“SowersSeeSoulsInTheSoils”Mark4:1-20December6,2020

INTRO:Doyouhavesomefavorite“old”words?

Ø Behold…Ø Foils&Toils…

CONTEXT:

Ø 2020…“propheticvision”&prolificvirusØ GospelGardeningseries:Roots,Fruits,&BootsØ Jesusteachingongoodfruit,branches,&treesØ ParableoftheSower

o Sovereign(theRoot,Vine,&Vine-Dresser)o Sowers(lastweekMark4:3)o Soils(thisweek)o Seed(nexttime)o Sent-ones(closingout2020&theseries)

Ø Todayweshiftfromthesowertothesoils…BIGIDEA:SowersSeeSoulsInTheSoils!PREVIEW:

A. SowersSEEsoulsinthesoilsB. SowersSEEKGod’sgoodsoilsC. SowersSIFTallsoilsforsouls

TEXT:

I. SowersSpiritually-SEESoulsIntheSoils! Mark4:1-201Againhe/Jesusbegantoteachbesidethesea.Anda

very large crowd (NOTE: “crowd” vs. “church”)gatheredabouthim,sothathegotintoaboat(NOTE:whatisyour“boat”fromwhichyoushare?)andsatinitonthesea,andthewholecrowd(NOTE:thetrueChurchisoftenengulfedbythecrowds)wasbesidetheseaontheland(NOTE:thetrueChurchisthepeoplegatheredforthegloryofGod&theguidanceofHisWord…seeJohn6:66).

2Andhewasteachingthemmanythingsinparables(NOTE:wemustrecognizetheJUDGEMENTbeingdisplayedhereorwewillmissthefinerpointsoftheparable),

1. SowersseeFOILSinthesoils§ Definition: to prevent the success; to frustrate;

to keep (a person) from succeeding… a defeat § SeetheWorld,theFlesh&theDevilinsoil§ Seethelies&liarsvs.truth&trustworthy

andinhisteachinghesaidtothem:3“Listen!Behold,asowerwentouttosow.

Ø Tobeholdistotake-holdbiblically…toletthatwhichisbeheldtotakeholdofyou.-JDP

4Andashesowed(NOTE:NOadjectivesforthesower!Whynot?Answer:1).Heisnotthepoint,northepower.2).Hisstyle,looks,gifts,programs,etc.areirrelevant.3).Sowersare defined by their faithful attitude & obedient actions intheir sowing. Period. Nomore, no less, nomatterwhat!),some seed fell along thepath (NOTE:soil#1) , and thebirds came and devoured it.5Other seed fell on rockyground(NOTE:soil#2),whereitdidnothavemuchsoil,and immediately it sprangup, since ithadnodepthofsoil.6Andwhenthesunrose,itwasscorched,andsinceithadnoroot,itwitheredaway.7Otherseedfellamongthorns (NOTE: soil #3), and the thorns grew up andchokedit,andityieldednograin.8Andotherseedsfellinto good soil (NOTE: soil #4) and produced grain,growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold andsixtyfoldandahundredfold.”9Andhesaid,“Hewhohasearstohear,lethimhear.”

(NOTE:Jesusbeganwith“Listen!”andnowendswith“hear…lethimhear.”)

2. SowersseeTOILSinthesoils§ Definition:hard work; exhausting labor, battle § Seethe“Fight”throughoutALLoflife…§ Seeland-bandits,snakes,wolves,diseases§ Seefaultyequipment&suddenstorms…§ Seepart-time,hypocriticalcommitmentsvs.full-timeworker’sholycommission…

§ Seetheneedfordivineintervention…§ Seegardening…hard&dangerouswork!

ThePurposeof theParables… 10Andwhenhewasalone(NOTE:Itisimportanttodistinguishthedifferencebetweenwhatwasaskedandanswered,orNOTaskedandanswered,whenJesuswassurroundedbya/thecrowd(s)vs.HischosenChurch), those around him with the twelve asked himabouttheparables.11 And he said to them,“To you (NOTE: see the

distinctionandeternaldifferencebetween the twogroups)has been given (NOTE: “given” = BOTH grace AND TheGospel)thesecret(NOTE:GodhasintentionallymadeANDkept the truth of His kingdom and gospel a SECRET… justTHINK about the implications of that TRUTH…) of thekingdom of God, but for those outside (NOTE: “thoseoutside”=thefruitlesssoils…thedeadbranches…thebadtrees…)everythingisinparables(NOTE:stophere&askyourself the question that begs an answer: “Why is JesusONLY speaking EVERYTHING in parables to “THOSEOUTSIDE,” while explaining Himself to the Church?Answer:JUDGEMENT!),

12sothat(NOTE:wedon’thavetospeculateandguess…Here, God is about to tell us exactlywhyHe spoke only inparablestothoseoutside…Don’tmissthis!)

