Bible Study: Truth 6 - Sower and the Soils 4

Hi Everyone

Last Friday, we looked at Soil #3, the thorny ground.

Do have a listen to the audio and use the notes for your study.

And share this as you are blessed!

Blessings!

Chris

Sower and the Soils Part 4

Matthew 13:7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. (NKJV)

Matthew 13:22 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. (NKJV)

Mark 4:7 And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. (NKJV)

Mark 4:18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. (NKJV)

Luke 8:7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. (NKJV)

Luke 8:14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. (NKJV)

The Seed Did Not Die

Mark 4:7 And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. (NKJV)

It just did not bear fruit.

There is an expectation by the farmer that as he sows seed, he would get fruit.  It is completely of the plant’s nature to bear fruit.  When our plants do not bear fruit, it is disappointing to the farmer.  Similarly, when our lives don’t bear fruit in certain areas as Christians, the truth for that area, part of what Christ died for, is wasted.

God fully expects that His Living Word to us will bear fruit in every area, but the ability to do so is very much in our hands, in the process of how we hear the Word.

Each area that we bear fruit in, we will find fulfillment as that is in our design as new creations.

The Word was Choked

Mark 4:18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. (NKJV)

It is not going to Church, not our ability to avoid sin, not our serving, not even us trying to love one another that gets choked.  It is not even Bible reading that gets choked, but the Word – the living truths of the Bible.  This is not even about sin, but wherever the Word is choked, sin will result.

It is not things that were just introduced to us that we got excited about but failed to keep (stony ground) but truths that we have known for some time already in our minds that we aren't living by because of the “chokers”.

The Common Denominator

Luke 8:14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. (NKJV)

• Cares of the World
• Deceitfulness of Riches
• Pleasures of Life

What is the common denominator of all three?  Fear!  Fear causing us to refuse to take something in the Word and believe it, act on it, to walk by faith, preferring instead to go by what we see.  It is a fear of not being in control, the fear of not having enough things, the fear that we are missing out in life.

In each area that the Word is presented, we can continue to fear because we don’t believe that Word.  In each area the Lord beckons us to step out of the boat!

Cares of the World – God Cares for You

Luke 12:6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (NKJV)

Actually, we are worth the blood of Jesus.  God saw fit to put His Son on the cross for each of us.  We must be worth a lot to Him. (Matt 13:45)

Don't ever accept teaching that makes Christians sound like we don’t deserve to be saved.  If God saw that we are worth saving, who are we to say otherwise?  Will putting yourself down make you just one bit more worthy of His Son? [Accepting a gift].

Don't ever associate yourself with low value.  Don’t call junk what God has deemed precious.

Cares of the World – God Wants to Take Your Cares

We all know 1 Peter 5:7.  In the NIV, it says:

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (NIV)

However, we need to look at the verse that was before it.  In the NKJV, it the two verses are a single sentence.

1 Peter 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (NKJV)

We cast our cares on Him by humbling ourselves under God.  The question is: How do you humble yourself under God’s hand?  Believe what has already been purchased by Jesus with His blood and receive them by faith!

Each area we fail to cast our cares is another area we are failing to believe in His Word!

Deceitfulness of Riches – God Supplies Your Needs

We have a God who delights in meeting our needs. 

2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (NKJV)

It is good to know that His divine power has given (past tense) all that we need, not only for godliness, but also for life!

Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (NKJV)

The supply is according to His riches in glory by our Lord.  It is a part of the finished work of Christ, not according to our behaviour, our avoidance of sin or our ability to keep laws.  It is by faith.

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (NKJV)

He makes all grace abound toward us for us to have all sufficiency so that we can do His will with abundance.  Grace is received through faith, so as we believe, we will receive.

1 Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. (NKJV)

Riches in themselves are uncertain, so our trust must be in the living God.  In His goodness to us, He gives us richly all things to enjoy.

All this provision is premised by one thing:

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (NKJV)

Seek the KINGDOM.  When we are not seeking the Kingdom, we will busy ourselves seeking other things or finding no meaning in life.  Note also that it does not say to seek to be moral, nor seek to avoid sin.  When need to see who we are in Christ and what our purpose is.

