Latest / Wisdom of the Ages Library / 02 - The Sower Went Forth to Sow - Christ's Object Lessons

Transcript

02 - The Sower Went Forth to Sow - Christ's Object Lessons · Wisdom of the Ages Library

0:00
Chapter two, the sower went forth to sow. By the parable of the
0:06
sower, Christ illustrates the things of the Kingdom of Heaven and the work of
0:10
the great Husbandman for his people. Like a sower in the field, he
0:14
came to scatter the heavenly grain of truth, and his parable teaching itself was
0:19
the seed with which the most precious truths of His grace were sown. Because
0:24
of its simplicity, the parable of the sower has not been valued as it
0:28
should be. From the natural seed cast into the soil. Christ desires to
0:33
lead our minds to the Gospel seed, the sowing of which results in bringing
0:37
man back to his loyalty to God. He who gave the parable of the
0:41
tiny seed is the sovereign of Heaven, and the same laws that govern the
0:45
earthly seed sowing govern the sowing of the seeds of truth. By the Sea
0:50
of Galilee, a company had gathered to see and hear Jesus, an eager,
0:55
expectant throng. The sick were there, lying on their mats, waiting
0:59
to present their case before him. It was Christ's god given right to heal
1:03
the woes of a sinful race, and he now rebuked disease and diffused around
1:07
him life and health and peace. As the crowd continued to increase, the
1:14
people pressed close about Christ until there was no room to receive them. Then,
1:19
speaking a word to the men in their fishing boats, he stepped into
1:22
the boat that was waiting to take him across the lake, and, bidding
1:26
his disciples push off a little from the land, he spoke to the multitude.
1:29
Upon the shore. Beside the sea lay the beautiful plain of Gennesaret.
1:34
Beyond rose the hills, and upon hillside and plain, both sowers and reapers
1:38
were busy, the one casting seed, the other harvesting the early grain.
1:44
Looking upon the scene, Christ said, behold, the sower went forth to
1:49
sow, And as he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and
1:53
the birds came and devoured them. Some fell upon stony places where they had
1:57
not much earth, and forthwith they sprung up because they had no deepness of
2:00
earth, And when the sun was up they were scorched. And because they
2:05
had no root, they withered away. And some fell among the thorns,
2:09
and the thorns sprung up and choked them. But others fell into good ground
2:14
and brought forth fruit. Some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
2:21
Christ's mission was not understood by the people of his time. The manner of
2:24
his coming was not in accordance with their expectations. The Lord Jesus was the
2:29
foundation of the whole Jewish economy. Its imposing services were of divine appointment.
2:35
They were designed to teach people that at the time appointed one would come to
2:38
whom these ceremonies pointed. But the Jews had exalted the forms and ceremonies and
2:44
had lost sight of their object. The traditions, maxims, and enactments of
2:49
men hid from them the lessons which God intended to convey. These maxims and
2:53
traditions became an obstacle to their understanding and practice of true religion. And when
2:59
the reality came in the person of Christ, they did not recognize in him
3:02
the fulfillment of all their types, the substance of all their shadows. They
3:07
rejected the antetype and clung to their types and useless ceremonies. The Son of
3:14
God had come, but they continued to ask for a sign, the message
3:17
repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. They answered by
3:22
demands for a miracle. The Gospel of Christ was a stumbling block to them,
3:27
because they demanded signs instead of a savior. They expected the Messiah to
3:31
prove his claims by mighty deeds of conquest, to establish his empire on the
3:37
ruins of earthly kingdoms. This expectation Christ answered in the Parable of the Sower.
3:44
Not by force of arms, not by violent interpositions, was the Kingdom
3:47
of God to prevail, but by implanting of a new principle in the hearts
3:52
of men. He that soweth the good seed is the son of Man.
3:57
Christ had come not as a king, but as a sower, not for
4:00
the overthrow of kingdoms, but for the scattering of seed. Not to point
4:04
his followers to earthly triumphs and national greatness, but to a harvest to be
4:10
gathered after patient toil and through losses and disappointments. The Pharisees perceived the meaning
4:16
of Christ's Parable, but to them its lesson was unwelcome. They affected not
4:21
to understand it to the multitude it involved in still greater mystery, the purpose
4:27
of the new teacher, whose words had so strangely moved their hearts and so
4:31
bitterly disappointed their ambitions. The disciples themselves had not understood the parable, but
4:36
their interest was awakened. They came to Jesus privately and asked for an explanation.
4:43
This was the desire which Christ wished to arouse, that he might give
4:46
them more definite instruction. He explained the parable to them, as he will
4:50
make plain his word to all who seek Him in sincerity of heart. Those
4:56
who study the Word of God with hearts open to the enlightenment of the Holy
4:59
sp Spirit will not remain in darkness as to the meaning of the word.
5:03
If any man willeth to do his will, Christ said, he shall know
5:08
of the teaching, whether it be of God or whether I speak from myself.
5:13
All who come to Christ for a clearer knowledge of the truth will receive
5:16
it. He will unfold to them the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven,
5:20
and these mysteries will be understood by the heart that longs to know the truth.
