1 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:06,600 I in my savior. I'm happy and blessed. 2 00:00:07,100 --> 00:00:09,100 Are you blessed? Are you happy in? 3 00:00:09,100 --> 00:00:13,000 Jesus, I hope you are. And if you don't know Jesus 4 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:16,800 today, I hope that you will come to know him and we will discover 5 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:21,700 how we can know him as we come to the gospel of Mark in chapter 6 00:00:21,700 --> 00:00:27,800 4, Because we are continuing our series within a series. 7 00:00:30,100 --> 00:00:32,900 By carefully surveying the parable of the sower. 8 00:00:34,300 --> 00:00:36,700 And so let's read again from verse 1. 9 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:48,000 And Mark for which reads again, he began to teach beside the sea 10 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:53,500 and a very large crowd gathered about him so that he got into a 11 00:00:53,500 --> 00:00:58,300 boat and sat in it on the sea. And the whole crowd was beside 12 00:00:58,300 --> 00:01:02,300 the Sea on the land and he was teaching them, many things in 13 00:01:02,300 --> 00:01:05,500 Parables and in his teaching he said to them. 14 00:01:05,500 --> 00:01:12,000 Listen behold A sower went out to sow and as he sowed some Fell 15 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:14,800 along the path and the birds came and devoured. 16 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:20,400 It verse five. Other seed fell on Rocky ground 17 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:26,100 where it did not have much soil and immediately it sprang up 18 00:01:26,700 --> 00:01:31,200 since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was 19 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:34,700 scorched. And since it had no root it 20 00:01:34,700 --> 00:01:38,200 withered away. Other seed fell among thorns and 21 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:41,000 the Thorns grew up and choked it and it yielded no grain and 22 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:45,500 other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain growing up in 23 00:01:45,500 --> 00:01:49,500 increasing and yielding 30 fold and 60 fold and a hundredfold. 24 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:53,800 And he said, he who has ears to hear, Let Him hear. 25 00:01:55,300 --> 00:01:59,700 Lord, give us those ears and we ask that as we come to the 26 00:01:59,700 --> 00:02:05,400 second soil that you have taught your people then and taught 27 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:09,300 throughout the centuries and are intended to teach us today. 28 00:02:09,300 --> 00:02:13,900 Lord, we want to know where we are and we pray that you would 29 00:02:13,900 --> 00:02:16,400 help us by the spirit in Jesus name. 30 00:02:16,700 --> 00:02:21,000 Amen. In this Parable, the Lord, Jesus 31 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:25,800 highlights four types of soil, that represent different heart 32 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:29,600 conditions that respond differently to the gospel and to 33 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:32,800 the word of God as a whole. And it's important to remember 34 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:35,900 that the teaching that Jesus gives us here is not designed to 35 00:02:35,900 --> 00:02:40,400 describe the unchangeable condition of men's Hearts, as 36 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:44,300 though it was sealed. In that way. 37 00:02:45,300 --> 00:02:49,800 But it aims to provoke the listeners to honestly examine 38 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:54,200 themselves and the state of their own souls to say, which 39 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,600 one am I? Where do I fit? 40 00:02:58,700 --> 00:03:01,700 In other words Jesus description of these categories is a 41 00:03:01,700 --> 00:03:06,600 challenge for us to identify which class we fit in and then 42 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:10,100 with the Redemptive hope of making the appropriate 43 00:03:10,100 --> 00:03:16,200 repentance to be where we are. Where God wants us to be rather. 44 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:20,900 So that we can bear fruit for his glory Spurgeon. 45 00:03:20,900 --> 00:03:24,900 Insightfully said that this Parable defines four classes of 46 00:03:24,900 --> 00:03:28,700 here's that are found in every congregation and I amen. 47 00:03:28,700 --> 00:03:33,000 That and I say Beyond these four walls, this also describes the 48 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:38,400 types of listeners that are Waiting to receive the seed and 49 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:41,800 we've been commissioned to plant this seed outside of these walls 50 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:43,600 as well. And so you and I last week, 51 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:47,100 heard about the first type of soil, which is really 52 00:03:47,100 --> 00:03:50,000 characterized by immediate rejection and disinterest and 53 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:57,200 divine revelation like the paved paths and Jesus day that found 54 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:00,700 themselves around Fields And even through the fields that 55 00:04:00,700 --> 00:04:03,700 have been compounded by foot traffic. 56 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:07,400 There are some people who have hardened Hearts towards the 57 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:12,500 truth and have zero receptivity to what God has to say to them 58 00:04:13,300 --> 00:04:17,100 the see tries to find a home. It tries to find a place to 59 00:04:17,100 --> 00:04:22,900 abide and instead it collides with a stiff ground, it bounces 60 00:04:22,900 --> 00:04:26,500 off only for Satan to take it away. 61 00:04:26,700 --> 00:04:30,800 Who is always ready to remove any potential influence of the 62 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:34,500 truth? Seeping into your thoughts and 63 00:04:34,500 --> 00:04:40,400 your affections He is vicious. And the wicked one is most 64 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:43,500 effective with those who have been callous by in irreverence 65 00:04:44,100 --> 00:04:47,700 and by a carelessness, towards spiritual realities. 66 00:04:49,700 --> 00:04:52,800 It's amazing when Jesus talks about the first type of soil, he 67 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:56,000 says, in a different gospel account that men trampled, 68 00:04:56,000 --> 00:05:00,700 underfoot the seed, and Men Who Trampled Under Foot, which is 69 00:05:00,700 --> 00:05:03,600 really symbolic of being irreverent towards the word of 70 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:10,400 God, attract, Satan's cruelty. And yet, Isaiah tells us that 71 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:14,500 those who not trample, underfoot the seed, but who tremble at the 72 00:05:14,500 --> 00:05:17,700 word of God. Attract the mercy of God. 73 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:21,900 The second type of soil is our Focus today. 74 00:05:23,300 --> 00:05:25,400 And as we will discover quickly, it is much different than the 75 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:29,100 first for many reasons. This group is often referred to 76 00:05:29,100 --> 00:05:33,600 as the rocky soil in such individuals have a complex 77 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:35,700 relationship with the truth and it might be you today. 78 00:05:36,500 --> 00:05:41,900 So here and listen. Their extreme emotional 79 00:05:42,100 --> 00:05:46,300 responses, both positively, and negatively can leave. 