Text: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
July 11/14 , 2002
Pastor Brian R. Keller

 

In the name of Christ Jesus, dear fellow redeemed people of God,

 

I was just amazed last week.  At a wedding, I happened to meet some of the people that I used to serve as pastor.   They came right up to me and kept saying that God had used me to convert them, but God deserves all the credit for that.  And it was astonishing to see how God had worked in their hearts.  I can still remember these people before they knew the gospel.  They were not members.  They were not church attenders.  Some were not believers.  Some didn’t know anything about the Bible.  Now, they are very active members, serving in the congregation.  They are so gifted.  And so committed!  God touched their hearts and they are bearing fruits of faith in so many ways!  Since I knew them before, I can really appreciate what God has done through his Word.  And so can they!  Meeting them again must be what it’s like to go to heaven.  If only everyone would be converted every time  we proclaim God’s Word!  But, even when Christ preached, there were different reactions.  Some opposed him.  That was their own fault.  But some believed.  That was due to God’s grace.  Today, let us consider our Lord’s  parable of the Sower and the Seed.

                                LOOK WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOD’S WORD IS PROCLAIMED:

 

1.  Some lose it {19}

In those days, they did not have the system of paved roads that we have today.  It was not unusual to have people walking right through fields, wearing a path into the ground.  That ground was hard, something like a gravel road in the country.  When the seeds fell along the path, they practically  bounced.  Birds would gobble them up, and that would be the end of it.  Those seeds would never grow.  That is one reaction when God’s Word is proclaimed.  Some people hear the message of the gospel, but it practically bounces right off of their hardened hearts.  The Word of God means nothing to them.  It makes no sense to them.  They think it sounds foolish.  And so, they don’t believe.

 

This is the reaction of many rationalists.  These are people who are always talking about what they think, instead of hearing and following what God’s Word says.  They begin sentence after sentence with the words,  “I think.”  They don’t care about what the Bible says.  So, the Word bounces right off of them.  And soon they are lost.  May we never jump on the bandwagon called, “I think.”   That is the wrong way to go.

 

Consider the man who thinks he’s going to heaven because he’s a good person.  If you tell him, “You have a Savior,” it will bounce right off of him.  He will say, “A Savior from what?  Why do I need a Savior?”   Consider the know it all.  No one can tell him anything.  He’s always right.  Is he going to listen to the Bible?  No.  He’ll say, “That’s silly! Who ever thought up such a strange way to heaven as having someone die on a cross.”  And so, he’ll be lost, unless a miracle happens and he’s converted.  The seed, the Word of God, which makes faith just bounces off.  And so, some lose it.  But that is not the only reaction when God’s Word is proclaimed.

 

2.  Some fall away {20-21}

When the farmer sows seed on the field, some of it falls on shallow ground.  Picture a shallow layer of dirt on top of bedrock.  Since this soil is quite warm, the plants spring up quickly.  But soon, the plants are in trouble because they can’t put down roots that are deep enough to sustain them.  The soil is too shallow.  So the plants quickly wither in the hot sun.  With this description, our Lord describes how some act when God’s Word is proclaimed.  At first, they are so emotionally “up” that it’s almost embarrassing.  They are the most joyful, happy people you could ever meet!  They are gung-ho right away!  They find Christianity to be the greatest thing.  But they don’t continue their education.  They remain shallow Christians.  They don’t dig deeper into God’s Word.  Their faith remains shallow.  Since  they don’t have deep roots in God’s Word, they quickly fall away when “trouble or persecution comes.”  They can’t handle it, and they quit.  So, some at first receive the word with great joy, but then fall away.

 

“Fair weather members” are all for Christianity, as long as it is easy and fun.  As soon as  it gets difficult and a cross comes their way, they want out.  That’s sad.  I hope that none of you have this idea that once you are a Christian, all of your earthly troubles cease, and every day is just happy, happy, all the time.  Heaven will be perfect, but not this sinful world.  Sometimes we do endure times of suffering.  But we should not quit.  No, we should dig deeper into our Bibles for help and strength, guidance, and support.  And perhaps we can help you, if you will let us. 