5:26
A heavenly light will shine into the Soul temple and will be revealed to
5:30
others as the bright shining of a lamp on a dark path. The sower
5:34
went forth to sow in the east. The state of affairs was so unsettled,
5:40
and there was so great danger from violence that the people dwelt chiefly in
5:44
walled towns, and the husbandmen went forth daily to their labor outside the walls.
5:48
So Christ, the heavenly Sower, went forth to sow. He left
5:53
his home of security and peace, left the glory that he had with the
5:56
Father before the world was left his position upon the throne of the universe.
6:00
He went forth, a suffering, tempted man, went forth in solitude to
6:05
sow, in tears, to water with his blood the seed of life.
6:10
For a world lost, his servants in like manner, must go forth to
6:14
So when called to become a sower of the seed of truth, Abraham was
6:18
bidden, get THEE out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and
6:21
from thy father's house unto a land that I will show THEE. And he
6:27
went out, not knowing whither he went. So to the apostle Paul,
6:30
praying in the temple at Jerusalem, came the message from God, depart,
6:35
for I will send THEE far hence unto the gentiles. So those who are
6:40
called to unite with Christ must leave all in order to follow him. Old
6:45
associations must be broken up plans of life, relinquished earthly hopes, surrendered in
6:50
toil and tears. In solitude and through sacrifice, must the seed be sown.
6:57
The sower soweth the word Christ to sow the world with truth. Ever
7:01
since the fall of Man, Satan has been sowing the seeds of error.
7:05
It was by a lie that he first gained control over men, and thus
7:10
he still works to overthrow God's kingdom in the earth and to bring men under
7:14
his power. A sower from a higher world, Christ came to sow the
7:17
seeds of truth. He who had stood in the counsels of God, who
7:21
had dwelt in the innermost sanctuary of the eternal, could bring to men the
7:26
pure principles of truth. Ever since the fall of Man, Christ had been
7:30
the revealer of truth to the world. By him, the incorruptible seed,
7:34
the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever, is communicated to men
7:40
in that first promise spoken to our fallen race in Eden, Christ was sowing
7:45
the Gospel seed. But it is to his personal ministry among men, and
7:48
to the work which he thus established, that the parable of the sower especially
7:53
applies. The Word of God is the seed every seed has in itself a
7:58
germinating principle in it. The life of the plant is enfolded. So there
8:03
is life in God's word. Christ says, the words that I speak unto
8:07
you, they are spirit, and they are life. He that heareth my
8:11
word and believeth on him that hath sent me, hath everlasting life. In
8:16
every command and in every promise of the Word of God is the power,
8:20
the very life of God by which the command may be fulfilled and the promise
8:24
realized. He who, by faith receives the Word is receiving the very life
8:30
and character of God. Every seed brings forth fruit after its kind. Sow
8:35
the seed under right conditions, and it will develop its own life in the
8:39
plant. Receive into the soul by faith the incorruptible seed of the Word,
8:43
and it will bring forth a character and a life after the similitude of the
8:48
character and the life of God. The teachers of Israel were not sowing the
8:52
seed of the Word of God. Christ's work as a teacher of truth was
8:56
in marked contrast to that of the rabbis of his life. They dwelt upon
9:01
traditions, upon human theories and speculations, often that which man had taught and
9:05
written about the Word. They put in place of the Word itself. Their
9:09
teaching had no power to quicken the soul. The subject of Christ's teaching and
9:15
preaching was the Word of God. He met questioners with the plain it is
9:18
written, what saith the scriptures? How readest thou. At every opportunity,
9:24
when an interest was awakened by either friend or foe, he sowed the seed
9:28
of the Word. He who is the Way, the Truth, and the
9:33
Life himself, the living Word, points to the scriptures, saying, they
9:37
are they which testify of Me. And beginning at Moses and all the prophets,
9:41
he opened to his disciples in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
9:48
Christ's servants are to do the same work in our day as of old.
9:52
The vital truths of God's Word are set aside for human theories and speculations.
9:56
Many professed ministers of the Gospel do not accept the whole Bible is the inspired
10:01
Word. One wise man rejects one portion, another questions another part. They
10:05
set up their judgment as superior to the Word, and the scripture which they
10:09
do teach rests upon their own authority. Its divine authenticity is destroyed. Thus
10:16
the seeds of infidelity are sown broadcast for the people become confused and know not
10:22
what to believe. There are many beliefs that the mind has no right to
10:26
entertain. In the days of Christ, the rabbis put a forced mystical construction
10:31
upon many portions of scripture. Because the plain teaching of God's word condemned their
10:35
practices, they tried to destroy its force. The same thing is done to
10:39
day. The word of God is made to appear mysterious and obscure in order
10:45
to excuse transgression of his law. Christ rebuked these practices. In his day.
10:50
He taught that the word of God was to be understood by all.
10:54
He pointed to the scriptures as of unquestionable authority, and we should do the
10:58
same. The Bible is to be presented as the word of the infinite God,
11:03
as the end of all controversy and the foundation of all faith. The
11:07
Bible has been robbed of its power, and the results are seen in a
11:11
lowering of the tone of spiritual life. In the sermons from many pulpits of
11:15
today. There is not that divine manifestation which awakens the conscience and brings life
11:20
to the soul. The hearers cannot say, did not our heart burn within
11:24
us while He talked with us by the way, and while he opened to
11:28
us the scriptures. There are many who are crying out for the living God,
11:31
longing for the divine presence. Philosophical theories or literary essays, however brilliant,
11:37
cannot satisfy the heart. The assertions and inventions of men are of no
11:43
value. Let the word of God speak to the people. Let those who
11:46
have heard only traditions and human theories and maxims hear the voice of Him whose
11:52
word can renew the soul unto everlasting life. Christ's favorite theme was the paternal
11:58
tenderness and abundant grace of God. He dwelt much upon the holiness of his
12:03
character and his law. He presented himself to the people as the Way,
12:07
the truth, and the life. Let these be the themes of Christ's ministers.