80 00:05:46,300 --> 00:05:51,200 Even genuine Believers perplexed of whether or not these people 81 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:54,300 actually possess saving Faith or not. 82 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:58,700 But Jesus is clear concerning the rocky soil. 83 00:05:58,700 --> 00:06:03,900 They share the same fate as those who have the roadside 84 00:06:03,900 --> 00:06:05,700 soil. In other words both are 85 00:06:05,700 --> 00:06:09,500 unbelievers. Both will not have eternal life, 86 00:06:09,500 --> 00:06:14,500 both are not saved and You and I by the grace of God will come to 87 00:06:14,500 --> 00:06:18,800 that conclusion. As we look at three things 88 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:23,100 pertaining to this type of soil and the first one is how the 89 00:06:23,100 --> 00:06:27,800 rocky soil receives the seed. And from there we will look at 90 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:32,600 how the rocky soil relates to the seed. 91 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:37,500 And finally, we will discover why the rocky soil. 92 00:06:37,700 --> 00:06:44,000 He rejects the seed so how it is received how it is related and 93 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:48,000 finally why it is ultimately rejected. 94 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,100 And so let's come together to verse 5 of Mark, chapter 4 to 95 00:06:51,100 --> 00:06:55,400 look at the receiving of the seed from this type of heart and 96 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:59,000 verse 5, we read other seed fell on Rocky ground where it did not 97 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:03,100 have much soil and immediately Mark loves that word and 98 00:07:03,100 --> 00:07:07,100 immediately it sprang up since it had no depth of soil. 99 00:07:08,100 --> 00:07:11,900 Unlike the first kind of soil which was unresponsive the rocky 100 00:07:11,900 --> 00:07:14,100 ground promises a measure of openness. 101 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:18,200 According To Jesus, his own interpretation, the presentation 102 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:21,200 of the Gospel is met with warm exuberance. 103 00:07:22,700 --> 00:07:24,800 Such recipients do not put up a fight. 104 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:28,100 They don't, they don't have any resistance against what is being 105 00:07:28,100 --> 00:07:30,600 said by the preacher, by the friend who is sitting them down 106 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:33,500 to give them saving knowledge instead. 107 00:07:33,500 --> 00:07:38,000 They are quick to absorb it there, quick to act upon it. 108 00:07:40,100 --> 00:07:42,000 Whatever it Providence has brought their way, they're 109 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:45,300 willing to nod their head. Yes, and embrace it. 110 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:51,200 But the enthusiasm of the rocky heart is not after deep 111 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:54,300 contemplation, of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus 112 00:07:54,300 --> 00:07:57,300 Christ. It's just a quick reaction. 113 00:07:58,700 --> 00:08:00,500 To the good news, it's good news. 114 00:08:00,500 --> 00:08:03,400 And they can recognize that it's good news and it's so good. 115 00:08:03,700 --> 00:08:07,500 They don't even hesitate to apply it to their lives. 116 00:08:08,500 --> 00:08:10,400 Scroll down with me to mark for 16. 117 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:14,700 And these are the ones. Now, this is Jesus Exposition 118 00:08:14,700 --> 00:08:17,400 his expounding of the rocky soil. 119 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:21,600 And these are the ones sown on Rocky ground, the ones who when 120 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:25,500 they hear the word immediately receive it with joy. 121 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,800 So both in the parable and in the explanation, the Lord 122 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:31,400 emphasizes. How there are those who 123 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:35,700 demonstrate a sudden, an exhilarating profession of faith 124 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:41,700 and from the outside to both the sower and on Lookers, this, this 125 00:08:41,700 --> 00:08:46,800 kind of rapid growth would even be Dean Supernatural. 126 00:08:48,300 --> 00:08:53,400 There's an instant springing up there is this rapid acceleration 127 00:08:54,300 --> 00:08:57,900 and it can give that kind of impression just like somebody's 128 00:08:57,900 --> 00:09:03,500 immediate response to the Urgent call to being saved by Christ. 129 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,300 But what would seem to be a supernatural work? 130 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:12,900 Is in fact, the the fruit of a shallow heart Since this type of 131 00:09:12,900 --> 00:09:17,300 soil lacks the depth necessary to consider all of the 132 00:09:17,300 --> 00:09:20,400 implications of what it means to say, yes to Jesus. 133 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:24,900 There's concern and here is where I want to say something 134 00:09:24,900 --> 00:09:28,300 extremely important that none of us can afford to forget and it 135 00:09:28,300 --> 00:09:33,700 is, this excitement is not the distinctive Mark that someone 136 00:09:33,700 --> 00:09:40,400 has been born again. That is not to say that emotions 137 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:42,900 that are coupled with a genuine confession. 138 00:09:45,900 --> 00:09:48,400 Is always suspect of superficiality. 139 00:09:49,500 --> 00:09:53,200 But it does mean that emotionalism alone is no 140 00:09:53,200 --> 00:10:01,400 qualifier of genuine conversion. A flood of Tears or a wide 141 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:06,100 glistening smile is no sure sign that somebody has been saved by 142 00:10:06,100 --> 00:10:09,900 Jesus. Hebrews 65 and you don't have to 143 00:10:09,900 --> 00:10:12,900 turn there. Warns us, that it is possible 144 00:10:12,900 --> 00:10:18,800 for a person to taste the goodness of the word of God and 145 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:24,300 to Fall Away into Oblivion. To never repent again. 146 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:28,100 You know, what's so interesting. When you look at this, this is 147 00:10:28,100 --> 00:10:30,600 really the only Parable that emphasizes emotion. 148 00:10:31,500 --> 00:10:34,500 And when you come down to verse 20 of Mark, for where Jesus 149 00:10:34,500 --> 00:10:37,700 describes the fertile soil, the good soil, the soil, that 150 00:10:37,700 --> 00:10:41,200 actually produces fruit. There's something missing look 151 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:45,400 at verse 20 of Mark for quickly, but those that were sewn, on the 152 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:50,700 good soil, are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear 153 00:10:50,700 --> 00:10:54,300 fruit. 30 fold and 60 fold and a hundredfold. 154 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:57,000 Did you catch it? It, he who hears the word and 155 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:59,400 accepts it. There's no mention of 156 00:10:59,900 --> 00:11:03,200 extravagant emotion here. There's no mention of 157 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:08,100 overwhelming reaction. All we see here is an Earnest 158 00:11:08,100 --> 00:11:11,800 acceptance of the truth. After an honest and clear 159 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:16,900 assessment of what they are signing up for And if emotions 160 00:11:16,900 --> 00:11:22,500 are aroused along with a genuine, exception and a sober, 161 00:11:22,500 --> 00:11:24,600 Judgment of what it means to be saved. 162 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:30,100 Then praise God, let the tears flow, and let the laughter of 163 00:11:30,100 --> 00:11:32,800 Liberation ReSound into the heavens. 