Seek God and His will.  Know what He is doing in your life, what He wants for you as a part of the Kingdom.  Seek to know where this war to hold on to captives is headed.  

Pleasures of Life – Gain Life by Losing

Jesus was quoted saying a similar thing 5 times in the Gospels:

Matthew 10:38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. (NKJV)

Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. (NKJV)

Mark 8:34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. (NKJV)

Luke 9:23 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. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. (NKJV)

John 12:25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (NKJV)

I think the Lord is saying something here…

True pleasure is only found when we start to move in sync with Him, to live the life He meant for us to live.  We find it only when we start to lose ourselves, our flesh and what the senses want, in favour of what the Word says.  This is how we gain what He died for.  When we choose God’s way, when we go by the Spirit, the Words of life, then we have life.  The flesh (manifested in the cares, riches and pleasures) profits nothing (John 6:63).

The choice we have each day is to die to these, to cast cares on Him, to depend on Him for our needs and to find our pleasure in Him.  It is not in trying to change ourselves to be better people, but choosing to trust His Word because we know His love for us.  In realising that God has a better way in His Word we start to change the way we think and choose life by letting go (2 Cor 3:18). 

The Abundant Life

John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (NKJV)

The abundant life is not found in more materials or earthly pleasures as we know it.  It is not in us having it all.  It is in when we have no need of it for ourselves, when Christ is the centre of our lives and in when we know His love for us and we trust in this love.  That is when these can come into our hands to steward.

Abundant life is not in getting what we want – it is in living in the New Creation He has made us to be.  It is the freedom of knowing that God is my all, I don’t need anything else.  

When we are willing to die to ourselves, discount our fleshly lives, in favour of His promises, His Word kicks in and we live by the Divine Life in us.

He wants to be our everything!

The Tipping Point

Matthew 6:31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (NKJV)

The tipping point is when we get into worry.  When we start to lose our peace of something that bothers us (care), something that we wish we had (riches) or something we don’t want to miss out on (pleasures).  

Worry and fear are in the realm of the flesh.  Seeking the Kingdom, meditating on His Word and faith are in the realm of the Spirit.

Jesus said:

John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. (NKJV)

If we live our lives driven by the flesh, we will be driven by cares, riches and pleasure and there will be no profit, no fruit.  In each area where the Word is choked, our lives are led without power and we will resemble the unbelievers around us in that area.  We must know that are no longer of this world, but citizens of heaven and we live by a very different source and provision.  God is our Father and He will not let us down.

The Take-Away

• Each area of the Word was made to bear fruit in our lives.
• Fear gives rise to cares, the need for riches and the need for pleasure.
• Each promise of the Word was to bring faith in that area, to overcome fear
• God wants us to lead abundant, fruitful, meaningful lives in Him
• Every area of the Word is Spirit giving life.  Once choked, we go back to flesh life which profits nothing.
• Jesus loves us. Let Him be your everything.

SAME - A Series of Verses to Consider...

Our Lord said...

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (NKJV)

…we have the same anointing, same Spirit…

Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (NKJV)

1 Corinthians 6:17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. (NKJV)

2 Corinthians 1:21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (NKJV)

Ephesians 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, (NKJV)

…for the same mission…

John 20:21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (NKJV)

Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. (NKJV)

…armed with the same power…

Mark 16:17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (NKJV)

John 14:12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (NKJV)

…and the same authority…

Matthew 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (NKJV)

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (NKJV)

…with the same glory…

John 17:22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: (NKJV)

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (NKJV)

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. (NKJV)

…and the same love…

John 17:23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (NKJV)

…from the same Father…

Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (NKJV)

…all in the same Christ.
1 John 4:17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. (NKJV)

Galatians 4:19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, (NKJV)

“The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose. It is even doubtful, you know, whether the whole universe was created for any other purpose.”

 - C.S. Lewis

Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (NKJV)

We are not perfected, but we must press on. 

May we labour that Christ is formed in each of us.

