1 00:00:30,820 --> 00:00:33,700 Well, if you have your Bibles tonight, turn to Mark, chapter four. 2 00:00:34,340 --> 00:00:41,380 Mark, chapter four. The sermon I'm preaching tonight. I've entitled 3 00:00:41,380 --> 00:00:46,140 A Soil Problem. We're all very familiar with this passage of the 4 00:00:46,140 --> 00:00:49,460 sower seed. And you know, when he throws the seed on the wayside, 5 00:00:49,460 --> 00:00:53,780 we'll see what that is in a moment and all that. But I. What 6 00:00:53,780 --> 00:00:57,300 really brought this sermon to my attention was that we actually 7 00:00:57,300 --> 00:01:00,860 preached this to the kiddos not too long ago in children's church. 8 00:01:01,260 --> 00:01:04,100 And it's just kind of been in my heart on my mind lately. And I 9 00:01:04,100 --> 00:01:07,060 really feel like the Lord just laid it on my heart again to share 10 00:01:07,060 --> 00:01:09,740 it with you guys. And I think it's just such a great truth and 11 00:01:09,820 --> 00:01:13,980 encouragement to us and reminder. But if you have your Bibles 12 00:01:13,980 --> 00:01:16,940 in Mark chapter four, we'll look at verse number one. It says, 13 00:01:16,940 --> 00:01:22,300 and he began again to teach by the seaside. That's Jesus. And there 14 00:01:22,300 --> 00:01:26,290 was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into 15 00:01:26,290 --> 00:01:31,130 a sit into a ship and sat on the sea. And the whole multitude 16 00:01:31,130 --> 00:01:35,410 was by the sea, on the land. And he taught them many things by 17 00:01:35,410 --> 00:01:41,089 parables, and said unto them is his. And said unto them in his 18 00:01:41,089 --> 00:01:46,290 doctrine, hearken. Behold, there went out a sower to sow. And 19 00:01:46,290 --> 00:01:50,490 it came to pass as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and the 20 00:01:50,490 --> 00:01:54,420 fowls of the air came and devoured it upon. And some fell on 21 00:01:54,420 --> 00:01:58,740 stony ground where it had not much earth, and immediately it sprang 22 00:01:58,740 --> 00:02:04,620 up, because it had no depth of earth, but when the sun was up, it 23 00:02:04,620 --> 00:02:09,220 was scorched, and because it had no root, it withered away. And 24 00:02:09,220 --> 00:02:12,740 some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, 25 00:02:12,900 --> 00:02:17,860 and it yielded no fruit. Another fell on good ground and did 26 00:02:17,860 --> 00:02:22,110 yield fruit that sprang up and increased and brought forth some 27 00:02:22,590 --> 00:02:28,830 30, and some 60, and some an hundred. And he answered unto them, 28 00:02:29,070 --> 00:02:34,710 he that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And when he was alone, 29 00:02:34,710 --> 00:02:41,310 they sat were about him. And the with the 12 asked of him the 30 00:02:41,310 --> 00:02:46,310 parables. And he said to them, unto you it is given to know the 31 00:02:46,310 --> 00:02:50,190 mystery of the kingdom of God. But unto them that are without, all 32 00:02:50,190 --> 00:02:55,270 these things are done in parables, that seeing they may see 33 00:02:55,910 --> 00:03:01,030 and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand, 34 00:03:01,430 --> 00:03:06,630 lest at any time they should be converted and their sins should 35 00:03:06,630 --> 00:03:12,550 be forgiven them. Of course, the title tonight is a soil problem. 36 00:03:12,790 --> 00:03:16,670 Let's pray. Lord, we just want to thank you so much for allowing 37 00:03:16,670 --> 00:03:19,030 us to meet in your house tonight again. Lord, I pray you'd 38 00:03:19,030 --> 00:03:22,950 hide Me behind your cross, and that it'd be the sermon that you 39 00:03:22,950 --> 00:03:27,070 would want preach, Lord, not my own Lord, and that you would speak 40 00:03:27,070 --> 00:03:29,910 through me and I would just be your mouthpiece. Please be with this 41 00:03:29,910 --> 00:03:37,270 sermon. In Jenna I pray, Amen. The problem that we are facing in 42 00:03:37,270 --> 00:03:44,000 our world today, it's not a seed problem. We like to paint things 43 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:48,840 a certain way, especially as Christians, we really like to make 44 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:56,080 excuses. Unfortunately for myself, I am Captain excuses. I have 45 00:03:56,080 --> 00:04:01,000 an excuse for everything, right? But you see here, the problem 46 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:06,210 is not the seed. The problem is with the soil. In the parable, 47 00:04:06,210 --> 00:04:11,330 right? We see the sower, the same in the sower, the same seed 48 00:04:11,330 --> 00:04:14,370 is scattered everywhere, right? It's not. It's not something. 