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Mark 4:1-20 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Please take out your copy of God's Word and turn to the Gospel of Mark chapter 4.
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As you're doing that, you've heard it said already that we had our men's retreat this weekend,
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and everyone's a bit tired from that. I'm feeling this as well. My soul is very awake this morning,
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and glad to be here. I'm trying to get my mind and my body to catch up to that. So,
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if at any time during the sermon I just suddenly fall asleep and fall over on the stage,
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what I want you to do is drag me by my feet to the back corner, put the chair rack in front so
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no one steps on me and just leave me alone. Wes will come up and maybe do an extra song,
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and we'll close the service up that way. But I'm sure by grace I'll stay standing in this process.
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We finally find ourselves back in Mark. We ended up taking a little bit of a three-week
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hiatus from it. Not really intentionally, but previously when we were in Mark we talked about
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what the purpose of the parables were. We looked in chapter 4 verses 10 through 12, and we saw how
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it was that Jesus used these parables. He laid these truths that were understood to them alongside
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greater truth to help them understand it in expanding degrees. And that the parables were designed,
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as we can see as he quotes here, from Isaiah chapter 6, there in verse 12, to both conceal and reveal
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things about the kingdom of God, this gospel message that he was preaching.
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So we did that together, and now we're going to actually back up a little bit and look at verses
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1 through 20. So join me reading along as I read out loud.
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Again he began to teach beside the sea, and a very large crowd gathered about him so that he got into
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a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. And he was
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teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them,
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Listen, a sower went out to sow, and as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.
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Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up,
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since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root,
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it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and yielded no grain.
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And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding
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thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold. And he said, He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
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And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to
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them, To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in
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parable, so that they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand,
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lest they should turn and be forgiven. And he said to them, Do you not understand this parable?
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How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word, and these are the ones along
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the path where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that
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is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground. The one who, when they hear the word,
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immediately receives it with joy, and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while.
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Then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.
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And others are the ones sown among the thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of
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the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things, enter in and choke the
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word, and it proves unfruitful. But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word,
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and accept it, and bear fruit, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold. Please join me in praying.
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Father, we praise you this morning for Christ, and we praise you for your word to us in the scriptures
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that speaks of the word of God who became flesh, who came and dwelt amongst us, who lived a sinless life
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on our behalf, bore your wrath for us who will believe in him, that we might have life and be set free
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from the bondage and slavery of sin. We praise you for the gospel of Mark, and the opportunity to look at
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the life of Christ as recorded here by Mark, who was carried along by your spirit. We accept this this
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morning as your word to us. It is holy, and we come to you in reverence, asking that you work change in
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our lives by its power, and we pray this in Christ's name. Amen. So we find Jesus again, likely close to
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Capernaum on the northwest side of the Sea of Galilee, and he has gone out again in more remote places, but
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these big crowds keep following him, and we see this kind of repeatedly throughout the story here. And so
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Mark pauses at this point to set a little bit of a scene for us. He gets into a boat. He goes out a ways
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into the water so that the crowd isn't pressing in on him so much, where he can stop performing miracles,
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which validated the message, and preach. He got out and he began to teach them. And the gospel of Mark,
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I've said to you before, is a work of rhetoric. It's a work. Mark's intention as he's writing by the
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power of the Spirit is to access our hearts through our minds to have us be devoted followers of Jesus
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Christ. And it's action-packed. He moves, and he moves very quickly through the events that are
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happening in Jesus' life. But he pauses on a couple of occasions to record his teaching at length,
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particularly chapter 4 and chapter 13. We see Jesus dropping truth along the way in the midst of
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these stories, but he really stops and pauses in these places, which should give us reason to stop
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and pause and really question how is it that this teaching, how is it that this parable in particular
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is incredibly important. This parable is recorded in all three of the Synoptic Gospels, along with Jesus'
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explanation. It's one of the few parables that we get a recorded explanation of exactly what it means.
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Quite fascinating to come to a text. Often I come to a text and I have to get its bearing, try to
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understand what it means, and then say, okay, now we know what it means. What does it mean for our
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people? And Jesus just does the work for me here, right? We know exactly what it means, right? He tells
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us. He continues his sermon. He goes right on. And so the challenge before us today is then to
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apply it as well into our lives. Notice verse 13. As he responds to his apostles, we kind of see two
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settings. By the sea, he's preaching from the water. And then later on, when he was alone, his disciples
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come to him and ask him this question about parables. And he says to them in verse 13, do you not
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understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? So this kind of seems to be a
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paradigm-shifting parable. We must understand this one if we're going to get the others right.
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And so it's a parable about soils. This would have been a very commonly understood parable. The general
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population would have got this symbolism, this agrarian symbolism. So the challenge before us is
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to say, okay, this is an important parable. By it, we must understand other parables. So what does it
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mean for us? What does it mean for us today? And I want to give you two objectives of this parable
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that means something for us today. Firstly, to have us question which type of soil we are.
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In the parable, Jesus is the sower. We find him in this stage in his ministry right now,
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going about sowing the Word, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. And he says to us that there
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are types of soil. And those are those who hear the message of God. And so we must ask ourselves,
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which type of soil we are. This is the greatest question we could ask. How do we find ourselves in
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the category that will be damned for eternity because of our sin against the most holy God?
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Or those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ? You must answer that question this morning.
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We are commended in the Scriptures to test our faith. Do that today as you reflect upon these
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different types of soils? Our fruitfulness matters a great deal. We want to find ourselves as good soil.
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Those who have received the Word and who have bore fruit thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.
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The fruit matters. Our salvation is a great work of grace that Christ has bought on our behalf.
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We cannot earn our salvation in any way, but yet the fruit is the evidence of the work of God in our lives.
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So it matters. Matthew 3.8, Jesus says,
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Bear fruit in keeping with repentance, in evidence of your repentance.
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And later in Matthew 12, verse 33, He said that a tree is known by its fruit.
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Good trees produce good fruit. Bad trees produce bad fruit.
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At the end of chapter 3, we looked at kind of some beginning parable, but there's a lot of activity happening
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as He's likely back in Capernaum.
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And we see an interaction with a number of different types of people here.
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And He's elaborating. Mark, being led by the Spirit, is giving us this parable
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in following the way He's treated by His family, as He's treated as a lunatic.
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They come to Him, if you look back up in verse 21 of chapter 3,
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and when His family heard it, that He was back in town, they went out to seize Him,
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for they were saying, He is out of His mind.
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Then we see Him interacting with the scribes, who thinks that He's a liar.
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He's saying that He's the Son of God, and they're saying,
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You can't possibly be the Son of God. You are working by Satan.
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And then we see those that He recognizes are His mother and His brothers and His sisters,
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in verse 34 and 35, those who do the will of His Father.
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John 6.4, He says,
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For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him
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should have eternal life.
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So, our faith is not merely an outward activity.
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Thousands of people were following Him around,
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but they followed Him for the benefits that He could provide for them.
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They wanted to be healed, or they wanted to see healing happen.
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They wanted demons cast out, or they wanted to see that happen.
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It was a spectacle that was going on.
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And many people today, and you may find yourself in this position,
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that you follow Jesus for what you think He can offer you,
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in this world, but not for what He actually came to offer.
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And that was the redemption of our souls.
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I love you, Dad.
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This is why we come to Christ, for the redemption of our souls.
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And we receive immense blessing in Him.
