Four Soils

Jesus told a story of four different kinds of soils that represent the heart of people. Each of these soils having different result/experience from the truths of God in their life. Four Soils.doc Read the complete article Four Soils! What are you? Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.” 18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Mark 4:14-20 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.” Luke 8:11-15 11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Four Kinds of Soil = Four kinds of heart conditions Four life experiences = Four responses and results The Heart Condition is THE issue. I. Soil along the Path / Hard Soil. A) Heart Condition = Hard with unbelief, doubt, lack of understanding, no spiritual discernment. B) Life Experience = Satan comes and steals away the Word/Truth, they believe the lies and stay in darkness and bondage. 1) Due to a trust in the wisdom and arguments of the world rather than God and the authority of His Word. (Fall prey to the same temptation as Adam & Eve.) Result: A hardened heart void of truth. Resistant to truth. Unless soil is broken it will never receive seed. II. Stoney Ground (Rocky Soil) A) Heart Condition = Shallow/Uncommitted…No root can grow deep producing deep true commitment resulting in a lack of maturity and no depth of love, commitment, or relationship. B) Life Experience = Trouble or Persecution (testing) because of the Word/Truth of God causes them to turn away. Result: They turn away, abandon, desert, distrust, judge unfavorably, take displeasure in, become resentful and indignant toward truth and God’s plan for their life. III. Thorny Ground. A) Heart Condition = Uncommitted, Unfaithful, Adulterous, Friends and lovers of this world (James 4:4) B) Life Experience = More interested in the riches and pleasures of this world and the worries that accompany such pursuits. The thorns/weeds of worry and a desire for more and finer things choke this life that could bear fruit. Cares and anxieties, the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things. (James 4:4 “Friend of the world”) Result: Life and power of the Word of God is choked out leaving the word unfruitful, unproductive, and of non-effect in our life. The root exists, growth is stunted, but they are of no earthly value to the advancement of the Kingdom of God. IV. Good Soil A) Heart Condition = Noble, Honest, Good, faithful, and Faith-filled B) Life Experience = Hear the Word, accept it, understand it, retain it, and with perseverance produce fruit (put it into action, not quitting when it’s tough, and get out of it what God put into it, what He promised). Result = 3 levels of productivity... 30, 60, 100 fold (3000, 6000, and 10000 times what was sown). The grow, mature, bear fruit, and contribute to the advancement of the Kingdom of God here on earth.