Kingdom Teaching and a Storm Is Calmed
Book of Luke Chapter 8
Most ministries do not survive unless there is some support for them. Even the ministries of the Lord had supporters.
There are certain women who are mentioned in this chapter, but our lesson concerns the ministry rather than those who support the ministry.
If you support a ministry of the Gospel, then God knows it, and this is the purpose of the Holy Spirit mentioning these precious ladies who supported the work of the Lord.
Our lesson begins with verse 5, where we will look at some parables.
What is a parable? A parable is a mode of teaching that takes a familiar event to teach spiritual truths.
The Lord Jesus used parables to teach us many lessons of the truth of Heaven.
Why did the Lord Jesus use parables?
Mat 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
Mat 13:35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
We use the word typology in our lessons, and parable teaching is also a teaching by typology.
The parable of the Sower:
*****Luk 8:4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
Luk 8:5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
Luk 8:6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
Luk 8:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
Luk 8:8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
There was a revival going on in the land of Judah. It had begun with John the Baptist and was continued by God's Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth.
Multitudes of people were gathering to hear what the Lord Jesus had to say.
Who is the Sower in this parable? The Sower is the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord Jesus is not looking for fruit among His people, but as the Sower, He sows the seed which is the Word of God.
The Lord Jesus preaches the truth of the Scriptures.
Not some traditional version.
Not some altered version.
Not some version containing the beliefs of man.
The Lord Jesus preaches the version that is approved by the Holy Spirit.
When we read our KJV Bibles, we are reading the English version of the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures approved by the Holy Spirit.
Almost all these people who gathered to hear the Lord Jesus knew the work of the sower.
They also knew that not every seed would produce fruit.
Not everyone who came to hear the Words of Jesus was sincere, and this teaching would also address those people.
If the Lord Jesus could not teach them a truth that they could believe, then He would warn all those who had their ears open to His message.
Just hearing the Word of God is not enough; we must apply the Word of God to our lives and be obedient to it.
The Word of God will not bear fruit if we do not put it to good use!
The Parable of the Sower addresses all people who hear the Word of God.
Every parable is taken from things that happen every day!
Notice the Sower always goes out, and he sows the seed. If not, there can be no fruit.
Today, not many will go out.
Today, not many sow the seed, the Word of God.
Today, there are not many who visit and care for the flock.
Four things happen when the Sower sows the Seed.
1) Some seeds fell by the wayside.
This is seed that was sown outside the field. It fell on walking paths and the road.
This seed fell on unprepared ground and was walked on. It was walked upon, and some lay on top of the ground, and birds came and ate it.
2) Some seeds fell upon rocky ground.
This was a rock that had very little soil to cover it. This seed grew quickly because the water would lie on top of the rock when it rained, but that water would soon dry up, and those plants would wither away because the Sun would scorch the plants.
3) Some seeds fell amongst the thorns.
This seed would sprout, but those plants were soon choked to death by those thorns.
4) Other seeds fell on good ground.
This seed produced much fruit and bears fruit a hundredfold.
Jesus immediately said: "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear".
It is most important that we hear what God has to say so we will know the truth!
The disciples of Jesus Christ asked, "What do these things mean"?
They also asked, "why do you teach using parables"?
*****Luk 8:9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
Luk 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
Jesus said that when the truth of God is taught, we are listening to what the Holy Spirit wants us to hear, and we are to respond to it.
Up until this point, Jesus had been teaching by direct reading of the Scriptures, and He would still do this also.
Jesus began to teach with parables to reach those who had a sincere desire to understand the Word of God.
Learning from a parable required people to do some thinking to get the meaning of the Scriptures.
The Lord Jesus Christ wants us to open our hearts to receive God's message.
It is important to ask enough questions until we get the true meaning of what God is teaching us, one Parable at a time.
We will seek the truth of God if we already have a personal relationship with Him.
Jesus also used the parables to conceal the truth from closed minds!
Closed minds will not spend much time seeking the truth of God because they are not interested in the truth of God.
They are carnal-minded.
Hard-hearted people have no interest in the God of Love.
If you think you already have it all figured out, you will never understand the truth of God.
*****Luk 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Luk 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
Luk 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
Luk 8:14 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.
Luk 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
We should understand that the Sower is the Lord Jesus Christ, or one of His disciples today.
1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
The Seed is then the Word of God which is incorruptible.
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
It is the Gospel that brings much fruit.
Col 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Col 1:6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
Jesus warns us all that there are all types of people in a crowd.
The fate of our ministries, and how well they grow, depends on those who hear it!
The success of the seed depends upon one thing only, and it is the condition of the soil.
The acceptance of the Word of God relies on one thing: the condition of the heart.
In this parable, the "soil" is in type the "heart".
1) That seed by the wayside.
That person by the wayside hears the Word of God. He is present, but he is off to the side. He is not involved in any church, and he lets his mind wander to things he would rather be doing than listening to some preacher. He will not pay any attention to God's warnings.
Before this person can believe the Devil will come and snatch the Word of God from him.
This person will never apply the Word of God to themselves.
2) The seed on the rock.
It means this person hears the Word of God, even becomes excited over it. He may even make a profession of faith.
But he fails to count the cost and consider the commitment he must make and the effort it takes to be a Christian, and he will not apply himself and become grounded in the Word of God.
When trials and temptations come, he will fail, and his profession of faith will be meaningless.
