The Certainty Of Christ's Teaching
Book of Luke 8
What is preaching in the Word of God?
Preaching is the act of proclaiming the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ" in a public setting.
God chose preaching as the means of reaching the lost with the "Gospel"!
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
To be a preacher, you must be called of God and then sent:
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Whom God sends to preach, He first converts, He will then kindle in him beyond the average man, a love for lost souls.
Jesus Christ is the "visible representation" of the Triune God and surely we make narrow God, unless we think of Him as Triune!
Surely we slander God, unless we make "atonement" as much the work of the Father and the Holy Spirit, as of the Son, Jesus.
Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
AND, Jesus Christ was a preacher!
Jesus, by this time, only had about 18 months before He would face the passion of His cross.
Jesus Christ had a preaching ministry!
Jesus Christ was sent to preach!
Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luk 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
The Book of Leviticus teaches us of the Jubilee Year when all the slaves were set free and the land returned to the owners and all debts paid.
The truth is, it is Christianity that has abolished slavery!
Jesus Christ preached the equality of all men as the children of God!
Jesus Christ preached of the eternal and everlasting Jubilee Year for all believers!
*****Luk 8:1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
Luk 8:2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
Luk 8:3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
From this time forward Jesus left Capernaum to preach village to village and city to city.
Jesus preached in Judea, Samaria; Jerusalem and Sychar but Jesus spent most of His time in the towns and villages of Galilee.
This province was despised by most Jews.
This was the training that the 12 disciples needed in order to begin the Church after Jesus' departure back to Heaven.
This is when these disciples would certainly learn what is later referred to as, the "Apostles Doctrine".
Act 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Act 2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
The Church of today needs to return to the "Apostles Doctrine"!
The Apostles Doctrine is the doctrine of Christ Jesus!
Jesus Christ was faithful and consistent in preaching and proclaiming the "Gospel"!
The truth is, every true minister, and ministry of the "Gospel" needs some help.
Luke mentions some women who devoted themselves to supporting the ministry of Christ Jesus.
We can understand this Mary, as the Mary from Magdala to distinguish her from the other Marys. It is a mistake to think of this woman as a person of bad character. She had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities and as we all are. She was just a sinner saved by the "Grace of God".
Herod Antipas had a steward named Chuza. Chuza had a wife named Joanna who along with Mary Magdalene ministered to the Lord Jesus Christ during this time and remained a follower of Him even after His death and resurrection.
There was another precious sister named Susanna who along with these other two Mary Magdalene and Joanna ministered to Christ Jesus with their own substance.
We can also see that there were many others and it is those many other unnamed people in the background who have moved the preaching of the "Gospel" throughout this world.
In most cases, it is those many unnamed Christians behind the scenes that carry the burden of the work in every church.
We also see that the message of Christ Jesus had reached into the political structure but it had also been received by some that were rich by the standards of that day.
They supported this ministry as it reached out, for God has compassion on all and is not willing that any should perish.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
The truth is, that those that find the pathway to Hell will have to stumble over Jesus Christ to get there, so that His ministry can never be blamed.
These precious ladies supported a ministry of the truth!
This financial help allowed the disciples to follow the Lord Jesus Christ full time.
The "Gospel" is the truth and it is "good news"!
Jesus touched on many things but He did not preach religion and ritual, Jesus did not preach ceremony and ordinance, Jesus did not preach laws and rules, nor works and deeds.
Jesus preached the "good news" of the Word of God.
Jesus preached the message that His Father in Heaven sent Him to preach!
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Jesus preached the "glad tidings" of His Father's Kingdom, because He had no message of His own.
Joh 5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
Joh 5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
We can see that discipleship and stewardship are the keys to moving the "Gospel" throughout this world.
The supporters of the ministry must do so out of devotion to Christ and we see that there is always a place for everyone to serve!
It not so important to have your named written down in the Word of God, as it is to have your name written down in the "Lamb's Book Of Life"!
AND, Jesus Christ taught in a specific way.
*****Luk 8:4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
We should realize that the nation of Israel was in a state of revival even though it was an occupied nation at that time.
This revival had begun with John the Baptist and now continued through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Multitudes of people were flocking to hear the preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We should be able to judge the size of these multitudes by the feeding of the 5000 which only counted the men and not women and children.
Remember Jesus spoke with an authority that no one else possessed!
Jesus did things that they had only read about in the Scriptures!
BUT, Jesus also knew that most of these that came to Him were not sincere.
Joh 2:25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
It is because of this that Jesus taught with parables!
