But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV)
From The Start of God’s “Kingdom” he has looked at the Heart.
The Kingdom Parable of the Soils
““Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear…’ And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold & a hundredfold.
Mark 4:3-9, 13-20 (ESV)
What Does This Parable Teach Us About…
The Seed – The Good News of The Kingdom of God
The Seed is indiscriminate and should be sown any and everywhere.
The Sower – Represent Anyone Sharing The Good News of the Kingdom
Those who are members of the Kingdom are expected to sow the seed.
The Soils – Represent Hearts Who Hear The Good News of the Kingdom
Soil Analysis – Which Soil Represents My Heart
• Hard Soil – Life has hardened my heart, its impenetrable.
• Rocky Soil – I am shallow and the seed can’t grow roots.
• Thorny Soil – I allow my desires and worries to choke out the seed.
• Good Soil – The seed can thrive and grow!
What Does This Mean For My Life?
The Bad News – Bad Soil will effortlessly become worse!
The Good News – Bad Soil, with effort can become Good
How Do I Become Good Soil For The Kingdom of God?
I must hear God’s word, understand and do what it says.
But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it.
Mark 4:20 (ESV)
“If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking.”
James 1:5 (CEV)
Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.
Acts 8:30-31 (NLT)
“But those who look closely into the perfect law that sets people free, who keep on paying attention to it and do not simply listen and then forget it, but put it into practice—they will be blessed by God in what they do.”
James 1:25 (GNBUK)
I must bear fruit and reproduce seed for the Kingdom.
But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold & a hundredfold.
Mark 4:20 (ESV)
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
John 15:8 (NIV)
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