Good Soil, Good Tree; Good Fruit
Luke 8:5-18 Amplified Bible
Everything God made on this earth has an ear to hear. How do I know that? We can find examples of it throughout the Word.
In Mark 4 and Luke 8 Jesus tells his disciples to go to the other side with him. Jesus falls asleep and a wind storm comes and starts to fill the boat with water. The boys on the boat start to get a little worried and they wake Jesus up and say, “Master, Master we perish.” Jesus interrupted from his sleep rises up, walks to the front of the boat, and calls out to the wind, “Peace be still!”, and the wind ceased and there was calm.
So the wind had an ear to hear.
Another example is when Jesus spoke to the fig tree in Matthew 21.
And the Word says…
Matt 21:18 In the early dawn the next morning, as He was coming back into the city, He was hungry.
Matt 21:19 And as He saw one single leafy tree on the roadside, He went to it but he found nothing but leaves on it [seeing that in the fig tree fruit appears at the same time as the leaves]. And He said to it, “Never again shall fruit grow on you!” And the fig tree withered up at once.
Last week we had a sermon that talked about the barren tree. We discussed that like a tree we have to be careful that we don’t represent ourselves as dead trees walking.
Spiritually fruitless
Unproductive
And worthless
The word taught us that if we don’t bear fruit in our season of life, we have the threat of being cut down. Luke 13:9.
So we must flourish and become more fruitful.
We must bear fruit so that others may draw from us.
We must recognize that God’s grace has time limit and we had better live it out or it could be wasted.
So if everything that God made has an ear to hear, how much more careful must we be in what we say, what we hear and what we do? The challenge here is to be different. Don’t buy into the ways of others and the ways of the world so that you walk around representing yourself as a dead tree. We have too many dead trees already in our midst. We need to be the lively, good, full, filled, nourishing, fruitful trees. So here we gather a week later, and I give to you the question again, “What kind of tree are you?”
As we ponder on that thought, I was at the park yesterday watching my son’s T-ball game. The coach and I began discussing the wonderful grace and mercy of the Lord. As our discussion moved forward others started gathering around us and interrupted our conversation to discuss the new Hooter’s Restaurant coming to town. The joy on their faces was overwhelming as they continued to discuss two other restaurants in town, honoring them for the way they display the young girls who work in those types of restaurants. I stood my ground, and firmly stated, “I would not be caught dead in those restaurants!” Surprisingly, the statement silenced the crowd as they looked to me for an explanation. I told them, “As a Pastor, honoring God is one of the most important aspects of my service to Him. I am not only responsible for my actions, but I am responsible who I’m seen with and where I’m seen. I can’t risk leading my sheep into a place full of perversion and lust all for a few chicken wings and a soda. I am a tree that bears good fruit, and I have to look forward to feeding the sheep that come to my church meals worthy of being at the Kings table. ”
As I said that, I couldn’t help but think about last Sunday’s sermon. I was a flourishing fruitful tree in that moment. And like the caretaker in Luke 13:8, I was digging around and fertilizing those guys, hoping they got a message out of it.
Well that led me to this week’s scripture. It’s scripture and a parable most Christians are familiar with and you can find it in Luke 8:5 – 18. (Amplified)
8:5 A sower went out to sow some seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the traveled path and was trodden underfoot, and the birds of the air ate it up.
As Christians we are all sowers, and each day we wake up and represent Christ, we sow seed everyday. Just like the sower in this parable, all the seed we sow along our daily walk does not always fall on good ground. And when you are not careful about where you drop your seed, it can produce some bad trees. And when you are out there dropping seed that produces bad fruit, it takes you out of character and makes you a thief, a murderer and a destroyer. In other words, our actions as seed sowers can determine what kind of fruit we bear for ourselves as well as others. What Christian wants to steal someone’s salvation, kill someone’s faith and see anyone go to hell? Be careful where you drop your seed and how you drop your seed. And make sure when you drop it you represent Christ the way he represented you when he died on the cross to cover your iniquities.
Now I know that we do things and say things sometimes because we don’t want to wrestle up the feathers with both saved and unsaved folk, but there comes a time as a Christian that you must develop your spiritual maturity and make sure that every word that comes out of your mouth, that every action that you take part in, and that everywhere you go, you honor Christ with the sincerity and respect he deserves.