164 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:38,200 But to look at somebody who has simply been stirred by strong 165 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:43,700 emotion and deemed them as redeemed is dangerous, for many 166 00:11:43,700 --> 00:11:47,400 reasons, and more importantly, for that person whose foundation 167 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:49,700 in the faith is ready to betray them. 168 00:11:49,700 --> 00:11:54,700 Eventually, There's something worth mentioning here. 169 00:11:54,700 --> 00:11:59,700 Also before we move on and it is this, although no sower can ever 170 00:11:59,700 --> 00:12:02,700 control the outcome of what happens to the CDC. 171 00:12:03,100 --> 00:12:08,100 The Sowers job is just to broadcast it and to scatter it 172 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:12,300 and wherever it falls. It is not his duty to analyze 173 00:12:12,900 --> 00:12:15,700 where the seed will go. That's God's job. 174 00:12:16,300 --> 00:12:19,600 There is no control on the part of the deliver of the truth. 175 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:23,200 Nonetheless, there is a responsibility that the so er, 176 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:26,500 has particularly with this kind of heart posture. 177 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:35,400 And it is to be careful not to do things for the sake of quick 178 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:40,700 results. Our Evangelistic efforts as a 179 00:12:40,700 --> 00:12:44,800 church as individual. Believers must be protected from 180 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:48,200 sharing in the guilt of those who will accept the gospel in 181 00:12:48,208 --> 00:12:50,700 the shallow way. How is that possible? 182 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:54,900 How can I, as a sower, share the guilt of the person who receives 183 00:12:54,900 --> 00:12:57,100 the gospel in a shallow away. Very easy. 184 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:01,700 Give it in a shallow way. Give the gospel in a shallow way 185 00:13:01,700 --> 00:13:07,400 and you share in the guilt. This soil is uniquely 186 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:12,400 characterized by emotionalism. Then if that is the case, you 187 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:15,400 and I have to resist the temptation of manipulating our 188 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:20,400 presentation, for the sake of people, making a decision for 189 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:22,300 the moment and not for a lifetime. 190 00:13:24,900 --> 00:13:26,900 And there are many ways this can be, but I think one of the most 191 00:13:26,900 --> 00:13:30,300 criminal schemes of bringing this about is by tampering with 192 00:13:30,300 --> 00:13:34,100 the substance of the seed. So that it can be more easily 193 00:13:34,100 --> 00:13:38,900 accepted. And you and I are going to learn 194 00:13:38,900 --> 00:13:40,300 in a moment. The reason why this c will be 195 00:13:40,300 --> 00:13:43,800 rejected is because of future tribulation and trials. 196 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,100 So here's how the sneaky strategy goes. 197 00:13:47,500 --> 00:13:53,000 If it is going to be trials and persecution and difficulty, 198 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:56,400 that's going to cause people to be turned off by the gospel. 199 00:13:56,500 --> 00:13:59,400 Then what do we do to make people accept it with with 200 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:02,100 immediacy? Well, don't mention that stuff. 201 00:14:03,300 --> 00:14:05,300 Don't mention it. Don't tell people. 202 00:14:05,300 --> 00:14:06,900 They're going to suffer for Christ. 203 00:14:07,700 --> 00:14:09,700 Don't tell people. It's going to come at a cost. 204 00:14:10,300 --> 00:14:15,100 Don't tell people that they are accepting a new kind of Burden 205 00:14:15,900 --> 00:14:18,000 though. It is light is a burden, still 206 00:14:18,500 --> 00:14:22,200 don't talk about how bearing, the name of Jesus will come with 207 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:26,500 different price. Unfortunately, this is exactly 208 00:14:26,500 --> 00:14:30,900 what many Ministries are doing. They are cancelling out, certain 209 00:14:30,900 --> 00:14:34,600 ingredients of the Gospel so that it can be more widely 210 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:37,800 accepted to the detriment of those who accept it. 211 00:14:38,700 --> 00:14:41,700 And this is extremely dangerous. And what's the goal for it? 212 00:14:41,700 --> 00:14:43,200 Because we want to see things happen. 213 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:48,500 Now, right now, We want to boast in the numbers of our 214 00:14:48,500 --> 00:14:50,200 attendance. We want to boast in our building 215 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:54,200 project so that we can host. The crowds of people who come we 216 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:55,900 want to. We want to tell people in our 217 00:14:55,900 --> 00:14:59,000 newsletters and and then and compare ourselves to other 218 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:00,500 Ministries and look how many baptisms. 219 00:15:00,500 --> 00:15:03,400 We had over one weekend and look how many people confess Christ 220 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:07,100 at our event and it's all manufactured Revival. 221 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:12,600 It's man-made. What they are really doing, is 222 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:15,500 setting up people for failure because when persecutions do 223 00:15:15,500 --> 00:15:19,100 come and they will, they won't have the root system to keep 224 00:15:19,100 --> 00:15:22,000 them grounded, and they will wither away. 225 00:15:23,700 --> 00:15:27,700 In Philippians 1:29, Paul says for it has been granted to you 226 00:15:27,700 --> 00:15:31,000 that for the sake of Christ, you should not only believe in him 227 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:36,300 but also suffer for his sake and Paul's mind believing in Jesus 228 00:15:36,300 --> 00:15:39,100 Christ is a very close neighbor to suffering. 229 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:44,100 They're Inseparable. It's part of the package. 230 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:48,700 If you are going to follow Christ and enjoy the Assurance 231 00:15:48,700 --> 00:15:52,700 of your salvation, then you also must endure suffering for Christ 232 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:58,200 as you await your Redemption. And suffering is not something 233 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:02,300 that we share as a scare tactic or as a reverse psychology. 234 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:07,200 Now it is a badge of honor. It is a privilege to suffer for 235 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:10,500 Christ because he's infinitely, worthy to not just be believed 236 00:16:10,500 --> 00:16:15,600 on but too. suffer for So if you're going to believe in 237 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:17,800 Paul's mind, in that same sentence, you want to believe, 238 00:16:17,900 --> 00:16:21,500 well, you're going to suffer, your flesh is going to suffer. 239 00:16:23,100 --> 00:16:25,900 Different parts of your social life will suffer. 240 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:29,900 And in the world's eyes, you will look like a fool for 241 00:16:29,900 --> 00:16:34,100 following Jesus and 2022. But he is worthy. 