This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”, by continuing to walk through the parable of the sower. Before I get into the parable I want to setup today’s message.
I had a conversation with a person this weekend who has a tendency to shift the blame for things that happen to them on other people. This is a young person and many young people have not matured to the point where they accept the full implications/ramifications of their actions. I was explaining to this person that God does not “DO” everything that happens to them. There are many factors involved in what happens in a person’s life. God has given us the right to be free moral agents. God honors the laws of cause and effect, sowing and reaping and the free will of humans, to the point where humans even have the right to reject God and His ways. And for those who claim to love God and who want to walk in His ways, their actions still impact the level at which God is free to operate in their lives.
With this has the backdrop, now let’s get into our parable. Jesus said:
“The farmer is like someone who plants God’s teaching in people. Sometimes the teaching falls on the path. That is like some people who hear the teaching of God. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the teaching that was planted in them.
Other people are like the seed planted on rocky ground. They hear the teaching, and they quickly and gladly accept it. But they don’t allow it to go deep into their lives. They keep it only a short time. As soon as trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching they accepted, they give up.
Others are like the seed planted among the thorny weeds. They hear the teaching, but their lives become full of other things: the worries of this life, the love of money, and everything else they want. This keeps the teaching from growing, and it does not produce a crop in their lives.
And others are like the seed planted on the good ground. They hear the teaching and accept it. Then they grow and produce a good crop—sometimes 30 times more, sometimes 60 times more, and sometimes 100 times more.” (Mark 4:13-20 ERV)
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. The same sower provided the same seed to four different types of soil, harvesting varying results. The results did not vary because of the sower or the seed, the results only varied because of the soil. You are the soil. Make no mistake, the way you receive God and His Word matters. You can be in the same place, at the same time, hearing the same Word as others, and you will ALL get different results from the Word received. If this is true (and it is), then you want to make sure you are good ground daily, receiving and properly responding to what God says.
2. The wayside soil received the Word, but these are the people who did not understand it. Since their understanding was unfruitful, satan was able to quickly come and snatch way the Word that was sown in their hearts. Don’t let this be you. Open your heart to receive and understand what God is saying to you on a daily basis.
3. The rocky soil received the Word, but these are people who did not allow the Word of God to go deep into their lives. They only receive God on the surface. As a result, when trouble and persecution comes, because of the Word (quick note, the power of the Word actually attracts opposition from satan), these people are quick to give up. Their have no staying power because they have not allowed the Word of God to go deep into their lives. Don’t let this be a description of you.
4. The thorny soil received the Word, but these people have allowed their lives to be “full of other things”. The Word can’t work in their lives because they are too consumed with the cares of this world, the love of money and their lusts for other things. While the Word is trying to grow in their hearts it is choked out by all the other things these people have allowed to take priority over the Word. If this is you this morning, it is time to make some changes.
5. In the parable of the sower, in every case the sower (God) was attempting to get His Word (the seed) inside of people. But the people got a vote. How they responded to the Word mattered in the parable and it matters in life.
a) God’s grace does not exonerate you from the implications or repercussions of your decisions.
b) If you want God to fully operate in your life, you are going to have to cooperate with Him.
c) The Word works, but it will only work in your life to the level that you work the Word.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus in 2016 by taking self-inventory and taking responsibility for my actions. When the Word is not working for me I don’t look to You, I look to me. If there is ever a question between You and me, the issue is ALWAYS me! Father, I want You to fully operate in my life. I want Your Word to produce the max-harvest. Therefore, I die to self. I yield to You in all my ways. I remove every Blessing-Blocker. I clear my heart of all weeds. I give Your Word first place. I meditate and medicate on Your Word day and night. As I do, I declare that it produces as harvest IN, WITH, and THROUGH me. I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