49 00:04:14,370 --> 00:04:18,090 Nothing's changed about the seed. The seed does not change, the 50 00:04:18,090 --> 00:04:23,410 soil does. Jesus identifies the seed as the word of God. We'll 51 00:04:23,410 --> 00:04:27,730 see that here in verse number 14 it says. Sorry, verse number 13. 52 00:04:27,730 --> 00:04:31,290 And he said to them, know ye not this parable? And how then will 53 00:04:31,290 --> 00:04:36,450 ye know all parables? The sower soweth the word. And these 54 00:04:36,610 --> 00:04:41,730 are they by the wayside where the Word is sown. But when they have 55 00:04:41,730 --> 00:04:45,010 heard, Satan cometh immediately and taketh away the word 56 00:04:45,490 --> 00:04:52,090 that was sown in their hearts. So Jesus identifies the seed as the 57 00:04:52,090 --> 00:04:58,330 Word here in verse number 13 and 14. And the different soils reveal 58 00:04:58,330 --> 00:05:03,620 different conditions of the human heart. The wayside cannot retain 59 00:05:03,620 --> 00:05:08,580 seed, the stony ground cannot root the seed, and the thorny ground 60 00:05:08,580 --> 00:05:13,660 cannot give room for the seed. But the good ground receives it, 61 00:05:13,980 --> 00:05:18,580 keeps it, and bears fruit. Tonight, I'd like to talk to you 62 00:05:18,580 --> 00:05:23,580 about the three actions to cultivate the soil in our hearts. 63 00:05:23,820 --> 00:05:29,910 Three actions to cultivate the soil in our Hearts. Number one, stay 64 00:05:30,470 --> 00:05:35,510 in the field. Look at verse number 15 again. It says, and these 65 00:05:35,590 --> 00:05:40,830 are they by the wayside where the word is sown. But when they have 66 00:05:40,830 --> 00:05:45,390 heard, Satan cometh immediately. There's the key word 67 00:05:45,390 --> 00:05:50,390 there. That word. That word immediately and taketh away the word 68 00:05:50,710 --> 00:05:58,320 that was sown in. In their hearts. Isn't that interesting? The 69 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:03,480 first problem that Jesus addresses is not the ones that take 70 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:07,920 hold of the seed. It's the ones that have it for a split second. 71 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:14,680 And then Satan just comes. I'll take that. Why? Why is it so 72 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:20,250 easy for him to take the word from their hearts? Perhaps it's because 73 00:06:20,250 --> 00:06:22,330 they don't have a good grip. Maybe they should put some gloves 74 00:06:22,330 --> 00:06:26,850 on. Perhaps they fumbled it or something, it fell on the ground. 75 00:06:26,850 --> 00:06:34,130 No, no, no. The problem was is that Satan has them. The word is 76 00:06:34,130 --> 00:06:37,370 not getting to them. Because Satan's word has taken priority. 77 00:06:38,090 --> 00:06:41,530 Their flesh has taken priority. The sin in their life has 78 00:06:41,530 --> 00:06:46,840 taken priority. The Word is not reaching them. You see, the wayside 79 00:06:46,840 --> 00:06:50,680 is the ground that has been walked over until it becomes hard. 80 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:55,640 The seed lands there, but it never penetrates. Before it can take 81 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:59,960 root, the birds carry it away. Jesus warns that Satan works in the 82 00:06:59,960 --> 00:07:04,640 same way. Satan cometh immediately and taketh away the word 83 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:08,480 that was sown their hearts. So we should be guarding our hearts 84 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:13,210 from the enemy. Recognize the thief that he is. Satan does not 85 00:07:13,210 --> 00:07:19,690 want the Word merely ignored. He wants it removed. Whenever God's 86 00:07:19,690 --> 00:07:24,210 Word is preached, taught, read or remembered, there is an enemy 87 00:07:24,210 --> 00:07:28,730 who would love to snatch it away before it even has a chance 88 00:07:28,730 --> 00:07:34,530 to change us. And how true that is in our world today. You look 89 00:07:34,530 --> 00:07:40,290 all around America, all around Europe, Asia. Satan has so many hearts 90 00:07:40,530 --> 00:07:45,010 in his hands that the Word isn't even able to have the ability 91 00:07:45,010 --> 00:07:48,410 to change them now. Yes, I know the Word still has the power. 