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Immense, immeasurable blessing.
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But often not the way we think.
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You don't follow Jesus for a new car or financial success.
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The prosperity gospel is damning untold millions to hell.
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They're just air conditioning the trip there.
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That is not the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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We must ask ourselves, if we're good soil,
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do we have the seed of the Word in us,
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and is it producing fruit as evidence of that?
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Secondly, if we are good soil,
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this parable helps to prepare us for the way the world will receive the gospel of grace.
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If you want to complicate the parable a bit,
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you certainly can,
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to say that we're now sowers,
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sowing the Word.
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I like to think that Jesus is still the sower,
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and He uses us as His tools of sowing seed,
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right?
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Spreading the Word amongst the world.
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And not all people are going to receive the Word the way we would hope that they would.
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The way we think they ought to.
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And this is to help us to understand what that's going to look like.
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Because the major task of every disciple of Christ is to sow seed.
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This is it.
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You want to know God's will for your life?
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Believe in Him,
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and sow seeds so that others might believe in Him.
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This is the task that has been given to us.
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Many people call it the Great Commission.
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Properly, aptly called that thing.
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In fact, all the instruction that we receive in the Scriptures about holy living,
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the ways in which we ought to glorify God,
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is giving validation to that message.
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The same way that Jesus went around and healed people,
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and showed that He had a power from above,
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validated His message,
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is what we do as we love one another,
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as we live holy lives,
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as we put to death sin,
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as we pursue righteousness,
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all of these things validate this primary thing of sowing seed,
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sowing the Word in the world.
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This is the primary task.
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We are to propagate to the glory of God.
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Propagate to the glory of God.
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Sow seed so that others might bear fruit.
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I think it's behind me.
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I'm pretty sure it is.
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Our vision statement for our church.
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That we exist to glorify God
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by experiencing,
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proclaiming,
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and displaying the supremacy of Jesus Christ
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in all things to all peoples.
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That is our way of saying
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that in all of our activity,
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our experience,
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in our proclamation,
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and the things we do together,
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we are to show Jesus Christ as supreme.
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To show Him as He is.
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To sow the Word in the world,
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in everything we do,
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to the ends of the earth.
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I hope that you're working on memorizing
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this statement.
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It's there for you.
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Remember it.
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Remember it.
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The Canons of Dort,
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which quite interestingly,
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was the response to Arminianism.
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So,
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if you got a little bit uncomfortable
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with the song we sang beforehand,
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and if you get uncomfortable
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with this particular parable here,
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a group of men met together
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to look at the claims of Jacob Arminius,
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and they wrote responses to that.
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We often call them
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the doctrines of grace,
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but in the Canons of Dort,
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it said it this way.
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The Word should be declared
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and published to all nations
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and to all persons
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promiscuously
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and without distinction.
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I love that.
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Right?
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Promiscuously,
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the Word should be sown.
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Massive handfuls of seed
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thrown everywhere.
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This is our response
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to this great gospel of grace.
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I challenge you when you get home,
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next time you're on your computer,
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type into Google
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evangelism methods that work.
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Just watch the stuff that pops up.
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Watch the stuff that pops up in that.
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We have,
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as American Christians,
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I believe with the best of intention,
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try to come up with
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our own methodologies
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for how it is
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that Jesus saves souls.
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Right?
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We don't want there to be
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any types of soil.
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Right?
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We want to say there's one type of soil,
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and if we can just be convincing enough,
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right,
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if we can just get the game
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just right,
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and what we end up doing
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is we end up modifying
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the seed itself.
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Right?
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It no longer becomes
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the seed of the kingdom of God.
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It becomes some weird distortion of it
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that has no value
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that will ultimately be
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ripped up by its roots
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and thrown into the fire.
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Right?
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It doesn't produce more fruit.
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It's not the thing
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that's good for nourishment.
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I was thinking about this
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this past week,
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and I just started thinking
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about all of the
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genetically modified food
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that we eat these days,
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and we could go off
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on a big,
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huge tangent about that,
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but there's lots
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of genetically modified foods,
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and they are modified
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to produce better,
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to make more.
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We may never see
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this side of heaven,
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the effects that's having
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on our bodies,
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drought resistant,
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different things like that,
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but I came across
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a story of Monsanto,
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which is a bad word
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in some circles,
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an organization
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that had genetically
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modified some wheat
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that they found
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to be incredibly bad,
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and it was discovered
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just this past year
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on a farm in Oregon.
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They had withdrawn it,
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weren't sending it anymore,
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but it somehow was found
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that this plant was growing
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on this farm in Oregon,
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and as a result of that,
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our wheat export
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was boycotted by Japan,
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South Korea,
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and Taiwan
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at the tune of $8.1 billion.
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in revenue
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this past year.
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They recognized
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that this was not
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weak as it should be,
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and they rejected it.
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And here we find ourselves
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as Americans
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modifying the gospel,
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right,
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and then exporting it
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all over the world.
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And we're finding
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that there are places
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that are rejecting
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much of the gospel,
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the modified gospel
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that comes out
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of America.
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Praise God
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that there are countries
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that are now
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being missionaries
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to the states.
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South Koreans
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are a good example
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of that,
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who have said,
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what an evil,
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wicked place
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that needs the light
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of Christ.
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We will go there
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and preach the gospel
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to those people.
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Fantastic.
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Absolutely fantastic.
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You remember these people,
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the people that Jesus
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is talking to here,
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his disciples,
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had much messianic expectation.
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Right?
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They were waiting
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for the Christ.
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They didn't know
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that this was him
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in various forms
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quite yet,
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but they were waiting
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for him to come.
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They knew the messianic
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prophecies.
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They were expecting
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Jesus to come
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to be a king
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who would restore
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the Davidic dynasty
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and usher in a time
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of justice
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and peace.
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And he will,
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but it just didn't happen
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the way they thought
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that it would.
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They were oppressed
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by Rome.
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They thought he was
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going to come,
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put Rome back
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in its place,
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restore the glory
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of the Davidic kingdom.
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They were familiar
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with Isaiah 9, 6, and 7.
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For to us a child is born,
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to us a son is given,
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and the government
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shall be upon his shoulders,
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and his name shall be called
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Wonderful Counselor,
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Mighty God,
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Everlasting Father,
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Prince of Peace.
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Of the increase
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of his government
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and of peace
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there will be no end
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on the throne of David
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and over his kingdom
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to establish it
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and to uphold it
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with justice
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and with righteousness
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from this time forth
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and forevermore.
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The zeal of the Lord of hosts,
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will do this.
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Jesus Christ has,
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in fact,
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restored the
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Davidic dynasty.
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He was in the lineage
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of David
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and he has come
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and he's reigned.
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He's seated now
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at the right hand of the Father
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and he reigns in our hearts.
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The kingdom of God
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looked much different
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than they thought it would.
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And here he is
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setting up
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a paradigm-shifting parable
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to understand
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what this would look like.
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You see why this is
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really important
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for us to get
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as followers of Christ.
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As evidence of this,
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in Luke chapter 12,
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verse 23,
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his record ends.
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Someone who was following
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said to him,
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Lord,
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will those who are saved
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be few?
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Will those who are saved
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be few?
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Here's the parable
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that helps us
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to understand
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what's going on
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and happening
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in this world.
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I said to you before
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this agricultural symbolism
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may be a little bit
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lost on us,
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but they totally understood it.
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This was an agrarian society.
