The Master Key

One day Jesus taught a parable that would be like a master key that would unlock all the others. In this message we will learn how to increase in revelation, blessing, and fruitfulness as you apply the principles of the master key.

Mark 4:13 LEB

And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? And how will you understand all the parables?

I want to talk to you about opening the door to revelation, blessing, and fruitfulness in your life.

It’s possible that you have experienced times where it doesn’t seem that the word of God works that no matter what you do, you are not receiving fresh revelation from God or walking in the blessings and favor so clearly promise in the scripture

“Illustration” my desire to bless Ruben. I told him to come with me and it was going to be good I was going to take him to the store and buy him a game that he had said he want it. He didn’t feel like going and we didn’t.

My promise was that if he came with me something good would happen. I had the intention, desire and the means to bless him. But because he didn’t want to go. My intention, desire, and means meant nothing. They didn’t work for him.

In the parable of the soil’s, Jesus taught principles that serve as a master key they unlock the rest of the parables in the blessings and fruitfulness of his teachings.

We need to understand these principles because if we don’t we will discover that superficial and social religion will leave us wanting more.

But when we can learn these principles his word will open up to us in new ways. And when we apply these principles we get more out of the word of God and experience greater blessings in fruitfulness in our lives.

You can find these parables captured by all three gospel writers in Matthew Mark and Luke

Will be reading out of Luke this morning chapter Luke 8:4-15

Luke 8:4–15 LEB

And while a large crowd was gathering and they were going to him from town after town, he spoke by means of a parable: “The sower went out to sow his seed, and while he was sowing, ⌊some seed⌋ fell on the side of the path and was trampled under foot, and the birds of the sky devoured it. And other seed fell on the rock, and when it came up, it withered, because it did not have moisture. And other seed fell in the midst of the thorn plants, and the thorn plants grew up with it and choked it. And other seed fell on the good soil, and when it came up, it produced a hundred times as much grain.” As he said these things, he called out, “The one who has ears to hear, let him hear!” And his disciples asked him what this parable meant. And he said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest they are in parables, so that ‘Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ Now the parable means this: the seed is the word of God, and those beside the path are the ones who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they may not believe and be saved. And those on the rock are those who receive the word with joy when they hear it, and these do not have enough root, who believe for a time and in a time of testing fall away. And the seed that fell into the thorn plants—these are the ones who hear and as they go along are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, and they do not bear fruit to maturity. But the seed on the good soil—these are the ones who, after hearing the word, hold fast to it with a noble and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.

The Parable and Our Problem

Jesus answered his disciples questions by sharing with them not to multitudes the interpretation of the parable. Before we get to the main principles of this parable we are going to examine Jesus exclamation part by part.

1. The Seed and the Soil

Right from the beginning we understand now that we are talking about the word of God. Matthew calls this. The word of the kingdom.

When we speak of the word of God we have to recognize that the word of God produces faith in those who truly hear, and fruit when it accomplishes its purpose. Isaiah 55:11

Isaiah 55:11 LEB

so shall be my word that goes out from my mouth. It shall not return to me without success, but shall accomplish what I desire and be successful in the thing for which I sent it.

To help us understand the difference soils that the seed encounters, we need to know what the soil represents. Jesus tells us that the soil represents our heart, soul, mind and strength. Matthew 13:23, says understanding, Luke 8:15, Points to a good and Noble heart and Mark 4:20 says those Who accept favorable or receive the word. All three speak of acting upon that word.

The Footpath

Luke 8:12 LEB

and those beside the path are the ones who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they may not believe and be saved.

The birds are called three different things the devil, the wicked one, and Satan. The enemy comes to take away or snatches the word from those who hear it. Matthew Includes that if we don’t understand the word, that is when the enemy comes and snatches it. Luke’s version also says that the seed on the foot path has been trampled.

Luke further reveals the enemies purpose- so that people won’t believe the word of God, have faith, and be saved by it.

We face an enemy who wants to prevent us from hearing and understanding and receiving by faith the word of God. If he can, he will snatch away that word. He will work to make the word confusing to us or he will work to make us reject the word and trampled Under foot.