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SOIL #1 – What’s Going on Below the Surface
May 16, 2021 / Kevin BeachySOIL #1
What’s Going on Below the Surface
There is no soil, no heart, that God cannot reach.
Luke 8:4 “One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him:”
Luke 8:5-8 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. 6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
Luke 8:9-10 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets[a] of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:
‘When they look, they won’t really see.
When they hear, they won’t understand.’[b]
That’s what this parable was about. Can you hear from God? Can you hear the voice of God?
The challenge is blocking out all the noise and hearing from God.
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.
- If we are going to follow God, we have to be able to hear from him.
Luke 8:11-12 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved.”
Seed = God’s word
Soil = Human heart
This footpath represents soil that has just been crusted over. The seed can’t penetrate, the seed can’t go down.
1. I don’t want to hear.
2. I already know.
God wants to do something new. And it all begins and ends with this one word: LISTEN
God is still scattering seed but listening can be hard.
We need to place ourselves in environments to have the type of soil that helps us be receptive to the Word of God.
LISTEN TO LEARN, NOT TO RESPOND
Pray: God, what do you have for me?
Pray: God, what do you want for me?
“The task is not to get God to do something I think needs done, but to become aware of what God is doing so I can participate in that.” Eugene Peterson