Posts
Pastor Greg Laurie
Matthew 13
Harvest OC
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Series: God Came Near
A parable can be defined as an "earthly story with a heavenly lesson." In this message from Pastor Greg, we explore an important parable in the Word of God that reveals the secret to spiritual growth.
Greg says summer is officially over, kids are back in school now.
Fellowship groups are a great way to make a big church a small church. Groups are starting up later this month.
You can sign up:
Women: http://virtue.harvest.org/
Men: http://valor.harvest.org
We are watching a video about the this years Crusade.
Video was great, had a lot of testimonies on it.
He is talking about needing to give thanks to God. These new believers have have come forward and now he prays they Go forward.
The great commission says:
Mark 16:15 NIV
[15] He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
He says we want to see people to grow spiritually. We hope they are all rockets and not only bottle-rockets!
Some grow faster than others in their spiritual growth.
The Bible says a lot about that in the Parable of the Sower.
1 Peter 1:5 NIV
[5] who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
God will keep you and you need to keep God.
It is your thousands of decisions over your life that decides your beliefs for you.
A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meeting, Jesus used it t connect to his people.
Matthew 13:3-8 KJV
[3] And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; [4] And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: [5] Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: [6] And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. [7] And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: [8] But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
The interpretation is this:
Matthew 13:18-23 KJV
[18] Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. [19] When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one , and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. [20] But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; [21] Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. [22] He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. [23] But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it ; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Back in theses days of the first century seeds were sowed different than they are today. Back then it was just thrown out and it landed all over the place where it was tossed.
Chris G's phone rang in church...naughty naughty.
Greg is talking about how Roosevelt said something random to his guest because no one was listening.
He said many in church do the same things.
1. Highway Hearers
Matthew 13:19 KJV
[19] When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one , and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
These are the people that don't respond or are aggressive against the Word.
People with a hard heart. Sin hardens your heart.
2 Corinthians 4:4-5 KJV
[4] In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. [5] For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
Satan, Lindsay them, the he grinds them and then grinds them.
10 times in Exodus it says that Pharaoh hardens his heart and then ten more times it says God hardened Pharaohs heart.
2. Rocky Road Hearers
Matthew 13:20-21 KJV
[20] But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; [21] Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
These are the ones that hear it and then over flow with joy. Then they go over board.
Then things get hard and they give up on God and walk right away.
They sign up out of impulse.
They didn't lose their salvation after they walked away, they were never a Christian in the first place.
It's where you end as a Christian, bot where you start.
Jesus says because if the Word, you will face tribulation and persecution.
Paul says all believers will face persecution.
People have did for their faith in Christ since the beginning! Stephen died mad people today are still getting killed.
If you can't take persecution then you might not be able to take it.
This may be someone who put their faith in a church, a friend or something else.
1 Corinthians 3:11 KJV
[11] For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
If any person falls that you know or watch, that should not stumble you.
3. Thorny Hearers.
Matthew 13:22 KJV
[22] He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Weeds can choke out the seeds growth.
Luke 8:14 KJV
[14] And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection
God knows the quantity of our life, but we need to determine the quality.
4. The Fertile Ground
Luke 8:15 NKJV
[15] But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.
Matthew 13:23 NKJV
[23] But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
You need to abide in God and you will bring forth fruit.
We all can hear it, but we decide to follow it.
Which of these hearers are you?
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