John 15:15 (Amplified) reads: I do not call you servants (slaves) any longer; for the servant does not know what his master is doing (working out). But I have called you My friends because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father. [I have revealed to you everything that I have learned from Him.]
John 15:16 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go out and bear fruit and keep on bearing, an that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as representing all that I AM]. He may give it to you.
So let’s return to Luke 8
8:5 A sower went out to sow some seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the traveled path and was trodden underfoot, and the birds of the air ate it up.
8:6 And some [seed] fell on the rock, and as soon as it sprouted, it withered away because it had no moisture.
8:7 And other [seed] fell in the midst of the thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it off.
8:8 And some seed fell into good soil, and grew up and yielded a crop a hundred times [as great]. As he said these things, He called out, He who has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him consider and understand by hearing!
The problem with Christians today is we are not sowing enough seed. Some of us reap but we don’t sow, we don’t drop any seed. We keep it hidden in our pockets; on purpose because of fear of what people will think of us. We gather all the knowledge of the Word, and selfishly hold on to it. We grow, but no one else grows and our trees bear little fruit. Some of us gather the knowledge and wisdom of the Word, but we don’t show it in our character. We read the Word and know the Word, but don’t live it. And by not living it, we may as well have not heard it. We are just casually strolling down our traveled path and just letting seed drop. We don’t care where it drops; we don’t watch where it drops. We’re just cruising down our pathway watching the lives and the world around us go right into hell and the hand basket.
You see it is our responsibility to drop as much seed as we can. Listen to what the word says here in 8:8 By spreading seed in good soil, It grows up and yields more, a hundred times more. So the more we drop seed in good soil, the more good trees we produce. Henceforth, it will eventually provide more good fruit, and more good fruit provides more good seed and so on, and so on, and so on.
8:9 And when his disciples asked Him the meaning of this parable,
8:10 He said to them, To you it has been given to [come progressively to] know (to recognize and understand more strongly and clearly) the mysteries and secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that, [though] looking, they may not see; and hearing, they may not comprehend.
How do we come progressively to know, recognize and understand more strongly and clearly? By enhancing and improving our communication with God by praying in The Holy Spirit. Praying in the Holy Spirit reveals to us the things that are unknown to most Christians and the unsaved. It helps to know, recognize and understand the kingdom of God. Not all Christians will receive this revelation because they remain spiritual babes never maturing and backsliding in their spiritual lives. So, parables will be given to assist them in growing their faith to help them to get back on track. But those who seek to know the Lord, recognize, understand and see more clearly will also understand that praying in the Holy Spirit will not only help them know good soil when they see it, but also make them aware where to drop seed and howd to drop seed when its harder to find. The Holy Spirit will teach you, guide you and show you how and where to drop your seed.
8:11 Now the meaning of the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God.
What is the seed? THE WORD OF GOD!
8:12 Those along the traveled road are the people who have heard; then the devil comes and carries away the message out of their hearts, that they may not believe (acknowledge Me as their Savior and devote themselves to Me) and be saved [here and thereafter].
So here we have dropped some seed in the soil and dropped a hint of Christ into their lives, but didn’t carry through or follow up enough with them. When we get an opportunity to share Christ with others, be patient. Dont make the conversation so quick. When we have an open ear to hear the Word, take advantage of the opportunity so you can help to produce a tree that will become full and filled. When we don’t spend adequate time with others, look what happens? Who comes? The devil comes and steals their message, destroys their faith, and kills them. He troddens all over them and sends crows and vultures down to eat them up and steals not only their life on earth, but their life in heaven as well.
8:13 And those upon the rock [are the people] who, when the hear [the Word], receive and welcome it with joy; but these have no root. They believe for a while, and in time of trial and temptation fall away (withdraw and fall aloof).
