We're in a new chapter today in Mark, so meet me in the gospel
of Mark in chapter 4. Mark chapter 4.
But this past Friday and Sunday has been filled with exuberance
singing. So I'm so blessed to be under
your voices this afternoon. I hope you feel that same
blessing, Mark chapter 4, please, and we're starting
together in verse 1. I'm going to read these verses.
And then together, we're just going to Bow our heads again,
our hearts before God, and ask him to help us understand these
verses. Mark 41.
Again, he began to teach beside the sea and a very large crowd
gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on
the sea. And the whole crowd was beside
the Sea on the land, and he was teaching them, many things in
Parables. And in his teaching he said to
them. Listen behold A sower went out
to sow and as he sowed some seed fell among the path and the
birds came and devoured. It Other seed fell on Rocky
ground where it did not have much soil and immediately it
sprang up since it had no depth of soil.
And when the sun rose it was scorched and since it had no
root it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns and
the Thorns grew up and choked it and it yielded no grain and
other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain growing up
and increasing and yielding 30 fold.
And V and a hundredfold. And he said, he who has ears to
hear, Let Him hear. Father, give us ears to hear
help us. Listen we just ask, oh, God,
that these next few messages and the next few weeks would be
life-altering. It would be the pivotal point of
many. Who would desire to be good soil
for your seat to have its fullest effect in our lives.
Lord, have your way in the service.
Oh Lord move in great power. O Lord, be magnified as this
word is delivered and more importantly received with
eagerness and obedience, this is our desire in Jesus name we
pray, amen. The parable thesaurus. some
would say, the parable of the soils, Is one of the most
notable and remembered Parables, not just in the ministry of
Jesus Christ, been all of scripture, it is recorded in
three of the four gospel accounts.
And it is one of the few parabolic lessons that Jesus
interprets himself many of The Parables.
Jesus does not go out of his way to expose it like we see here.
For those who are unfamiliar with this Parable, all you have
to do is read on and the rest of the chapter to see Jesus has
undeniably clear explanation of what he's trying to convey with
these words. But the summary is very easy,
it's as follows, there is a sower who scatters seed that
seed is the word of God. And there are four different
types of soils which speaks of the different conditions of the
heart of man who Unto the word of God differently.
And then there is the soar himself.
Who is anybody? Who is a faithful witness to the
Gospel of Jesus Christ, and seeks to scatter that truth into
the hearts of men. That seems like a very
straightforward message, but the purpose behind the message is
much more profound. Why is it that the Lord Jesus at
this particular moment while he sits on a boat by the shore,
facing a sea of people? Why is it that?
Now he is intentionally using this teaching Style with this
specific, Parable? You and I will expound on that.
In the coming weeks, there are many reasons why Jesus is using
what we know as Parables. He has more than one objective
in mind and you and I will Stand that in the coming days, but at
this particular moment, Jesus Christ is teaching about this.
This lesson in order to prepare his disciples and advance.
About how the majority of the Jewish people will reject him.
Already the religious and the spiritual and the political
rather establishments have have made their public rejection of
Jesus known. They were on a campaign to
discredit his name and that was just the beginning of the
growing number of Jewish Brethren who will join in their
outright denial of the son of God.
And so in part, the Lord presents this truth
strategically right after the Pharisees are saying he's
possessed with the Devil. So that he can help his very
likely struggling disciples who can't seem to grasp the mixed
reviews from the nation of Israel.
With the arrival of the Messiah who came with undeniable
Authority, undeniable power undeniable Miracles and it will
not just help the disciples understand it will help the
modern sower of the seed of the Gospel.
Also Have you ever wondered? How is it that anyone can reject
something as good as free as wonderful as our gospel?
Have you ever thought or have you ever struggled with?
Seeing somebody who with great enthusiasm embrace.
The gospel only for a few weeks to go by or months or even years
to shrink back and return to their old ways as though they
have never met Christ. This Parable is for you, these
teachings are for any serious disciple of Jesus, who longs to
make more Disciples of Jesus Christ.
But when you look at this, you have to understand that this
Parable is also meant to Target a ton decisive.
Out one who is standing in the Gap.
Not just followers of Jesus Christ because look at Jesus
words, in verse 3, the first one listen, Listen, this is how he
begins his Parable, pay attention.
It's almost as though while he's sitting on that boat.
There's a crowd of people and some are may be distracted.
Some are maybe looking at their sandal summer, wondering what
they're going to do after the service.
So Jesus observing his audience as hey, pay attention.