“‘theymayindeedseebutnotperceive,andmayindeedhearbutnotunderstand,lesttheyshouldturnandbeforgiven.’”

Ø JesusisquotingIsaiah6:9-10Ø JesusisquotingJUDGEMENT

o “sothat”=theparable’sPURPOSE!o Cf.Romans1…“givenover”o Cf.“searedconsciences”o Cf.“Pharaoh’shardenedheart”

Ø SeeMark4:34forthelove&hopeofTheGospel

13Andhesaidtothem,“Doyounotunderstandthisparable?(NOTE:Don’tmisstheLord’sintendedconvictioninthequestion…)Howthenwillyouunderstandalltheparables?(NOTE:SeehereChrist’sdivineexpectationofmissionalmaturationANDevangelization…)

II. SowersSupernaturally-SEEKGoodSoils!

Thereare2pathstoGospelgardening:

o TheCultural&Fruit-lesso TheBiblical&Fruit-filled

1. FRUIT-LESS…CulturalGardening(Soils1,2,3)a. Man-centeredb. Mangled-messagec. Missingthemiracled. Marketing&Manipulatione. Mechanicalmethods&movementsf. Missing&mockingTheMessiahg. Missingthemark&mission

Wearesenttoblesstheworld,butwearenevertoldtocompromisewithit.

A.W.Tozer(James4:4)

14Thesowersowstheword.(NOTE:Howbreathtakinglybeautifulisthissmallverse&these5simplewords?Seethesimplicity.Seetheclarity.Seethefinality.Seethemiracle.SeetheMessiah.Seethemission!)

3. SowersseeROYALSintheGOODsoils§ Definition:relating to a king, queen, or other

sovereign: descended from or related to a king or line of kings: a royal prince/princess… a member of the royalty.

§ Goodsoil=GERMINATION=SALVATION

§ SALVATION=ORDINATION…§ RoyalchildrenofGod§ RoyalfamilyoftheAlmighty§ Royalsheep&under-shepherds§ RoyalsoldiersforChrist§ Royalarmorbearers&wearers§ RoyalheirswithChrist§ Royalcrowns(5XinNewTestament)

Soil#1

15Andthesearetheones(NOTE:“theones”tellsusthatweareabouttolearnofPEOPLE)alongthepath

(NOTE:“thepath”depictsasoilthatispackeddownandsotrampleduponthatnothingcanpenetrateit…likeconcretetoday)…(NOTE:wenowknowthattheSOILSrepresentPEOPLE…evenmore,thesoilsaremetaphorsthatsymbolicallydefine&describetheheartsofeachdifferentgroupofpeople),wherethewordissown(NOTE:“thewordissown”definesthe“seed”intheparabletobetheWordofGod):whentheyhear,Satanimmediatelycomesandtakesawaythewordthatissowninthem.(NOTE:1).Satanisactivejustas1Peter5:8and2Corinthians4:4warnsus.2).Theword“immediately”isbothtellingandtragic…3).Seethatthereisnothingmentionedaboutthesower…thebadoutcomeissoilNOTsowerbased.4).EvenSatan’sroleissecondarytothesoil’shardenedsurfacethatfightsagainsttheworkoftheword/seed.5).Seethe“birds”ofspiritualwarfareasSatan’sminions–thosewhodotheDevil’sbidding…distracting,diluting,anddeceiving…pullingGod’sWordawayfrompeople…andpullingthosesamepeopleawayfromGod’sWord,will&ways.-JDP

Soil#2

16Andthesearetheones(NOTE:onceagain,sotherecanbenomistake…“theones”reinforcesthatJesusistalkingaboutPEOPLEhere)sownonrockyground:(NOTE:“rockyground”reveals,bydefinition,thatit’sprimarycharacteristicissimilartothe“packedpath”–rockysoilistragicallyHARDandLACKINGinlife-sustainingdepth)theoneswho,whentheyheartheword(NOTE:onceagain,the“seed”is“the