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And they got this parable
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both physically and mentally.
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And let me explain
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what I mean by that.
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Physically,
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they got the picture.
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They understood
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what he was talking about
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as he talked about
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this field
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and what it meant
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to sow seed.
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We talked previously
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at the end of chapter 2
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when the disciples
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and Jesus
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are chastised
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for picking the heads
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of wheat
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and walking
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and eating.
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And I told you
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that there were paths
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that kind of crisscrossed
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around the edges
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of these fields.
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And this is where
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people traveled.
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They have highways
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that they were traveling on.
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They would walk
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these beaten paths
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between the fields.
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And it was permissible
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by law
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that you could gather
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as you were walking along.
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So the person
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sojourning through
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the country
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could gather and eat
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as they went along.
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And this is what
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they were attacked for
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was doing that
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on the Sabbath.
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So these fields
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were set up
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in some form of a grid
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and had these hard
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paths around it.
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And the fields
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would be tilled.
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Much the same way
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we do now,
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but we do it
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with big machinery.
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They would till
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the fields up
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so you would have
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had a nice big blank
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plot of land
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with the soil
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turned up
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ready to go
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and they would
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sow seed
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in a bag.
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They would put it
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in a bag,
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carry it over their
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shoulder,
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and they would
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cast the seed
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like this.
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Any of you
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have ever done that?
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I've seeded a lawn
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that way,
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hand seeding a lawn.
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And you threw it
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out there.
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And you can't,
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you can kind of
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control where it goes,
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but if you want
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it to get to the edges,
20:47
you've definitely
20:48
got to do some
20:48
overlapping.
20:49
It's got to play out
20:51
a little bit
20:51
beyond that.
20:52
They would have
20:52
totally understood.
20:53
The picture of this
20:54
would have been
20:55
in their heads.
20:55
They possibly could
20:56
have looked at
20:56
somebody doing it.
20:57
Jesus may have.
20:58
Jesus may have
20:58
seen somebody doing it
20:59
and said,
21:00
I've got one for them.
21:01
The sign of a natural
21:03
teacher is that
21:03
they've always got
21:04
some beautiful analogy
21:05
to speak about
21:06
something of a
21:07
greater truth.
21:09
These people also
21:10
would have known
21:12
of the promises
21:13
of God,
21:14
which were very
21:14
agrarian in their
21:16
symbolism,
21:17
of Psalm 126,
21:19
Jeremiah chapter 31,
21:21
Hosea chapter 2.
21:23
Spend some time
21:23
looking at those.
21:24
They also would have
21:24
known of some
21:25
of the symbolism
21:26
of the judgment
21:27
of God using
21:28
these kind of
21:29
agrarian symbols.
21:30
Isaiah chapter 34
21:32
is an example of that.
21:33
So it was a very
21:34
timely way for him
21:36
to speak to these
21:37
people.
21:39
Note that there
21:40
are six soils.
21:43
Don't spend a ton
21:43
of time racking
21:44
your brain about six.
21:45
I think you counted
21:45
four already.
21:47
Don't spend a bunch
21:47
of time thinking
21:48
about that.
21:48
I'll get you to
21:49
that point here
21:50
readily.
21:51
But let's talk
21:51
one by one
21:52
about these
21:53
different soils.
21:54
Firstly,
21:54
we see the soil
21:56
that is along
21:57
the path.
21:58
The soil that's
21:59
at the edge
22:00
of the path.
22:00
The part that
22:01
would have been
22:01
beaten down.
22:02
The person that
22:02
didn't walk down
22:03
the middle of the
22:03
path but walked
22:04
a little off to
22:05
the edge of the
22:05
path would have
22:05
beat the ground
22:06
down quite well.
22:07
We see that in
22:08
verse 4 and then
22:09
the explanation of
22:11
it in verse 15.
22:13
This would have
22:13
been hard.
22:14
Hard packed.
22:15
Hard as a rock.
22:17
This area of the
22:18
world is very dry
22:19
for most of the
22:20
year.
22:21
Nothing's saturating.
22:22
Our paths would
22:23
have been mud
22:24
here in Georgia.
22:25
But in this place
22:26
it would have been
22:26
hard as a rock.
22:27
As if it was
22:28
paved.
22:29
And so we see
22:30
verse 4 that he
22:31
sows it and some
22:32
of it falls onto
22:33
the path.
22:34
And immediately
22:34
the birds follow
22:35
the sower along
22:36
and they snatch
22:37
it up.
22:37
It's food for
22:38
them and they
22:38
eat it.
22:39
In verse 15
22:39
we see that this
22:40
is Satan.
22:41
Comes and takes
22:42
the word away
22:43
that they might
22:43
not believe.
22:45
In the same
22:45
account in Luke
22:46
chapter 8
22:46
I like the
22:48
language here
22:49
in verse 15
22:51
of chapter 4
22:53
it says
22:53
and takes away
22:54
the word that
22:54
is sown in
22:55
them.
22:56
In Luke
22:56
chapter 8
22:57
it says
22:57
the ones along
22:59
the path of
22:59
those who
22:59
have heard
23:00
then the devil
23:01
comes and
23:01
takes away
23:01
the word
23:02
from their
23:03
hearts
23:03
so that it
23:04
may not
23:04
believe
23:05
and be
23:06
saved.
23:07
One thing
23:08
for us
23:08
just to hear
23:08
the word
23:09
in our
23:09
heads
23:09
but the
23:09
word must
23:10
come down
23:10
and penetrate
23:11
into our
23:11
hearts.
23:11
It must
23:11
plant itself
23:13
in us
23:14
and for
23:15
these people
23:15
this word
23:16
is snatched
23:16
away
23:17
before they
23:18
can believe.
23:20
Secondly
23:20
we see
23:20
the rocky
23:21
ground
23:21
in verses
23:22
5 and
23:22
6
23:23
and then
23:23
the
23:23
explanation
23:24
in verses
23:25
16 and
23:26
17.
23:27
It falls
23:27
on the rocky
23:28
ground
23:28
where it
23:28
didn't have
23:28
much soil
23:29
and immediately
23:30
sprang up
23:31
since it
23:31
had no
23:31
depth of
23:32
soil.
23:32
And when
23:33
the sun
23:33
rose it
23:33
was scorched
23:34
and since
23:34
it had
23:35
no root
23:35
it withered
23:36
away.
23:36
Now the
23:36
picture here
23:37
is not
23:37
that there's
23:38
rocks on
23:38
the surface
23:39
or that
23:39
there's
23:40
chunks of
23:40
rock in
23:41
the soil.
23:41
They would
23:41
have fixed
23:42
that.
23:42
They wouldn't
23:43
have let
23:43
that remain
23:44
in their
23:44
field but
23:45
that there
23:45
was rock
23:46
underneath
23:46
the soil.
23:48
That they
23:48
had tilled
23:49
it.
23:49
It looked
23:49
good and
23:50
fine on
23:50
the surface
23:51
so the
23:51
seed was
23:51
sown there.
23:52
But there's
23:53
rock down
23:53
below that
23:54
prevented those
23:55
roots from
23:55
going down
23:56
deep.
23:57
And again
23:57
in this area
23:58
it's very
23:59
arid and
23:59
roots had to
24:00
go down.
24:01
They had to
24:01
get down
24:02
deep into
24:03
where the
24:03
water table
24:04
would be
24:04
when the
24:05
water was
24:05
before they
24:05
could start
24:06
putting up
24:06
height.