This is what the parable of the seed is all about!
This parable has a message for everyone who hears it!
The main message of this parable, is that just hearing the Word of God is not enough for salvation!
*****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.
This seed of course represents the "Gospel Seed" the Word of God!
Notice this parable was taken from everyday happenings. Most all people are familiar with some of the things of the farmer because we all eat.
**The first thing we see is that there must be a sowing of the seed!
Not everyone will be like the farmer. Many will never sow the "Gospel Seed".
We should also see that God does not establish things that are fully formed, like a seed they must grow into usable things.
SO, we can see that the seed is alive. "The Gospel Seed" is the "Living Word Of God"!
Jesus said:
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
**We next see that we must be careful where we sow the seed.
*Some will always fall on the wayside!
The wayside is the pathway that passes by along side the field.
Here the soil is hard, the seed will be trodden down and the fowls of the air will devour it.
These are the hard hearts that have been trampled by years of sin and the seed cannot grow there.
*Some seed will fall on shallow soil over rock!
This seed grew quickly but having no depth of soil it soon just withered away.
These are the people who hear the Word of God but also the ones who have a form of godliness but they forsake the old paths for some modern excitement, They mistake feelings for religion and noisy display for real conviction.
*Some seed will always fall among the thorns.
It is here where the seed will grow but those thorny weeds will choke the life out of the growth making it useless.
*Seed needs to be planted in well prepared ground!
Good ground is the only place seed will grow and produce fruit.
We cannot always produce the same amount of fruit or even the the same kind of fruit but they are still God's fields prepared for the harvest.
Notice what else Jesus says: "He that has ears to hear, let him hear".
We should clearly understand that nothing on this earth determines the true worth of man more clearly than the way he acts in regard to the Word of God!
The Word of God must be sown in the heart and not on the heart.
Head knowledge is not the same has heart felt saving knowledge!
For the Word of God to have the proper effect it must be mixed with faith in the hearts of those who hear it.
Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
We must understand that a parable is an earthly story with a Heavenly meaning.
The stories are true and the heavenly meaning is true!
*****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.
Before Jesus explained this parable to His chosen disciples, He first explained to them why He was teaching with parables.
Up unto this point, Jesus had been preaching and teaching with direct statements with clear illustrations.
Jesus had seen that most people were repelled by this teaching because it destroyed the Oral Laws that the Scribes and Pharisees insisted on.
Now Jesus would preach and teach using a lot of parables.
1) Jesus wanted to open the hearts of those who were truly seeking God!
To every farmer, the soil preparation is the key to a fruitful harvest!
Parables required those who heard them to think about the words that had been said.
A person who was truly seeking God would search until they could find the meaning of the words that Jesus spoke.
All those that knew farming techniques would understand about the seed and the soil.
Jesus wanted those who heard to think about the "Gospel Seed" and the condition of the "Heart"!
All those who clung to their sin would not see, nor would they understand the teaching of Jesus because it required a change to take place in their heart!
The mystery for us all to learn hear is, "how so many people who have the opportunity to enter the Kingdom of God fail to do so because of the condition of their heart"!
The Word of God leads to salvation, salvation leads to eternal life. Parables provide a vision of life!
The seed of the farmer then represents the "Gospel Seed", the Living Word of God!
*****Luk 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
**We should understand that the Sower of the "Gospel Seed" was on this day Jesus Christ.
Today all those who have been called to be ministers of the Word of God sow the "Gospel Seed"!
1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
1Co 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
**The Seed then is the "Word of God" or the "Word of the Kingdom of God"!
The "incorruptible seed".
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
The "Gospel Truth".
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:
**The ground where the seed is sown is the "heart".
Just as there is all types of ground there are all types of hearts.
Just like the ground can be prepared for the seed, the heart can be prepared for the "Gospel Seed".
Just like this farmer sowed on all types of ground, the "Gospel Seed" is to be sown throughout the world.
Just as it is the condition of the ground that can cause it to bear fruit, it is also the condition of the heart that can cause it to bear fruit.
*****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.
We see this person by the wayside has heard the Word of God.
This is a person that is off to the side out of the way and does not get involved.
This is a person who sees Christ as a Prophet and a Preacher and may not even miss a Church service but doubts the promises of God.
Before this person accepts Jesus Christ as his Savior, the Devil comes and snatches the Word away!
Before this person can apply the Word of God to his life, salvation has already eluded him.
Act 28:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
We should be clear, the success or the failure of the Word of God to bring salvation, is not due to Satan but the hardness of our own heart. Satan can only bring temptation!
