Sermon Central
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The Sower The Seed The Soil
Contributed by Pastor/Author: Terry Sisney on Aug 13, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: If we are not seeing a Harvest of the Promises of God in our lives then the problem is either with the seed or the sower or the soil, If we correct the problem we will have the promises
The Sower soweth The Word (The seed) = Good seed
We must be sure of the seed.
*If The sower is committed to sowing and does, and has done so faithfully, and is sure of the seed,
And If there is a crop failure:
The problem is not with #1 The seed because it is good
or #2 The Sower because he has faithfully discharged his duties.
It’s a soil failure
*Wayside soil : Those who hear the word but do not understand it.
*Stony Places: Those who with Joy hear the word, but have no root in themselves. Means it sounds good to them, but they don’t take the time to work it into their lives.
*Among the thorns: Those who received the word, but allowed the cares of the world to choke the word, that it bringeth forth no fruit.
*Good ground: He that heareth the word, understandeth it, and bringeth forth fruit, some 30 some 60 and some a hundred fold.
The tendency is to say, Well that’s the way it is, there’s good ground and there’s bad ground. Some are going to be stony places, and wayside, and some will be among thorns, and some will be good ground.
(some are just destined to be unfruitful, unresponsive, and unproductive) But that’s not true, If the soil, is unresponsive, and unfruitful and unproductive, it is because the soil has not responded correctly to the word.
You may say. Well everybody can’t understand it, and that was what was wrong with soil #1 and it’s not their fault. (some are just not going to understand).
But the truth is from A biblical standpoint understanding is not a head thing it’s a heart thing. It is not about being smart enough it’s about being hungry enough and sincere enough.
These 4 soils describe 4 different conditions of heart and responses to the word.
But what must be acknowledged is the soil is responsible for it’s condition. Each of the 4 different soils or types of ground has the potential to be good ground.
Other wise Jesus is totally unfair to say
For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
In this verse Jesus declares that it is not a sower failure or a seed failure but it is a soil failure.
15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
How does Good ground become good ground?
#1 Hear the word #2 Understandeth it.
Mk 4:20 They receive it.
That word comes from a greek word which means to accept, to delight in, to catch, to take hold of. (it’s not passive, it’s very aggressive).
Lu. 8: 20 Having heard the Word. (Having received the word). They keep it
That word means, to hold fast, to keep firm possession of. To hold down.
Hold down. Keep. One of the reasons many people do not become good ground, is because they won’t keep the word, they won’t hold it down, they spit it up. (they throw it up. Because it demands a change, they just spit it up.
*There is a tremendous responsibility upon the sower, to be sure of his seed, and to sow faithfully.
*There is also a responsibility upon us as hearers of the word to know that it is being rightly divided, we can only know this by personal study.
*Then there is also a responsibility upon the soil to receive the seed or word sown,
Receive = accept, delight in, catch, take hold of,
Jesus said something that had a lot to do with this
Matt 10:40-He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
*This means that The soil is not going to receive the seed, unless it receives the sower.
Jesus said if you receive the one he sent =(the sower)the disciple or preacher)- you will receive him, He is the word.
And if you receive him = Jesus = the word. Then you receive him that sent him = God =Spirit.
If you do not receive the sower (the one Jesus has sent to you) then you are not going to receive him =( the word) and if you do not receive the word, you will not receive the one that sent Jesus =(God who is a Spirit).
If we do not receive the Spirit then we might as well quit altogether because according to zech 4:6 It’s not by might nor by power but by my Spirit sayeth the Lord.