And then he ends his teaching by saying the very famous phrase.
He who has ears to hear, Let Him hear.
Why? Because it would be a mistake to
believe that the parable of the sower is some kind of commentary
that is an unchangeable decree of the state of men.
It's not like Jesus using this Parable to say, you know, here
you got some men who are like this, some men who are like
that. Some men are like this and
that's just the way it is. So just you gonna have to deal
with it. I'm just kind of giving you an
Insight, how people respond to the preaching of God's word,
know what Jesus is doing, is using this Parable to provoke
personal reflection He wants his listeners, he wants his audience
to understand that this description of the, the hearts
of men is to stir them to, to make an individual assessment of
which soil they are. And if they're not in the one
that supposed to bear fruit, that they themselves would make
that change as an Act of Faith. So again this is not this is not
just some decree that this is how men are and if you're if
you're there you're there were sorry.
No he wants the listeners to lean in so that they can they
can examine themselves and say well which one am I what you and
I and therefore in the same way Jesus challenges immediate on,
its I challenge you and this afternoon I Look to You and I
say, listen, Pay attention. Because in the next four weeks,
we are going to explore each of these soils on their separate
days. We're not going to have a
general overview of this message.
Every single week, we are going to hear about these different
class of people. And you are, if you are serious
about the condition of your soul, will examine yourself and
say, well, which one am I? Which one do I identify with the
most? And that you would make the
appropriate changes by the grace of God, to make sure that you
are in the will of God. You and I will not rush over
this, you know why? As much as we might be familiar
with this Parable, I'm sure most of us in here.
Can rehearse it by heart and even explain it in great detail.
But I don't want us to run through this and I'll tell you
why go to verse 13 of Mark chapter 4 and look at the words
of Jesus and he said to them. Do you not understand this
parable? How then will you understand all
the parables? It's obvious here that the Lord
is saying it in order to have access to further Revelation,
namely Parables. You have to comprehend this one.
This is foundational. This is not this is not optional
here, this is not just a random. This is absolutely fundamental
to receiving subsequent revelation of who Jesus is and
what his kingdom is all about. If you and I can't master this
one, there is no hope for us to understand what Jesus has to say
after it because everything else that he will teach will be built
upon these truths. And why is that the case?
Because this Parable deals with the essential truths of the
Gospel of Salvation, in the can't get any more basic than
that. And so, why run the risk of
having a shallow understanding of this Parable?
When this is the key to knowing more parables, You know what
else is more interesting? You find this teaching in
Matthew and in Luke, not in John.
John is very unique in comparison to the other gospel
writers, but you find it in Matthew, you find it in Luke.
But what you won't find is the same statement that we just read
and the other accounts, this declaration of the importance of
this Parable. And I thought to myself, why is
that the case? And I think here is one reason
why because marks goal, as you know, is depicting Jesus as the
great sir. Of God, the perfect servant of
God, but not only that, not only to Portrait us for us.
Jesus being the Fulfillment of the law, him obeying, all that
God had said for him to do. But he's also our model for
service. We look to him as our example of
how we ought to serve the Lord. And so it's fitting for this
statement of how important this Parable is for us, who are
Servants of God. Because these truths about the
the seed and how people respond to it, will Aid us to not grow
weary. They will encourage us and
motivate us to remain faithful regardless of how men respond to
the gospel. They will also Shield us from
unnecessary self-criticism. And they will even keep us from
being tempted from tampering with the seed in order for us to
create more observable results. This is important for us
practically. In fact, that is one of the main
points of this parable. The reason people reject the
gospel not is not because there is something wrong with this see
that the master has placed in our hands but because of the
quality of the soil of men's hearts, So let us Begin by
looking at the first type of soil that Jesus speaks of and
draw as much as we can from. So let me say it again.
Listen. Listen, pay attention.
This one might be about you. It could be about you wouldn't
you want to know if Jesus is speaking about you this
afternoon? Verse 3 and 4, let's revisit it.
Listen. Behold A sower went out to sow
and as he sowed some seeds fell along the path and the birds
came and devoured. It, thankfully, you and I don't
have to spend too much time trying to decode what Jesus
meant by this first description, about this first, class of hers,
because he will illuminate it in the coming versus.
But just from a first reading we already can can have an idea of
what Jesus is alluding to with this.