12:11
Present the truth as it is in Jesus, make plain the requirements of
12:16
the law and the Gospel. Tell the people of Christ's life of self denial
12:20
and sacrifice, of his humiliation and death, of his resurrection and ascension,
12:26
of his intercession for them. In the courts of God, of his promise,
12:30
I will come again and receive you unto myself. Instead of discussing erroneous
12:35
theories or seeking to combat the opponents of the Gospel, follow the example of
12:41
Christ. Let fresh truths from God's treasure house flash into life. Preach the
12:46
word so beside all waters be instant in season and out of season. He
12:52
that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the
12:56
chaff to the wheat? Saith the Lord. Every word word of God is
13:00
pure. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and
13:03
thou be found a liar. The soer soeth the word. Here is presented
13:09
the great principle which should underlie all educational work. The seed is the word
13:15
of God. But in too many schools in our day, God's word is
13:18
set aside. Other subjects occupy the mind. The study of infidel authors holds
13:24
a large place in the educational system Skeptical sentiments are interwoven in the matter placed
13:30
in school books. Scientific research becomes misleading because its discoveries are misinterpreted and perverted.
13:37
The word of God is compared with the supposed teachings of science and is
13:41
made to appear uncertain and untrustworthy. Thus the seeds of doubt are planted in
13:46
the minds of the youth, and in time of temptation they spring up.
13:50
When faith in God's word is lost, the soul has no guide, no
13:52
safeguard. The youth are drawn into paths which lead away from God and from
13:58
everlasting life. To this cause may in great degree be attributed the widespread iniquity
14:03
of our world to day. When the Word of God is set aside,
14:07
its power to restrain the evil passions of the natural heart is rejected men so
14:11
to the flesh, and of the flesh they reap corruption. And here too
14:16
is the great cause of mental weakness and inefficiency. In turning from God's word
14:20
to feed on the writings of uninspired men, the mind becomes dwarfed and cheapened.
14:26
It is not brought in contact with deep, broad principles of eternal truth.
14:31
The understanding adapts itself to the comprehension of the things with which it is
14:35
familiar, and in this devotion to finite things it is weakened. Its power
14:39
is contracted, and after a time it becomes unable to expand. All this
14:46
is false education. The work of every teacher should be to fasten the mind
14:50
of the youth upon the grand truths of the Word of Inspiration. This is
14:56
the education essential for this life and for the life to come. And let
15:00
it not be thought that this will prevent the study of the sciences or cause
15:03
a lower standard in education. The knowledge of God is as high as heaven
15:09
and as broad as the universe. There is nothing so ennobling and invigorating as
15:13
a study of the great themes which concern our eternal life. Let the youth
15:18
seek to grasp these God given truths, and their minds will expand and grow
15:22
strong in the effort. It will bring every student who is a doer of
15:26
the Word into a broader field of thought, and secure for him a wealth
15:31
of knowledge that is imperishable. The education to be secured by searching the scriptures
15:35
is an experimental knowledge of the plan of salvation. Such education will restore the
15:41
image of God in the soul. It will strengthen and fortify the mind against
15:46
temptation, and fit the learner to become a co worker with Christ in his
15:50
mission of mercy to the world. It will make him a member of the
15:54
heavenly family and prepare him to share the inheritance of the saints in light.
16:00
But the teacher of sacred truth can impart only that which he himself knows by
16:04
experience. The sower sowed his seed. Christ taught the truth because he was
16:11
the truth. His own thought, his character, his life experience was embodied
16:15
in his teaching. So with his servants. Those who would teach the Word
16:18
are to make it their own by a personal experience. They must know what
16:23
it is to have Christ made unto them wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification and
16:29
redemption. In presenting the Word of God to others, they are not to
16:33
make it a suppose so or a maybe. They should declare, with the
16:37
Apostle Peter, we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known unto
16:41
you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye witnesses
16:47
of his majesty. Every minister of Christ and every teacher should be able to
16:52
say, with the beloved John, the life was manifested, and we have
16:56
seen it, and bear witness and show unto you that eternal life which was
17:00
with the Father and was manifested unto us the soil by the wayside, that
17:08
with which the parable of the soer chiefly deals is the effect produced on the
17:12
growth of the seed by the soil into which it is cast. By this
17:18
parable, Christ was virtually saying to his hearers, it is not safe for
17:22
you to stand as critics of my work or to indulge disappointment, because it
17:26
does not meet your ideas. The question of greatest importance to you is how
17:30
do you treat my message upon your reception or rejection of it? Your eternal
17:36
destiny depends. Explaining the seed that fell by the wayside, He said,
17:41
when any one heareth the word of the Kingdom and understandeth not, then cometh
17:47
the wicked one and catcheth the way that which was sown in his heart.