Notice what happens when the seed falls on the rocks. The rocks in life are the hard places. And people who hear the Word, receive it welcome it, and then backslide, always finding themselves in hard places. As we continue to build this ministry, we will try not to keep people in hard places. In many churches today, you have all kinds of ministries to assist with addictions, alcohol, drugs, gambling, suicide, etc. Hard places are not only related to addictions but they relate also to our afflictions; cancer, diabetes, finances, gluttony. The list just goes on and on. You see we are not helping people deal with their issues; we are assisting them in letting their needs run the ministry instead of letting Jesus handle their needs. There’s only one way I can guarantee will take you out of rocky soil. Repent, give your life to Christ, and be disciplined and obedient to the Word of God. Build yourself up by activating your faith letting the power of the Holy Spirit move you. You will find your way out of hard places. Good soil is coming your way! You can be delivered and free! Restored and renewed! Why? Because He instructs us in the Word to cast all of our burdens off on Him, He already paid the price. It’s that easy; just give it all to Christ!
8:14 And as for what fell among the thorns, these are [the people] who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked and suffocated with the anxieties and cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not ripen (come to maturity and perfection).
We spend too much time in the thorns; trying to keep up with worldly expectations. We stress ourselves out, caring about what others say about us and think about us. We get lost in our finances trying to buy happiness with material things and invest our money in lots of the wrong things that steal our families, good jobs, life and joy from us. You’ll find the more happiness you try to buy, the more thorny soil comes your way. But if you invest in the Word of God, sit down for a few minutes each day and have dinner with King, you’ll find the answers to those stranglers and suffocaters in your life. God is no respecter of persons and neither is time. What we accomplish here on earth to please man, will not count on judgment day, but what we do to please God will matter. Pay attention and recognized that our days are numbered and our time is too short for us to mess around thorny ground in our lives.
8:15 But as for that [seed] in good soil, these are [the people] who, hearing the Word, hold it fast in a just (noble, virtuous) and worthy heart, and steadily bring forth fruit with patience.
Are you one of these trees? Nice and full and filled. Do you hear the word and steadfastly cling to it? Do you hold it to the highest and powerful thing in your life? Do you live life with a worthy heart and bring forth good works in all that you do? And do you do it with patience? If you can answer yes to all of this, you are a mighty, large, full, filled tree! You are the bearer and producer of good fruit. You provide nutrition to yourself and others! And you eventually create more good hundred fold seed that will spread throughout the world and continue to grow people into a life with Christ.
8:16 No one after he has lighted a lamp covers it with a vessel or puts it under a [dining table] couch; but he puts it on a lamp stand, that those who come in may see light.
You see if we carry the lamp unto our feet, we don’t cover it up so we lose our way or set underneath anything that would cause harm to others. Instead we keep it directly in front of us so that it lights our path for ourselves and all to see.
8:17 For there is nothing hidden that shall not be disclosed, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come out into the open.
The Word warns us that God will not me mocked. This means he will not be made fun of, teased, scorned or laughed at. He will not be fake, simulated, artificial or bogus. He will not be mimicked or imitated. He is God; He is worthy to be honored, worthy to be praised, worthy to be worshipped and worthy to be love. His grace and mercy continues to offer us repentance and sufficiency. So don’t play around with His love, faith, virtue, and anointing. If you do, he’s going to know, and hypocrites will pay!
8:18 Be careful therefore how you listen. For to him who has [spiritual knowledge] will more be given; and from him who does not have [spiritual knowledge], even what he thinks and guesses and supposes that he has will be taken away.
In the Old testament in 1st Kings 3 Solomon is given the opportunity to choose anything in the world that God has to offer to man. Solomon didn’t choose long life, riches, or the death to his enemies. Instead he asked God for knowledge. He asked to be wise so he could discern between good and bad. And because this is what he asked for, God granted it to him. Not only did he grant him wisdom and knowledge, but made it so that no one before him or after him would attain so much knowledge. He gave him riches and honor, so that no other king in his day attained more than him. And if he continued to follow Gods commandments, he also gave him long life.
When God sent his son Jesus, he gave us all those riches as well. We were given the ultimate gift of life when all of our addictions, afflictions, iniquities and transgressions were covered with the Blood that was shed for us. His word promises that whatever we ask of the Father in His Name, it shall be given to us. He left with us a Comforter who is with us all the days of our lives. His wisdom, authority, virtue and power have been passed down to us so that we can bear fruit and plant good seed in good soil. No trodden and devoured soil, no rocky, hard place soil, no thorny, artificial, soil, but good noble virtuous soil. Thank you Father for sending Jesus.