242 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:39,100 So if you and I want to minimize the production of shallow 243 00:16:39,100 --> 00:16:44,200 salvations in our midst, then all we have to do is have a firm 244 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:46,700 conviction that we will teach and preach the whole counsel of 245 00:16:46,700 --> 00:16:49,800 God. And leave the results to God 246 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:52,800 Alone. Just leave it to The Sovereign 247 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:57,100 working of the Holy Spirit. And if anybody would say yes to 248 00:16:57,100 --> 00:17:00,700 the gospel and then Fall Away. Then, at least we will have a 249 00:17:00,708 --> 00:17:03,400 clear conscious to know that we offer the whole counsel of God. 250 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:07,800 Which brings me to this important aspect. 251 00:17:08,599 --> 00:17:10,800 Jesus is not teaching her. That some will have a shallow 252 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:13,900 salvation experience because of the solar was shallow and his 253 00:17:13,900 --> 00:17:18,300 delivery. The solar receives, no blame in 254 00:17:18,300 --> 00:17:22,700 all of this Parable. He is a faithful Steward who 255 00:17:22,700 --> 00:17:27,200 gives the true seed and as you heard last week, let me 256 00:17:27,300 --> 00:17:30,700 emphasize it again. The issue here is not with the 257 00:17:30,700 --> 00:17:35,600 seed, it's with the soil. And so, what that means is, even 258 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:40,100 if you and I preach the whole counsel of God and preach the 259 00:17:40,100 --> 00:17:43,300 pure gospel. You're still going to have 260 00:17:43,300 --> 00:17:46,800 people like this. You're still going to have 261 00:17:46,900 --> 00:17:52,000 shallow soil, to deal with. Which now brings me to the 262 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:54,000 second Point. Not just the reception of the 263 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:57,500 seed, but The relationship with the seed. 264 00:17:58,400 --> 00:17:59,800 What's remarkable about this group? 265 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:03,000 Of Heroes is not just a joy that they show at the beginning? 266 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:06,500 It's how they continue to enjoy it. 267 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:10,900 It's possible that while I've been preaching in the past few 268 00:18:10,900 --> 00:18:14,800 minutes here that people certain individuals have come to mind 269 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:16,500 that really fit this description. 270 00:18:17,100 --> 00:18:20,200 Maybe even people that you have brought to a service or you have 271 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:23,400 brought to an event that, you know, and knew that was going to 272 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:25,400 preach the gospel. And you were praying that 273 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:28,600 something would happen to that, lost loved one and to your 274 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:32,500 astonishment, when the call went out, here is your friend, here's 275 00:18:32,500 --> 00:18:35,100 your sibling, here's her your cousin, your father, your 276 00:18:35,100 --> 00:18:37,800 mother, here they are. And with delight. 277 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:41,200 And Eagerness they say yes? Only to never show up to church 278 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:44,600 again. Only to not show an iota of 279 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:46,400 interest in growing in their faith. 280 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:48,900 In fact, they went they went back to the very same thing. 281 00:18:48,900 --> 00:18:54,200 They were in before that evening service. and as much as that as 282 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:57,800 a regular occurrence which is unfortunate heartbreaking, this 283 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:01,000 is not the type of person that Jesus is primary describing in 284 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:04,500 this Parable, and I'll prove that to you, you have to come to 285 00:19:04,500 --> 00:19:08,900 Matthews version and Matthew 13:20 to see it in Matthew 13, 286 00:19:08,900 --> 00:19:16,700 verse 20 and 21, Jesus tells us how this kind of soil relates to 287 00:19:16,700 --> 00:19:24,300 the seed. And Matthew 13:20 Matthews 288 00:19:24,300 --> 00:19:29,700 before mark. Ask for what was sown on Rocky 289 00:19:29,700 --> 00:19:31,700 ground. This is the one who hears the 290 00:19:31,700 --> 00:19:34,100 word and immediately receives it with joy. 291 00:19:34,100 --> 00:19:37,400 Very similar to Mark verse 21 yet. 292 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:43,900 He has no root in himself but indoors for a while that's scary 293 00:19:43,900 --> 00:19:49,700 stuff that's scary stuff but indoors for a while and when 294 00:19:49,700 --> 00:19:53,900 tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word 295 00:19:53,900 --> 00:19:57,800 immediately, he falls away. Luke's version would say that 296 00:19:57,800 --> 00:20:02,000 they believe for a while. Matthew says they endure for a 297 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:05,100 while and indoor is important because it implies something 298 00:20:05,100 --> 00:20:09,500 more than just verbal adherence. There is a level of steadfast 299 00:20:09,500 --> 00:20:12,400 commitment. That's on display with this kind 300 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:15,900 of soil. There is a practical follow-up 301 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:21,200 after the initial impassion 'it confession, And such people 302 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:26,000 might get baptized. They will gladly sit under sound 303 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:30,000 teaching, they will regularly partake of the Lord's table and 304 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:31,600 here's here's what's even more scary. 305 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:35,200 They can even commit to a local church and serve in different 306 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:39,900 ways. Such people can be found leading 307 00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:46,100 teaching cleaning. Serving organizing preparing. 308 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:52,600 And they can function in this way, for weeks, months, and even 309 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:56,600 years, before their faulty salvation is exposed. 310 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:02,100 What this means is that this type of unbeliever is not easily 311 00:21:02,100 --> 00:21:05,700 identifiable like the soil on the Wayside. 312 00:21:06,700 --> 00:21:09,600 Do you know how that's possible? Look back at verse 21 of Matthew 313 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:13,000 13 before he says they endure for a while. 314 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:15,300 Jesus gives us an important detail. 315 00:21:15,900 --> 00:21:20,300 He has no root in himself. I don't know what comes to your 316 00:21:20,300 --> 00:21:23,600 mind in terms of imagination when you hear the rocky ground. 317 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:27,400 I'm talking about literal picturing but it's not a bunch 318 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:30,000 of rocks that sit on a bed of dirt. 319 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:32,800 What? Jesus has a mind here. 320 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:36,200 What was common is they was actually sheets of Rock. 321 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:41,000 That was beneath a thin layer of soil. 322 00:21:42,100 --> 00:21:44,500 And so it wasn't immediately perceivable. 323 00:21:44,500 --> 00:21:47,400 So what would happen is when the seed would be scattered, it 324 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:52,100 would fall into a level of soil that was warm enough and 325 00:21:52,100 --> 00:21:57,400 contained enough moisture for it to germinate and decompose and 326 00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:00,500 naturally, The Roots would try to reach down to try to 327 00:22:00,508 --> 00:22:04,700 establish itself and something more concrete and promising for 328 00:22:04,700 --> 00:22:09,400 long-term nutrition only to be rejected by a hard service. 