Represent Christ By Continuing
Notes
Transcript
Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow.
And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.
Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.
But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.
And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.
But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
“Therefore hear the parable of the sower:
When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.
But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
Introduction: Farm life is very challenging. The farmer does not control how often the sun will shine or how much rain the soil will get. Yet, in faith, the farmer plants their seeds in the ground, trusting that God will provide. Using this picture of the farmer, Jesus tells a parable to explain the different responses to God's Word and encourage every saint to continue giving the Word even though the responses may not be to our liking. Plant and leave the results up to God.
This morning God wants the teacher, the pastor, or the disciple of Christ to continue to share the message of Christ and not to be discouraged.
Continue when people Miss It (vs. 18-19)
Continue when people Miss It (vs. 18-19)
“Therefore hear the parable of the sower:
When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.
Jesus presented the first type of hearer.
This listener hears the Word the kingdom
But he or she does not understand it. He or she misses the point.
The Evil One comes and snatches away the message from their heart. This type of hearer could be a fool. The Bible declares that
Proverbs 1:7 (NKJV)
. . . fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Furthermore, the Bible says that
A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.
he wants to show off his opinions
This lack of understanding may be because this listener is an inexperienced one, a mocker, or one who loves being ignorant.
The Scriptures warns in Proverbs 1:22
“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge.
I WANT TO TALK TO THE UNSAVED RIGHT NOW. When the Word of God is taught or proclaimed, what are you doing?
Are you listening or are not listening because they are looking for an opportunity to express YOUR OWN ideas.
I WANT TO TALK TO THE SAVED RIGHT NOW
When you witness the mystery of Christ may be missed, but don't stop telling it.
Let God handle it. Be not weary in well doing
Continue when people miss the gospel and continue when people misread it
Continue when people Misread It
Continue when people Misread It
But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
In these verses, the LORD Jesus Christ taught that there is another type of hearer.
This listener is one who misreads the message.
As the teacher teaches,
as the pastor preaches,
or as the saints share the Scriptures,
this individual hears the Word and immediately receives it with joy.
They heard about being forgiven
They heard about being righteous
They heard about having
a new name, a new family,
a new home, a new walk,
and a new talk, and became excited that everything is made new by the gospel.
Yet, They did not hear
And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
They did not hear
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
MAYBE SOMEONE IS HEAR TODAY THAT WILL ONLY FOLLOW THE LORD OR FOLLOW HIS WORD
IF IT IS EASY OR CONVENIENT?
because the Word does not take a deep root but is only skin deep, Look at verse 21 again
yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
the rays of hardship and persecution because of the Word. The Word loses
When sharing the message, Some people misread the intent of the message.
My God never promised that our lives would be without heartache and pain.
But He did promised that He would be with us until the end of the age.
So, when the tribulation of life come and test them, they will not pass away.
TRIALS DON’T
RUINED BUT REFORMS THE SAINT
SIDETRACKED BUT STRENGTHENS THE SAINT
LOWERED BUT LIFTS THE SAINT
BLOCKED BUT BLESSES THE SAINT
When you SHARE THE GOSPEL THE MEANING MAY BE MISREAD, but don't stop telling it.
Let God handle it. Be not weary in well doing
Continue when people miss the gospel,
when people misread THE GOSPEL,
AND CONTINUE WHEN PEOPLE MISREPRESENT IT
Continue when people Misrepresent It
Continue when people Misrepresent It
Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
Jesus described another type of hearer.
This hearer misinterprets the message.
The Word is taught or proclaimed, AND THEY RECEIVE IT
BUT it is sown into a crowded heart.
Look at how Jesus described it.
First, this heart is full of
THE CARES OF THIS WORLD
THE CARES OF THIS WORLD
the worries or cares of this age.
THIS PERSON IS so concerned with the threats and opportunities of this life.
CONCERNED WITH getting and maintaining
THIS PERSON IS so full of worry that there is no room for serious attention to the word of God
This pursuit becomes a significant concern.
THIS PERSON DID NOT HEAR Christ's command
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Rather than TRUST Christ TO SUPPLY ALL ONE’S NEEDS, THIS PERSON IS LURED AWAY WITH THE
cash is the pursuit.
Paul lamented that Demas forsook him because he loved this present world (
for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.
The next item that JESUS IDENTIFIED THAT crowds this listener’s heart is
THE PURSUIT OF RICHES
THE PURSUIT OF RICHES
They seek security through money rather than the Master.
Ezekiel described people like this in his day. He said that the people hear God's Word, but they don't obey because their "hearts pursue dishonest profit" (
So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain.