17:52
This is he which received seed by the wayside. The seed sown by the
17:56
wayside represents the word of God as falls upon the heart of an inattentive hearer,
18:03
like the hard beaten path trodden down by the feet of men and beasts.
18:07
It is the heart that becomes a highway for the world's traffic, its
18:10
pleasures and sins. Absorbed in selfish aims and sinful indulgences, the soul is
18:17
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, the spiritual faculties are paralyzed. Men hear
18:22
the Word but understand it not. They do not discern that it applies to
18:26
themselves. They do not realize their need or their danger. They do not
18:30
perceive the love of Christ, and they pass by the message of His grace
18:34
as something that does not concern them. As the birds are ready to catch
18:38
up the seed from the wayside, so Satan is ready to catch away the
18:42
seeds of divine truth from the soul. He fears that the word of God
18:48
may awaken the careless and take effect upon the hardened heart. Satan and his
18:52
angels are in the assemblies where the Gospel is preached. While angels of Heaven
18:56
endeavor to impress hearts with the word of God, the enemy is on the
19:00
alert to make the Word of no effect. With an earnestness equaled only by
19:04
his malice, he tries to thwart the work of the spirit of God.
19:10
While Christ is drawing the soul by his love, Satan tries to turn away
19:14
the attention of the one who is moved to seek the Savior. He engages
19:18
the mind with worldly schemes. He excites criticism or insinuates doubt and unbelief.
19:23
The speaker's choice of language or his manner may not please the hearers, and
19:27
they dwell upon these defects. Thus, the truth they need, and which
19:32
God has graciously sent them, makes no lasting impression. Satan has many helpers.
19:38
Many who profess to be Christians are aiding the tempter to catch away the
19:42
seeds of truth from other hearts. Many who listen to the preaching of the
19:47
Word of God make it the subject of criticism at home. They sit in
19:51
judgment on the sermon as they would on the words of a lecturer or a
19:55
political speaker. The message that should be regarded as the word of the Lord
19:59
to their is dwelt upon with trifling or sarcastic comment. The minister's character,
20:04
motives and actions, and the conduct of fellow members of the church are freely
20:08
discussed. Severe judgment is pronounced, gossip or slander repeated, and this in
20:15
the hearing of the unconverted. Often these things are spoken by parents in the
20:19
hearing of their own children. Thus are destroyed respect for God's messengers and reverence
20:25
for their message, and many are taught to regard lightly God's word itself.
20:30
Thus in the homes of professed Christians, Many youth are educated to be infidels,
20:34
and the parents question why their children are so little interested in the Gospel
20:38
and so ready to doubt the truth of the Bible. They wonder that it
20:42
is so difficult to reach them with moral and religious influences. They do not
20:48
see that their own example has hardened the hearts of their children. The good
20:52
seed finds no place to take root, and Satan catches it away in stony
20:57
places. He that received the seed into stony places, the same is he
21:03
that heareth the Word and Anon with joy receiveth it. Yet hath he not
21:07
root in himself, but dureth for a while, For when tribulation or persecution
21:12
ariseth because of the Word, by and by he is offended. The seed
21:18
sown upon stony ground finds little depth of soil. The plant springs up quickly,
21:23
but the root cannot penetrate the rock to find nutriment to sustain its growth,
21:27
and it soon perishes. Many who make a profession of religion are stony
21:33
ground hearers, Like the rock underlying the layer of earth. The selfishness of
21:37
the natural heart underlies the soil of their good desires and aspirations. The love
21:42
of self is not subdued. They have not seen the exceeding sinfulness of sin,
21:48
and the heart has not been humbled under a sense of its guilt.
21:51
This class may be easily convinced and appear to be bright converts, but they
21:56
have only a superficial religion. It is not because men receive the Word immediately,
22:00
nor because they rejoice in it, that they fall away. As soon
22:03
as Matthew heard the Saviors call immediately, he rose up, left all and
22:08
followed him. As soon as the divine word comes to our hearts, God
22:12
desires us to receive it, and it is right to accept it with joy.
22:18
Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, and there is
22:22
joy in the soul that believes on Christ. But those who, in the
22:25
parable are said to receive the Word immediately do not count the cost. They
22:30
do not consider what the Word of God requires of them. They do not
22:33
bring it face to face with all their habits of life, and yield themselves
22:37
fully to its control. The roots of the plant strike down deep into the
22:41
soil, and hidden from sight, nourish the life of the plant. So
22:45
with the Christian It is by the invisible union of the soul with Christ through
22:49
faith, that the spiritual life is nourished. But the stony ground hearers depend
22:55
upon self instead of Christ. They trust in their good works and good impulses,
23:00
and are strong in their own righteousness. They are not strong in the
23:03
Lord and in the power of His might. Such a one hath not root
23:08
in himself, for he is not connected with Christ. The hot summer sun
23:12
that strengthens and ripens the hardy grain destroys that which has no depth of root.
23:18
So he who hath not root in himself dureth for a while. But
23:22
when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the Word, by and by he is
23:27
offended. Many receive the Gospel as a way of escape from suffering, rather
23:33
than as a deliverance from sin. They rejoice for a season, for they
23:37
think that religion will free them from difficulty and trial, while life moves smoothly
23:41
with them. They may appear to be consistent Christians, but they faint beneath
23:45
the fiery test of temptation. They cannot bear reproach for Christ's sake. When
23:51
the Word of God points out some cherished sin or requires self denial or sacrifice.