329 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:13,600 But because of that energy, it Versus and goes upward and 330 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:19,300 springs up quickly. All to say that this kind of 331 00:22:19,300 --> 00:22:22,800 unbeliever. Is concealed. 332 00:22:24,500 --> 00:22:29,700 It's not so obvious. In fact, they look like the 333 00:22:29,700 --> 00:22:34,700 legitimate thing. And here's the thing, I was 334 00:22:34,700 --> 00:22:37,600 meditating on that and I thought to myself, you know, if I teach 335 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:40,600 this it's possible for people to apply in the wrong way. 336 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:44,300 Those who are genuine Believers and what do I mean by that? 337 00:22:45,100 --> 00:22:47,500 We can develop the wrong attitude as a church. 338 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:52,200 The people that we serve with, we can become suspicious about, 339 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:54,600 because we aren't sure if they're truly rooted in Christ. 340 00:22:55,300 --> 00:22:58,800 We can even start timing. How long they will last, we can 341 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:02,600 start robbing ourselves of joy and God of his glory, when we 342 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:06,100 see confessions of Christ, or when people display their 343 00:23:06,100 --> 00:23:08,900 obedience to Christ through things like water, baptism, and 344 00:23:08,900 --> 00:23:11,100 we clap. But we're just like, I don't 345 00:23:11,100 --> 00:23:12,200 know, we'll see what happens here. 346 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:17,400 That is a Temptation. We have to avoid because our job 347 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:23,100 as a community of faith is not to prematurely judge, those who 348 00:23:23,100 --> 00:23:25,600 will be legit and who will not be legit. 349 00:23:25,900 --> 00:23:29,400 The New Testament actually calls us to the contrary to encourage 350 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:34,100 the week to pray for them to support them to embrace them, 351 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:37,100 and listen to this, even when they walk away from the truth. 352 00:23:37,100 --> 00:23:39,400 According to James to fetch for them. 353 00:23:40,700 --> 00:23:44,400 And to bring them back from wandering, to save, his soul 354 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:48,600 from death. So this this Insight is not, 355 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:52,000 it's not something to encourage us to be skeptical all the time 356 00:23:52,100 --> 00:23:55,400 to the point where we distance ourselves less, we continually 357 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:59,100 set ourselves up for disappointment, disappointments 358 00:23:59,100 --> 00:24:03,000 will come, but it's okay to rejoice and believe because love 359 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:06,800 hopes for the best, love believes the best. 360 00:24:08,100 --> 00:24:14,300 So, don't let this stifle with. Your excitement for God, working 361 00:24:14,300 --> 00:24:17,100 in people. And here's the thing. 362 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:21,100 It is not your duty or mind to discern a predict someone's 363 00:24:21,100 --> 00:24:25,000 status in Christ because Jesus tells us in this Parable that it 364 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:27,700 will eventually be revealed without your participation or 365 00:24:27,700 --> 00:24:32,600 mine. Have you ever heard of Charles 366 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:37,100 blondin? I haven't before yesterday. 367 00:24:39,900 --> 00:24:44,200 And you won't hear of that name unless you are a passionate 368 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:48,600 historian concerning tightrope-walking, Charles 369 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:52,500 blondin was the greatest tightrope Walker in all of human 370 00:24:52,500 --> 00:24:57,900 history and one of his greatest achievements was in 1859 when he 371 00:24:57,900 --> 00:25:01,100 dared to be the first man to walk on a tightrope that 372 00:25:01,100 --> 00:25:05,300 stretched across the Raging Waters of the Niagara Falls. 373 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:09,600 As you can imagine a great crowd from both Canada and the United 374 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:13,700 States gathered to witness this. Fearless Soul effortlessly 375 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:17,500 across the northern border, not just once but multiple times and 376 00:25:17,500 --> 00:25:21,500 death-defying fashion, blond and gave his audience a show that 377 00:25:21,500 --> 00:25:23,800 they would never forget, because he would do this several times. 378 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:26,500 And every single time he would challenge himself further 379 00:25:26,900 --> 00:25:31,900 keeping his fans in suspense. And so at some points, he would 380 00:25:31,900 --> 00:25:35,500 blindfold himself and he would walk without being able to see 381 00:25:36,600 --> 00:25:43,200 as he suspended over. The mighty Waters of the Niagara 382 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:46,700 Falls and other times he would do so with stilts, those wooden 383 00:25:46,700 --> 00:25:48,900 little poles that extend you above the ground and he would, 384 00:25:48,900 --> 00:25:51,500 he would balance himself with these sticks while holding on, 385 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:54,400 and he would cross and he would get creative at one point. 386 00:25:54,400 --> 00:25:58,700 He actually put a small stove on his back, came to the center of 387 00:25:58,700 --> 00:26:00,800 the rope and he cooked an omelet. 388 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:06,900 And you can imagine how the people watching were holding 389 00:26:06,900 --> 00:26:11,500 their breath with absolute silence in the atmosphere. 390 00:26:11,500 --> 00:26:14,800 Only to be interrupted with Applause. 391 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:17,400 That was perhaps louder than the Falls when he would make it 392 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:22,100 through. Finally, at one point. 393 00:26:22,900 --> 00:26:26,600 Charles decided to push a wheelbarrow across Niagara Falls 394 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:30,900 on that rope. And as he turned to his devoted 395 00:26:30,900 --> 00:26:35,400 fans who sang his Praises Charles noticed, one particular 396 00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:37,400 man, who was, especially excited. 397 00:26:38,100 --> 00:26:41,700 And so he looks at him and he says, sir, do you believe that I 398 00:26:41,700 --> 00:26:46,400 can push someone in this wheelbarrow across the falls? 399 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:51,300 And this man without hesitation said, yes you can do it, of 400 00:26:51,300 --> 00:26:56,000 course you can and with a prepared response Charles asked 401 00:26:56,000 --> 00:27:03,500 him then get in And what do you think the answer was from this 402 00:27:03,500 --> 00:27:06,900 crazed fan? Who expressed his great faith in 403 00:27:06,900 --> 00:27:10,400 Charles with the same speed and strengthen that? 404 00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:19,900 Yes, he gave a hearty no way. That is the quality. 