*****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.
This is a person who hears the Word of God and becomes excited over it. He may even profess a belief in Christ Jesus and make a profession of faith before the world.
He does not count the cost!
He does not become rooted and grounded in the Word of God!
He does not apply a commitment to learn of Jesus Christ!
SO, when trials and temptations come he falls away.
His profession of faith is burned up in the heat of trials and temptations.
Luk 6:49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
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.
*****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.
This is a person who receives the Word of God and honestly tries to live for Christ!
He may actually profess Christ as his Savior.
He still has a problem of separating himself from the world.
He tries to live a double life. He has one foot in the church and the other foot in the world.
He may even bear some fruit but it never ripens and is never able to be plucked.
The thorns of life will soon choke the message of the "Gospel" out of him!
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.
*****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.
These are those who have an honest and a good heart.
They have been plowed with the "Gospel Plow".
They keep the Word of God and apply it to there lives!
**Their hearts are honest!
Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
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.
**Their hearts are good!
They were devoted and and committed to the truth.
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
**They hold on tightly to the Word of God refusing to allow Satan snatch it away!
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
**They bear fruit with patience!
They endure and grow in the Lord.
They constantly weed themselves so the fruit is not choked out.
They continue steadfastly in the Word of God.
They no longer even resemble who they were before Christ came into their heart.
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Psa 92:13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
Psa 92:14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
For what is the purpose of a life in Christ?
*****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.
A life in Christ is for the purpose of giving that life to others!
This candle is then a gift of God.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
This candle or the life in Christ cannot be purchased nor can it be earned!
This candle or the life in Christ must be used to be of any benefit!
This candle or the life in Christ must be lit, it is not fulfilling until reaches it's primary function!
***The primary function of the candle, or the life in Christ is to glow!
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.
A candle can also decorate and beautify. A life in Christ is a beautiful thing.
The wax of a candle can plug holes and fill gaps. A life in Christ will fill the gaps in any society.
A candle can be an ornament to attract attention. A life in Christ will attract the attention of sinners.
A candle is just a piece of wax with a cord in it's center until it is lit.
Each Christian must show enough initiative to light up their life in the ways of Jesus!
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.
***A life for Christ cannot be hidden!
A life in Christ that is hidden serves no purpose at all.
Mar 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
***A candle should be placed high on a candle stick. A life in Christ Jesus must burn as bright as physically possible.
Php 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
Php 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
***A candle must be seen by all those that enter into the house.
Psa 66:16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
We must remember, we are not that light for that light is Jesus!
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.
We must also remember that no secret can be kept from our Lord!
*****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.
It is a fact that we all have some things in our past that we would rather not let the world know but nothing can be hidden from God.
We will always try to hide our sin and shame.
Much sin is done in the dark and behind closed doors.
Much sin is done when we are out and away from friends and family.
Many try to hide things in diaries and some even have secret bank accounts.
Many even try to hide abilities and talents.
And the secret Christian will even try to hide the Light and the Truth of Jesus Christ
Secrets have a tendency to make us feel safe!
Secrets have a tendency to make us feel that we have escaped punishment!
But what did Jesus say? "For nothing is secret"
There may be some things that others will not find out about us, but nothing can be hidden from God and He will make known the things that need to be made known!
Ecc 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
The truth will always be the truth and no lie is of the truth!
*****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.
Jesus has already said "he that hath ears, let him hear".
Now Jesus warns us all how to hear.
The truth is, we must hear the Word of God and then we must use what we hear and apply it to our lives!
If we do not use what we hear to our own benefit and the benefit of the lost, then that that we have can be taken away from us!
1) We must take heed on how we hear.
We sometimes hear wrongly. We can think, we can guess, and we can suppose we understand what we hear but God says to take heed and to discern everything we hear concerning the Word of God.
We must always make sure we hear the truth.
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.
Jesus Christ is the truth!
2) We need to watch how we hear!
It is only by knowing the truth and then doing the truth can we be rewarded.
Some will say rewards are not important as long as we have salvation.
But when the Lord Jesus calls your name, not many want to be sitting in the corner twiddling their thumbs while all the others are casting their crowns at the feet of Jesus.
Mat 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Mat 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
3) It is the law of God!
We must alway be moving forward trying to get even closer to God.
Standing still is always going backwards!
Heb 6:11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
When we are not certain of the teachings of Jesus Christ then we are failing the Lord who has brought such a great salvation to all who will believe.
Joh 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Questions?