Illustration. He says here that the sower
sowed along the path, some of the seed, fell along the path
you can, you can identify this group of people as the Wayside
soil. Now, it doesn't help when we
think of it in modern ideas, because back in Jesus day Fields
were wide open to public access. There would be paths and Roads,
very, very near and sometimes even through these fields, which
would invite foot traffic. And when invite travelers to
come by, remember when Jesus and his disciples, they walk through
the fields and they were picking the grain.
That was normal in this time there wasn't fences and there
weren't electric wires to protect the field.
No, it was, it was much more accessible and this day.
And so what would happen while these paths these dirt roads
would be would be stepped on and then compounded over time until
they became like pavement. And Jesus has this in mind when
he speaks about this particular soil.
He's saying there are people who will respond to the seed and the
same way that the paths that, you know, of that become almost
like cement over time. And you and I can just imagine
what happens to the seed when it does come into contact with with
such soil, it bounces right off and it lies on the surface and
it just rests there it's unable to penetrate.
It does not make its way into it doesn't enter it just visits.
and in like manner, there are many who have hearts who react
to the gospel with similar hardness Listen.
Yeah, there you are. Such people have no room for a
reception. No room for meditation.
No room for consideration for divine truth.
No matter who or no matter how the gospel is delivered to them.
They are quick to shut the truth out and refused to give a moment
further of inquiry. Such people can come in and out
of meetings like this one and be totally unmoved.
Totally unstirred. When they hear these glories,
about who Jesus is and what he's done and regardless of The
Passion of the preacher, regardless of the power of the
spirit, that can be felt such people.
Remain the same and just like the birds of the air.
They are ready. To move on as though nothing had
happened. Even to begin with.
They can hear the truth and walk away as though nothing was said
to them. And here's where it gets more,
interesting. Here's where it gets really,
really interesting. When Jesus goes on to expound on
this soil, he includes a detail that is not emphasized in any
other type of soil and so come down to verse 15.
And these are the ones. So now Jesus in the latter
portion is interpreting what these soils mean.
And now he's on the first one and he says here and these are
the ones along the path where the word is sown.
When they hear Satan immediately comes and takes away the word
that is sewn in them. Aha.
That is Paramount that is massive in our understanding of
this Jesus reveals how Satan is so directly involved with the
transaction of Truth and receiving truth.
As much as God is at work in these moments even now.
So is the devil And the fact that Mark uses the word,
immediate means that he is near. He is not far, he's very close,
his work is quick because he is in a sense.
In our midst. Satan immediately comes and
takes away the word that is shown in them.
Jesus reveals something that we know as spiritual warfare and
Paul says it in his own way. Obviously, by the spirit and
second Corinthians 4:4 in their case, the God of this world has
blinded the minds of unbelievers.
The god little G. There is no God like Jehovah,
not capital G, he's not in. Equal to God.
But there is a ruler in this world and he is invisible and he
is powerful. And their case, the God of this
world has blinded the minds of unbelievers that they may not
see the light of the glory of the gospel of Christ.
Who is the image of God? Satan has one ambition in this
life, one ambition. And that is to strategically
derail Souls from even getting a glimpse of the glory of Jesus
Christ. Namely in his saving work on the
cross, and he will do everything that he can.
To make sure that you would not even have an opportunity to be
exposed to such wonderful light. And so he has many ways of doing
this. That is not to say that Sinners
are mere victims of Satan's strategies.
What it means though, is that the wicked one constantly aims
to drive Sinners into deeper Darkness, our hearts already
dark but the enemy wants to make sure to bury you to bury you and
such a depth of clouded vision and distraction.
So that as much as he can, if even it would happen that the
light would come by, your way, it would have little effect on
your callous. Soul.
And so he seeks to Blind and he does this by either trying to
prematurely invite you into sin and maybe you'll kill yourself
in the process and if you can't do that then then he is
satisfied with just distracting. You long enough with seemingly
innocent toys. And ambitions.
So that you would not even give a thought to life after death.
And this is why I partly believe, why all men are capable
of responding to the gospel or else.
Why would Satan make any effort? Why would the scripture record
any type of effort on Satan's part to try to keep men from
being influenced by the gospel? This is why the enemy absolutely
hates the proclamation of the truth, because it is through the
proclamation of the truth. That those who have been caked
in their vision from seeing such wonders of Grace, It's through
what Jesus told, Paul and acts 26:18.
He commission's him to preach and you know what?
He says, Paul, I'm raising you up.
I've chosen you, I have selected.
You and acts 26:18 to open their eyes.
To open their eyes so that they may turn from Darkness to light.