405 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:23,700 Of faith that Jesus is describing with the rocky soil. 406 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:29,700 People in the audience who testified saying I love him, I 407 00:27:29,700 --> 00:27:34,800 believe him, I will serve him. I will follow him until a 408 00:27:34,808 --> 00:27:40,700 personal test comes their way. Like that man who was buzzing 409 00:27:40,700 --> 00:27:45,100 with admiration and couldn't keep still at the sight of this. 410 00:27:47,300 --> 00:27:51,900 Fearless individual. This tightrope walking history 411 00:27:51,900 --> 00:27:55,800 maker Everything changed the moment that he realized that his 412 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:58,500 confession can possibly cost him something. 413 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:04,200 Look again here at Matthew 13 to understand what it is, that 414 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:10,100 causes rejection of the seed. Matthew 13:20, but look at verse 415 00:28:10,100 --> 00:28:15,200 21. He has no root in himself but 416 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:19,700 indoors for a while. And when tribulation or 417 00:28:19,700 --> 00:28:25,200 persecution arises on account of the word immediately, he falls 418 00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:27,500 away. Notice immediately. 419 00:28:27,700 --> 00:28:30,500 He falls away. So, immediately he receives it 420 00:28:30,500 --> 00:28:32,800 and he is just as quick to reject it. 421 00:28:35,300 --> 00:28:39,100 And what this tells us is that and enthusiastic unbeliever can 422 00:28:39,100 --> 00:28:44,700 blend in the crowd of the children of God as long as he's 423 00:28:44,700 --> 00:28:49,200 able to exercise his shallow faith without intimidation or 424 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:53,900 criticism. Such a man is willing to ride 425 00:28:53,900 --> 00:28:59,100 the wave of faithfulness as long as he is being supported by the 426 00:28:59,100 --> 00:29:03,800 clear, sky of social ease and favor shining upon him. 427 00:29:06,500 --> 00:29:09,200 But the moment he feels the chill of gray clouds, 428 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:15,900 overshadowing him. and the drops of persecution touching his 429 00:29:15,900 --> 00:29:19,900 sensitive skin. He's quick to get to the shore 430 00:29:19,900 --> 00:29:24,300 of compromise and take cover. He can't help, but recant. 431 00:29:25,900 --> 00:29:27,900 He can't help but say I didn't sign up for this. 432 00:29:29,300 --> 00:29:32,400 Persecution on account of the word is the key verse. 433 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:37,700 The key phrase persecution is, the defining moments that 434 00:29:37,700 --> 00:29:40,200 distinguish between the authentic and the almost 435 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:44,200 authentic. And this is just one example of 436 00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:49,200 why we don't say that. Someone lost their salvation 437 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:53,100 when after even months and years of apparently walking with them 438 00:29:53,300 --> 00:29:56,900 because this Parable is just one of many proofs that that person 439 00:29:56,900 --> 00:30:00,900 wasn't safe to begin with. It was shallow. 440 00:30:01,700 --> 00:30:07,900 It seemed to look real until the test came proving that it wasn't 441 00:30:07,900 --> 00:30:14,200 real to begin with. And that's why what we're seeing 442 00:30:14,200 --> 00:30:15,600 in history. Let me go on a little bit of a 443 00:30:15,608 --> 00:30:18,500 tangent here. What we're seeing in history 444 00:30:18,500 --> 00:30:22,600 today, the fact that our politics are becoming more and 445 00:30:22,600 --> 00:30:27,600 more about morality. The fact that our popular 446 00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:31,100 culture now is as making defining statements and 447 00:30:31,100 --> 00:30:35,000 Declarations of what is righteous and what is wrong? 448 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:41,200 As much as it is proof of the last days, it is also a sifting 449 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:43,700 work of The Sovereign God over his church. 450 00:30:45,500 --> 00:30:47,900 So all these things that we're seeing right, what the Supreme 451 00:30:47,900 --> 00:30:51,500 Court did with abortion and all this stuff that's happening, 452 00:30:51,800 --> 00:30:53,300 you're saying, well, why is it happening? 453 00:30:53,300 --> 00:30:56,800 And it would be it'd be wrong to just limited to the fact that 454 00:30:56,800 --> 00:30:58,700 we're headed towards a culmination of the age. 455 00:30:58,700 --> 00:31:01,300 It's more than that. The Lord is purifying those who 456 00:31:01,300 --> 00:31:05,700 profess his name. And that's what we're feeling 457 00:31:05,700 --> 00:31:08,400 the heat a little bit and workplaces that are asking you, 458 00:31:08,600 --> 00:31:11,500 you better choose your pronouns and you better write them in 459 00:31:11,500 --> 00:31:15,600 your emails and you better stand by this narrative. 460 00:31:15,600 --> 00:31:16,800 That's what we're starting to see this. 461 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:19,200 Now, this is now coming close to home. 462 00:31:19,300 --> 00:31:21,200 And you're wondering, why is it happening? 463 00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:23,100 Well, because God is allowing it to happen. 464 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:27,700 And it's going to reveal those who are true to him and those 465 00:31:27,700 --> 00:31:31,100 who were just excited about him when all was well. 466 00:31:33,800 --> 00:31:36,500 It was easy to be a Christian in America. 467 00:31:37,700 --> 00:31:41,000 In the 50s 60s, early or even earlier than that, it's getting 468 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:45,100 increasingly more difficult to associate with Christ and that's 469 00:31:45,100 --> 00:31:49,800 nothing short of God. And his work to reveal. 470 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:54,200 True faith. And to expose counterfeit 471 00:31:54,200 --> 00:32:00,000 conversions. Luke adds another detail of why. 472 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:02,700 It is that some who have rocky soil will turn away. 473 00:32:03,100 --> 00:32:05,600 So go to Luke's version and 8:13. 474 00:32:09,500 --> 00:32:20,200 And Luke 8:13. And the ones on the Rock are 475 00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:24,200 those who when they hear the word receive it with joy. 476 00:32:24,200 --> 00:32:30,700 Notice every single Gospel writer except for John tells us 477 00:32:30,700 --> 00:32:36,300 that they receive it with joy. But these have no root they 478 00:32:36,300 --> 00:32:39,100 believe for a while. And in time of testing Fall 479 00:32:39,100 --> 00:32:43,100 Away, testing is a broader word than just persecution or 480 00:32:43,100 --> 00:32:46,800 tribulation according or because an account of the word. 481 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:49,800 So what you have here is that Luke is saying by the spirit, 482 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:54,200 people don't just abandon sound Doctrine. 483 00:32:54,200 --> 00:32:57,800 And discipleship, because of fear of social scorn know, there 484 00:32:57,800 --> 00:33:02,000 are people who will change course because of a variety of 485 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:05,800 difficult trials. That are painful that persuade 486 00:33:05,800 --> 00:33:09,100 them to ultimately reject the Redeemer and say, I don't want 487 00:33:09,100 --> 00:33:12,600 this. That includes physical material. 488 00:33:12,600 --> 00:33:17,700 Emotional relational Financial affliction. 489 00:33:19,500 --> 00:33:22,500 All it takes is for some people to abandon ship is for a loved 490 00:33:22,500 --> 00:33:29,600 one to get cancer as tragic as that is or to die prematurely. 491 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:35,800 And with the same passion that they said, yes with when it came 492 00:33:35,800 --> 00:33:37,800 to that one time, they heard the gospel. 