92 00:07:48,410 --> 00:07:53,010 Don't get me wrong there. But the problem is, is that Satan, they're 93 00:07:53,010 --> 00:07:58,970 letting Satan get in the way. You see, as Christians, we still 94 00:07:58,970 --> 00:08:03,290 have the same problem. We're supposed to be resisting the thief. 95 00:08:03,290 --> 00:08:07,870 Don't allow God's word to. To remain on the surface. Receive it, 96 00:08:08,030 --> 00:08:13,430 meditate on it, memorize it, obey it, breathe it in, dine from 97 00:08:13,430 --> 00:08:18,430 it, rest upon it. That's what God's Word is there for. The problem 98 00:08:18,430 --> 00:08:22,470 is we like to rely on so many other things other than the Word 99 00:08:22,470 --> 00:08:30,230 of God, you see. Remain where the seed is sown. The promise to 100 00:08:30,230 --> 00:08:34,330 many Christians have removed themselves from the field. They've 101 00:08:34,330 --> 00:08:37,490 removed themselves on that good ground. They're on the wayside, 102 00:08:39,570 --> 00:08:43,010 you see. Hold to the Word. Don't wander into the wayside when 103 00:08:43,410 --> 00:08:48,930 culture, temptation, feelings or circumstances contradict Scripture. 104 00:08:49,329 --> 00:08:53,650 Remain anchored to what God has said. Harden not your heart. 105 00:08:54,770 --> 00:08:59,450 A path becomes hard because it is continually walked upon. Likewise, 106 00:08:59,450 --> 00:09:04,770 repeated rejection of God's voice and can make the heart increasingly 107 00:09:05,090 --> 00:09:12,890 insensitive to his very word. Isn't that sad? There is a problem 108 00:09:12,890 --> 00:09:18,210 in our churches today. The problem is that we have let our hearts 109 00:09:18,530 --> 00:09:25,410 become the wayside. We've let our hearts become hard. And the seed 110 00:09:25,410 --> 00:09:32,380 does not penetrate. It doesn't get nurtured. And here comes Satan 111 00:09:34,220 --> 00:09:41,020 to take it away. You see, in Psalm 119:11 it says, Thy word have 112 00:09:41,020 --> 00:09:47,300 I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee. In James 113 00:09:47,300 --> 00:09:51,660 1:21 at the very end of that verse, it says, receive with meekness 114 00:09:52,140 --> 00:09:58,640 the engrafted word which is able to save your souls. The problem 115 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:01,640 is, is that we have too many Christians that look at the Bible 116 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:06,160 today and say, ah, it's old fashioned, it doesn't always apply 117 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:13,240 to me. It's not relevant today. Oh, but the influencers, yeah, 118 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:17,560 they know what they're talking about. The motivational speakers 119 00:10:17,560 --> 00:10:22,130 that come to my kid's school. Yeah, they got it figured out. The 120 00:10:22,130 --> 00:10:25,450 politicians, they got it all figured out. I only listen to this 121 00:10:25,450 --> 00:10:30,130 guy, this guy, this guy, this her, her, it doesn't matter. The 122 00:10:30,130 --> 00:10:36,050 problem is they are not a substitute for the Word of God. So 123 00:10:36,930 --> 00:10:46,850 stay on the proper soil, avoid the wayside. Number two, break through 124 00:10:47,680 --> 00:10:54,640 the stones. Break through the stones. Look at verse number 16, 125 00:10:54,720 --> 00:11:00,320 it says here, and these are they likewise which are sown on stony 126 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:05,760 ground, who when they have heard the Word, immediately receive 127 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:12,000 it with gladness. That's a good thing. At least they're actually 128 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:15,750 receiving the Word. But there's another problem in this heart, 129 00:11:15,750 --> 00:11:20,070 and we'll see right here in verse number 17, and have no root 130 00:11:20,310 --> 00:11:28,590 in themselves and so endure, but for a time afterward, when affliction 131 00:11:28,590 --> 00:11:37,630 or persecution ariseth for the Word's sake, immediately they are 132 00:11:37,630 --> 00:11:44,680 offended. Isn't that sad? And how true is that about a lot of modern 133 00:11:44,680 --> 00:11:52,520 day Christians today? It's a shallow Christianity nowadays. That's 134 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:58,760 what's popular. Think about