And from the power of Satan to God, what is the means by which
somebody who is blinded comes to receive miraculous vision?
Ambassadors of Jesus Christ Faithfully.
Proclaiming that gospel. That is how it's done.
It's very simple. We don't have to complicate this
whole thing that they may receive forgiveness of sins and
a place among those who are Sanctified by faith in me.
So, you have Satan roaming. Strategizing planning creating
inventing ways to do one thing and that's to keep men from
seeing the glory of Jesus Christ.
The very same eyes that I've been blinded by him can be
opened by the truth declared through us.
Now, if that is the case, then how do we reconcile Jesus
teaching, how Satan is able to take that seed.
And this truth that when people are in the presence of the
Gospel, their eyes can be open. Is it because is it because
Satan is very powerful. Is it?
Because he is, he is able to obstruct, is he's able to
hijack? Well, yes or no.
Remember one of the goals of this, Parable is not just to
explain why it is certain people reject the truth.
Jesus gives this Parable to also expose to expose and to unveil
why some people won't believe and they are responsible for it.
They are responsible for it. Because Satan will not overcome,
your will. He can just influence it?
And in a giving this Parable, he is letting his audience know.
Hey, there is, there is a vicious foe who would love to
drag you to hell with him? Do you realize that that's what
Jesus is saying? In part?
There is a there is a Satan who really wants to make sure you
don't even get to hear what I have to say to you and hopefully
people really listen. They would seek to escape from
that Dreadful place. Is.
Listen. You know, I looked at this and I
thought to myself, okay, well, it's clear, there are men's
whose hearts are hard. You know why your heart is hard
because you've allowed the world to beat you down with its lies,
and it's hurts and it's pains and it's ugly ways.
And you come into a place like this and I'm preaching to, you
know, what's happening? That's what's happening.
And you're the easiest Target for the devil.
The easiest he just comes by and goes look at this.
And he puts it away to ensure that you would never think about
the truth. That you just heard that Sunday
afternoon. But how does he do it?
How does Satan? How does he pluck?
That seed from people's hearts? Well, I'll tell you how he
doesn't do it in this way. Some would say he does it by
making men fearful through the threat of persecution.
That is true, but remember Jesus uses that for the second type of
soil. It's the rocky soil that
received the truth excitingly at first, but they wither away
because persecution comes well, maybe it's through the lies of
possessions and and pleasure. And Tease.
Maybe that's how he snatches the seat away and I would say, yeah.
But I don't think that's what Jesus has in mind because that's
how he uses. That's what he uses to describe
the third type of soil, the thorny soil, that that chokes
chokes. Some of you are choking even
though you're breathing. We'll get to that in a few
weeks. You're breathing physically by
your spirit is dying. So, so it can't mean that it's
through the threat of persecution because he mentions
that in the next type of soil. It can't mean through pleasure,
priority, or anything else in terms of the material world
because he mentions that in the third type of soil.
So then, what does the Lord have in mind?
When he says that Satan has a way of snatching that seed from
your heart? I believe it's to reveal a
different kind of strategy that you and I don't think of often.
And the only way you and I actually going to get the
answers is when we compare this version of the parable of the
sower with the two other ones. So meet me in Luke chapter 8, if
you want to know how Satan does this.
And Luke chapter 8. Let's read in verse 4.
Luke 84. And when a great crowd was
gathering and people from town, after town came to him, he said
in a parable. Listen, that's not there, I'm
just telling you to listen. Listen, yeah.
Listen verse 5. A sower went out to sow his seed
and as he sowed some fell along the path and was Trampled Under
Foot. and the birds of the air devoured, it The holy spirit in
Luke's version adds how men before the the birds.
The Demonic Agents come to take away the seed.
Men will trample underfoot the seed that was scattered along
their path. What is it mean?
For men to trample underfoot the seed that was scattered along
their path was very simple. Right?
If I put something of value here in this space, And Men walk on
it. What does that reveal about the
man? They're inattentive at best,
they're careless. Disrespectful.
And indifferent. I believe this is what Jesus has
in mind. That in essence, Satan is most
effective with those who have an irreverence for the word of God.
Who treated as worthless, who don't see its value and who can
just walk over it as though, it was nothing. and when Satan sees
a man or a woman with such an attitude, this is this is a
piece of cake, he takes that truth and steals it from that
person. If you doubt that, this is what
Jesus has in mind. Sometimes it helps to go into
the word to see what it means. The phrase Trampled Under Foot
is one work, in one word in the Greek.
