The Power in a Seed

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Introduction
Genesis 8:22
"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."

Isaiah 61:11
For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

Mark 4:1-20
The Parable of the Sower
1Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. 2He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times." 9Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." 10When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12so that, " 'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'“ 13Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14The farmer sows the word. 15Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."

The farmer is a person who sows the Word of God into the minds and hearts of others.

A farmer must know the Word in order to sow it.
2 Timothy 2:15
15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

Wisdom is helpful to being a productive kingdom person.
Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

Wisdom comes from God
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Wisdom says the right thing at the right time
Proverbs 25:11
A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

The Parable
There are 4 types of people described in this parable. I’d like you to try and find yourself in one or more of these four categories.

• 1st type of person – They Lack Understanding

Seed along the path

As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
Matthew 13:19
When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

Get Understanding
Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
The Word of God
Study the word of God, meditate and memorize scripture.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

The Word gives power against sin
Psalm 119:11
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Know the Word to prosper

Joshua 1:8
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

The word makes wise the simple
Psalm 19:7
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

• 2nd type of person – Joyful at first but lacks stick-to-itivness.

Seed sown along rocky places

16Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

The reason trouble and persecution come to the believer is because they are advocating a total take down of existing authority structures. The believer does this by placing new people into the kingdom of God and abolishing the kingdoms of darkness.
Corruption always has and always will fight righteousness.

Trouble will come because of the word.
2 Timothy 3:12
12In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
A lack of persecution would probably indicate a lack of relevance to the established principalities in a region.

Right Living, Right Standing, Right Emotions
Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
When Jesus has control of our living and emotions he has control of us and we in effect will influence others around us with a Kingdom effect.

The Kingdom of God forces people to make a decision.
1. come into the kingdom
2. persecute people in the kingdom
3. Ignore the kingdom

Paul’s attitude toward persecution
2 Corinthians 12:10
That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

• 3rd Type of Person – worries, deceitfulness of wealth and other desires choke out the word.

Seed Sown Among Thorns

18Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Don’t Worry
Worry is a mis-directed prayer
Philippians 4:6-7
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


Matthew 6:31-34
31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Deceitfulness of Wealth
Wealth promises something but it can’t deliver. When we buy the lie that the core being of who we are will change as our net worth increases we’ve bought into the lie.
Wealth can be a false God if it establishes identity in the believer.

1 Timothy 6:6-10
6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Desires for other Things
1 John 2:15
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Other Things
Luke 14:18-20
18"But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.' 19"Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' 20"Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'

• 4th Type of Person – Good hearted people.

Sown on Good Soil

20Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.“

Most wild wheat has between 10-18 grains per stalk.

An ear of corn averages around 800 kernels set in 16 rows.

Matthew 21:43-44
43"Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.“
We must be broken if we’re to become productive in our relationship with the Lord Jesus.

Where are you? Which type of soil do you have. Is God going to have to apologize to the Jewish people for entrusting you to bear His fruit? I'd encourage you to go before God, sit in his presence and receive grace from his throne so you can be fruitful for Him.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:00 AM
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501
or via the internet on Jubilee T.V.