493 00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:43,500 With the same level of intensity, they say no. 494 00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:49,000 How can this God be good? I will not give him a moment's 495 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:52,900 more of my devotion. All it takes is for people to 496 00:33:52,900 --> 00:33:57,800 have prolonged loneliness and that ache seemingly being 497 00:33:58,600 --> 00:34:02,100 overwhelming for them. To say, he doesn't hear my 498 00:34:02,100 --> 00:34:05,600 prayers, he's not real. This isn't make sense for 499 00:34:05,600 --> 00:34:09,100 somebody who is a child of God, I'm not interested anymore. 500 00:34:12,100 --> 00:34:16,800 There's so many examples of how there are trials times of 501 00:34:16,800 --> 00:34:22,100 testing, where things don't go necessarily to your natural 502 00:34:23,300 --> 00:34:26,699 desires. For people to give up. 503 00:34:29,100 --> 00:34:32,300 Do you remember how Jesus described trials, Temptations 504 00:34:32,300 --> 00:34:36,500 and persecutions and the parable Matthew 3:16 or 1366 rather 505 00:34:36,699 --> 00:34:39,400 tells us that Jesus uses the picture of the sun. 506 00:34:40,400 --> 00:34:45,100 Now, I don't have a green thumb by any means, I'm not an expert 507 00:34:45,100 --> 00:34:48,800 in vegetation, or in planting this man is Pastor Ben has okay. 508 00:34:50,800 --> 00:34:53,600 But I know enough about gardening to understand that if 509 00:34:53,600 --> 00:34:56,300 a plant is going to grow, its going to need some exposure to 510 00:34:56,300 --> 00:35:01,500 rays of light, right? Sunlight So I do understand 511 00:35:01,500 --> 00:35:03,500 here. Jesus says that when the Sun 512 00:35:03,500 --> 00:35:08,500 rises in my limited understanding of how this works, 513 00:35:08,500 --> 00:35:12,300 it's supposed to help the plant. It's supposed to give life to 514 00:35:12,300 --> 00:35:17,500 it, but instead, we're told it scorches it until it shrivels up 515 00:35:17,500 --> 00:35:22,100 and dies. It's not really a mystery. 516 00:35:23,200 --> 00:35:27,500 It's not the son's fault, it's because the plants that grow 517 00:35:27,500 --> 00:35:32,800 with this kind of soil lack, the moisture necessary to benefit 518 00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:38,100 from the natural light. And so what was intended to grow 519 00:35:38,100 --> 00:35:43,100 them ends up killing them? And just like how the son is 520 00:35:43,100 --> 00:35:46,100 capable of both giving life or taking life. 521 00:35:46,100 --> 00:35:50,200 The same goes with the heat that comes from blazing trials. 522 00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:52,700 Over those who profess faith in Jesus. 523 00:35:54,500 --> 00:35:58,300 In other words, suffering is a divine's means by which God 524 00:35:58,300 --> 00:36:04,000 either confirms genuine Faith or cancels the fake stuff. 525 00:36:07,500 --> 00:36:10,600 Why do people suffer what's God's intention with suffering 526 00:36:10,700 --> 00:36:16,000 many things? But for the True Believer there 527 00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:18,800 in a category on their own that no one else can share. 528 00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:22,500 James 1:2 tells us count it all joy. 529 00:36:22,500 --> 00:36:25,900 My brothers, when you meet Trials of various kinds of same 530 00:36:25,900 --> 00:36:30,400 word that he used in the parable trials when you meet trials, 531 00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:34,200 when you meet tests of various kinds for, you know, that the 532 00:36:34,200 --> 00:36:39,400 testing of your faith produces steadfastness, The same word is 533 00:36:39,400 --> 00:36:42,000 used here, and you know what, the brother of Jesus is saying 534 00:36:42,000 --> 00:36:47,600 you can be joyful when you are visited by the fierce heat of 535 00:36:47,600 --> 00:36:52,200 difficult Seasons, because if you're the real thing, it's only 536 00:36:52,200 --> 00:36:56,200 going to grow you. It's only going to stretch your 537 00:36:56,200 --> 00:36:58,200 soul. It's only going to bring you 538 00:36:58,200 --> 00:37:00,000 higher. It's only going to strengthen 539 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:04,400 you. But the same object that is 540 00:37:04,400 --> 00:37:11,200 willing to give life. Can also shrivel up unbelief, 541 00:37:12,500 --> 00:37:16,000 And shallow Faith. You know some people innocently 542 00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:19,600 say God allows suffering so that we can prove to him that we have 543 00:37:19,600 --> 00:37:21,500 faith. God knows what's already in you. 544 00:37:23,500 --> 00:37:27,400 If suffering does anything and it does a lot, it demonstrates 545 00:37:27,600 --> 00:37:30,000 to you that you have saving faith. 546 00:37:32,300 --> 00:37:34,100 That's why you could count it all joy. 547 00:37:36,100 --> 00:37:38,800 You know, I've had many conversations with people who 548 00:37:38,800 --> 00:37:42,400 doubt the Assurance of their salvation, but when I've done 549 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:45,500 inventory, of those people who have approached me genuinely 550 00:37:45,500 --> 00:37:47,800 concerned whether or not they are saved, I realized something. 551 00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:53,400 A lot of them were young. Either young and years or young 552 00:37:53,400 --> 00:37:56,900 in their journey in faith with the Lord. 553 00:37:57,800 --> 00:37:59,100 And I think there's something there. 554 00:38:00,900 --> 00:38:03,400 Because the longer you walk with the Lord, the more you're going 555 00:38:03,400 --> 00:38:07,700 to go through. You gonna get some scars, we 556 00:38:07,700 --> 00:38:10,900 live in a cruel cold world. And if you're walking according 557 00:38:10,900 --> 00:38:14,500 to the plan of God, he will allow things to happen in your 558 00:38:14,500 --> 00:38:18,300 life that doesn't feel good. And what's incredible is. 559 00:38:20,300 --> 00:38:25,600 You pull through, don't you? Ten years walking with the Lord, 560 00:38:25,600 --> 00:38:28,500 15 years, 20 years, 30 years, and I'm sure those who are 561 00:38:28,500 --> 00:38:31,400 seasoned Believers here. You have some stories to share 562 00:38:32,400 --> 00:38:35,200 You have seen some stuff you've been through some splits in the 563 00:38:35,200 --> 00:38:37,700 church. You've probably endured some 564 00:38:37,700 --> 00:38:39,200 kind of level of physical suffering. 565 00:38:39,200 --> 00:38:42,700 You have watched a loved one die before you. 566 00:38:44,600 --> 00:38:47,200 You've lost a job. You've lost lost friends and 567 00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:50,100 just one episode after the next and yet. 568 00:38:50,100 --> 00:38:53,900 Here you are. You still love him. 569 00:38:55,300 --> 00:38:57,900 You still trust him, you still worship Him, you still want to 570 00:38:57,900 --> 00:39:00,700 serve him? You still want to meet with him. 571 00:39:03,100 --> 00:39:07,600 and so whether you realize it or not, where you are today even 572 00:39:07,600 --> 00:39:12,100 though you went through, so much is a testament, Oh, that you 573 00:39:12,100 --> 00:39:15,900 have fertile, soil. And at the faith that is in. 574 00:39:15,900 --> 00:39:19,800 You is true Faith. It's genuine. 575 00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:24,200 It has really regenerated you and kept you. 576 00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:29,900 But those who have rocky soil Faith, they don't, they don't 577 00:39:29,900 --> 00:39:34,300 have that testimony. They're out the moment that they 578 00:39:34,300 --> 00:39:36,200 feel like there is a cost to this thing. 579 00:39:36,700 --> 00:39:39,000 They're out the moment, they realize that this is no longer a 580 00:39:39,008 --> 00:39:41,400 exciting, this is actually costly. 581 00:39:41,500 --> 00:39:45,500 This is actually painful. I didn't really understand all 582 00:39:45,500 --> 00:39:48,000 of this. When I said yes, initially. 