It's one word in the Greek and its capital.
You don't need to memorize that just memorize.
What I'm about to say, cut the potatoes only mentioned 5 times
in the New Testament, once in the sermon of the mount.
When Jesus says that if men lose their saltiness, the only thing
that's left is for them to be trampled upon by other men.
And what Jesus meant there is that if a Christian loses, his
testimony because of sin because of hypocrisy all that a watching
world will do is just walk all over them.
That's why when you hear of a I do love a big-time preacher.
We see our news and our tabloids eat it up and they're doing
exactly what Jesus said would do you lose your saltiness, your
trampled upon by men? Two other times in the sermon
and the parable of the sower, one other time.
In Luke chapter 12 when men were physically trampling on one
another, when they were attending one of Jesus meetings
and there is a final one. We already mentioned for there
is a last one where this word capitao trampled upon is
mentioned turn their Hebrews 10:29.
How does Satan snatch the seed of the word from people?
So that it doesn't even enter into their hearts?
You know how number one he inspires and in reverence for
the word of God and Hebrews 10:29, how much worse punishment
do you think? Will be deserved by the one who
has trampled underfoot? The Son of God and as profaned
the blood of the Covenant by which he was Sanctified and has
outraged the spirit of Grace, that's the same word trampled
underfoot. What is he trying to say?
The Hebrew author is writing to Hebrew Christians, who have left
Judaism for the true gospel. But because of persecution now,
they want to shrink back and go back to the levitical law, a
Salvation by works. And the spirit of God through
this man is saying, listen, if you Turn on Christ, if you go
back to animal sacrifices, if you go back to Works based
salvation, you are essentially stepping all over the Son of God
himself. And you see this picture
throughout the Bible? You remember on the first
Passover? Do you not?
Then when the Lord told the nation of Israel who were
enslaved in Egypt, I'm going to get you out, but I'm going to
send a destroy to do it. He's gonna kill all the
firstborns. So, take the blood of the lamb
and smear on the lintel, and on the doorpost and hide underneath
that blood. Interestingly, he never gave
instruction to put it on the ground.
Cover everything above you but don't you dare put it on the
ground as a prophetic picture that you should have this utmost
reverence for the blood of Christ as it has authority over.
You never under you. And so, in some sense, the
author here is using that same imagery.
You are essentially, you're just stepping all over Jesus.
When you say, I don't want this gospel after the Great Lengths
of Mercy that he is implemented to save your soul.
And so when Jesus says in Luke 8 that some seed fell along a path
and it was trampled underfoot, this is an Essence.
What he is communicating it means that they were
disrespectful to the word of God and attentive under estimating
the life-giving power that it has and such people.
I like sitting ducks to the devil.
Is that you? Is that you today?
What's this preaching doing to you right now?
What are these words doing to you?
Hmm. It could be you and you're
unaware it because your attention is diverted even as I
speak. Let me briefly, share how Satan,
inspires irreverence for the word of God.
Preparing People to give up the seed of truth that can save them
apart from our culture creating This normalization, and more
than that, a Blasphemous approach and attitude towards
Jesus, by using his name, as a cuss word and creating movies
and plays that degrade Christ and making the Lord's Day,
increasingly more and more, just like any other day.
I've seen that over the years, I remember I don't remember, I was
maybe I do, but there was a day when no stores were open on
Sunday. Remember that day?
No stores were open on Sunday and then stores open till 5:00.
And I remember in college when they announced because I used to
work at the mall that now store hours are going to go till 9:00
till closing like any other weekday.
Why do you think that is? Do we need more money?
or is the Lord's Day increasingly becoming ordinary.
one about besides that one of the favorite weapons of Satan
distracting people so that they cannot receive The truth.
Is by distracting them. And he's very clever.
Because it's much more difficult to walk and pay attention to
what's ahead of you when your senses are not on alert.
Remember the demon eyes man in Mark chapter 1, while Jesus was
preaching in a people were stirred ready to praise
manifestation of a devil from a man.
Why do you think that was? You know why?
Because there's there's power and distraction or we think of
Ellie mass in Acts 13 when Paul and Barnabas are preaching to
the proconsul. And here's this man in the
presence of these missionaries. Trying to persuade the
proconsul. Not to believe what is being
said. Satan, as we heard in Mark, can
immediately snatch the seed which?
Which tells me that he's at work here?
and every time that we gather, And I've seen it from the
pulpit. I've seen it.
I've seen people being intentionally distracting or
distracted. I've seen people lean in to
other people and whispering in their ears.
