The Parable of the Sower: Part 2
“What does this parable mean?” And Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear, then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their heart, lest they should believe and be saved. But the ones on the stony ground are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirty-fold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” —Mark 4, Luke 8
Surface Obstacle Outcome
Path hard heart don’t believe
Rocks temptation fell away
Thorns cares/desires unfruitful
Fertile n/a fruitful
How many of us are seeing God’s Word reach its full potential in our lives [every time]?
There’s Biblical truth that comes into all our lives…
1. That the enemy is snatching away because our hearts aren’t really open to it.
2. That’s taking a backseat to the enticement and lure of sin.
3. That’s getting overshadowed by the cares, lies, and desires of this world.
Isaiah 5:20 (AMP) Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
”In many ways the modern day church has crossed the line, instead of holding it — it has lowered our standard, instead of being the standard.”
2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NLT) You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
We have lost our ability to distinguish [discern] between good and evil.
Where there is a lack of discernment, confusion will rule.
Discernment — “is the ability to recognize, distinguish, or make judgments.”
Discernment is a God-given insight [knowing] that allows us to distinguish the difference between the work of God, the work of the flesh, or the demonic [spiritual accuracy].
What does discernment have to do with the parable of the sower?
1 Kings 3:9 (AMP) So give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart [with which] to judge Your people, so that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge and rule this great people of Yours?
Proverbs 14:12 (AMP) There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but its end is the way of death.
Genesis 2:16-17 (NLT) But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden — 17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”
Genesis 3:6 (NIV) When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Notice: It wasn’t the “evil” side of the tree that caused them to fall. It was the side that they perceived to be good that brought spiritual death into their lives.
Proverbs 14:12 (AMP) There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but its end is the way of death.
And that is why WE need to ask God to increase our ability to discern between GOOD and EVIL.
What are some of the ways we can dull our discernment?
1. By forgetting which kingdom we belong to
Leviticus 18:3 (NLT) Do not act like the people in Egypt, where you used to live…you must not imitate their way of life.
The kingdom of God and the course of this world are running in two different directions.
2. Remaining in willful sin
Galatians 5:7-9 (NIV) You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 “A little yeast [leaven] works through the whole batch of dough.”
3. Remaining in wrong relationships
1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV) Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
4. Being easily distracted
5. Becoming casual towards the things of God.
We become spiritually dull when we allow ourselves to…
Become indifferent in our attitude towards what God is doing.
Become okay with not receiving new insight or revelation from the Lord.
Become too familiar with the Bible, prayer, worship, and God’s presence.
Forget what it means to be rescued out of darkness.
1 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT) But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.
Casualness is not a state of mind, it is a condition of the heart.
What are some of the ways we can sharpen our discernment?
Without a doubt, discernment is intricately connected to…
1. Our reverential fear of God [Mal. 3:16-18]
2. Our ability to honor His word [Heb. 4:12-14]
3. Our ability to be teachable [Ps. 139:23-24]
4. Our ability to wait on His guidance [Prov. 1:5]
5. Our willingness to pray in the Spirit [Jude 20]
6. Our willingness to trust our discernment [Heb. 5:12-14]
Hebrews 5:12-14 (NLT/NIV) You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. 13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use [exercise] have trained themselves to distinguish [discern] good from evil.
Proverbs 2:3-5 (NLT) Cry out for insight [discernment], and ask for understanding. 4 Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. 5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.