24:08
If you don't
24:08
know much
24:09
about plants
24:10
that's the
24:10
first thing
24:10
that plants
24:11
do.
24:11
When you put a
24:11
seed in the
24:12
ground it
24:12
sends out
24:12
roots first
24:13
that it
24:14
might have
24:14
nourishment.
24:15
Then it
24:15
begins putting
24:16
energy into
24:16
setting up
24:17
the stalk
24:18
and setting
24:18
it up
24:18
above the
24:20
ground.
24:21
So in this
24:21
case they
24:22
would have
24:22
looked out
24:22
across the
24:23
field and
24:24
they would
24:24
have had
24:24
all their
24:24
little plants
24:25
and wheat
24:26
maybe in
24:26
this case
24:27
coming up.
24:28
But these
24:29
plants would
24:30
have come
24:30
up higher
24:30
and they
24:31
would have
24:31
known.
24:32
Planted that
24:33
one on
24:33
rock.
24:34
Because they
24:34
would have
24:34
jumped up.
24:35
They would
24:35
have sprung
24:36
up even
24:36
higher because
24:37
the plant
24:37
not able to
24:38
!
24:38
Put roots
24:39
down any
24:39
deeper.
24:39
would have
24:40
been putting
24:40
all its
24:41
energy into
24:41
shooting a
24:41
stalk up
24:42
high.
24:43
And those
24:43
things would
24:43
have certainly
24:44
been pulled
24:45
out and
24:45
burned.
24:45
It would
24:46
have been
24:46
pointless.
24:46
It would
24:46
have never
24:47
produced any
24:48
fruit whatsoever.
24:49
Just vegetable
24:51
matter at that
24:52
point.
24:53
So this would
24:54
have been rock
24:54
up underneath
24:55
the soil.
24:57
And you can
24:57
see in the
24:58
explanation that
24:58
Jesus gives
24:59
us.
25:00
They hear the
25:01
word and they
25:01
immediately receive
25:02
it with joy.
25:02
It springs up
25:03
in them.
25:04
Praise God for
25:05
the growth in
25:06
this person's
25:06
life.
25:06
Some of you
25:07
may know
25:07
these type of
25:08
people.
25:08
I know quite
25:09
a few.
25:10
You rejoice in
25:11
this transformative
25:12
work.
25:12
It seems like
25:13
God has done a
25:13
great mighty
25:14
work in them.
25:16
But then,
25:16
because they
25:17
have no root,
25:17
they endure for
25:18
a while.
25:19
And when
25:19
tribulation or
25:20
persecution arises
25:22
because of their
25:23
faith, everything
25:23
doesn't go hunky
25:25
dory, everything
25:25
isn't great the
25:26
way they think it's
25:28
going to be, they
25:29
fall away.
25:30
They're scorched
25:31
by the sun and
25:33
they fall away.
25:34
I would say to
25:36
those of you,
25:37
especially those
25:37
of you who are
25:37
young and on
25:38
college campuses
25:39
and seeing people
25:40
come to repentance
25:42
and faith, push
25:45
new believers out
25:46
into the sun.
25:48
We tend to coddle
25:50
new believers a
25:51
lot.
25:51
And we must
25:52
disciple people.
25:53
We must build
25:54
foundation of truth
25:55
in them.
25:56
We must help
25:57
them be able to
25:58
stand firm.
25:59
But the truly
26:00
regenerate soul
26:01
does not reject
26:02
the gospel when
26:02
tribulation comes
26:04
as a result of
26:05
the gospel.
26:05
So push them.
26:06
Kick them out
26:07
into the sun.
26:07
Push them out
26:08
there and see
26:08
what happens.
26:10
Press them into
26:11
sharing their
26:12
faith.
26:12
Press them into
26:13
speaking freely
26:14
about the work of
26:15
God in their
26:15
life and see
26:16
what happens.
26:18
They may get a
26:19
little bit knocked
26:20
down.
26:20
You want to be
26:21
there to help
26:22
them in those
26:23
times.
26:23
But we'll see
26:24
very quickly
26:25
whether or not
26:26
they're truly
26:27
regenerate.
26:29
Those of us
26:30
who are found
26:30
in Christ
26:31
welcome
26:33
tribulation.
26:36
Rejoice in
26:37
tribulation.
26:38
It gives
26:38
evidence of
26:39
our faith.
26:41
The writer of
26:41
Hebrews in
26:42
chapter 12.
26:42
Actually, please
26:43
turn to Hebrews
26:44
chapter 12 with
26:44
me.
26:44
This is enough
26:46
text for you to
26:46
look at it with
26:47
me.
26:57
This is good if
26:58
you've been
26:58
feeling
26:58
disciplined by
27:00
the Lord.
27:00
If you've
27:01
been experiencing
27:03
tribulation of
27:04
any kind.
27:06
Hebrews chapter
27:07
12 beginning in
27:08
verse 5.
27:09
And have you
27:09
forgotten the
27:10
exhortation that
27:11
addresses you as
27:12
sons?
27:14
My son, do not
27:14
regard lightly the
27:15
discipline of the
27:16
Lord, nor be
27:17
weary when
27:18
reproved by him.
27:19
For the Lord
27:20
disciplines the
27:21
one he loves,
27:23
and chastises
27:24
every son whom
27:25
he receives.
27:27
Now you might
27:28
be saying, but
27:28
wait, tribulation
27:29
is not of God.
27:30
Sure, it's
27:31
permitted by him.
27:33
You are
27:33
chastised.
27:34
You are
27:34
reproved by the
27:36
actions of others
27:36
because everything
27:37
is held in God's
27:38
sovereign hand.
27:39
Verse 7.
27:40
It is for
27:40
discipline that you
27:41
have to endure.
27:42
God is treating
27:43
you as sons.
27:45
For what son is
27:45
there whom his
27:46
father does not
27:47
discipline?
27:49
Now this is a
27:50
general truth.
27:51
Some of us may
27:51
have had fathers
27:52
that did not
27:52
discipline us.
27:53
But because I
27:55
love my sons, I
27:56
discipline them.
27:57
Because I want
27:58
what is good for
27:59
them.
27:59
I want what is
28:00
right for them.
28:01
I teach that because
28:02
they do not know
28:03
it on their own.
28:04
Leave our little
28:05
kids alone, they
28:06
become absolutely
28:07
wretched.
28:08
Absolutely.
28:09
I discipline my
28:10
sons because I
28:12
love them.
28:13
Verse 8.
28:13
If you are left
28:14
without discipline in
28:15
which all have
28:15
participated, then
28:16
you are illegitimate
28:17
children and not
28:19
sons.
28:19
God leaves you
28:20
alone and doesn't
28:21
discipline you, then
28:21
you are not sons.
28:22
Besides this, we
28:23
have had earthly
28:24
fathers who
28:25
disciplined us and
28:25
we respected them.
28:27
Shall we not much
28:27
more be subject to
28:28
the father of
28:29
spirits and live?
28:30
For they disciplined
28:31
us for a short time
28:32
as it seemed best to
28:33
them, but he
28:35
disciplines us for
28:36
our good that we
28:37
may share his
28:38
holiness.
28:40
Speaking of my
28:41
son.