Let's Pray!
Book of Luke 8
What is preaching in the Word of God?
Preaching is the act of proclaiming the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ" in a public setting.
God chose preaching as the means of reaching the lost with the "Gospel"!
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
To be a preacher, you must be called of God and then sent:
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Whom God sends to preach, He first converts, He will then kindle in him beyond the average man, a love for lost souls.
Jesus Christ is the "visible representation" of the Triune God and surely we make narrow God, unless we think of Him as Triune!
Surely we slander God, unless we make "atonement" as much the work of the Father and the Holy Spirit, as of the Son, Jesus.
Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
AND, Jesus Christ was a preacher!
Jesus, by this time, only had about 18 months before He would face the passion of His cross.
Jesus Christ had a preaching ministry!
Jesus Christ was sent to preach!
Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luk 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
The Book of Leviticus teaches us of the Jubilee Year when all the slaves were set free and the land returned to the owners and all debts paid.
The truth is, it is Christianity that has abolished slavery!
Jesus Christ preached the equality of all men as the children of God!
Jesus Christ preached of the eternal and everlasting Jubilee Year for all believers!
*****Luk 8:1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
Luk 8:2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
Luk 8:3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
From this time forward Jesus left Capernaum to preach village to village and city to city.
Jesus preached in Judea, Samaria; Jerusalem and Sychar but Jesus spent most of His time in the towns and villages of Galilee.
This province was despised by most Jews.
This was the training that the 12 disciples needed in order to begin the Church after Jesus' departure back to Heaven.
This is when these disciples would certainly learn what is later referred to as, the "Apostles Doctrine".
Act 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Act 2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
The Church of today needs to return to the "Apostles Doctrine"!
The Apostles Doctrine is the doctrine of Christ Jesus!
Jesus Christ was faithful and consistent in preaching and proclaiming the "Gospel"!
The truth is, every true minister, and ministry of the "Gospel" needs some help.
Luke mentions some women who devoted themselves to supporting the ministry of Christ Jesus.
We can understand this Mary, as the Mary from Magdala to distinguish her from the other Marys. It is a mistake to think of this woman as a person of bad character. She had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities and as we all are. She was just a sinner saved by the "Grace of God".
Herod Antipas had a steward named Chuza. Chuza had a wife named Joanna who along with Mary Magdalene ministered to the Lord Jesus Christ during this time and remained a follower of Him even after His death and resurrection.
There was another precious sister named Susanna who along with these other two Mary Magdalene and Joanna ministered to Christ Jesus with their own substance.
We can also see that there were many others and it is those many other unnamed people in the background who have moved the preaching of the "Gospel" throughout this world.
In most cases, it is those many unnamed Christians behind the scenes that carry the burden of the work in every church.
We also see that the message of Christ Jesus had reached into the political structure but it had also been received by some that were rich by the standards of that day.
They supported this ministry as it reached out, for God has compassion on all and is not willing that any should perish.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
The truth is, that those that find the pathway to Hell will have to stumble over Jesus Christ to get there, so that His ministry can never be blamed.
These precious ladies supported a ministry of the truth!
This financial help allowed the disciples to follow the Lord Jesus Christ full time.
The "Gospel" is the truth and it is "good news"!
Jesus touched on many things but He did not preach religion and ritual, Jesus did not preach ceremony and ordinance, Jesus did not preach laws and rules, nor works and deeds.
Jesus preached the "good news" of the Word of God.
Jesus preached the message that His Father in Heaven sent Him to preach!
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Jesus preached the "glad tidings" of His Father's Kingdom, because He had no message of His own.
Joh 5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
Joh 5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
We can see that discipleship and stewardship are the keys to moving the "Gospel" throughout this world.
The supporters of the ministry must do so out of devotion to Christ and we see that there is always a place for everyone to serve!
It not so important to have your named written down in the Word of God, as it is to have your name written down in the "Lamb's Book Of Life"!
AND, Jesus Christ taught in a specific way.
*****Luk 8:4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
We should realize that the nation of Israel was in a state of revival even though it was an occupied nation at that time.
This revival had begun with John the Baptist and now continued through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Multitudes of people were flocking to hear the preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We should be able to judge the size of these multitudes by the feeding of the 5000 which only counted the men and not women and children.
Remember Jesus spoke with an authority that no one else possessed!
Jesus did things that they had only read about in the Scriptures!
BUT, Jesus also knew that most of these that came to Him were not sincere.
Joh 2:25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
It is because of this that Jesus taught with parables!