it, there is not much people that 135 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:02,920 like to come to our type of church because, well, we don't put 136 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:15,910 on a rock concert, we don't show all the fancy lights. Now maybe 137 00:12:15,910 --> 00:12:21,270 there's a time and place for some of those things, but I think 138 00:12:21,270 --> 00:12:28,070 that we should be very careful about it. But the shallowness of 139 00:12:28,070 --> 00:12:36,000 Christianity has plagued this country, it has plagued our circle 140 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:43,000 of Christians because those people that claim that they have 141 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:46,720 such a great relationship with God, a lot of them, when the hard 142 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:50,920 times come, they reject him as quickly as they did receive him. 143 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:57,480 They may still be saved, they may still be on their way to heaven, 144 00:12:58,250 --> 00:13:03,770 but they're not living for God. And it says right here in verse 145 00:13:03,770 --> 00:13:09,290 number 18, in verse number 17, when affliction or persecution ariseth 146 00:13:09,610 --> 00:13:16,170 for the Word's sake, this is the stuff that God promises us. It's 147 00:13:16,170 --> 00:13:21,050 gonna happen. If you're a Christian here tonight, God's already 148 00:13:21,050 --> 00:13:25,180 told you you're gonna go through some things. I hate to tell 149 00:13:25,180 --> 00:13:29,220 you this, it's not going to be all sunshine and rainbows every single 150 00:13:29,220 --> 00:13:35,500 time, but the problem is, is that we've fed to our Christians, 151 00:13:35,500 --> 00:13:39,460 we've fed to so many people that Christianity is just all about, 152 00:13:39,700 --> 00:13:44,820 oh, it's just, it's so nice, it's so, it's so formal, it's so. 153 00:13:45,620 --> 00:13:50,860 What's the word? It's so elegant, it's so, it's so. It's joyful. 154 00:13:50,860 --> 00:13:56,050 Yes, but it's the happiness about it that they have that it's 155 00:13:56,050 --> 00:13:59,690 the shallow happiness. This is kind of what I'm getting at. It's 156 00:13:59,690 --> 00:14:07,410 the glamour. It's what it looks like on the surface. They say, 157 00:14:07,570 --> 00:14:13,410 I thought my life would get better and it should, yes, with salvation. 158 00:14:14,610 --> 00:14:17,650 But that does not mean you're not going to go through some things. 159 00:14:19,370 --> 00:14:23,170 I've met so many people. I remember one person that I witnessed 160 00:14:23,170 --> 00:14:27,170 to when I was out in California and her husband was there 161 00:14:27,170 --> 00:14:29,850 and we were just out door knocking. And I remember talking 162 00:14:29,850 --> 00:14:33,010 to her and I was sharing the gospel with her in her driveway and 163 00:14:33,010 --> 00:14:35,730 she was kind of getting ready to leave and she was kind of being 164 00:14:35,730 --> 00:14:39,370 polite, listening to me, and I was kind of asking her some questions. 165 00:14:39,610 --> 00:14:43,090 And I kind of got to the point where I said, well, is that something 166 00:14:43,090 --> 00:14:48,670 you would like to know more about salvation speaking? Would you 167 00:14:48,670 --> 00:14:52,150 like to know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? It's very simple. 168 00:14:52,550 --> 00:14:56,110 All you have to do is put your full faith and trust in him and you 169 00:14:56,110 --> 00:15:04,190 are saved. And the problem that she had was that she did not 170 00:15:04,190 --> 00:15:13,600 think God could save her from what she did. She looked at Christianity 171 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:20,520 as that shallow. You see, the stony ground receives the word with 172 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:25,720 gladness. But there is something missing underneath. There 173 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:31,680 is enthusiasm without the depth, profession without foundation 174 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:40,710 and growth without root. Then trouble comes and what sprang up 175 00:15:40,790 --> 00:15:47,310 that quickly withers away that quickly. So what should we do? We 176 00:15:47,310 --> 00:15:53,390 should develop a deep rooted faith in the word of God. Go deeper 177 00:15:53,390 --> 00:15:57,430 than just the emotional side of things. Have faith built only 178 00:15:58,230 --> 00:16:01,570 if the faith only built on the excitement of everything. When, when 179 00:16:01,570 --> 00:16:06,130 things aren't as exciting. What are you going to do then? A 180 00:16:06,130 --> 00:16:09,850 faith built only on excitement will struggle when excitement disappears. 