Not saying, don't believe what that preacher saying is true,
although, that can happen. But you know, vain conversations
jokes. Texting each other and sending
memes to each other. While the word is being
preached. Because distraction is much more
prevalent than it was in Jesus day, with these things that we
call devices, right? Facebook and Instagram,
Snapchat, these colorful, and engaging things.
Have been the means to steal a lot of seed.
Over the years, I can tell you that I don't know how it's
possible but it's possible. You have people who can scroll
through social media while the Holy unadulterated life-saving
Soul preserving truth is being heralded.
Innocent right. Just like little birds are cute
and innocent to stealing the seed.
Stealing the seed. And if you can't do it during
the service, he is more than willing to do it the night
before. Right the night before.
I know there's some here who work all night Saturday and
sometimes into the morning and they arrived here and they fight
all that, they can to make sure that they are engaging.
And to you, I say may the Lord bless you.
May the Lord bless you. I'm not here to hammer anybody
who does that. I'm speaking about those who
have a choice of what they do on Saturday night before they come
to the house of God on Sunday morning, he'll convince you
ahead of time that what is happening here is not worth you
being rested or prepared. He loves sloppy churchgoers.
On Sunday, afternoon or Sunday morning.
He loves it. Remember, I told you there was a
day when stores weren't open on Sundays, you know, there was a
day when families would get their outfits ready on Saturday
night for Sunday morning. Maybe some of you grew up that
way there was a day. Where you would eat breakfast.
And have something to fill your stomach before coming to the
house of God. So that while a spiritual Feast
is being provided. You're not thinking about which
restaurant you want to go to after the service during the
whole time. There was a day.
And so the enemy knows how to create a sense of irreverence by
making us. Inattentive careless sloppy and
I know what you may be thinking. I thought this was about souls
being saved, brother, I'm saved. I'm already among the redeemed
now that is true. But do you really think that the
enemy will allow you? To grow in the word of God and
mature in the word of got. You think, you think the birds
are just reserved for those who have never been saved?
You don't think that there is a plan even after that to make
sure that the word doesn't get in you in a deeper way.
I've seen this in evangelism. I've seen this in evangelism
when we should do Street evangelism week.
After week I've seen it in so many ways.
I'll never forget the time when a group of us went to go in the
streets of downtown Toronto, there was a Street Preacher
there and as he was preaching, the corner a crowd was
gathering. People would, I was shocked to
see the amount of people was like, Wow.
And in the middle of the Proclamation, all you heard is a
scuffle and two men out of nowhere.
I don't know where they came from, and I don't know where
they went after that. They start hitting each other in
the face, and they start fighting.
And the entire crowd turned away from the preacher and went to go
watch the fight. And those two men just ran off.
It was so strange. I've seen people witnessing to
others on the street one-on-one and in the middle of that,
transaction of Truth, a homeless man will step in the middle and
scream at the top of his lungs. Seen it.
I've seen it out there unfortunately at times, I see it
even in here. The enemy knows how to create an
irreverence which I which I take to mean that as a church, we
have a responsibility to cultivate an atmosphere of
reverence for God. You know I'm saying?
There should be a reverence in this place and that's that's
that's in great part. The leaderships role to ensure
that the people of God are stepping into a place where this
is sacred. This is Holy.
And that's increasingly, not the case.
Where there is a growing trend of irreverence of casual
approach in the Lord's supper, and the preaching of God's word
and worship. I've seen strange things during
worship. I've seen couples kissing during
worship. I've seen people distracted in
so many ways during worship, but I could not believe what I was
seeing some places. And so there is a great
responsibility for us to protect this place as much as it depends
on us to ensure that there is nothing that Satan can use to
strengthen his efforts. To rob that seed.
I remember I was invited to speak somewhere.
So, young preacher, still am. I guess early 20s never been to
this church and I was downstairs and they called me up to come up
before a certain time. And so I grabbed my stuff I was
in my room by myself and I was heading upstairs.
And somebody was praying, I was coming in from outside.
There was a door, but there was a deacon, I guess at the door.
And while the person was praying, I heard the person
praying and I thought well he's you know, I walk in and I'll
just so I was making my way into the service and the Deacon
stopped me. He says we're praying.
Sweet. Instant conviction.
Here's the preacher preaching. Hoping to convince people I'm
convicted by the deacon at the door.