Bible Study: Truth 5 - Sower and the Soils 3

Hi Everyone

We are continuing to have a lot of fun and insight in this one parable.  Last Friday, we looked at Soil #2, stony ground.

Do have a listen to the audio and use the notes for your study.

And share this as you are blessed!

Blessings!

Chris

Sower and the Soils Part 3

This message was brought to you by God in His love.

He wants you to know this not because He wants you to behave better, but because He wants you to have His very best, to truly taste and see that He is good.

Matthew 13:5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. (NKJV)

Matthew 13:20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 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. (NKJV)

Mark 4:5 Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. (NKJV)

Mark 4:16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. (NKJV)

Luke 8:6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. (NKJV)

Luke 8:13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. (NKJV)

Good Vibrations…

Matthew 13:20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 

Mark 4:16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 

These hear the Word and are driven by the rush of emotions.  They heard a good message and did not disagree with it.  They were actually EXCITED by it!

Emotions are great, but we cannot live on emotions.  If we come to church to be entertained, to hear a great message each Sunday without doing much else, we will be like these.

Emotions ARE from the Lord…

Psalm 31:23 Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, And fully repays the proud person. (NKJV)

Psalm 103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! (NKJV)

Psalm 103:2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (NKJV)

David experienced plenty of emotions, but they were based on his deep meditation of the heart of God, the Word of God (Ps 1).

…Emotionalism is not

Emotionalism results from a failure to mull deeply in the Word, but driven instead by the rush of emotions.

Matthew 4:4a But He answered and said,… “It is written…

We depend on what is written.  Emotions can and should follow the Word (love letter) but must be based on the truth of the text (find someone else’s love letter, or crying because you received a loved letter but never reading it). 

Emotions are the servant not the master.

Rooted

Matthew 13:20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. 

Mark 4:16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time.

The Word has to grow roots into our lives.  It takes time to grow these roots.  How fast it grows roots depends on how much it is on our minds.  

A deep root system anchors the plant and makes it able to live through tough conditions.  Tall trees are able to last a long time in dry conditions because of their deep roots.

Plants with deep roots are also not easily shaken.  Often, the roots of weeds are deeper than the foliage on top suggests!

Luke 8:6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. (NKJV)

The seed must be kept in the soil and nurtured, watered. (lack moisture)

How are We Rooted?

Ephesians 3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (NKJV)

We have to be rooted and grounded in love – in His love for us.  All that He did for us, He did because He loves us.  Every promise of God, every spiritual gift, every blessing was all given by God because He loves us.

We can actually believe in the Word of God for a moment because it sounded spiritual, religious, profound, moral or even something awesome (creation), but until we realise that it was all done because He loves us, we will not be rooted.

David said it a little differently:

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. (NKJV)

We will have the moisture (tree planted by rivers of water) when we STAY in the Word and meditate on it.  We will bring forth fruit IN SEASON (it takes time).  We won’t wither away.  We will prosper in all we do.

Built on the Word is built on the rock.

Persecution because of the Word

Matthew 13:20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 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. (NKJV)

Mark 4:16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. (NKJV)

The persecution is not because we profess to be Christian.  It is often because we profess belief in something in God’s Word.

2 Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (NKJV)

Examples of Persecution Because of the Word

1. People in the world pressuring us to conform (social acceptance of “science”, relative moral standards etc.)
2. Pressure from certain Christians who don’t believe parts of the Word or have explanations/theology that negate these

The belief comes before the receiving.  Many don’t believe and don't receive and they use this to justify their doctrines on how certain parts of the Word (healings/signs and wonders/spiritual gifts) are not for today.  Jesus said if we believe, we will receive.  If we doubt, we do without.

In a Time of Temptation…

Luke 8:13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. (NKJV)

In a time of temptation – when there is testing, things don’t seem to happen the way the Word says, we start to discount what it says, believing instead in what we know.  We abandon the ship of faith, jumping into the murky waters of unbelief.  But James said:

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (NKJV)

We need to stand in patience.  What are we standing in faith for today?  If we are not standing in faith for anything, might I suggest that we are not growing?