181 00:16:10,250 --> 00:16:15,210 Christianity cannot merely be something we feel. It must be something 182 00:16:15,530 --> 00:16:26,650 we are rooted in. Establish biblical convictions. Know not only 183 00:16:26,810 --> 00:16:32,050 what you believe, but why you believe it. I appreciate that. When 184 00:16:32,050 --> 00:16:37,330 I asked my parents why, they did not say because I said so. I 185 00:16:37,330 --> 00:16:41,730 appreciate that about my parents. They would give me an actual 186 00:16:41,730 --> 00:16:45,930 reason and what that did is that helped me to understand the 187 00:16:45,930 --> 00:16:51,210 reason behind it. There's a lot of churches in America today 188 00:16:51,290 --> 00:16:58,020 that aren't telling their people why. Isn't that a shame? Why 189 00:16:58,020 --> 00:17:02,100 wouldn't we tell them why? It needs to be deeper than just the 190 00:17:02,100 --> 00:17:05,220 emotion. It needs to be deeper than just what's on the surface. 191 00:17:07,060 --> 00:17:09,620 Know not only what you believe, but why you believe it. 192 00:17:09,620 --> 00:17:13,820 Hold to your convictions. Maintain biblical standards. Plant 193 00:17:13,820 --> 00:17:20,340 yourself deeply in God's truth, not your own truth. Stand 194 00:17:20,420 --> 00:17:25,630 when the heat comes. I like how Jesus says it. In verse number 195 00:17:25,630 --> 00:17:31,470 six, it says, but when the sun was up, it was scorched, and because 196 00:17:31,470 --> 00:17:37,310 it had no root, it withered away. That's the adversity. Expect 197 00:17:37,390 --> 00:17:42,910 it. Jesus did not say if affliction or persecution arose. 198 00:17:43,310 --> 00:17:48,550 He said when it did. Trials do not necessarily mean something has 199 00:17:48,550 --> 00:17:54,340 gone wrong. They often reveal how deeply our roots have grown. 200 00:17:55,780 --> 00:17:59,740 When I went. When me and my wife went through my son's heart 201 00:17:59,740 --> 00:18:03,420 surgery and that whole saga of the year of him battling that, we 202 00:18:03,420 --> 00:18:07,580 prayed hard that God would fix it and that he wouldn't have to have 203 00:18:07,580 --> 00:18:13,460 heart surgery, man, it took a lot of faith that I did not have. 204 00:18:16,340 --> 00:18:19,140 And I'm ashamed I did not have the faith that I should have had. 205 00:18:20,870 --> 00:18:24,910 Maybe God would have done something. Maybe he wouldn't have 206 00:18:24,910 --> 00:18:32,870 had to. Maybe he still would have. But I also at the same time, 207 00:18:32,870 --> 00:18:35,830 wanted God to use that experience in my life to grow me 208 00:18:35,830 --> 00:18:41,070 and my faith. And it did. And it probably won't be the only thing 209 00:18:41,070 --> 00:18:44,070 I will go through. Right? I've gone through other, smaller things, 210 00:18:44,070 --> 00:18:46,150 but that's probably been one of the biggest things I've ever had 211 00:18:46,150 --> 00:18:53,960 to go through, you see, Endure the adversity. And the way we do 212 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:59,520 that is that we're to root ourselves in God's word. Don't let 213 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:04,840 hard times wither what God has planted. When the heat rises, send 214 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:09,840 your roots deeper into God's word. Take your stand for Christ 215 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:18,690 and refuse to be moved. Jeremiah 17, 7 through 8 says, for 216 00:19:18,690 --> 00:19:24,330 he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and goes on to say, 217 00:19:24,330 --> 00:19:30,282 neither shall cease from yielding fruit. Colossians 2, 6, 218 00:19:30,378 --> 00:19:37,130 7 says, as ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so 219 00:19:37,130 --> 00:19:42,400 walk ye in him and get this right here rooted and built up in 220 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:49,200 him. The problem is we have not rooted ourselves into Jesus Christ. 