23:56
They are offended it would cost them too much much effort to make a
24:00
radical change in their life. They look at the present inconvenience and trial,
24:04
and forget the eternal realities. Like the disciples who left Jesus. They are
24:10
ready to say this is a hard saying. Who can hear it? There
24:15
are very many who claim to serve God, but who have no experimental knowledge
24:19
of him. Their desire to do His will is based upon their own inclination,
24:25
not upon the deep conviction of the Holy Spirit. Their conduct is not
24:29
brought into harmony with the law of God. They profess to accept Christ as
24:33
their savior, but they do not believe that he will give them power to
24:36
overcome their sins. They have not a personal relation with the living Savior,
24:41
and their characters reveal defects, both hereditary and cultivated. It is one thing
24:45
to assent in a general way to the agency of the Holy Spirit, and
24:49
another thing to accept his work as a reprover calling to repentance. Many feel
24:56
a sense of estrangement from God, a realization of their bondage to self and
25:00
sin. They make efforts for reform, but they do not crucify self They
25:06
do not give themselves entirely into the hands of Christ, seeking for divine power
25:10
to do his will. They are not willing to be molded after the divine
25:14
similitude in a general way. They acknowledge their imperfections, but they do not
25:18
give up their particular sins. With each wrong act, the old selfish nature
25:23
is gaining strength. The only hope for these souls is to realize in themselves
25:29
the truth of Christ's words to Nicodemus, ye must be born again. Except
25:33
a man be born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.
25:37
True holiness is wholeness in the service of God. This is the condition of
25:42
true Christian living. Christ asks for an unreserved consecration for undivided service. He
25:49
demands the heart, the mind, the soul, the strength. Self is
25:55
not to be cherished. He who lives to himself is not a Christian.
25:59
Love must be the principle of action. Love is the underlying principle of God's
26:03
government in heaven and Earth, and it must be the foundation of the Christian's
26:07
character. This alone can make and keep him steadfast. This alone can enable
26:14
him to withstand trial and temptation, and love will be revealed in sacrifice.
26:19
The plan of redemption was laid in sacrifice, a sacrifice so broad and deep
26:25
and high that it is immeasurable. Christ gave all for us, and those
26:30
who receive Christ will be ready to sacrifice all for the sake of their redeemer.
26:36
The thought of his honor and glory will come before anything else. If
26:41
we love Jesus, we shall love to live for him, to present our
26:44
thank offerings to him, to labor for him. The very labor will be
26:48
light. For his sake. We shall covet pain and toil and sacrifice.
26:53
We shall sympathize with his longing for the salvation of men. We shall feel
26:59
the same tell under craving for souls that He has felt. This is the
27:03
religion of Christ. Anything short of it is a deception. No mere theory
27:07
of truth or profession of discipleship will save any soul. We do not belong
27:12
to Christ unless we are His holy. It is by half heartedness in the
27:17
Christian life that men become feeble in purpose and changeable in desire. The effort
27:22
to serve both self and Christ makes one a stony ground hearer, and he
27:26
will not endure when the test comes upon him among thorns. He also that
27:34
received seed. Among the thorns is he that heareth the word, and the
27:38
care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and
27:44
he becometh unfruitful. The gospel seed often falls among thorns and noxious weeds.
27:49
And if there is not a moral transformation in the human heart, if old
27:53
habits and practices in the former life of sin are not left behind, if
27:57
the attributes of satan are not expelled from the soul, the wheat crop will
28:03
be choked. The thorns will come to be the crop and will kill out
28:07
the wheat. Grace can thrive only in the heart that is being constantly prepared
28:11
for the precious seeds of truth. The thorns of sin will grow in any
28:15
soil. They need no cultivation, but grace must be carefully cultivated. The
28:22
briars and thorns are always ready to spring up, and the work of purification
28:26
must advance continually. If the heart is not kept under the control of God,
28:30
if the Holy Spirit does not work unceasingly to refine and ennoble the character,
28:36
the old habits will reveal themselves in the life. Men may profess to
28:40
believe the Gospel. But unless they are sanctified by the Gospel, their profession
28:45
is of no avail. If they do not gain the victory over sin,
28:48
then sin is gaining the victory over them. The thorns that have been cut
28:52
off but not uprooted grow apace until the soul is overspread with them. Christ
28:59
specified the things that are dangerous to the soul as recorded by Mark. He
29:03
mentions the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts
29:07
of other things. Luke specifies the cares, riches, and pleasures of this
29:11
life. These are what choke the word the growing spiritual seed. The soul
29:17
ceases to straw nourishment from Christ, and spirituality dies out of the heart.
29:22
The cares of this world. No class is free from temptation to worldly care.
29:27
To the poor, toil and deprivation, and the fear of want bring
29:32
perplexities and burdens. To the rich, come fear of loss and a multitude
29:37
of anxious cares. Many of Christ's followers forget the lesson he has bidden us
29:41
learned from the flowers of the field. They do not trust to his constant
29:45
care. Christ cannot carry their burden because they do not cast it upon him.