28:42
For the moment,
28:43
all discipline seems
28:44
painful rather than
28:45
pleasant, but later it
28:47
yields the peaceful
28:48
fruit of righteousness
28:49
to those who have
28:51
been trained by it.
28:52
This is good.
28:55
The son of
28:56
tribulation, if our
28:58
roots are down deep,
28:59
if we're good soil and
29:00
our roots are firmly
29:01
planted and we're
29:02
drinking deep from the
29:04
goodness of God in our
29:05
lives, the son of
29:06
tribulation causes
29:07
growth.
29:09
That's how plants work.
29:10
They send up the
29:10
shoot because they
29:11
need the sun to
29:12
continue that process
29:13
of photosynthesis
29:14
and all the things
29:15
that go along with
29:15
that.
29:15
We won't get into a
29:16
science lesson at
29:17
that point.
29:18
But the sun is then
29:19
good for us.
29:21
And so that's the
29:22
rocky ground.
29:24
Those who appear,
29:25
they appear to be
29:26
regenerate.
29:27
They appear to make
29:27
genuine confessions of
29:29
faith.
29:29
I have been duped.
29:30
I don't think it was
29:31
any fault of mine,
29:32
but people that I
29:32
really thought were
29:34
regenerate and ended
29:35
up not being at all.
29:36
We've had members of
29:37
our church were that
29:39
way.
29:40
Fooled us.
29:41
I mean, there's just
29:42
no way we thought that
29:43
they weren't not
29:44
Christians.
29:45
Christians, right?
29:46
Allowed them into our
29:47
fellowship and later had
29:48
to ask them to leave
29:49
our fellowship because
29:49
they were evidently not.
29:51
By their own admission
29:53
were not.
29:54
They say to them,
29:55
it doesn't make sense
29:56
for you to be a member
29:57
of a believing church
29:58
if you're not a
29:58
Christian.
29:59
They say, I agree.
30:00
We loved them in parted
30:02
ways in that.
30:03
We take sin seriously
30:04
here.
30:05
So this is the rocky
30:06
ground.
30:07
Thirdly, there was seed
30:09
that fell among thorns.
30:12
Now get here.
30:12
Again, the picture is
30:13
no farmer in his
30:15
right mind is going
30:16
to sow seed amongst
30:17
thorns and let thorns
30:19
naturally grow.
30:21
I shouldn't say
30:21
naturally.
30:22
Let them just propagate
30:23
in his field.
30:24
He's going to pull them
30:24
up.
30:25
In that tilling process,
30:25
he's going to pull them
30:26
up.
30:26
So here you find seed
30:27
that's going to land on
30:28
ground that has thorn
30:29
seed in it.
30:30
It's been blown from a
30:31
neighboring field.
30:32
It's come out of a
30:32
ditch somewhere.
30:34
We all experience that
30:34
in the southeast.
30:35
Weeds are everywhere
30:37
where we are.
30:38
And those plants, in
30:40
competition for sun,
30:41
sinned up quickly.
30:43
I mean, boy, do they
30:44
ever sinned up quickly.
30:44
They sinned up their
30:45
greenery.
30:46
They produce seed like
30:47
crazy so that they can
30:48
go and go and go and
30:49
go and go.
30:50
If you've ever tried to
30:51
have a garden in the
30:52
southeast, you know what
30:53
this looks like.
30:54
It comes up before.
30:55
You've got to get out
30:56
there and start weeding
30:57
before your good plants
30:58
come up to make sure
30:58
they don't get shaded
30:59
out.
31:00
So here we find in
31:01
verse 7, seed falling
31:02
among thorns.
31:03
And the thorns grew up
31:04
and choked it.
31:05
And it yielded no grain.
31:06
They grew up and they
31:08
shielded out the sun.
31:09
Right?
31:09
And they sucked up all
31:11
the nutrients from the
31:12
ground.
31:13
Jesus' explanation says
31:15
that they are those who
31:16
hear the word, but the
31:18
cares of the world and
31:20
the deceitfulness of
31:21
riches and the desire
31:23
for other things enter
31:25
in and choke the word
31:27
and it proves unfruitful.
31:28
I really fear this type of
31:33
soil is prevalent in our
31:36
churches.
31:37
That people hear the word,
31:39
make some sense to them,
31:41
seems to have some effect
31:43
in their hearts, but all of
31:45
the cares of the world,
31:46
this deceitfulness of
31:48
riches, the desire for
31:49
things, comes in and chokes
31:51
it out.
31:52
Beloved, being a disciple of
31:56
Christ comes at a cost.
32:00
It comes at a cost.
32:02
We've been given free grace,
32:04
but pursuing Him, being a
32:06
disciple, comes at a cost.
32:09
We must give things up.
32:11
You cannot love and serve the
32:13
world and love and serve God.
32:16
Right?
32:17
They're at odds with one
32:18
another.
32:18
That isn't to say that we
32:21
have to be monastic.
32:22
That isn't to say that we
32:22
have to take vows of
32:24
poverty.
32:24
But you need to really check
32:26
how much do I love the
32:28
world.
32:30
So often, even for those of
32:32
us who are good soil, who
32:34
are regenerate, who have
32:35
faith in Christ, so often
32:37
our love for Christ gets
32:38
trumped by our love for
32:40
this world.
32:41
We are absolutely inundated
32:43
at every turn by
32:46
materialism where we live.
32:48
Right?
32:49
I hate going down to the
32:50
Mall of Georgia area because
32:53
every time I go down there,
32:54
I'm usually driving one of
32:55
the crummiest vehicles down
32:57
there, and everyone's clothes
32:59
are more expensive than mine,
33:00
and there are billboards
33:01
everywhere, and every store is
33:02
new and flashy and nice, and
33:05
I can feel this pressure.
33:07
It kind of presses down on me
33:08
to want more.
33:11
Right?
33:11
I'm glad I live up here where
33:12
people drive crummy vehicles,
33:14
and I'm just thankful that my
33:15
truck is running as you see them
33:17
broken down on the side of the
33:18
road, and I'm like, praise God
33:19
I'm getting from point A to
33:20
point B.
33:22
This is all around us.
33:25
Ask that God would test your
33:27
heart in this regard.
33:28
Are you good soil?
33:30
Right?
33:31
Are you good soil that's just
33:32
been distracted by the world?
33:33
Or are you this seed thrown
33:35
among the thorns?
33:37
Seed sown among the thorns?
33:39
Say that five times fast.
33:40
Right?
33:41
1 John 2.19
33:43
John says,
33:45
They went out from us, but they
33:47
were not of us.
33:47
For if they had been of us, they
33:49
would have continued with us.
33:51
But they went out, that it might
33:52
become plain, that they are all
33:54
not of us.
33:56
If we're going to be a community
33:58
of faith, right, disciple-making
34:00
disciples of Jesus Christ, we are
34:02
going to look different from this
34:05
world.
34:06
Not that we're going to wear special
34:07
outfits to look different.
34:09
But all of our activity, our
34:11
experience, our proclaiming,
34:11
displaying, is going to look
34:13
different from this world.
34:14
And people who come here and
34:15
want to sit amongst us are
34:17
going to have a couple of
34:17
emotions.
34:19
They're going to stay, feel
34:21
incredibly uncomfortable.
34:22
These people are so different
34:24
than I am.
34:25
Look at the way they press.
34:26
Look at the way they give
34:27
freely.
34:27
Look at the way they don't love
34:29
the things of this world.
34:30
And I do.