221 00:19:51,120 --> 00:19:56,200 We've chosen to root ourselves in what we want. And the things that 222 00:19:56,200 --> 00:19:59,720 we think are sturdy, the things that we think that will give 223 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:04,760 us nutrition and it will nurture us. It's the stuff that feels 224 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:07,970 good, not the stuff that points out where I've gone wrong. 225 00:20:09,970 --> 00:20:17,650 We must be careful. A shallow faith may spring up quickly, but 226 00:20:17,650 --> 00:20:27,170 only a rooted faith will survive the heat. Number three, cut 227 00:20:27,170 --> 00:20:33,550 away the thorns. In verse number 18, it says right here, and 228 00:20:33,550 --> 00:20:39,750 these are they which are sown among thorns such as hear the Word 229 00:20:40,630 --> 00:20:43,390 and the cares of this world. This is probably the saddest verse 230 00:20:43,390 --> 00:20:46,870 right here. And the cares of this world and the deceitfulness 231 00:20:47,190 --> 00:20:56,150 of riches and the lusts of other things entering in choked the 232 00:20:56,940 --> 00:21:06,500 Word, and unfortunately, it became unfruitful. Perhaps this is 233 00:21:06,500 --> 00:21:12,460 the most deceptive soil because the seed actually does grow. 234 00:21:13,420 --> 00:21:19,780 It actually is rooted. Here's the problem, though. Something else 235 00:21:19,780 --> 00:21:29,030 is growing with it, and eventually the competing growth will 236 00:21:29,030 --> 00:21:36,270 take over. Jesus names the thorns the cares of this world and 237 00:21:36,270 --> 00:21:39,710 the deceitfulness of riches. Not the riches, but the deceitfulness 238 00:21:39,710 --> 00:21:46,070 of it and the lusts of other things that we're entering in. Right? 239 00:21:47,270 --> 00:21:52,850 So we should identify what is choking the Word from our life. What 240 00:21:52,850 --> 00:21:57,130 is in your life tonight that is preventing you from allowing the 241 00:21:57,130 --> 00:22:05,050 seed of God's Word bring fruit in your life. What's festering inside 242 00:22:05,050 --> 00:22:12,210 your heart, what's gone sick? Examine the distractions that you 243 00:22:12,210 --> 00:22:18,300 have. Again, not every thorn, right, Looks wicked. Right? You know, 244 00:22:18,300 --> 00:22:22,060 we all have work. Some of us enjoy sports and certain entertainments 245 00:22:22,060 --> 00:22:27,460 and hobbies and social media and relationships and recreation. 246 00:22:28,100 --> 00:22:34,180 And all these have legitimate places, right? But they become thorns 247 00:22:34,660 --> 00:22:42,300 when they crowd out God and God's Word. So we should examine 248 00:22:42,300 --> 00:22:47,080 our desires. Jesus specifically warns about riches and 249 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:51,040 the lust of other things. We must ask ourselves, what occupies 250 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:59,360 my thoughts, what receives my time, and what captures my affection? 251 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:04,520 One of the biggest problems I've seen, especially the younger 252 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:13,880 generations, is that they are a distracted one. I had the privilege 253 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:16,880 of coaching high school basketball, middle school basketball. 254 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:19,440 I did a little bit of high school baseball here at the school, 255 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:23,640 and I really enjoyed it. I love coaching. I've told people this 256 00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:28,240 is kind of me. There's three versions of me. There is Noah, which 257 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:31,400 that's what my friends and family call me. There's Brother Day, 258 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:33,840 and that's kind of the ministry part. And then there's Coach 259 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:37,680 Day. And that. Coach Day is a different person. All right? So. 260 00:23:38,430 --> 00:23:41,470 But again, it's because, if anyone knows, I can get pretty intense 261 00:23:41,470 --> 00:23:46,070 with my coaching at times because I care. I'm compassionate 262 00:23:46,070 --> 00:23:48,990 about the sport. I think it's a good thing to want to strive for 263 00:23:48,990 --> 00:23:51,870 something, to strive for success and to strive to do better. 