So yeah, you're right. We are praying, I guess, and
there was a sense of reverence that visited me in that moment
we're speaking to almighty God. We're turning our attention to
him. One of the ways by which Satan
steals the word. According to Luke chapter 8
verse 5 is he finds men who can easily trampled on the seed.
But there's a second way and it's found in gospel.
The gospel of Matthew Chapter 13.
Let's turn it together. Matthew 13:18.
Matthew 13, 18 reads in the same parable.
Here then the parable, the swallower, when anyone hears the
word of the kingdom and does not understand it.
The evil one comes and snatches away.
What has been sown in his heart? This is what was sown along the
path. Luke touches on how the enemy is
able to rob people of the truth by inspiring and irreverence and
inattentiveness that is caused. By various means, Matthew has
something very similar to say but it is slightly different.
He adds a danger and He suggests that those who hear it.
And Understand, it are equally in trouble, but what does that
mean to not understand it? I don't think it means that
somebody is hearing it, but because of a deficiency in the
message, they can't make the connection and their minds.
Therefore, they walk away and the enemy's able to play with
their minds. I don't believe that's what's
happening here to not. Understand means to hear it too.
Yes, not understand it, but further to have it disinterest
in grasping, the implications of that truth.
Leaving somebody vulnerable to satanic influence.
It's more about this laziness or this, this failure to realize
the urgency of what is being said, that puts that person in
jeopardy. It's not again.
That the gospel is not understood logically
irrationally. It's that though it may seem to
be a mystery. That person's response is a
failure to act upon that truth to inquire of that truth.
Placing them. Add Satan's disposal.
So, I believe that what Matthew is touching on is not so much
distraction as much as procrastination.
There is a delay here, there is a stagnation.
There is this refusal to move quickly?
Because of a, because of a heart posture.
That doesn't see how serious this messages, or this seed is
when Providence passes our way and throws a seed along our
path. The devil is right there hoping
that we will not move and take a hold of what was made known to
us so that he can get his slimy hands on it.
That we would never examine that truth for ourselves.
So if you brush off the necessity, you brush off, the
urgency of knowing the interpretation and the
implication of what is being said.
You're in trouble, all hearers are responsible for what they
hear and God will hold us all responsible for what truth has
been made to know to us. Too dangerous game to play.
And so there are those who don't understand it because they don't
care to understand it, they don't care to listen, they don't
care to have ears to hear. And they may be delayed.
Why would the enemy try to come in immediately unless he
believes that if that thing sits on the surface of their hearts,
long enough, maybe maybe they will actually look at it and
start examining it and doing something with it.
So even in this moment, there has to be an understanding of
how serious this is. And to be in that place is a
really safe place to not be in that place is extremely
dangerous according to the words of Jesus.
Now here's how I want to end. I want to show you an example of
somebody who does the opposite of what this soil represents.
It's only found in the gospel of Mark.
And Jesus statement to this man is only found in the gospel of
Mark and it's an encouraging word as much as it is.
A word of warning. Here's our final text.
Mark chapter 12, let's go there together.
Mark 12. This man who is a scribe?
Verse 28 of Mark 12 and one of the scribes came up and heard
them disputing with one another and seeing that he answered
them. Well asked him.
So now you have a man approaching Jesus and he asks a
question, which commandment is the most important of all?
Jesus answered? You know this answer, right?
The most important is hear o Israel.
The Lord Our God. The Lord is one and you shall
love the Lord, your God with all your heart and with all your
soul, with all your mind. And with all your strength, the
second is this you shall love your neighbor as Yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these and the
scribes set them and notice the response Of The Scribe you are
right? Teacher you have truly said that
he is one and there is no other besides him and to love him with
all the heart. And with all the understanding,
and with all the strength and to love ones neighbor, as oneself,
his much more than that, all burnt offerings, whole burnt
offerings and sacrifices Do you see this man?
I want you to pay attention to what's happening.
He's in the presence of a sower. There's Solar Capital s.
A truth was made known. Yes, he inquired and you're
almost in question, right? Is he doing this out of just
spite, is he doing this to trap Jesus?
So he asks a question. Jesus responds with accuracy as
he always does. And then the man's response to
the truth. That was planted, Reveals the
sincerity of his soul and he goes.
Yeah, you're right. That is that is the greatest
commandment and the second one is close to it and you can tell
that he's locked in. That is not how somebody who has
the first type of soil response to truth.
They get right up and they walk right out as though, divine
revelation was not just exposed. And then they can go on exactly
how they came in without any contemplation of where they
stand before. God This man is showing the
opposite attitude and notice how Jesus answers that's the proof.