Luk 9:57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
Luk 9:58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
Luk 9:59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Luk 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
Luk 9:61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
Luk 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
3) The seed among the thorns:
This person receives the Word of God and honestly tries to live for Christ.
The Church and its activities appeal to him, and he joins, even calling himself a Christian, but he cannot overcome the thorns of worldliness.
He is unwilling to cut his ties with the world. He tries to live a double life.
He violates the command of God: 2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
He never becomes a child of God!
We must separate ourselves from the world to be a child of God!
1Ti 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
1Ti 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
4) The seed on good ground.
These are the ones who accept the Word of God with an honest and good heart.
They hear the Word of God, and they keep it.
They will bring forth fruit that will last because they are patient as they witness for Jesus Christ.
They honestly seek to learn and know the truth of God; the Church will grow.
Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
1Th 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
They are devoted to Christ and committed to the Gospel.
They do not allow the Devil to snatch away the truth of God.
The Lord Jesus adds to this truth:
*****Luk 8:16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.
Luk 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
Luk 8:18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
A candle must be lit to fulfill its function.
A candle is made for one purpose only, and that purpose is to give light.
A couple of things we must understand:
1) All fruit that is gathered is for God. We cannot save anyone; we can only lead them to the Lord, who can save them.
2) The light that remains is for the neighborhood. Once we are saved, we are to learn how to make our light as bright as it can be.
3) This candle is given by God Himself, and it cannot be purchased; it is a gift of God to each believer.
This candle is useless to God unless it is used.
This candle represents our Christian Life.
Mat_5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
This is the life we have when we have been "Born Again" into the family of God.
This life is only useful to God when our candle is lit!
This candle is God-given, but it must be we ourselves who can only light our candle.
We must take the initiative to light our candle and not try to hide it.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the only spark that can light our candle!
Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Joh 11:9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
Joh 11:10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
Joh 12:36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
Candles can be used as decoration. We can be a life that beautifies others. This is not the primary use of our life.
You can use the wax from a candle to fill a hole. We can be a life that fills in the gaps in society. This is not the primary use of our lives.
Our life can be like an ornament to attract attention. This would be a life centered on us. This is certainly not what God wants from us.
Our life must be able to shine freely. Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Our life must be like a candle that is set in a high place. Our High Place must be the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our life must be bright and not dim.
Our life must be strong in Christ and not weak.
If we try to hide our light, it is because we are ashamed of the true Light, the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Pe 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
We must understand that there are no more mysteries in the Bible. The Gospel was hidden for a time period but it is not to be hidden now.
There are no secret ways to get to Heaven! The Lord Jesus Christ explained the Gospel well enough for us to understand these things.
In fact, Jesus said we should know the way to Heaven by now.
Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
We must understand as we live out our lives in this wicked world that the truth is very narrow.
If we do not understand the Gospel of Grace, we have learned the wrong lesson!
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
We can think, we can guess, and we can suppose but we cannot stray from the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Only the truth of God will bring rewards!
If we do not use what the Lord has given to us, those rewards will be taken away.
Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
We must believe what the Lord Jesus says.
He gives us this example:
*****Luk 8:22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.
Luk 8:23 But as they sailed, he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
When the Lord told His disciples they were going over to the other side, they should have believed Him.
Jesus, the Son of Man, needed the help of the disciples to get away from the crowds that had gathered.
Most of these disciples had made their living on the Sea of Galilee. They knew this Sea and the suddenness of storms on this Sea.
Jesus, the Son of God, said we are going to the other side, and when He said this, these men should have believed what Jesus said and accepted it as the truth.
We could say this boat ride was a test of faith.
God will test our faith from time to time!
We will face many storms in our Christian life!
We must understand our sovereign God can do anything He so pleases at any time He so pleases!
1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
The Man Jesus was so tired that He fell asleep, but it did not change His plan.
The Lord Jesus was trusting that the skills of these men would get them to the other side of Galilee.
The Lord Jesus was present, but He was actively involved in the task of rowing.
Then came the storm, and it was a terrible storm.
This little boat was in jeopardy of sinking, but for one thing.
The Lord Jesus had said that they were going to the other side, and it was a sure thing.
*****Luk 8:24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
They felt that only the Lord Jesus had the power to save them when the Lord Jesus had trusted that they had the skills to reach the other side. He knew all along what they would do. This was a test of their faith; they were never in jeopardy.
Any place where the Lord Jesus is present is a safe place, no matter if He is asleep!
These disciples said they felt they were about to perish yet; they also had said that the Lord Jesus was the Messiah.
This shows that they had doubts that Jesus was the true Messiah.
They were desperate enough to wake up the Lord Jesus.
Just as that fever had left Peter's mother-in-law, just as all disease had left many people when the Lord spoke and said leave, the Lord Jesus spoke to the wind, and immediately the wind stopped blowing, and the Sea was calm.
Then the Lord had a question for them.
*****Luk 8:25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
We had better believe that Satan had his wickedness involved with this storm, so the Lord Jesus stood on His feet when He could have rebuked the wind with just His words. Satan would try to murder the Lord Jesus at every opportunity.
We must understand that the people of God must have absolute faith in our Savior.
We must also understand that if we are afraid, then it did not come from God, and if it did not come from God, it must have come from the Devil.
They had seen many miracles in their time with the Lord Jesus, but they felt that no one could control nature, and they were wrong again.
Jesus had said they were all going to the other side, and not one of them could have perished.
When the Lord describes the Rapture of the Church, we do not have to doubt that it will be real.
1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Amen
