The Right Soil for Rooted Faith
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-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --
Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: Mark 4:1-2 NLT
Not everyone who comes to hear the truth is there to actually listen.
Listen! A farmer (sower) went out to sow some seed. Mark 4:3 NLT
Without the Godly seed being sown we have no hope of having deep healthy roots that bear Godly fruit!
As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Mark 4:4-8 NLT
And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Mark 4:9 ESV
Honestly and Intentionally listening will give the seed of God’s word an opportunity to take root in our lives.
When they were off by themselves, those who were close to him, along with the Twelve, asked about the stories. He told them, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom, you know how it works. But to those who can’t see it yet, everything comes in stories, creating readiness, nudging them toward a welcome awakening. These are people, Whose eyes are open but don’t see a thing, Whose ears are open but don’t understand a word, Who avoid making an about-face and getting forgiven.” Mark 4:10-12 MSG
Anyone who will lay down their deeply rooted previous perspectives, and truly wants to hear, will hear.
And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. Mark 4:13 ESV
Humility is a huge indicator of the condition of the soil of our hearts.
The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. Mark 4:14 NLT
The hard pre-decided heart will not receive the truth of God.
The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. Mark 4:15-16 NLT
Shallow roots are the result of enthusiasm without a willingness to do the real work of going deep with God.
The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. Mark 4:17-18 NLT
The rocks deter the root, while the weeds the destroy the fruit.
Weeds hide and grow, even thrive in the un-surrendered places in our hearts.
Repentance isn’t just saying you’re sorry; it’s re-aligning your heart with God’s way, truth and life!
And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Mark 4:20 NLT
Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your heart. Hebrews 4:7 CSB
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