34:31
They're going to pull in the
34:32
parking lot in their car and
34:34
go, my car is a lot different
34:35
than all these other cars in
34:36
this parking lot.
34:37
They're going to walk in here
34:38
dressed a particular way and
34:39
say, I am dressed very strangely
34:41
compared to these people.
34:42
They're going to be here and
34:43
they're going to be uncomfortable.
34:44
That is an option.
34:46
Secondly, they could change.
34:48
They could pursue Christ with
34:49
us in a community.
34:51
We could press them towards that
34:52
type of thing.
34:53
Or they could leave.
34:55
And I'm not suggesting that
34:56
everyone who leaves our church
34:57
is a seat among thorns.
34:59
I'm not saying that at all.
35:00
But speaking of this particular
35:02
issue of loving the things of
35:05
this world over Christ, those are
35:06
the options for them.
35:07
We ought to be that kind of
35:08
people.
35:09
This shouldn't be the kind of
35:10
group where you can come in and
35:12
meld.
35:12
People who love the things of
35:14
this world shouldn't be
35:15
comfortable here.
35:16
It should be the case.
35:17
Right?
35:18
People should walk in and be
35:19
amongst us and spend time with
35:21
us, hear what's on our hearts,
35:22
and they should go, these people
35:23
love Jesus more than anything.
35:25
There is no doubt in my mind of
35:27
that fact.
35:28
And we pray that that causes
35:31
change in everybody's life.
35:32
Which brings us to our last three
35:34
soils.
35:36
Good soil.
35:37
We see good soil that yields
35:39
thirtyfold and sixtyfold and
35:42
a hundredfold.
35:42
There's your three different
35:43
types of soil.
35:45
And I have to say that I'm a
35:47
little bit encouraged by this
35:48
just as sometimes in my
35:49
Christian walk I want to see
35:51
more things happen.
35:52
I want more fruit to happen.
35:54
But to see that God has
35:55
particularly gifted people in
35:56
different ways and that I don't
35:58
need to be Billy Graham.
36:02
I would like to be.
36:03
I would like to be that
36:04
effective for the kingdom.
36:06
God wants to use me in that
36:07
way.
36:07
I am willing to do that.
36:09
But I don't have to be Billy
36:10
Graham.
36:11
There's not a pressure to that.
36:12
Like the measure of my faith is
36:14
not that I am Billy Graham.
36:16
That I accomplish what he has
36:18
accomplished by God's grace.
36:19
But that I could just be one
36:20
that yields thirtyfold.
36:23
Now understand that this
36:24
terminology for them,
36:25
thirtyfold and sixtyfold and
36:28
hundredfold would have been
36:29
astronomical crop yield.
36:32
Not like normal crop yield.
36:35
I tried to read up on this.
36:36
I really didn't understand
36:37
what I was reading when I was
36:38
trying to figure out the
36:39
percentages that it would be.
36:41
But essentially this would be
36:43
a yield of like three thousand,
36:45
six thousand and ten thousand
36:47
percent.
36:49
What they're measuring I'm not
36:50
sure.
36:50
Probably weight of crop versus
36:52
weight of yield.
36:53
But just get this was huge.
36:55
Right.
36:55
The gradient of society would
36:56
have gone thirtyfold, sixtyfold
36:57
and a hundredfold.
36:58
Are you crazy?
37:00
But this is the kind of fruit
37:01
that Christians yield.
37:03
That we sow the seed.
37:05
We put the seed out in the world.
37:07
God does this work that causes
37:09
this propagation to happen.
37:10
The growth of God's church.
37:13
Right.
37:13
That his people amass and amass
37:17
and amass and amass.
37:18
And sometimes I get a little bit
37:21
discouraged as an American
37:23
Christian running in the circles
37:24
that I run in.
37:26
That we don't see massive
37:29
regeneration.
37:30
We've been praying as a church
37:31
for quite some time for revival.
37:33
We want to see a big movement
37:35
of people towards God.
37:36
And that's a good thing to desire
37:38
and we should continue to press
37:39
into that.
37:39
And sometimes I feel a little bit
37:40
discouraged as if God's not
37:42
moving and working in the world.
37:43
But you only have to open your
37:44
eyes a little bit and read some
37:46
of the accounts of some of the
37:47
things that are happening
37:47
around the world.
37:48
The last time I kind of checked
37:50
in on what was going on in China
37:51
it's reported that about
37:53
10,000 people a day are coming
37:56
to faith in Christ in China.
37:57
10,000 people a day God is at work.
38:00
Right.
38:01
Seed is being sown and it is
38:03
meeting good soil.
38:06
Right.
38:06
It is growing up and it is
38:08
producing more.
38:10
And hear this.
38:11
The way that God came into this
38:13
world that brought the kingdom.
38:15
He brought it through His Son
38:16
Jesus Christ who picked a little
38:18
band of brothers.
38:19
Right.
38:20
Inadequate for the task.
38:21
Totally uneducated.
38:23
Just normal guys.
38:25
Right.
38:25
And He left them with the task
38:27
of being disciple making disciples
38:29
and from this little place
38:31
in the Middle East
38:32
the fire of the kingdom of God
38:35
has spread rampantly across the world
38:38
because these people got
38:40
that the task of propagating the truth
38:43
of sowing seed was theirs.
38:44
What is happening to us in America?
38:47
Have we forgotten that that is
38:48
what we're supposed to be about?
38:51
Right.
38:52
Not merely about learning things
38:54
knowing who our God is
38:55
but knowing who our God is
38:56
so that other people can know
38:58
who our God is
38:59
so that we can sing His praises
39:00
more accurately
39:02
and more loudly
39:03
for the world to hear.
39:05
I want a big bag of seed.
39:07
That's why I should be studying
39:08
the Word of God.
39:09
Right.
39:09
I want to spread it everywhere.
39:10
I want to feel speaking to people's lives
39:12
at every turn
39:13
and at every occasion.
39:17
So we see this good seed
39:19
and I hope
39:20
genuinely
39:21
immense desire in my heart
39:24
that everyone in this room
39:25
can say
39:25
I'm good soil.
39:27
I'm good soil.
39:28
I may be distracted often.
39:30
I may not live
39:31
and be devoted to Christ
39:33
the way I should be today
39:34
but I'm good soil
39:35
and I can say that with confidence.
39:36
I know for a fact
39:38
that the seed of the Word
39:39
is taking root in my heart
39:40
and it's working on me
39:41
and it's changing me.
39:43
I feel conviction for sin.
39:44
I desire to be more holy.
39:46
I want to give my life
39:48
for the kingdom.
39:50
I hope that's true
39:51
of you.
39:53
2 Corinthians chapter 2
39:55
verse 14 and 17
39:56
Turn there with me
39:56
if you will please.
39:57
Now I don't try
40:14
to like to play
40:15
with symbolism too much
40:16
in the scriptures.
40:17
So often we try to draw
40:18
these neat little connections
40:20
between various parables
40:21
or various analogies
40:23
that Paul gives to us
40:24
and they're not really
40:25
always meant to be done.
40:27
So I just want you
40:28
to hear that clearly.
40:31
Don't draw connections
40:32
between my analogies
40:33
because analogies
40:33
fall short at every point.
40:35
There's always something
40:36
that kind of doesn't quite.
40:37
A lesser truth
40:38
meant to expose
40:39
a larger truth
40:40
just doesn't quite
40:40
get there all the time.