The Take Away

• Go beyond the excitement of the message – get into it on your own and mull on it
• Remember always that God manifested in His Word is for your growth and goodness – God gave you His Word that you might be fruitful.  Be rooted in His love!
• Remember that persecution will come when you choose to hang on to what the Word says.  You may never be persecuted for coming to church but once you start to take God on His Word, watch out.
• The more we know of God’s love for us, the less these persecutions will bother us in our walk.
• Stand in faith for something new all the time – build upon your victories.  Trials will come but wait on the Lord, hang on to His Word.
• And remember – Jesus loves you.

Bible Study: Truth 4 - Sower and the Soils 2

Hi Everyone

This is a continuation from last week, where we started to talk about the Sower and the Soils.  This is a very rich parable from our Lord, the one that holds the key to unlocking the rest of the Word, I believe.

Do have a listen to the audio and share it as you are blessed!

Chris

This Parable is First About the Word

Luke 8:11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

Mark 4:14 The sower sows the word. (NKJV)

This is the parable of all parables.  It is about the Word being sown and the result of it.  The Word is not a one-time thing but a progression of many areas.  This parable applies to every area of revelation in the Word. 

We will never come to a full revelation of Jesus and His finished work while on earth, which is why Paul says he presses on Philippians 3:12.  It is for every area of revelation in the Word about the love of God, our fullness in Christ, holiness, stewardship, tithing, gifts of the holy spirit, God's will, healing, miracles, prosperity, relationships, everything emanating from God's grace, His infinite goodness.

In each area of the Word where it is sown we can be one of the 4 soils - there can be things that we can completely miss, sprout up in excitement over only to fade (e.g. excited about tithing only to give up in the hard times), fail to bear fruit because of choking or bear fruit because of how we hear and believe.

We need to sow the Word in every area, on ourselves, on others.

It is About Bearing Fruit

Mark 4:8 But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” (NKJV)

The final result of this parable is thus not about getting saved - it was about bearing fruit. If it was just about salvation, then every Christian who has accepted the Lord ought to be bearing fruit-30, 60, 100 fold. 

The fact that many are not bears testimony to this.

The importance the Lord places on this tells us also how much the Lord wants for us to lead fruitful lives, not just get saved and get by. We were made to bear fruit and if we don't, we will have missed what Jesus died for.  Yes, we can be saved, but not be fruitful. In many places, we read about bearing fruit (good tree and good fruit, telling by the fruit, bearing fruit in season, fruit of the Spirit) and this is what it is about - Jesus said that He is the vine and we are the branches, so when we are connected to Him, the good tree, we were made to bear fruit. 

Question is:  How?

It is About Hearing

Mark 4:20 …those who hear the word… (NKJV)

Mark 4:9 And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (NKJV)

This parable is also about HOW we HEAR THE WORD. Jesus said that His Words are Spirit, and that they are life. Once we are connected to Him through the Word, we bear fruit.

Not all who hear the Word bear fruit, just as not all who read the Bible are transformed. Note that 3 out of 4 types of people who hear the word don't bear fruit. That should be fair warning for us to "have ears that hear".

This Parable is THE Answer…

Mark 4:13 And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? (NKJV)

This parable shows how Word becomes Fruit.  Forget all other ways of trying to bear fruit – it starts from the Word and our hearing of it, the Seed and the Soil.

Much has been said about glorifying God as the end of our Christian lives.  Our Lord said:

John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. (NKJV)

So for us to glorify the Father is to bear fruit.  This happens when what we ask for, our prayers, our desire for God’s will, come to pass. We should then take careful note of this parable if we want to glorify the Father.

Wayside…

Matthew 13:4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. (NKJV)

Matthew 13:18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 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. (NKJV)

Mark 4:4 And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. (NKJV)

Mark 4:14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. (NKJV)

Luke 8:5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. (NKJV)

Luke 8:11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. (NKJV)

Wayside:  Did These Hear the Word?

Matthew 13:19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom…

Mark 4:15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear…

Luke 8:11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear…

These people did hear the Word.  They heard the sermons! Read their Bibles!

But nothing happened!  The Word in that area caused no changes in their lives, with no fruit to show.

