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.
Hard Soil
Worldly Ways Harden One's Soul
1) Friends and Associates
2) Reading Material and TV
3) Music
4) Pursuit of Pleasure
5) Ambition
6) Private Thoughts
Proverbs 23:7
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
Rocky Soil
1) Unbelief Causes Unfruitfulness
Philippians 2:13
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Hebrews 3:12-19
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
2) Refusal to believe God's Word
3) Preoccupation with self
Philippians 2:3
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Thorny Soil
Soil that produces only weeds
1) Cares, anxieties, worries or worldly interests
Pslam 34:19
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have
overcome the world.
Matthew 6:34
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil
thereof.
Psalm 118:24
This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
2) Affluence
Matthew 6:24
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.
Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
3) Covetousness and Materialism
Mark 4:19
And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh
unfruitful.
Luke 12:15
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he
possesseth.
Productive Soil
Hebrews 12:10-11
For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his
holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of
righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
How to tell if you have Productive Soil:
1) You will abide by His Word and all that it implies
2) You have received and accepted God's Word.
3) Your life is a reflection of God's gracious Spirit in your character, conduct and conversation.
John 1:11, 12
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Romans 5:5
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Acts 5:32
And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