This is what the parable of the seed is all about!
This parable has a message for everyone who hears it!
The main message of this parable, is that just hearing the Word of God is not enough for salvation!
*****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.
This seed of course represents the "Gospel Seed" the Word of God!
Notice this parable was taken from everyday happenings. Most all people are familiar with some of the things of the farmer because we all eat.
**The first thing we see is that there must be a sowing of the seed!
Not everyone will be like the farmer. Many will never sow the "Gospel Seed".
We should also see that God does not establish things that are fully formed, like a seed they must grow into usable things.
SO, we can see that the seed is alive. "The Gospel Seed" is the "Living Word Of God"!
Jesus said:
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
**We next see that we must be careful where we sow the seed.
*Some will always fall on the wayside!
The wayside is the pathway that passes by along side the field.
Here the soil is hard, the seed will be trodden down and the fowls of the air will devour it.
These are the hard hearts that have been trampled by years of sin and the seed cannot grow there.
*Some seed will fall on shallow soil over rock!
This seed grew quickly but having no depth of soil it soon just withered away.
These are the people who hear the Word of God but also the ones who have a form of godliness but they forsake the old paths for some modern excitement, They mistake feelings for religion and noisy display for real conviction.
*Some seed will always fall among the thorns.
It is here where the seed will grow but those thorny weeds will choke the life out of the growth making it useless.
*Seed needs to be planted in well prepared ground!
Good ground is the only place seed will grow and produce fruit.
We cannot always produce the same amount of fruit or even the the same kind of fruit but they are still God's fields prepared for the harvest.
Notice what else Jesus says: "He that has ears to hear, let him hear".
We should clearly understand that nothing on this earth determines the true worth of man more clearly than the way he acts in regard to the Word of God!
The Word of God must be sown in the heart and not on the heart.
Head knowledge is not the same has heart felt saving knowledge!
For the Word of God to have the proper effect it must be mixed with faith in the hearts of those who hear it.
Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
We must understand that a parable is an earthly story with a Heavenly meaning.
The stories are true and the heavenly meaning is true!
*****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.
Before Jesus explained this parable to His chosen disciples, He first explained to them why He was teaching with parables.
Up unto this point, Jesus had been preaching and teaching with direct statements with clear illustrations.
Jesus had seen that most people were repelled by this teaching because it destroyed the Oral Laws that the Scribes and Pharisees insisted on.
Now Jesus would preach and teach using a lot of parables.
1) Jesus wanted to open the hearts of those who were truly seeking God!
To every farmer, the soil preparation is the key to a fruitful harvest!
Parables required those who heard them to think about the words that had been said.
A person who was truly seeking God would search until they could find the meaning of the words that Jesus spoke.
All those that knew farming techniques would understand about the seed and the soil.
Jesus wanted those who heard to think about the "Gospel Seed" and the condition of the "Heart"!
All those who clung to their sin would not see, nor would they understand the teaching of Jesus because it required a change to take place in their heart!
The mystery for us all to learn hear is, "how so many people who have the opportunity to enter the Kingdom of God fail to do so because of the condition of their heart"!
The Word of God leads to salvation, salvation leads to eternal life. Parables provide a vision of life!
The seed of the farmer then represents the "Gospel Seed", the Living Word of God!
*****Luk 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
**We should understand that the Sower of the "Gospel Seed" was on this day Jesus Christ.
Today all those who have been called to be ministers of the Word of God sow the "Gospel Seed"!
1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
1Co 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
**The Seed then is the "Word of God" or the "Word of the Kingdom of God"!
The "incorruptible seed".
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
The "Gospel Truth".
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:
**The ground where the seed is sown is the "heart".
Just as there is all types of ground there are all types of hearts.
Just like the ground can be prepared for the seed, the heart can be prepared for the "Gospel Seed".
Just like this farmer sowed on all types of ground, the "Gospel Seed" is to be sown throughout the world.
Just as it is the condition of the ground that can cause it to bear fruit, it is also the condition of the heart that can cause it to bear fruit.
*****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.
We see this person by the wayside has heard the Word of God.
This is a person that is off to the side out of the way and does not get involved.
This is a person who sees Christ as a Prophet and a Preacher and may not even miss a Church service but doubts the promises of God.
Before this person accepts Jesus Christ as his Savior, the Devil comes and snatches the Word away!
Before this person can apply the Word of God to his life, salvation has already eluded him.
Act 28:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
We should be clear, the success or the failure of the Word of God to bring salvation, is not due to Satan but the hardness of our own heart. Satan can only bring temptation!
