm you.

Shallow

Condition: thin layer of soil covers lots of rocks not much in which to take root.

Response of the seed: Springs up quickly, but does not take root. Difficulty comes along and they die off.

Result: Life occurred, but no resulting fruit.

Spiritual application: You allow career, friends, goals, entertainment, and etc. to crowd your schedule, check book, your mind so that you have little or no time for the Lord. You are so divided in your attention that Jesus just gets thrown in with everything else in your life.

Eventually, while we would not dare admit it to anyone, Christian service is viewed as a drudgery and burden. Difficulty comes along and we give in and give up. You become a statistic - Like the ones in the report that the Barna Group released stating that nearly 2 thirds of all young adults who consider themselves Christians drop our of church.

What could be done? Dig up the rocks. Reveal the reasons for the hardness, hinderances to the seed taking root. Remove them. Plow, Water, fertilize, and plant more seed.

As a church, we must do more to reach out to let them know they are loved and valued. We connect with them by taking time to listen to them, not just talk at them. We hear their real questions and help them find real answers. We help them see how God is working and interacting in their lives. This allows the roots of faith to go down deep.

Crowded

Condition: Thorns and weeds growing around the seed

Response of the seed: Begins to grow, but the thorns and weeds surround it and choke it

Result: The seed/growing plant is choked and hindered from bearing fruit.

What could be done? Pull the weeds/thorns. Water, fertilize, and plant more seed.

As a church family, we do not downplay their priorities, but we lovingly help them set their priorities in a way that would best honor God. We emphasize the importance of being grounded in the Word of God. We help them identify distractions that vie for their attention and choke out their effectiveness for Jesus Christ.

Good ground

Condition: soil soft, broken up, ready to receive the seed

Response of the seed: Receives the seed; open to whatever seed is planted by the sower

Result: Seed grows into a fruitful crop

What could be done? Continue to fertilize and water. Dig around it to keep the soil soft and receptive to the water and fertilizer.

As a church family, we help them know God and grow in their walk with Him. We fellowship together and share testimonies of God’s goodness and mercy in our lives. We help them become as fruitful as they possibly can be.

So, How is Your heart? is it over-crowded? Is it shallow? Is it hardened? or is it good?

We all have a tendency to claim our heart is good even though we know down deep inside that we are stubborn and distracted. Let’s get that right today.

This is an opportunity to take a step toward having a good heart. Join me this morning as we confess the hardness of our hearts to the Lord and ask Him to help us soften them to His will.

Let’s confess our distractions today. We have allowed the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things to choke out the effectiveness of God’s Word in our lives.

For those who will receive it, I want to sow the seed of the Gospel this morning. Will you open your heart to receive the seed? Will you receive the truth that I share with you

John 3:16 AV 1873

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 3:23 AV 1873

for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 5:8 AV 1873

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:23 AV 1873

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 10:9–10 AV 1873

that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans

Romans 10:

Romans 10:13 AV 1873

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

I don’t know about you, but I am not inclined to believe this, especially because the man who started the movement to invade Area 51 bailed on his idea and admitted that it was a gag! Regardless, several thousand people showed up and made an event out of it. Two people were arrested for trying to actually enter the restricted area - I guess they ran incorrectly.

Please do not harden your heart. Receive Jesus today!

The disturbing fact is that people will believe things like this Area 51 invasion gag enough to travel for hours and even get arrested, but they want to call the Bible fiction even though It has been proven to be true historically, archaeologically, geographically, scientifically, and many other ways.