40:42
But in 2 Corinthians chapter 2
40:43
verses 14 through 17
40:44
Paul says
40:46
But thanks be to God
40:47
who in Christ Jesus
40:48
always leads us
40:50
in triumphal procession
40:52
there's a great victory
40:52
in that
40:53
and through us
40:54
spreads the fragrance
40:56
of the knowledge of Him
40:57
everywhere.
40:57
I love that language.
40:59
Spreads the fragrance
40:59
of the knowledge
41:00
of Him everywhere.
41:01
And as I was reading that
41:02
these last couple of weeks
41:04
the idea in my mind
41:06
is that
41:06
we're talking probably
41:07
about wheat
41:08
in this parable here
41:09
but that as fruit
41:11
the way that fruit
41:12
gets on the ground
41:14
and then like an apple tree
41:15
for example
41:16
as it falls to the ground
41:17
and it rots
41:18
and apple trees
41:19
smell amazing
41:21
when they're doing that
41:22
for a while
41:23
they can stink
41:24
after that rot
41:26
goes too far
41:26
so there's the analogy
41:27
falling short
41:28
so you walk by
41:29
an apple tree
41:29
that's got apples
41:30
on the ground
41:31
that are rotting
41:31
and it just smells
41:32
wonderful
41:33
because those fruits
41:34
have gotten riper
41:34
and riper
41:35
they've got all that
41:35
good sugar in them
41:36
which is there
41:37
to nourish the seed
41:38
in its beginning stage
41:39
it starts to break down
41:40
so that seed
41:40
can get in the ground
41:41
and make a new
41:42
apple tree
41:43
and so there's my
41:44
mixing of analogies
41:45
for you today
41:46
verse 15
41:47
for we the aroma
41:48
of Christ
41:49
to God
41:50
among those
41:51
who are being saved
41:51
and among those
41:53
who are perishing
41:54
to one a fragrance
41:55
from death to death
41:56
to the other fragrance
41:57
from life to life
41:58
who is sufficient
41:59
for these things
42:01
we've been given
42:02
the task
42:02
of propagating
42:04
of sowing seed
42:05
who is sufficient
42:06
for these things
42:07
for we are not
42:08
like so many
42:09
peddlers
42:10
of God's word
42:11
but as men of sincerity
42:13
as commissioned
42:13
by God
42:14
in the sight of God
42:15
we speak
42:16
in Christ
42:17
right
42:18
we are sufficient
42:19
for these things
42:20
because we are
42:21
in Christ
42:22
we're sufficient
42:23
for them
42:23
because Christ
42:24
is sufficient
42:25
Christ is more
42:26
than sufficient
42:27
for these things
42:28
Christ is
42:28
the great
42:30
sower
42:30
now as you think
42:33
about all of this
42:34
I mentioned before
42:37
sometimes I get depressed
42:38
being an American Christian
42:39
oh I want to see
42:41
good soil
42:42
springing up
42:43
and fruit
42:44
being produced
42:44
and we see
42:48
these different
42:48
types of soils
42:49
just to give you
42:51
some comfort
42:53
in thinking
42:54
well it seems
42:55
hopeless
42:56
it seems hard
42:57
you shouldn't be
42:58
hearing it that way
42:59
you should be hearing
42:59
that there is good soil
43:00
right
43:01
and that the sower
43:02
puts the seed
43:03
in the good soil
43:03
and that it does
43:04
in fact produce
43:06
fruit
43:06
but let's listen
43:08
to some other promises
43:10
that the sower
43:11
will yield
43:12
his harvest
43:13
turn with me
43:14
to the book of Hosea
43:15
Old Testament book
43:17
of Hosea
43:17
just after Daniel
43:19
if that helps you
43:20
if you're flipping
43:21
back and forth
43:21
Hosea is referred to
43:30
as a minor prophet
43:31
which doesn't mean
43:32
he's less important
43:33
but just that the book
43:34
is shorter
43:34
major and minor prophets
43:36
this is a minor prophet
43:37
my favorite
43:39
of the minor prophets
43:40
really really love
43:42
the book of Hosea
43:43
Hosea is commanded
43:44
by God
43:45
to go and take
43:47
a wife
43:47
who's a harlot
43:48
she's said
43:50
she will cheat
43:51
on you
43:52
she will not be
43:53
faithful to you
43:53
and it's meant
43:54
to be this picture
43:55
this great display
43:56
of the way that
43:57
Israel betrayed
43:58
God
43:59
the way that Israel
44:00
was unfaithful
44:01
to God
44:02
and they have
44:03
three children
44:04
that are recorded here
44:05
it's presumed
44:06
the way the account
44:08
speaks of it
44:09
in chapter 1
44:10
you'll notice
44:11
in verse 4
44:12
they have a son
44:13
together
44:13
God tells Hosea
44:16
to name him
44:16
Jezreel
44:18
which means
44:18
to scatter
44:19
then it would appear
44:23
she has a daughter
44:24
not likely with him
44:25
but it's also
44:26
Hosea's daughter
44:28
because he is a good
44:29
husband and father
44:30
in that way
44:31
and God tells him
44:32
to name her
44:33
Lo-Ruhamah
44:35
which means
44:36
no mercy
44:36
your translation
44:37
probably says
44:38
no mercy
44:39
then again
44:40
likely she has
44:41
a son
44:42
not with him
44:43
because he's
44:43
a good husband
44:44
and father
44:45
calls him his own
44:46
and God tells him
44:47
to name him
44:48
Lo-Ami
44:49
which means
44:49
not my people
44:51
or those for
44:52
kid names for you
44:54
to scatter
44:56
no mercy
44:57
and not
44:58
my people
44:59
but then turn
44:59
to Hosea chapter 2
45:00
we see in this
45:03
great pageant
45:04
played out
45:05
God
45:07
calling Israel
45:08
back to himself
45:09
in the same way
45:11
as we
45:11
get further on
45:12
in Hosea chapter 2
45:13
and then into
45:14
chapter 3
45:15
Hosea goes
45:16
and calls Gomer
45:17
back to himself
45:19
it's such a beautiful picture
45:20
but listen to what God says
45:21
beginning in verse 21
45:22
and in that day
45:23
I will answer
45:24
declares the Lord
45:24
I will answer the heavens
45:26
and they shall answer
45:27
the earth
45:27
and the earth
45:28
shall answer the grain
45:30
the wine
45:30
and the oil
45:31
and they shall answer
45:32
Jezreel
45:34
now remember
45:34
first son
45:35
is named Jezreel
45:36
which means to scatter
45:37
but it also meant
45:38
to plant
45:39
what do you do to plant
45:40
seed
45:41
you scatter it
45:42
right
45:42
so it had both
45:43
a negative meaning
45:44
as well as a positive
45:45
and he's putting the positive
45:46
application here
45:48
at the end of verse 22
45:49
they shall answer
45:49
Jezreel
45:50
we are planted
45:52
verse 23
45:53
and I will sow her
45:54
for myself
45:55
in the land
45:56
and I will have
45:57
mercy
45:58
or ruhamah
45:59
on no mercy
46:00
and I will say
46:02
to not my people
46:03
you are my people
46:04
or ami
46:05
and he shall say
46:07
you are my God
46:09
isn't that a beautiful picture
46:11
of him sowing
46:12
and establishing
46:13
his people
46:14
in his land
46:15
after Jesus teaches
46:17
about the drinking
46:18
of his blood
46:18
and the eating of his flesh
46:19