word”ofGod),immediately(NOTE:onceagain,seethewordandimpactof“immediately”–inthiscase,thepointistowarnusnottobetooquicktocelebrateaperson’sresponse…Timewilltellthetruthabouttransformations…Jesussaidthat“thosewhopersevere”tothefinishareHistruefaithfamily…”receiveit(NOTE:hereweseethatbadsoilanddeadbranchescan“receivetheword”butnotbechangedbyit)withjoy(NOTE:somewilleven“receivethewordwithjoy”1).SeeJonathanEdwards’workandourA.I.T.on“TheExperienceThatMatters.”2).Trustnotthesmilesofmen,butthemiraclesoftheSpirit–JDP.3).Bewarethehappythatisnotholy!–JDP.4).Bewarethemanipulativeworkofthecrowd-growingshowmenandtheirshallow,man-centered,smile-factoriesthathavemastedtheartofreplacingtheMaster’sawewithacheap,contemporary,damnable,slight-of-hand.Wherethereisnocross,thereisnoChrist…noChristianity…noChurch!-JDP.

17Andtheyhavenoroot(NOTE:Donotmissthis…“theyhavenoroot”=theyhavenodepthorsupernaturalpresencebeyondashallow,superficialresponse.Thesepeoplehavequick,shallow,andficklefeelings,NOTlastingandfirmfaith…WithouttherootofTheGospelandverypresenceofGodinthesoilofone’sheart,therewillnot&cannotbebiblicallife,norfruit.)

inthemselves,butendureforawhile(NOTE:twokeytermshere…“endure”and“awhile.”1).Badsoilenduringisreligioustorture…Thereisnothingsadderthansour-pussed,white-knucklechurch-goerswhostruggleto

enduretheirreligiousrule-keeping.–JDP.2).Root-lessenduringistheoppositeoffaith-filledabidingintheVine…-JDP3).Badsoilcanonlytakelifeinthegardenforsolong…for“awhile”beforetheyultimatelygetexposedforwho&whattheyreallywant…andwhattheyreallyare…lifelessdirt.–JDP4).Badsoil’sfixationandfocusonthetemporarytendstoexposetheir“onlyforawhile”commitmentlevel,which,wheninthepresenceoftrue,eternallygoodandfruitproducingsoil,leadstothekindofconvictionthatbegetseitherrepentance&restoration,ORresistance&rebellion.-JDP5).Themeasureofamanisnottobemadeatthestartinglineorthemidwaymarkofhislife’srace.No.Themeasureofamanistobemadeathisfinishline,wherehiseternalfruitwillbothrevealanddefinehim.–JDP6).Nomatterhowgrandtheweddingday’sceremonyandcelebration,themarriageismeasuredbyitstruth,love,memories,andanniversaries.–JDP;then,when(NOTE:Godchosetheword“when”vs.“if.”ThisisyetanothersubtlebutobviousrevealinGod’sWordthattrialsandtestingtimeswillcomewiththeGospel’struthinlove)tribulationorpersecutionarisesonaccountoftheword(NOTE:thereisanimportantdistinctiontobemadehere,whenunderstandingthesourceofone’stribulationand/orpersecution:1).Thereisnovalorinself-inflicted,self-serving,orsin-centeredtribulationand/orpersecution.2).“Onaccountoftheword”raisestheissueof“countingthecost”andcheckingone’sheart…3).ChristinsistedthatHisfollowersbeproactivelycommittedtocarryingtheircross,thusChristiansdietoselfatthebeginningoftheirjourneywithJesus.4).ByGod’sgrace

andforHisglory,throughthepower&promiseofTheGospel,bornagainfollowersfaithfullyovercometheirfearoftribulation,persecution,&death.–JDP).5).Jesusliterallysaid,3times,thatsuchpersecutionistobecountedasthebeliever’sblessing(Matthew5),immediatelytheyfallaway(NOTE:seetheword“immediately”onceagain…Therootlessheart/soilimmediately“fallsaway”–liketheinfamoushousebuiltonthesand…alifewithoutGospelrootsisasflimsyasahouseofcards…adandelion/butterflyinahurricane…-JDP)(NOTE:hereourLordismakinganothersubtlebuttheologicallydeeppoint…Withoutgospel“roots”inone’ssoil,itisIMPOSSIBLEtowithstand,inthelongterm,theheart-testingtrialsofspiritualwarfare.-JDP).(NOTE:tobeclear,suchapersonisNOTaChristian!).

Soil#3

18Andothersaretheones(NOTE:again…“ones”indicatesthatthesoilsaresouls!)sownamongthorns(NOTE:soil#3ischaracterizedbythe“thorns”or“weeds.”).

