Title: God’s harvest comes through the seed of the word!
Text: Matt. 13:1-9, 18-23
Facebook live: God’s harvest comes through the seed of the word!
23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
I changed the sign out front last week and walked across the lawn. It’s not the best lawn - in fact - it’s pretty terrible. Sandy soil, many bare places, rocks weeds galore. It’s funny, my yard can at times be much the same and why is it that when we have little water, the weed still grow … and in abundance?
JESUS SEEDS OUR HEARTS; SO THAT THROUGH THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WE HEAR, BELIEVE AND BRING FORTH GOOD FRUIT!
Jesus spoke in a parable in the Gospel lesson today. Parables are stories to illustrate important points our Lord is making and the Parable of the Sower is an interesting one.
Surly, those who were there listening on the shore, could relate to sowing seed as Jesus spoke to them from a boat just out from the shore that created a natural amphitheater as such. Many of those who were listening we’re farmers or had experience with planting and growing. They were listening well enough. But some heard while others didn’t.
The seed that Christ refers to as being planted is the word of God.
God in Christ was either directly sowing the seed of the word, or through his chosen instruments - his twelve disciples - the word was being sown in His place.
I’m sure you’ve noticed that seed doesn’t grow on a path and the word doesn’t grow in a heart opposed to understanding.
Jesus explains that the Evil One is waiting to remove any part of the word planted. His hope is to snatch them away from the kingdom.
For those with a heart that is like rocky ground the seed of the word may sprout for a time and be received with great joy but the troubles of this life and persecution can kill its growth and cause an apathetic view of the work of the Holy Spirit.
Thorns, in a garden, like a heart focused on prosperity and riches, can cause the word to be choked out as one searches for carnal gratification in things of the world.
You too can be affected by this life and fall victim to the work of the Devil. Your own level of prosperity can draw you away from the word of God -which is Christ - leaving your heart unattended and infested with weeds.
Many who attend church regularly hear the word but quickly forget it, allowing it to be snatched away from them, as they occupy their time with more interesting endeavors. As trouble begins, our own level of resolve can be compromised.
I have a friend who is a musician in Nashville. As we talked, he told me about one of his closest friends, a guitar player that has had much success in the music business. He said to me:
“Russ, I’ve had many opportunities to share Christ with Jimmy, but the problem as I see it is that things are just going too good for him. He would have to give up some things and right now he just sees no need for Jesus.”
Remember how Jesus’ explains it:
22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
Many, like Jimmy, get drawn away by their finances, wealth, lifestyle and the pursuit of happiness that their heart is like seed being sown among the thorns. It gets choked off and can’t grow.
For many others, the state of our economic situation in Michigan fills our hearts and minds with concern. Some have had to live on less and sadly many seek comfort in pleasures that fade away instead of the pleasure of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s invitation to come from Matthew 11, in last Sunday’s Gospel reading:
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear."
Jesus opens the hearts of the ones with ears to hear.
The good soil is found only in Christ. Where His word has taken root, by the work of the Holy Spirit, He is fully present and so is the good soil that begins producing a harvest of thirty, sixty and even a hundred-fold.
Facebook live: God’s harvest comes through the seed of the word!
23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
I changed the sign out front last week and walked across the lawn. It’s not the best lawn - in fact - it’s pretty terrible. Sandy soil, many bare places, rocks weeds galore. It’s funny, my yard can at times be much the same and why is it that when we have little water, the weed still grow … and in abundance?
JESUS SEEDS OUR HEARTS; SO THAT THROUGH THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WE HEAR, BELIEVE AND BRING FORTH GOOD FRUIT!
Jesus spoke in a parable in the Gospel lesson today. Parables are stories to illustrate important points our Lord is making and the Parable of the Sower is an interesting one.
Surly, those who were there listening on the shore, could relate to sowing seed as Jesus spoke to them from a boat just out from the shore that created a natural amphitheater as such. Many of those who were listening we’re farmers or had experience with planting and growing. They were listening well enough. But some heard while others didn’t.
The seed that Christ refers to as being planted is the word of God.
God in Christ was either directly sowing the seed of the word, or through his chosen instruments - his twelve disciples - the word was being sown in His place.
I’m sure you’ve noticed that seed doesn’t grow on a path and the word doesn’t grow in a heart opposed to understanding.