in John chapter 6
46:21
verse 65
46:23
he says
46:23
this is why I told you
46:25
that no one can come to me
46:26
unless it is granted
46:26
him by the father
46:28
this is a great example
46:29
of this
46:29
right
46:30
after this
46:31
many of the disciples
46:32
turned back
46:32
and no longer
46:33
walked with him
46:34
he explained to them
46:36
that what it meant
46:37
to abide with him
46:38
what it meant
46:38
to be in Christ
46:40
and it was hard
46:41
for them to understand it
46:42
it's hard for them
46:43
to understand it
46:43
and he says
46:44
this is why I told you
46:45
that no one can come to me
46:46
unless the father is granted
46:46
by the father
46:47
right
46:48
this is the evidence of that
46:49
you don't understand this
46:50
because it was not given
46:51
to you by the father
46:52
that you should come to me
46:53
and the disciples left
46:54
verse 67
46:56
so Jesus said
46:57
to the twelve
46:57
do you want to go away
46:59
as well
47:00
and Simon Peter
47:01
answered him
47:02
Lord
47:03
to whom shall we go
47:05
where would we go
47:07
where would we go
47:09
you have the words
47:10
of eternal life
47:11
and we have believed
47:12
and have come to know
47:14
that you are the holy one
47:16
of God
47:17
good soil
47:18
right
47:18
the word
47:19
had taken root
47:21
in his heart
47:22
where are we going
47:22
to go
47:23
right
47:24
they followed him
47:26
to death
47:27
right
47:28
through various circumstances
47:29
but they followed him
47:31
to death
47:32
the disciples
47:32
martyred on his behalf
47:34
Isaiah chapter 55
47:37
gotta go here too
47:38
Isaiah chapter 55
47:39
Isaiah is a major prophet
47:41
again because of the length
47:42
of the book
47:42
Isaiah chapter 55
47:56
there's some classically
47:57
quoted texts here
47:59
that
48:00
that I hear
48:02
by themselves
48:03
very often
48:04
but not together
48:05
all that often
48:06
and
48:06
I was
48:07
very invigorated
48:09
when I saw
48:10
their nature
48:11
together
48:11
and why it is
48:13
that
48:13
that God spoke
48:14
through Isaiah
48:15
in this way
48:16
it says in verse 8
48:17
for my thoughts
48:18
are not your thoughts
48:19
neither are your ways
48:20
my ways
48:21
declares the Lord
48:22
for as the heavens
48:23
are higher than the earth
48:24
so are my ways
48:25
higher than your ways
48:25
and my thoughts
48:26
than your thoughts
48:27
so as you're contemplating
48:28
this soil condition
48:30
right
48:31
as you're trying to work
48:32
through
48:32
the schemes of man
48:34
to bring about salvation
48:35
right
48:36
hear this
48:37
my thoughts
48:37
are not your thoughts
48:38
neither are my ways
48:39
your ways
48:40
declare the Lord
48:40
verse 10
48:41
for as the rain
48:42
and the snow
48:43
come down from heaven
48:44
and do not return there
48:45
but water the earth
48:46
making it bring forth
48:47
and sprout
48:48
giving seed to the sower
48:49
and bread to the eater
48:51
so shall my word be
48:53
that goes out
48:53
from my mouth
48:54
it shall not return
48:55
to me empty
48:55
but it shall accomplish
48:56
that which I purchase
48:57
purpose
48:58
and shall succeed
48:59
in the thing
49:00
for which I sent it
49:02
the rain
49:03
will accomplish
49:04
what I sent it
49:05
to do
49:06
right
49:06
we use this
49:07
we speak of this
49:08
speaking of the word of God
49:09
all the time
49:10
right
49:11
it is my prayer
49:12
before I preach
49:13
that God will accomplish
49:14
what he intends to accomplish
49:15
on a Sunday morning
49:17
right
49:17
in spite of all of my frailty
49:19
and all of my inability
49:20
and all of my insecurity
49:21
right
49:22
that he will accomplish
49:23
what he intends to accomplish
49:24
by that
49:25
in verse 12
49:26
for you shall go out in joy
49:29
and be led forth in peace
49:31
it's in this promise
49:32
to those of us
49:33
who believe
49:34
in the gospel
49:35
the mountains and the hills
49:36
before you
49:37
shall break forth
49:38
into singing
49:39
and all the trees
49:40
of the field
49:41
shall clap their hands
49:42
right
49:43
the knowledge
49:44
of the glory of God
49:45
being spread
49:46
amongst the world
49:47
instead of the thorn
49:49
shall come up the cypress
49:50
instead of the briar
49:52
shall come up the myrtle
49:53
and it shall make
49:54
a name for the Lord
49:55
an everlasting sign
49:56
that shall not be
49:58
cut off
49:59
there's promise
50:00
in this
50:01
that there is
50:02
good soil
50:03
right
50:04
it exists
50:05
in the world
50:06
and therefore
50:07
as the synod of Dort
50:09
concluded
50:10
we ought to be
50:12
sowing seed
50:13
right
50:13
promiscuously
50:14
such a negative word
50:16
so often
50:17
right
50:17
but we ought to be
50:18
throwing it
50:19
in abundance
50:20
we ought to be going out
50:21
being people
50:22
of the word
50:23
that sow
50:24
the knowledge
50:25
of Jesus Christ
50:26
everywhere
50:27
so
50:29
what kind of soil
50:31
are you
50:32
you must
50:33
ask yourself
50:34
that question
50:35
you must pray
50:37
if you are not
50:39
good soil
50:39
if you don't have
50:39
a confidence
50:40
in that
50:40
you must
50:42
pray
50:42
that God
50:43
would save your soul
50:44
repent
50:44
and believe
50:45
recognize
50:46
the depth
50:47
of your sin
50:47
your offense
50:48
to God
50:49
and turn to him
50:50
right
50:51
he's a loving God
50:52
he has a bounding mercy
50:53
to pour out on you
50:54
there's nothing
50:55
you can do
50:57
there's no great sin
50:59
that would cause God
51:00
to not want to show you mercy
51:01
so cry out to him
51:02
if you're good soil
51:04
you may find yourself
51:06
this morning
51:06
and I would imagine
51:07
that most of us do
51:08
not bearing fruit
51:10
thirty fold
51:10
and sixty fold
51:12
and a hundred fold
51:13
right
51:14
but cold
51:15
in our affection
51:15
for Christ
51:17
pray this morning
51:18
that God would work
51:19
in you
51:20
right
51:20
that the roots
51:21
would go down
51:22
deeper
51:22
sprout up more
51:25
that you might produce
51:26
and produce
51:27
and produce
51:28
and I promise you
51:29
if you will do this
51:30
you will never
51:31
regret it
51:32
to the end of your life
51:34
wherever God takes you
51:35
to the hardest places
51:36
of the world
51:36
the great trial
51:37
and persecution
51:38
even possibly
51:39
to death
51:40
for your faith
51:41
you will never regret
51:42
trading the things
51:43
of this world
51:44
the lesser joy
51:45
for the greater joy
51:47
that is found
51:48
in Christ
51:49
let's pray together
51:50
a lot of times
51:52
a lot of times
51:53
a lot of times
51:55
a lot of times
51:55
a lot of times
51:56
a lot of times
51:58
a lot of times