“Thorns”isthesamewordtodescribeChrist’s“crownofthorns.”Seetheprovidentialironyofthe

relationship...thatwhichsymbolizessinner’sbondagewouldbetransformedintoasymbolofChrist’sroyalty&redemptivepowertorelease&restoresaidsinners!-

JDPTheyarethosewhoheartheword,(NOTE:hereagainweseetheinnercoreofHARDNESS,notforalackofhearing,butinstead,asrevealedbytheirlackofheedingthe

word).19butthecaresoftheworld(NOTE:“caresoftheworld”literallytranslates“distractionsoftheage”–seeHebrews’exhortationonthe5stepsofapostacy&destruction)andthedeceitfulnessofriches(NOTE:seetherelationshipbetween“deceitfulness”and“riches!”Oneneedlooknofurtherthanthe“richyoungruler”toseethedamninganddeceitfulrelationshipbetweenreligionandriches)andthedesiresforotherthings(NOTE:inthesamewayasnotedabove,seethetwistedandtragicrelationshipbetween“desires”and“otherthings”[notGod’sWord,will,orways])

enterin(NOTE:seethepervasiveandpervertedaffectsofbeingDOUBLE-MINDED…1).“Enterin”islikeathiefinthenight…2).“Enterin”impliesacunning,underhandedaffect…3).Desiringotherthingsisspiritualadultery…spiritualheroin…spiritualsuicide…

andchoketheword(NOTE:ThewordcallsforandchampionsourworshipofChrist,whichisexactlywhytheworld“chokestheword”andkillstheChristians.-JDP).

(ILLUSTRATION:whatareeffectsofafreshbatchofchocolatechipcookies,inthepresenceofalittleboywhoissupposedtoeathisplateofbrusselssprouts???

RESPONSE:Inmostcases,theanswerisobvious.However,theanswerhereisshockinglysimpleforaboywholovesbrusselssproutsandhateschocolatechipcookies…Whatwelove…winsinourheart!-JDP

EithertheWordisgoingtochokeouttheworldinyourlifeORtheworldisgoingtochokeouttheWord.Itallcomesdowntowhichoneyouloveandwhichoneyouhate.–JDP),

anditprovesunfruitful.(NOTE:seethetwopowerfulanddefiningwordshereattheendofsoil#3’sdefinition&description:1).“proves”=connectsthecause-and-affectdynamicbetween“distractionsoftheage”aswellas“desiresoftheworld”withthelackoffruit-bearing.

2).“unfruitful”=theendresultofwantingtheworld’swaysandlivingdistractedbytheage…YouCANNOTservetwomasters…YouCANNOTtravelonboththebroadandthenarrowway…JesusiseitherLORDofallorHeisnotLordatallinyourlife.YouareeithergoingtohelpChristtogatheroryouwillscatteragainstHim.

• FRUIT-FILLEDGospelGardening(Soil#4)o Sovereigntyo Sino Salvationo Spirito Seeko Sowo Sanctification

T/S:Sometimesthoseofusinthegoodsoilforgetthat,inandofourselves,we’rejustputriddirt....It’sonlywiththeHolySpiritinusthatwecanbecomeproductivesoil.

-JDP

III. SowersShrewdly-SIFTALLSoils

Bewaresoil-basedvs.seed-basedpreaching!-JDP

Soil#4

20Butthosethatweresownonthegoodsoilaretheones(NOTE:again…thesoilisreferredtoasasoul…)whoheartheword(NOTE:again…theseedisidentifiedas“theword”ofGod)andacceptit(NOTE:seethegorgeousgospeltensionbetweensovereigngraceandhumanresponsibility…GodgivesusHistruthinlovebygrace…&thegoodsoilmustrespondandreceiveTheGospel,whichisalsobygrace)and(NOTE:moretensionthatbuildsonthesameboth/andprinciple…the“and”hereservesasaliteralconjunction,addingtothegoodsoil’sresponsibilityandprivilege)bearfruit(NOTE:to“bearfruit”isBEattheheightoftheGospel’smiraculouswitness-JDP),thirtyfoldandsixtyfoldandahundredfold.”(NOTE:seetheprovidentialprogressionofTheGospel’sgrace&glory….1).Goddeterminesourcapacity.2).Wefulfillourcalling.3).ANYfruitismiraculousfruit!4).30,60,100areprogressiveexclamationmarksofamazinggrace!-JDP5).Godissovereignoverthesower,theseed,andthesoil!

Oursoilstellthestoriesabouttheglories

thatweseek.-JDP

Let’sPray!