We want to help you grow in faith and knowledge.  We want to help you get into God’s Word, so that your roots go way down deep.  Then, when the storms of life come our way, we will be better prepared to face them.  Beware of the  shallow type of Christianity that doesn’t have deep roots!  Without deep roots you will be in trouble soon.  There are many temptations in life.  And, unfortunately, our Savior tells us that when God’s Word is proclaimed...

 

3.  Some “choke” {22}

We have that saying in sports, that if a player fails when the game was on the line, he “choked.”  When the pressure was on, he didn’t get it done.  Our Savior talks about a choking that is a little different.  Some of the seeds fell among thorns.  When the plants grew up, the thorns grew up faster and stronger so that the good plants choked and died. 

 

Our Lord mentions two thorns that can choke out your faith!  One would be “the worries of this life” (22).  Some people worry about this life instead of the life to come.  We should not get too wrapped up in the affairs of “this life!”  Be most concerned that you are on the road to heaven!  Another thorn that chokes our faith is “the deceitfulness of wealth” (22).  Some people want to get rich, and so they’ll work and work and work to get wealthy.  Meanwhile, their Bible is collecting dust.  Many say, “I don’t have time to worship, because I have to work.”  And maybe they do have to work, this time, but is that always the case?  Is there no time for worship, no time to hear God’s Word, no time to attend a Bible Class?  Sometimes our priorities get mixed up.  God’s Word is not the number one, top priority in the lives of worldly people.  It’s not “as important” to them as work or recreation or relaxation.  There are all kinds of excuses for skipping out when God’s Word is proclaimed, and I know ALL about them!  Beware of the temptation to neglect God’s Word!  These thorns can choke your faith out altogether. 

 

Let me ask you this: If you restricted your food and drink to the times when you received God’s Word, so that you would not eat unless you received God’s Word, how would you look?  Would you be as skinny as a rail?  Unfortunately, many people would become very sick.  That’s because many people are so lax in hearing God’s Word that they are  in danger of losing their faith.  Be careful that you do not become too worldly.  What good is it to gain this whole world, but then forfeit your soul?  God’s Word is the one thing needful.  Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness!  We have learned three bad reactions when God’s Word is proclaimed.  Since we are by nature sinful and hostile to God, it’s amazing that anyone believes.  But, by God’s powerful grace, when His Word is proclaimed...

 

4.  Some are converted {23}

When God’s Word is proclaimed, the Holy Spirit works through it in a miraculous way, unseen to the human eye.  As God’s Word is proclaimed, and particularly the Gospel, the Holy Spirit works faith.  And God does the work, so he gets the credit.  But rather than talk about what happens, we’re going to cast out some seed right now.

 

We are all sinners.  We have failed to hear God’s Word every time as attentively as we should.  We have not always been eager and attentive listeners.  Not one of us has lived a perfect life. Not one of us deserves to go to heaven.  No, we all deserve to be condemned.  But God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son to be our Savior.  Jesus lived a perfect life for us.  He did not neglect God’s Word.  He learned it.  He proclaimed it.  And then he carried our sins to the cross and died as full payment for the whole world of sinners.  On the third day, he rose from the dead proclaiming forgiveness of sins freely to all.  Whoever believes in Jesus shall not perish but have eternal life.  Trust in Jesus and heaven is yours!  That’s right, believers, instead of going to hell, we are going to heaven!

 

And now, in view of all that God has done for us in saving us, out of gratitude to our Savior, let us pursue those fruits of faith!  Let us serve willingly!  Let us give generously!  I don’t know how many times I’ve heard that this can’t be done and that can’t be done.  After last week, I’m just not going to believe that.  God did some pretty amazing things, and is still doing them.  Those people are serving in so many ways – whether doctor or lawyer, engineer or radio personality – they are all serving with their unique gifts.  And that is happening here too.  So many are serving the Lord here in so many ways.  Only let us ALL get into God’s Word.  Get into the Word, let the Word get into you, and amazing things can happen!   We can do more mission work here!  Don’t listen to the Old Adam.  Don’t listen to the naysayers.  When God’s Word is proclaimed,  some ARE converted!  We know this from God’s Word and from experience.  So, let’s sow that seed!  After all, faith comes from hearing the message.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear!  And leave the results to God.  Amen.

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