Read Luke 8:4-15
Your Heart Determines The Outcome.
A large crowd of people gather from town after town to come and see Jesus. Jesus told this parable, and afterwards told his disciples what it meant. A farmer planted his seed. The seed represents God’s word.
1. Some seed fell on the path which was trampled on and the birds ate them up. This represents those who hear the word of God, but the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts so that they do not believe and aren’t saved.
2. Some seed fell on rocky soil which grew, but because it had no moisture it withered and died. This represents those who hear the word of God, receive it with joy. They believe for a while but in the time of testing they fall away.
3. Some seed fell amongst the thorns which grew up and choke the plants. The seed amongst the thorns are those who hear God’s word, receive it, but the worries, riches, and pleasures of life cause them not to mature.
4. The seed on the good soil grew up and yielded a crop a hundred times more than what was planted. Those on good soil are those who hear God’s word and because of their Noble and Good hearts, retain God’s word and by persevering produce a crop.
What does your heart look like when it comes to God’s word?
PATH: is your heart so HARD or PRIDEFUL that you just refuse to believe in God’s word?
ROCKY: or are you one of those who have heard the word of God and remember having great joy over it. But you expected that there should never to be trials and tribulations so that when they came and tested your faith you quickly quit believing cuz you thought God would never let anyone go through difficult times.
THORNS: or are you one of those who heard God’s word, received it, but never matured because your mind was too consumed with worries and the pleasures of this world captivated your heart!
GOOD: or are you one of those who had a Noble and Good heart so that when you heard God’s word you received it and retained it in your heart. It became so real to your heart that you PERSEVERED through the tough times of life and as a result produced a crop that impacted lives and impacted the kingdom of heaven?!! The Key to producing fruit for the Lord is PERSEVERING through the challenges of life. Does that describe you?