264 00:23:52,830 --> 00:23:56,710 But what I've noticed in a lot of our generations is that there 265 00:23:56,710 --> 00:24:03,950 was less of a drive to want to compete and that there would be distractions 266 00:24:03,950 --> 00:24:07,740 in their life. And, sure, maybe sports is not that important. 267 00:24:08,220 --> 00:24:14,700 I understand that. But I've seen it in a Sunday school. I've 268 00:24:14,700 --> 00:24:20,100 seen it in Children's church. I've seen it in masters clubs. I've 269 00:24:20,100 --> 00:24:24,140 seen it on bus rides. And I'm not saying that all those things 270 00:24:24,140 --> 00:24:31,430 are bad that are quote unquote distractions, but it does remind 271 00:24:31,430 --> 00:24:40,190 me too. How distracted do I get? See, it's easy for us to look 272 00:24:40,190 --> 00:24:45,910 at someone else and say, man, they're just so distracted. The thorns 273 00:24:45,910 --> 00:24:51,550 in their life is choking the spirit out of them. And when I do 274 00:24:51,550 --> 00:24:56,550 self reflection in my own life, I find that I'm riddled with 275 00:24:56,550 --> 00:25:08,180 thorns. Thorns. Remove what competes with God. Cut away unnecessary 276 00:25:08,180 --> 00:25:12,020 distractions. Some things do not need to be managed, they need 277 00:25:12,020 --> 00:25:16,900 to be removed. If something continually chokes your prayer life, 278 00:25:17,460 --> 00:25:21,060 Bible reading, whatever, church attendance, your giving, your 279 00:25:21,060 --> 00:25:26,880 service, whatever it is, cut it back, cut it away, be rid of it. 280 00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:31,760 It's choking the spirit out of you. It's choking God's influence 281 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:38,600 on you. Restore Christ to his rightful place. God is not my co 282 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:44,880 pilot. He's my pilot. The goal isn't merely having fewer distractions. 283 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:50,700 The goal is making more room for God. You see, a lot of times 284 00:25:50,700 --> 00:25:55,260 we have a lot of Christians and teenagers that go to youth camp, 285 00:25:55,260 --> 00:25:58,220 we have kids that go to junior camp, and we have people go to these 286 00:25:58,220 --> 00:26:01,420 conferences. And the biggest problem is that they cut all the 287 00:26:01,420 --> 00:26:06,500 thorns back, but they don't fill it in with more God. And that's 288 00:26:06,500 --> 00:26:11,500 something we have to do every single day of our lives, every single 289 00:26:11,500 --> 00:26:18,490 moment. Pray without ceasing, get into the word of God. It's your 290 00:26:18,490 --> 00:26:21,650 love letter. That's why I tell my kids in Sunday school and children's 291 00:26:21,650 --> 00:26:24,290 church, this is God's love letter to you. Why wouldn't you not 292 00:26:24,290 --> 00:26:32,050 want to read it? We aren't clearing the field to leave it empty. 293 00:26:32,770 --> 00:26:38,330 We're clearing it so the Word can flourish. In Jeremiah 4. 3, it 294 00:26:38,330 --> 00:26:44,410 says, Break up your fallow ground and sow not among thorns. 295 00:26:46,010 --> 00:26:51,410 In Hebrews 12:1 2, it says, Let us lay aside every weight, and 296 00:26:51,410 --> 00:26:57,530 the sin that doth so easily beset us. And it says this, looking 297 00:26:57,530 --> 00:27:08,300 unto Jesus, what are you looking to? What are you looking 298 00:27:08,300 --> 00:27:14,220 to? I suppose people all throughout the country would have 299 00:27:14,220 --> 00:27:19,620 a different answer. But here's the thing. Here's the most saddest 300 00:27:19,620 --> 00:27:24,380 part. I think if we were honest, us as Christians would all 301 00:27:24,380 --> 00:27:30,860 have a different answer too. If you don't cut down the thorns, 302 00:27:30,860 --> 00:27:39,450 eventually the thorns, he'll choke the fruit. So cultivate the 303 00:27:39,450 --> 00:27:47,450 good ground. Verse 20. And these are they which are sown on 304 00:27:47,450 --> 00:27:53,890 good ground, such as hear the Word and receive it, and Bring forth 305 00:27:53,890 --> 00:28:01,500 fruit. Some 30 fold, some 60 fold, and some. Basically, what Jesus 306 00:28:01,500 --> 00:28:07,580 is saying is that some people will produce more fruit, some people 307 00:28:07,580 --> 00:28:12,540 produce less. But God just wants to see the fruit being produced 308 00:28:12,540 --> 00:28:21,860 in your life. The good ground doesn't merely need, doesn't merely 309 00:28:21,860 --> 00:28:30,740 hear the Word, it receives the Word and it produces something. Right? 