Listen to Paul’s words in 1 Timothy
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Jesus warned His followers
And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
THE CARES OF THIS WORLD and the deceitfulness of wealth become more important than the Word.
Rather than respond to the truth of the Word, the individual DOES NOT ALL THE Word of God to PRODUCE THE FRUIT OF SALVATION IN THEM
Some people MISREPRESENT the intent of the message.
THEY DON’T REALIZE THAT THEY MUST IN JESUS WORD
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
NO MORE YOUR HOPES, YOUR DREAMS, YOUR WANTS, YOUR PURSUITS, YOUR CARES, YOU HAVE TO DENY YOURSELF AND MAKE CHRIST NUMBER ONE.
When you SHARE THE GOSPEL THE MEANING MAY BE MISREPRESENTED, but don't stop telling it.
Let God handle it. KEEP SOWING THE SEED OF THE WORD
Continue when people miss the gospel,
when people misread THE GOSPEL,
WHEN PEOPLE MISREPRESENT THE GOSPEL
AND CONTINUE WHEN PEOPLE MAKE SENSE OF IT
Continue when people Make sense of It
Continue when people Make sense of It
But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
The last type of hearer that Jesus PRESENTED TO DISCIPLES is the person who hears,
and the teaching make sense.
They understand it.
These people listen closely to the message and mixed it with faith.
As the Bible teaches faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Rom 10:17).
The message was heard, believed, and it produces fruit in this type of hearer's life.
WITH THIS LAST HEARER, WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN WHEN A SINNER GIVES HIS LIFE TO THE LORD JESUS.
THEY HEAR
THEY UNDERSTAND
THEY PRODUCE FRUIT
THEY PRODUCE A LOT OF FRUIT
In contrast, the hardened heart has no crop; the stony heart has a destroyed harvest; the crowded heart has an overtaken crop, BUT the good heart has a plenteous yield.
It is not hard to tell who has good ground. Look for the fruit!
ARE YOU LISTENING? ARE YOU HEARING?
ARE YOU LISTENING? ARE YOU HEARING?
Warn the hearers to be careful how they hear (
Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.
The message you gave last week or the one you will give today, will produce and yield a hundred, sixty, or thirty times more in their lives. Rejoice and continue to share the Word.
As the late Dr. B. Gray Allison said, "We only fail if we do not witness." Our job is not to fertilize the soil. Our job is to continue planting the seed of God's Word and not become frustrated when people do not respond the way we desire.
SO
REPRESENT CHRIST BY CONTINUING
REPRESENT CHRIST BY CONTINUING
KEEP ON TEACHING AND KEEP ON PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL
TELL THEM THAT Jesus
LEFT heaven’s glory
TELL THEM THAT JESUS
preachED the gospel of the Kingdom
TELL THEM THAT Jesus
healED the sick, raiseD the dead, and openED the blinded eye
TELL THEM THAT JESUS
endure the lies
endure the cross
TELL THEM THAT Love causeD Jesus
To give His back, His hands, His head
Love cause Jesus to give His life THAT SINNERS MAY LIVE
IF THEY MISS IT, MISREAD IT, MISREPRESENT IT, AND EVEN MAKE SENSE OF IT
DON’T STOP TELLING THEM THAT
HIS LOVE IS Undeniable
HIS WILL IS Unvarying
HIS MERCY IS Unusual
HIS JUDGMENT IS Unswayable
HIS GRACE IS Unsurpassable
HIS WORD IS Unshakable
IF SOME STILL MISS IT, MISREAD IT, MISREPRESENT IT, AND EVEN MAKE SENSE OF IT
SAINTS, SHOW THEM FROM THE WORD OF GOD THAT REAL . . .
FAITH IS TO BELIEVE CHRIST
REST IS TO TRUST IN CHRIST
HOPE IS TO LOOK FOR CHRIST
REVIVAL IS TO RETURN TO CHRIST
IF THE MISS IT, MISREAD IT, MISREPRESENT IT, AND EVEN MAKE SENSE OF IT
DISCIPLES MAKERS TEACH THEM THAT REAL
SECURITY IS TO HIDE IN CHRIST
FREEDOM IS TO STAY IN CHRIST
DELIVERANCE IS TO YIELD TO CHRIST
EFFECTIVENESS IS TO BE USED BY CHRIST
CONTENTMENT IS TO FOLLOW CHRIST
Do not stop,
continue sharing,
keep on representing Christ
by not being weary in sharing.
We do not know what type of soil we are engaging.
Yet, we must continue to do what is right.
God will cause you to reap, if you do not give up
SAINTS, WILL YOU MAKE THE DECISION TODAY THAT YOU WILL NEVER STOP SHARING