29:51
Therefore, the cares of life, which should drive them to the Savior
29:53
for help and comfort, separate them from him. Many who might be fruitful
29:59
in God's servi become bent on acquiring wealth. Their whole energy is absorbed in
30:03
business enterprises, and they feel obliged to neglect things of a spiritual nature.
30:08
Thus they separate themselves from God. We are enjoined in the scriptures to be
30:14
not slothful in business. We are to labor that we may impart to him
30:18
who needs. Christians must work, they must engage in business. But they
30:22
can do this without committing sin. But many become so absorbed in business that
30:27
they have no time for prayer, no time for the study of the Bible,
30:32
no time to seek and serve God. At times, the longings of
30:36
the soul go out for holiness and heaven, but there is no time to
30:40
turn aside from the din of the world to listen to the majestic and authoritative
30:44
utterances of the Spirit of God. The things of eternity are made subordinate the
30:49
things of the world supreme. It is impossible for the seed of the Word
30:53
to bring forth fruit, for the life of the soul is given to nourish
30:57
the thorns of worldliness, and many who are working with a very different purpose
31:02
fall into like error. They are working for others good, their duties are
31:07
pressing, their responsibilities are many, and they allow their labor to crowd out
31:11
devotion. Communion with God through prayer and a study of His word is neglected.
31:17
They forget what Christ has said. Without me, Ye can do nothing.
31:22
They walk apart from Christ. Their life is not pervaded by His grace,
31:26
and the characteristics of self are revealed. Their service is marred by desire
31:30
for supremacy and the harsh, unlovely traits of the unsubdued heart. Here is
31:36
one of the chief secrets of failure in Christian work. This is why its
31:40
results are often so meager. The deceitfulness of riches, the love of riches,
31:45
has an infatuating deceptive power. Too often, those who possess worldly treasure
31:51
forget that it is God who gives them power to get wealth. They say,
31:55
my power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
31:59
The riches, instead of awakening gratitude to God, lead to the exaltation of
32:04
self. They lose the sense of their dependence upon God. And their obligation
32:08
to their fellow men. Instead of regarding wealth as a talent to be employed
32:13
for the glory of God and the uplifting of humanity, they look upon it
32:16
as a means of serving themselves, instead of developing in man the attributes of
32:22
God. Riches thus used are developing in him the attributes of Satan. The
32:25
seed of the Word is choked with thorns and pleasures of this life. There
32:32
is danger in amusement that is sought merely for self gratification. All habits of
32:37
indulgence that weaken the physical powers, that becloud the mind, or that benumb
32:42
the spiritual perceptions are fleshly lusts which war against the soul, and the lusts
32:47
of other things. These are not necessarily things sinful in themselves, but something
32:52
that is made first instead of the kingdom of God. Whatever attracts the mind
32:58
from God, whatever draws the ae infections away from Christ, is an enemy
33:01
to the soul. When the mind is youthful and vigorous, and susceptible of
33:06
rapid development, there is great temptation to be ambitious for self, to serve
33:10
self. If worldly schemes are successful, there is an inclination to continue in
33:15
a line that deadens conscience and prevents a correct estimate as to what constitutes real
33:21
excellence of character. When circumstances favor this development, growth will be seen in
33:25
a direction prohibited by the word of God. In this formative period of their
33:30
children's life, the responsibility of parents is very great. It should be their
33:36
study to surround the youth with right influences, influences that will give them correct
33:40
views of life and its true success. Instead of this, how many parents
33:45
make it their first object to secure for their children worldly prosperity. All their
33:51
associations are chosen with reference to this object. Many parents make their home in
33:55
some large city and introduce their children into fashionable society. They surround them with
34:00
influences that encourage worldliness and pride. In this atmosphere, the mind and soul
34:07
are dwarfed, the high and noble aims of life are lost. Sight of
34:12
the privilege of being sons of God heirs of eternity is bartered for worldly gain.
34:17
Many parents seek to promote the happiness of their children by gratifying their love
34:22
of amusement. They allow them to engage in sports and to attend parties of
34:25
pleasure. And provide them with money to use freely in display and self gratification.
34:30
The more the desire for pleasure is indulged, the stronger it becomes.
34:35
The interest of these youth is more and more absorbed in amusement, until they
34:39
come to look upon it as the great object of life. They form habits
34:44
of idleness and self indulgence that make it almost impossible for them ever to become
34:47
steadfast Christians. Even the Church, which should be the pillar and ground of
34:52
the truth, is found encouraging the selfish love of pleasure. When money is
34:58
to be raised for religious purposes. To what means do many churches resort to
35:02
bazaars, suppers, fancy fairs, even to lotteries and like devices. Often
35:08
the place set apart for God's worship is desecrated by feasting and drinking, buying,
35:14
selling, and merrymaking. Respect for the House of God and reverence for
35:17
his worship are lessened in the minds of the youth. The barriers of self
35:22
restraint are weakened. Selfishness, appetite, the love of display are appealed to,
35:28
and they strengthen as they are indulged. The pursuit of pleasure and amusement
35:32
centers in the cities. Many parents who choose a city home for their children,
35:37
thinking to give them greater advantages, meet with disappointment and too late repent
35:42
of their terrible mistake. The cities of today are fast becoming like Sodom and
35:46
Gomorrah. The many holidays encourage idleness. The exciting sports, theater, going,
35:52
horse racing, gambling, liquor, drinking and reveling stimulate every passion to
35:57
intense activity. The youth are kept away by the popular current. Those who
36:01
learn to love amusement for its own sake open the door to a flood of
36:05
temptations. They give themselves up to social gayety and thoughtless mirth, and their
36:09
intercourse with pleasure lovers has an intoxicating effect upon the mind. They are led
36:15
on from one form of dissipation to another, until they lose both the desire
36:20
and the capacity for a life of usefulness. Their religious aspirations are chilled,
36:24
their spiritual life is darkened. All the nobler faculties of the soul, all
36:30
that link man with the spiritual world, are debased. It is true that
36:35
some may see their folly and repent, and God may pardon them, but
36:37
they have wounded their own souls and brought upon themselves a life long peril.