*****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.
This is a person who hears the Word of God and becomes excited over it. He may even profess a belief in Christ Jesus and make a profession of faith before the world.
He does not count the cost!
He does not become rooted and grounded in the Word of God!
He does not apply a commitment to learn of Jesus Christ!
SO, when trials and temptations come he falls away.
His profession of faith is burned up in the heat of trials and temptations.
Luk 6:49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
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.
*****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.
This is a person who receives the Word of God and honestly tries to live for Christ!
He may actually profess Christ as his Savior.
He still has a problem of separating himself from the world.
He tries to live a double life. He has one foot in the church and the other foot in the world.
He may even bear some fruit but it never ripens and is never able to be plucked.
The thorns of life will soon choke the message of the "Gospel" out of him!
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.
*****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.
These are those who have an honest and a good heart.
They have been plowed with the "Gospel Plow".
They keep the Word of God and apply it to there lives!
**Their hearts are honest!
Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
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.
**Their hearts are good!
They were devoted and and committed to the truth.
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
**They hold on tightly to the Word of God refusing to allow Satan snatch it away!
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
**They bear fruit with patience!
They endure and grow in the Lord.
They constantly weed themselves so the fruit is not choked out.
They continue steadfastly in the Word of God.
They no longer even resemble who they were before Christ came into their heart.
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Psa 92:13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
Psa 92:14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
For what is the purpose of a life in Christ?
*****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.
A life in Christ is for the purpose of giving that life to others!
This candle is then a gift of God.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
This candle or the life in Christ cannot be purchased nor can it be earned!
This candle or the life in Christ must be used to be of any benefit!
This candle or the life in Christ must be lit, it is not fulfilling until reaches it's primary function!
***The primary function of the candle, or the life in Christ is to glow!
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.
A candle can also decorate and beautify. A life in Christ is a beautiful thing.
The wax of a candle can plug holes and fill gaps. A life in Christ will fill the gaps in any society.
A candle can be an ornament to attract attention. A life in Christ will attract the attention of sinners.
A candle is just a piece of wax with a cord in it's center until it is lit.
Each Christian must show enough initiative to light up their life in the ways of Jesus!
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.
***A life for Christ cannot be hidden!
A life in Christ that is hidden serves no purpose at all.
Mar 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
***A candle should be placed high on a candle stick. A life in Christ Jesus must burn as bright as physically possible.
Php 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
Php 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
***A candle must be seen by all those that enter into the house.
Psa 66:16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
We must remember, we are not that light for that light is Jesus!
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.
We must also remember that no secret can be kept from our Lord!
*****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.
It is a fact that we all have some things in our past that we would rather not let the world know but nothing can be hidden from God.
We will always try to hide our sin and shame.
Much sin is done in the dark and behind closed doors.
Much sin is done when we are out and away from friends and family.
Many try to hide things in diaries and some even have secret bank accounts.
Many even try to hide abilities and talents.
And the secret Christian will even try to hide the Light and the Truth of Jesus Christ
Secrets have a tendency to make us feel safe!
Secrets have a tendency to make us feel that we have escaped punishment!
But what did Jesus say? "For nothing is secret"
There may be some things that others will not find out about us, but nothing can be hidden from God and He will make known the things that need to be made known!
Ecc 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
The truth will always be the truth and no lie is of the truth!
*****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.
Jesus has already said "he that hath ears, let him hear".
Now Jesus warns us all how to hear.
The truth is, we must hear the Word of God and then we must use what we hear and apply it to our lives!
If we do not use what we hear to our own benefit and the benefit of the lost, then that that we have can be taken away from us!
1) We must take heed on how we hear.
We sometimes hear wrongly. We can think, we can guess, and we can suppose we understand what we hear but God says to take heed and to discern everything we hear concerning the Word of God.
We must always make sure we hear the truth.
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.
Jesus Christ is the truth!
2) We need to watch how we hear!
It is only by knowing the truth and then doing the truth can we be rewarded.
Some will say rewards are not important as long as we have salvation.
But when the Lord Jesus calls your name, not many want to be sitting in the corner twiddling their thumbs while all the others are casting their crowns at the feet of Jesus.
Mat 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Mat 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
3) It is the law of God!
We must alway be moving forward trying to get even closer to God.
Standing still is always going backwards!
Heb 6:11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
When we are not certain of the teachings of Jesus Christ then we are failing the Lord who has brought such a great salvation to all who will believe.
Joh 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Questions?
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