583 00:39:50,800 --> 00:39:56,200 So trials. Remove them and they withered 584 00:39:56,200 --> 00:39:59,500 away. But not for the one who has 585 00:39:59,500 --> 00:40:03,900 endured. Enduring for a while, is not the 586 00:40:03,900 --> 00:40:10,500 same as enduring until the end. But as you continue to walk with 587 00:40:10,500 --> 00:40:13,300 the Lord, something happens to your confidence in God's saving 588 00:40:13,300 --> 00:40:17,700 work in your life because you go through things and you come out, 589 00:40:18,000 --> 00:40:25,300 loving him still I can imagine how this teaching might, cause 590 00:40:25,300 --> 00:40:29,000 some people who are hearing to be more shaken to be more 591 00:40:29,000 --> 00:40:30,300 assured in their faith. Right. 592 00:40:30,900 --> 00:40:32,900 And I understand where that's coming from because when you 593 00:40:32,900 --> 00:40:37,100 look at the rocky soil, they look so similar to the genuine 594 00:40:37,100 --> 00:40:40,300 Christian. And so questions can be running 595 00:40:40,300 --> 00:40:42,600 through your mind. How do I know if my joy is the 596 00:40:42,600 --> 00:40:45,200 real thing? How do I know if my testimony 597 00:40:45,200 --> 00:40:50,400 when I when I was broken? And so overwhelmed by the love 598 00:40:50,400 --> 00:40:54,800 of God, Tailored for me on the cross. 599 00:40:54,800 --> 00:40:58,600 How do I know if that was true? How do I know if I'm going to 600 00:40:58,600 --> 00:41:02,100 actually stand firm for Christ? When the temperature gets hot, 601 00:41:02,500 --> 00:41:06,800 and I actually have to, to say yes and it might cost me this or 602 00:41:06,800 --> 00:41:10,300 that or even my own life, how do I know if I won't turn back on 603 00:41:10,300 --> 00:41:12,600 him? That's, that's a legitimate 604 00:41:12,600 --> 00:41:16,000 concern. And my answer is not 605 00:41:16,000 --> 00:41:20,200 philosophical. It's not multiple choice. 606 00:41:20,200 --> 00:41:23,300 It's really easy. If those concerns cause you to 607 00:41:23,300 --> 00:41:28,000 throw yourself at Christ and beg him to make your roots deep. 608 00:41:29,600 --> 00:41:32,700 And be encouraged or you're listening to this Parable 609 00:41:32,700 --> 00:41:37,300 correctly. You're hearing, right? 610 00:41:40,100 --> 00:41:44,400 You see the rocky soil? Christian has a public display 611 00:41:44,400 --> 00:41:47,500 of Faith. The plant is above the bed of 612 00:41:47,500 --> 00:41:51,500 soil, but there is a lack of hiddenness. 613 00:41:52,100 --> 00:41:56,100 In other words, there is the absence of private Devotion to 614 00:41:56,100 --> 00:42:02,700 God, it's just not there. And if it is, it is extremely 615 00:42:02,900 --> 00:42:06,700 shallow. There is no communion with God 616 00:42:06,700 --> 00:42:08,700 and secret. There is no love and worship for 617 00:42:08,700 --> 00:42:11,800 God when you're alone. It's just here. 618 00:42:13,500 --> 00:42:15,400 And it's exciting, and it's great. 619 00:42:15,400 --> 00:42:18,200 And it's wonderful. And you benefit from other 620 00:42:18,200 --> 00:42:23,500 people's moisture. But there isn't a sense of a 621 00:42:23,500 --> 00:42:27,400 secret investment in your relationship with God, just like 622 00:42:27,400 --> 00:42:32,200 that plant that has very little to work with beyond the naked 623 00:42:32,200 --> 00:42:41,600 eye. so, let me say this in love If you're a person here who has 624 00:42:41,600 --> 00:42:45,700 a faith that is only seen by those in public, but deep down 625 00:42:45,700 --> 00:42:50,700 inside, you know, that you have no depth in your spiritual life. 626 00:42:50,700 --> 00:42:52,700 You have. Every reason to be concerned, 627 00:42:53,300 --> 00:42:58,400 you do, I'm just being honest with you, you do You have every 628 00:42:58,400 --> 00:43:00,700 reason to be worried. That's the point of this 629 00:43:00,700 --> 00:43:03,900 parable. Are you shallow, is it real 630 00:43:03,900 --> 00:43:08,800 beyond the surface is there evidence of roots and and Roots, 631 00:43:08,800 --> 00:43:12,800 going deeper and deeper. And if not, you should be afraid 632 00:43:13,700 --> 00:43:18,200 you should. We already saw in the past few 633 00:43:18,200 --> 00:43:20,400 years. What has happened to Big Time 634 00:43:20,700 --> 00:43:27,200 pastors and churches. When the son of persecution, and 635 00:43:27,200 --> 00:43:30,200 tribulation test have arose over our nation. 636 00:43:32,500 --> 00:43:38,500 The deafening silence in the Evangelical world, when abortion 637 00:43:38,500 --> 00:43:40,700 was overturned was very concerning to me. 638 00:43:42,000 --> 00:43:51,600 Very concerning to me. and so, as we prepared to partake, I 639 00:43:51,607 --> 00:43:56,500 want to just end the way Peter ended his Second Epistle and 640 00:43:56,500 --> 00:43:58,400 just listen to these words, you don't have to turn there. 641 00:43:59,200 --> 00:44:05,800 Second Peter 3:17. You therefore beloved knowing 642 00:44:05,800 --> 00:44:07,600 this beforehand, take care of that. 643 00:44:07,600 --> 00:44:11,800 You are not carried away with the error of Lawless people and 644 00:44:11,800 --> 00:44:17,400 lose your own stability. He's talking to Christians. 645 00:44:18,500 --> 00:44:22,500 At least professing Christians beloved, don't lose your own 646 00:44:22,500 --> 00:44:29,800 stability. but look at Verse 18, but grow You want to know how 647 00:44:29,800 --> 00:44:33,900 you can minimize the risk of losing your own stability, Verse 648 00:44:33,900 --> 00:44:36,900 18, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and 649 00:44:36,900 --> 00:44:41,700 Savior, Jesus Christ. Grow to him, be the glory both 650 00:44:41,700 --> 00:44:46,100 now, and to the day of eternity. Amen. 651 00:44:46,800 --> 00:44:52,200 Amen. The rocky soil should not be 652 00:44:52,200 --> 00:44:54,200 confused with the genuine believer. 653 00:44:54,200 --> 00:44:58,200 I think I need to say this and I hope it helps. who does endure 654 00:44:58,200 --> 00:45:04,100 trials, but struggles And has intrusive thoughts that are 655 00:45:04,100 --> 00:45:07,200 contrary to thoughts of faith and love and Devotion to Christ, 656 00:45:07,700 --> 00:45:10,900 that is not the same. You and I will go through 657 00:45:10,900 --> 00:45:15,200 challenges and you, and I will have moments even like Jeremiah 658 00:45:15,200 --> 00:45:17,300 who said, am I being deceived here? 659 00:45:18,600 --> 00:45:21,800 I'm serving you and it's it's just I don't understand. 660 00:45:21,800 --> 00:45:23,700 I don't know if I really signed up for this, that's what 661 00:45:23,700 --> 00:45:27,000 Jeremiah essentially said and he was still a true servant of God. 662 00:45:30,200 --> 00:45:37,200 This kind of soil is so easy to turn on Christ is so quick to do 663 00:45:37,200 --> 00:45:40,800 it. So if you're wrestling and 664 00:45:40,800 --> 00:45:46,600 you're plowing through and you know down deep inside that he 665 00:45:46,600 --> 00:45:49,800 has the words of eternal life and there's nowhere, you can go 666 00:45:49,800 --> 00:45:53,300 even though it some nights you feel like I think I want to go. 667 00:45:57,900 --> 00:46:01,400 He's with you. And he is for you. 668 00:46:02,900 --> 00:46:05,600 And he is near you even in those dark moments. 669 00:46:10,500 --> 00:46:20,000 Lord, we thank you. For this word. and we ask that 670 00:46:20,000 --> 00:46:23,800 as we come to this table, We would realize. 671 00:46:25,100 --> 00:46:30,100 That it is not upon our works. That we have Assurance, we do 672 00:46:30,107 --> 00:46:35,500 not rest in our efforts, Lord, we look to these elements and 673 00:46:35,500 --> 00:46:37,800 remember that it is what you have done for us. 674 00:46:38,300 --> 00:46:43,100 And yes, with joy, we celebrate and yes with excitement. 675 00:46:45,300 --> 00:46:50,700 We Revive Our confession of Faith to you and our trust in 676 00:46:50,707 --> 00:46:52,500 the finished work of Jesus Christ. 677 00:46:53,200 --> 00:46:55,500 Lord help us with the right Hearts. 678 00:46:56,700 --> 00:47:04,400 Observe this and may it nourish us a fresh to be strong and 679 00:47:04,400 --> 00:47:08,500 secure. In our walk with you. 680 00:47:09,500 --> 00:47:12,300 This is our desire and our prayer in Jesus name. 681 00:47:12,800 --> 00:47:13,300 Amen.