36:43
The power of discernment, which ought ever to be kept keen and sensitive to
36:46
distinguish between right and wrong, is in a great measure destroyed. They are
36:52
not quick to recognize the guiding voice of the Holy Spirit or to discern the
36:55
devices of Satan. Too often in time of danger, they fall under temptation
37:00
and are led away from God. The end of their pleasure loving life is
37:05
ruined. For this world and for the world to come. Cares, riches,
37:09
pleasures all are used by Satan in playing the game of life. For
37:14
the human soul. The warning is given love not the world, neither the
37:19
things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the
37:22
love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the
37:25
world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes,
37:29
and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of
37:31
the world. He who reads the hearts of men as an open book says,
37:37
take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with
37:40
surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life and the apostle. Paul by
37:45
the Holy Spirit, writes, they that will be rich fall into temptation and
37:50
a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in
37:54
destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil,
37:59
which which while some coveted, after they have erred from the faith and
38:02
pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Preparation of the soil. Throughout the Parable
38:09
of the Sower, Christ represents the different results of the sowing as depending upon
38:15
the soil. In every case, the sower and the seed are the same.
38:20
Thus he teaches that if the Word of God fails of accomplishing its work
38:23
in our hearts and lives, the reason is to be found in ourselves.
38:28
But the result is not beyond our control. True, we cannot change ourselves,
38:34
but the power of choice is ours, and it rests with us to
38:37
determine what we will become. The wayside the stony ground, the thorny ground,
38:42
hearers need not remain such. The Spirit of God is ever seeking to
38:46
break the spell of infatuation that holds men absorbed in worldly things, and to
38:51
awaken a desire for the imperishable treasure. It is by resisting the spirit that
38:57
men become inattentive to or neglectful of God's word. They are themselves responsible for
39:02
the hardness of heart that prevents the good seed from taking root, and for
39:06
the evil growths that check its development. The garden of the heart must be
39:10
cultivated. The soil must be broken up by deep repentance for sin. Poisonous
39:16
satanic plants must be uprooted. The soil, once overgrown by thorns, can
39:22
be reclaimed only by diligent labor. So the evil tendencies of the heart can
39:27
be overcome only by earnest effort. In the name and strength of Jesus,
39:31
the Lord bids us, by his prophet, break up your fallow ground,
39:36
and so not among thorns, so to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy
39:42
this work he desires to accomplish for us, and he asks us to co
39:45
operate with him. The sowers of the seed have a work to do in
39:49
preparing hearts to receive the Gospel. In the ministry of the Word, there
39:52
is too much sermonizing and too little a real heart to heart work. There
39:58
is need of personal labor. The souls of the lost in Christ's like sympathy.
40:02
We should come close to men individually and seek to awaken their interest in
40:07
the great things of eternal life. Their hearts may be as hard as the
40:10
beaten highway, and apparently it may be a useless effort to present the Savior
40:15
to them. But while logic may fail to move and argument be powerless to
40:20
convince, the love of Christ revealed in personal ministry may soften the stony heart
40:25
so that the seed of truth can take root. So the sowers have something
40:30
to do that the seed may not be choked with thorns or perish because of
40:35
shallowness of soil. At the very outset of the Christian life, every believer
40:39
should be taught its foundation principles. He should be taught that he is not
40:44
merely to be saved by Christ's sacrifice, but that he is to make the
40:47
life of Christ his life, and the character of Christ his character. Let
40:52
all be taught that they are to bear burdens and to deny natural inclination.
40:58
Let them learn the blessedness of working for Christ, following him in self denial
41:02
and enduring hardness as good soldiers. Let them learn to trust His love and
41:07
to cast on him their cares. Let them taste the joy of winning souls
41:12
for him. In their love and interest for the lost, they will lose
41:15
sight of self. The pleasures of the world will lose their power to attract,
41:21
and its burdens to dishearten. The plowshare of truth will do its work.