310 00:28:30,740 --> 00:28:38,740 The 30 fold, 60, the hundred. Where's your seed falling tonight? 311 00:28:43,300 --> 00:28:51,580 If I was honest with myself, my seed has fallen in all three of 312 00:28:51,580 --> 00:29:00,360 these too often than I'd like to admit. My heart was not ready 313 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:08,600 because. And it was because of my fault. I let my heart get hard. 314 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:17,560 I have pushed God out of my life at times. And of course His 315 00:29:17,560 --> 00:29:20,900 Word didn't get to me because Satan just came right by and thank 316 00:29:20,900 --> 00:29:27,300 you for that. You don't need that. And unfortunately, there's 317 00:29:27,300 --> 00:29:32,980 been some stones in my life that I've left there, that hard ground 318 00:29:33,300 --> 00:29:40,140 that that seed can't get in. It'll plant, but it's shallow. I'm 319 00:29:40,140 --> 00:29:44,140 quick to point the finger back at God and say, why would you let 320 00:29:44,140 --> 00:29:54,710 this happen to me? And I've let thorns enter my life and choke 321 00:29:54,710 --> 00:30:01,989 the fruit from it. In John 15:5, it says, he that abideth in 322 00:30:01,989 --> 00:30:07,470 me and I in him the same bringeth forth fruit. But this is 323 00:30:07,470 --> 00:30:12,720 the best word in there, much fruit. Do you want to do something 324 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:19,240 for God tonight? Abide in him. It's. The problem is not that God's. 325 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:22,720 That God's gone too far away from us. It's that we've walked too 326 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:26,880 far away from him and His Word. We've got to get back to God, 327 00:30:26,880 --> 00:30:32,400 get back to His Word again. I want to recall us back to what we 328 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:38,170 talked about again. There's nothing wrong with the seed. There's 329 00:30:38,170 --> 00:30:42,370 nothing wrong with God's Word. Unfortunately, so many Christians, 330 00:30:42,370 --> 00:30:46,570 so many people have said the Bible is irrelevant for this day 331 00:30:46,570 --> 00:30:50,730 and age. The Bible doesn't apply to me. It doesn't apply to 332 00:30:50,730 --> 00:30:58,210 my family. And how false that is. Because it's not the seed, it's 333 00:30:58,210 --> 00:31:04,100 the heart. It's the ground it falls on. The seed is good. The seed 334 00:31:04,100 --> 00:31:10,980 is powerful. My favorite. The seed is alive. The question is, what 335 00:31:10,980 --> 00:31:17,940 kind of soil are you giving it? Stay in the fields so Satan can't 336 00:31:17,940 --> 00:31:23,020 steal it. Break through the stones so trials can't wither it 337 00:31:24,220 --> 00:31:33,190 and cut away the thorn so the world cannot choke it. And then let 338 00:31:33,190 --> 00:31:39,070 God's Word sink deep enough into your heart that your life begins 339 00:31:39,070 --> 00:31:45,510 producing the fruit that God intended for it to produce. I'll 340 00:31:45,510 --> 00:31:54,160 leave you with this Luke 8:15 but on the good ground are they which 341 00:31:54,320 --> 00:32:02,400 in an honest and good heart having heard the word, keep it and 342 00:32:02,400 --> 00:32:09,120 bringeth forth fruit with patience as our musicians get ready 343 00:32:13,040 --> 00:32:18,000 I think if we were honest with ourselves tonight there's a good 344 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:24,600 chance that one of these soils is in your heart. I think if we were 345 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:31,240 honest with ourselves tonight we would come to this altar and we'd 346 00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:43,880 say lord fix my ground fix the soil in my life. I want my seed to 347 00:32:43,880 --> 00:32:50,130 be planted on good ground and I want to produce fruit your fruit 348 00:32:50,130 --> 00:33:03,930 that you intended. Let's all stand. Hymn Number 298 after we pray 349 00:33:04,170 --> 00:33:08,170 Lord I just thank you so much for this sermon Lord. Thank you for 350 00:33:08,570 --> 00:33:14,100 speaking to me Lord and using it in a mighty way in my life Lord 351 00:33:14,100 --> 00:33:19,700 help me to be careful of my heart and the soil that's in it Lord 352 00:33:20,740 --> 00:33:24,500 I pray you bless this time of invitation In Jesus name I pray Amen.