Jesus explains that the Evil One is waiting to remove any part of the word planted. His hope is to snatch them away from the kingdom.
For those with a heart that is like rocky ground the seed of the word may sprout for a time and be received with great joy but the troubles of this life and persecution can kill its growth and cause an apathetic view of the work of the Holy Spirit.
Thorns, in a garden, like a heart focused on prosperity and riches, can cause the word to be choked out as one searches for carnal gratification in things of the world.
You too can be affected by this life and fall victim to the work of the Devil. Your own level of prosperity can draw you away from the word of God -which is Christ - leaving your heart unattended and infested with weeds.
Many who attend church regularly hear the word but quickly forget it, allowing it to be snatched away from them, as they occupy their time with more interesting endeavors. As trouble begins, our own level of resolve can be compromised.
I have a friend who is a musician in Nashville. As we talked, he told me about one of his closest friends, a guitar player that has had much success in the music business. He said to me:
“Russ, I’ve had many opportunities to share Christ with Jimmy, but the problem as I see it is that things are just going too good for him. He would have to give up some things and right now he just sees no need for Jesus.”
Remember how Jesus’ explains it:
22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
Many, like Jimmy, get drawn away by their finances, wealth, lifestyle and the pursuit of happiness that their heart is like seed being sown among the thorns. It gets choked off and can’t grow.
For many others, the state of our economic situation in Michigan fills our hearts and minds with concern. Some have had to live on less and sadly many seek comfort in pleasures that fade away instead of the pleasure of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s invitation to come from Matthew 11, in last Sunday’s Gospel reading:
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear."
Jesus opens the hearts of the ones with ears to hear.
The good soil is found only in Christ. Where His word has taken root, by the work of the Holy Spirit, He is fully present and so is the good soil that begins producing a harvest of thirty, sixty and even a hundred-fold.
This is an unbelievable return Jesus promises his hearers.
Jesus’ word of comfort and rest, for those who hear the word of truth and believe, produce growth and good fruit in them.
God tells us in the words of Isaiah the Prophet:
…so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11
Jesus has promised that the Good News will not return void and will, by faith in Him, accomplish that which He wills.
The good word of God grew and produced the fruit of faith through the word of Christ - by the spirits power - and it still works today!
It’s His good and gracious will for you too!
Jesus has planted this seed of the word in you.
The soil of your heart has been planted with the word of God and watered with your baptism.
God in Christ daily causes you to remember your baptism and through the word of His promise, will continue to grow the seed of the word planted in you.
Jesus richly tends to your soil and feeds and nourishes you through word and sacrament. He causes the cover of His righteousness to shade you, from the worries of this hot and hostile world, bringing rest and peace in Him who is the living waters He so richly gives to all who believe.
As Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:10-13:
10 “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Christ will always bring living waters to tend your garden.
He will feed you and produce a great harvest through the word in you as you continue to feed and drink of Him.
The word of His promise will not return void and by the power of the Holy Spirit the word of God will be made known to those with ears to hear.
May the word of Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit and the Love of God continue to comfort, grow and keep you in His love as you hear believe and bring forth good fruit, now and forever.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Jesus’ word of comfort and rest, for those who hear the word of truth and believe, produce growth and good fruit in them.
God tells us in the words of Isaiah the Prophet:
…so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11
Jesus has promised that the Good News will not return void and will, by faith in Him, accomplish that which He wills.
The good word of God grew and produced the fruit of faith through the word of Christ - by the spirits power - and it still works today!
It’s His good and gracious will for you too!
Jesus has planted this seed of the word in you.
The soil of your heart has been planted with the word of God and watered with your baptism.
God in Christ daily causes you to remember your baptism and through the word of His promise, will continue to grow the seed of the word planted in you.
Jesus richly tends to your soil and feeds and nourishes you through word and sacrament. He causes the cover of His righteousness to shade you, from the worries of this hot and hostile world, bringing rest and peace in Him who is the living waters He so richly gives to all who believe.
As Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:10-13:
10 “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Christ will always bring living waters to tend your garden.
He will feed you and produce a great harvest through the word in you as you continue to feed and drink of Him.
The word of His promise will not return void and by the power of the Holy Spirit the word of God will be made known to those with ears to hear.
May the word of Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit and the Love of God continue to comfort, grow and keep you in His love as you hear believe and bring forth good fruit, now and forever.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
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