Parable of the Soil
Pastor Phil Derstine 9-4-22
Parable of the Sower (Soil) – Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, Luke 8:4-15
· Seed = Word of God, Soil = Heart of Man
· 4 Soils – 4 Hearts
1. Wayside Soil – Devil takes it, trampled on, birds eat it, not saved.
2. Stony Soil – No root, no moisture, fails the tests, falls away.
3. Thorny Soil – Choked by: worries, riches, pleasures. Unable to mature.
4. Good Soil – Good heart, retains the Word, perseveres, produces a crop, 30/60/100-fold.
Good Soil Ingredients
· Air (Holy Spirit) – Water (Word) – Minerals (Promises) – Organic Matter (Works) – Manure (Tests)
· Proverbs 14:4 “Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.” (Value of manure – fertilizer)
· Matthew 11:12 “The kingdom of heaven suffers violence (forcefully advancing), and the violent (forceful men) take it by force (lay hold on it).” (Spiritual warfare)
· Romans 5:3 (NIV) “We also rejoice in our suffering, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; (4) perseverance, character, and character, hope. (5) And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.”
· Luke 6:45 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”
Guard Your Heart
· Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
· Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
· Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?(10) I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins (mind), even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”
· II Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.”
· Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”
· Your Faith in God
· Your Convictions, Standards
· Your Relationships (Forgive)
· Takes Time (Germination)
· Pass the Tests! (Manure)
· Use your Mind to think… but make decisions from the Heart!
· Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinketh from his heart, so is he.”
· I Samuel 16:7 “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” (David’s Call)
· Philippians 4:6 (NLT) “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. (7) If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