Verse 34. And when Jesus saw that he
answered wisely, he said to him, you are not far from the kingdom
of God. I love that answer.
Jesus looks at this man, he hears the the Deep interest, the
engagement, the Longing, To Know, truth the softness of the
heart, and Jesus confidently said to him, you're very close.
You're very close. You're not there yet.
You're at the doorstep though. And I bring that truth of the
perilous or and I shine light up on this with it to say that this
man if Satan is right there immediately take it, this man
gave little room for Satan to work with him.
Because that's truth was revealed.
He's inquiring he's seeking he's, he's meditating.
He's engaging, he's died. Logging would truth, he want.
He wants to know the truth and say there's my mirror.
I can't do. I can't do much here.
And Jesus says you're very close.
You're very close. I wonder if this man will be in
heaven. We don't know.
But as much as this is a compliment, it's also a word of
warning because clothes is not close enough.
Need to be in, you need to be secure and you need to be
sealed. You need to have your name
signed up so to speak and so I wonder if you're in this place
today and you can identify with the first type of soil is that
you a lot of seed has been sown this afternoon what's happening
to it? Only, you know.
Only you know, which I am somewhat relieved.
Because the sower went out to sow, it's not my job necessary
to know what kind of heart you have just like this, or I
scatter the seed just like you Faithful disciple of Jesus.
You scatter the seed, that's your job and men have the
responsibility to do what they would want with that seed and
God will hold them accountable for it.
You know, Jesus share this shares his truth again.
Not because there are some who have this sealed fate.
Of a heart that cannot be changed or moved by the truth.
It's to have you listen And here and say is that me?
Is that me? God, I don't want it to be me.
Oh god, Till the soil. Plow through this heart.
Whatever you need to do for it to be fluffy, whatever you need
it to do for it to be soft. So that, that seed can can
germinate and bring forth the life that you've ordained for
me. Old God, do it.
If that is you, if that's how you're responding to what I'm
saying today because you don't know, Jesus Christ.
I can Echo the words of Jesus and say you're not too far from
the kingdom of God. But I wonder how much of the
city this afternoon. Will be walked on.
May not be so. Lord, we thank you for this
word. You know who in this place knows
you, you know, who in this place doesn't know you.
And we just ask, oh, God. That the gospel fall on good
soil today. And we just pray O Lord that our
hearts would be encouraged at the same time to know. but if we
want that heart, To embrace the seed, we can have it.
And we just pray. Oh God.
That this would be the Cry of this congregation today of those
who are in attendance today, Lord.
Bear fruit in me, thirtyfold sixtyfold 100-fold.
Whatever you can do in me. Do it.
Lord made that be the prayer of every person in this house.
Louis worship you because of the depth of your word, the inside
of your word, May the Sowers of this house be built up to know
that the problem is not with the seed.
But with the soil, the issue is not in the power of the truth.
but in those who refuse to embrace that power, Lord, we
give you glory in this place. Even with a message as heavy in
a series. As we give you maximum praise
for you are worthy of it and Jesus name, we pray.
Amen. And amen.
Let's stand and Worship the Lord together.
It's a great. You came to church this
afternoon, but have you come to Christ?
Have you come to Christ? It's a great to know that he is
still available, he still welcoming, he still wants you to
come to him. Even today he is ready to
forgive his ready to wash your sins.
He's ready to make you a child of God.
Maybe the message today resonated to you and you thought
of yourself, yes I am that ground and that grounded rejects
the word and the ground that trembled Under Foot the word of
God. But, you know, Christ, even
today can tell this ground can make it soft can make it
through. Ready to receive him.
Are you ready? Are you ready?
Let's pray. Lord, we thank you for your
message. We thank you for your word.
The still changes people, loyal preyed on none Among Us.
This afternoon would be that ground that rejects the word,
but it will be a land, a ground that is ready.
Fertile? That we are much fruit.
God will pray that people even this afternoon will come to you
in Repentance and in faith. In faith in you alone, the one
who can save the one who can change the one, who can give
them eternal life. And eternal Joy will pray that
today will be a day of salvation for many in Jesus name.
Amen. Some of you probably have known
already. If not all of you that Pastor
Daniel did something last week. He got engaged to beautiful
Jewel. So, so immediately after the
service, right away will be going downstairs, to celebrate
their engagement and to congratulate them.
So please, meet us downstairs as we congratulate them and
celebrate and pray for them. God bless you, we'll see you
downstairs.