41:25
It will break up the fallow ground. It will not merely cut off
41:29
the tops of the thorns, but it will take them out by the roots
41:34
in good ground. The sower is not always to meet with disappointment of the
41:39
seed that fell into good ground. The Savior said, this is he that
41:44
heareth the word and understandeth it, which also beareth fruit and bringeth forth some
41:50
an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. That on the good ground are
41:54
they which, in an honest and good heart, having heard the word,
41:59
keep it and bring forth fruit with patience. The honest and good heart of
42:04
which the Parable speaks is not a heart without sin. For the Gospel is
42:07
to be preached to the lost. Christ said, I came not to call
42:12
the righteous, but sinners to repentance. He has an honest heart who yields
42:17
to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. He confesses his guilt and feels his
42:22
need of the mercy and love of God. He has a sincere desire to
42:25
know the truth that he may obey it. The good heart is a believing
42:30
heart, one that has faith in the Word of God. Without faith,
42:35
it is impossible to receive the Word. He that cometh to God must believe
42:38
that he is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek
42:43
him. This is he that heareth the Word and understandeth it. The Pharisees
42:47
of Christ's day close their eyes lest they should see, and their ears lest
42:52
they should hear. Therefore the truth could not reach their hearts. They were
42:57
to suffer retribution for their wilful ignorance and self imposed blindness. But Christ taught
43:02
his disciples that they were to open their minds to instruction and be ready to
43:07
believe. He pronounced a blessing upon them because they saw and heard with eyes
43:12
and ears that believed. The good ground hearer receives the Word not as the
43:16
word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God.
43:21
Only he who receives the scriptures as the voice of God speaking to himself
43:24
is a true learner. He trembles at the word, for to him it
43:29
is a living reality. He opens his understanding and his heart to receive it.
43:34
Such hearers were Cornelius and his friends, who said to the apostle Peter,
43:37
Now therefore are we all here present before God to hear all the things
43:42
that are commanded thee of God. A knowledge of the truth depends not so
43:46
much upon strength of intellect as upon pureness of purpose, the simplicity of an
43:52
earnest, dependent faith. To those who, in humility of heart seek for
43:57
divine guidance angels of God draw near, the Holy Spirit is given to open
44:01
to them the rich treasures of the Truth, the good ground. Hearers,
44:06
having heard the word, keep it. Satan with all his agencies of evil,
44:09
is not able to catch it away. Merely to hear or to read
44:14
the word is not enough. He who desires to be profited by the scriptures
44:17
must meditate upon the truth that has been presented to him by earnest attention and
44:22
prayerful thought. He must learn the meaning of the words of truth and drink
44:27
deep of the spirit of holy oracles. God bids us fill the mind with
44:31
great thoughts, pure thoughts. He desires us to meditate upon His love and
44:37
mercy, to study his wonderful work in the Great Plan of redemption. Then
44:42
clearer and still clearer will be our perception of truth, higher, holier our
44:46
desire for purity of heart and clearness of thought. The soul dwelling in the
44:51
pure atmosphere of holy thought will be transformed by communion with God through the study
44:57
of the scriptures, and bring for fruit. Those who having heard the Word
45:02
keep it will bring forth fruit in obedience. The word of God received into
45:07
the soul will be manifest in good works. Its results will be seen in
45:12
a christlike character and life. Christ said of himself, I delight to do
45:17
Thy will, O my God, YEA, Thy law is within my heart.
45:22
I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which
45:24
hath sent me. And the scripture says he that saith he abideth in him
45:30
ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. The Word of
45:36
God often comes in collision with man's hereditary and cultivated traits of character and his
45:40
habits of life. But the good ground hearer, in receiving the Word accepts
45:45
its conditions and requirements. His habits, customs, and practices are brought into
45:50
submission to God's word. In his view, the commands of finite erring man
45:55
sink into insignificance. Beside the word of the infinite God. With the whole
46:00
heart, with undivided purpose, he is seeking the life eternal, and at
46:05
the cost of loss, persecution, or death itself, he will obey the
46:08
truth and he brings forth fruit with patience. None who receive God's word are
46:15
exempt from difficulty and trial. But when affliction comes, the true Christian does
46:20
not become restless, distrustful, or despondent. Though we cannot see the definite
46:23
outcome of affairs or discern the purpose of God's providences, we are not to
46:29
cast away our confidence. Remembering the tender mercies of the Lord, we should
46:34
cast our care upon him, and with patience wait for his salvation. Through
46:38
conflict, the spiritual life is strengthened trials. Well born will develop steadfastness of
46:45
character and precious spiritual graces. The perfect fruit of faith, meekness and love,
46:51
often matures best amid storm clouds and darkness. The husbandman waiteth for the
46:57
precious fruit of the earth, and hath long payd for it until he receive
47:00
the early and latter reign. So the Christian is to wait with patience for
47:06
the fruition in his life of the Word of God. Often when we pray
47:09
for the graces of the spirit, God works to answer our prayers by placing
47:15
us in circumstances to develop these fruits. But we do not understand his purpose
47:20
and wonder and are dismayed. Yet none can develop these graces except through the
47:24
process of growth and fruit bearing. Our part is to receive God's word and
47:30
to hold it fast, yielding ourselves fully to its control. And its purpose
47:34
in us will be accomplished. If a man love me, Christ said,
47:38
he will keep my words, and my father will love him, and we
47:43
will come unto him and make our abode with him. The spell of a
47:47
stronger, a perfect mind will be over us, for we have a living
47:52
connection with the source of all enduring strength. In our divine life, we
47:55
shall be brought into captivity to Jesus Christ. We shall no longer live the
48:00
common life of selfishness, but Christ will live in us. His character will
48:06
be reproduced in our nature. Thus shall we bring forth the fruits of the
48:09
Holy Spirit, some thirty, some sixty, and some a hundred. End
48:17
of Chapter two