Why was this so?  May I suggest some reasons, according to scriptures?

Wayside: Did Not Accept the Full Counsel

Matthew 13:19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it,… 

There will be some hearers who never take the full counsel of God's Word. Without reading the Word earnestly for ourselves, without listening to good preaching, we can end up cherry-picking what we want to hear and leave out what we don’t like. 

Acts 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. (NKJV)

There is a whole counsel of God that we must be careful to note.  We may believe in other things that take precedence to the belief of the Word e.g. What we think as truth (unrenewed mind), denominational positions that don't believe in/teach us not to pay attention to certain parts of the Bible.

Wayside: Did Not Understand the Word of the Kingdom

Matthew 13:19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it,… 

Many do not understand the Word of the Kingdom.  Note that Jesus did not say Word of Salvation but the Word of the Kingdom.  Understanding of the Kingdom is very important.  If we have no understanding of the Kingdom, we will carry on our life the same way, like we were made for this world, as unsaved men with no understanding walking only by the futility of our minds (Eph 4:17). When we understand what God has done and tune in to what He is doing, we have the big picture that allows us to understand why we do what we do. When we have no understanding of the Kingdom, in any area we don't see the relevance (e.g. healing, miracles, supernatural gifts, righteousness, holiness etc.) then that part will be snatched away. God is always trying to sow these into our hearts.

Wayside: Embraced Thoughts that Make the Word of No Effect

Some have embraced traditions, ideas, thoughts or practices that run counter the Word and make it of no effect.  Jesus said:

Mark 7:9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.” (NKJV)

There are many things in tradition and culture, that if we embrace, will mean that we don’t take God’s Word to heart.  When the Word comes, it then gets quickly snatched away.

Wayside:  Believed the words of Man not the Word of God

There are those who have believed teachers who told them how to interpret parts of scriptures so that they are no longer valid/powerful in their lives. There will be false doctrines unless we stay close to God's Word:

2 Timothy 3:2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (NKJV)

Time will come when some won't endure sound doctrine, having itching ears:

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; (NKJV)

Regardless of who is doing the teaching, we need to seek this out ourselves like the Bereans Acts 17:11.  We ourselves are accountable for what we hear and believe.  There are many who will hear what they want to hear, not what the Word says.

Wayside:  Afraid of the Truth

Some are simply afraid. Scared by other falsehoods, fear of looking stupid, fear of humiliation, fear of the unknown, fear of the supernatural (because we are so set in the natural instead of the things that are not seen:

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (NKJV)

Fear of having faith.  Sometimes we are simply afraid of having the mediocre messed with.  We would rather live in failure or mediocrity than to take on God’s Word and believe for great things.  We can actually fear of having the reasons for living mediocre taken away.

Fear is the opposite of faith. Faith comes from the Word and we must allow the Word to be either true or false. If it is in the Word, it is for our good and we must look at it head on, not in fear.

We MUST Open Ourselves to the Word

Read it with an open mind, not hindered by the things that snatch away the Word.

Remember that ALL scripture is useful.

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NKJV)

If it is not of use, it wouldn't be there any longer!  And if we are finding that there seems to be a lot of scripture, especially in the New Testament, that is somehow “not applicable” to our life and times, we really ought to beware.

The Take Away

This Parable is all about how to hear God’s Word so that we can be fruitful

We don’t want the Word to land on the Wayside

Without the full counsel of God's Word in our lives, we will never be whole like God intended. 

1. We need to be open to the whole counsel of God

2. We need to be open to people who have revelation, understanding in areas that we are short on.

3. We need to TUNE IN to what God has done/is doing in His Kingdom.  Operating together as the Church, we become like Christ our Groom!

4.  We must not be afraid of change.  Transformation will cause change.

5.  What we don’t understand, we must not throw out or explain away.  Ask, seek and knock.

The key to this is hunger - we must be greedy for the things of God, not allowing anything to be in the way, forgetting none of His goodness (Psalm 103:2 , Philemon 6). A big part of this goes back to how we see God as, whether as a loving father or a judging, angry God.