Title: Plowed Good Land / Matthew 13:18-23
Content Sermon Title Tilled Good Land
Bible verse Matthew 13:18-23
As Charles Spurgeon said, "Newspapers are picture books that show how God moves the world." All things reveal God and show the works of God. When Jesus told parables to introduce the truth, he brought out deep truth in our daily lives. In fact, those who heard the parables of Jesus could not understand it well, even though it was a topic that could be easily encountered in daily life. That's why the disciples asked, "Why are you speaking in parables?" But Jesus reminds his disciples that these parables are a privilege enjoyed by those who are granted the kingdom of heaven. He is saying that the secret of the kingdom of heaven is not permitted to anyone, but is revealed only to the disciples.
There is only a 1/4 chance that it will bear abundant fruit. Even the same word bears fruit according to the maturity of faith in many different ways. The good soil produces abundant fruit, but the roadside, rocky ground, and thorns do not bear fruit. It is not important what our heart field is now. Either way, we have the hope that it can be cultivated into good soil. If you cultivate the field of your heart with faith, it will be transformed into good ground along the roadside, into good stony ground, and into good ground with thorns removed and fruitful.
First, cultivating a roadside field makes it a good land that bears abundant fruit.
In John 6, the miracle of five fish is mentioned. Because he did not know that it was Jesus who could feed a large crowd, Philip made the quick calculations, and two hundred denarii of bread would not be enough to feed them. It is said. Andrew, Peter's brother, how much would five barley loaves and two fish cost these many people? That is, no matter how much you calculate, the calculation does not come out.
We must cultivate a heart that does not know that God's Word is the only hope in our lives and that it is the solution to all problems, so that we can know the value and preciousness of God's Word, and have a heart to hold onto it without being taken away by anything in the world. This is good land that bears abundant fruit.
Second, cultivating a stony field makes it a good land that bears abundant fruit.
A rocky field refers to a case in which the Word is received with joy and yet falls in times of trouble. This is because there is no root of the Word, so we endure for a while, but eventually we fall. Root refers to trust in God's Word. Therefore, those without roots cannot trust the Word of God and, of course, cannot accept the Gospel. It can be trusted for a while without roots. However, since we do not keep the Word in our lives, it is no different from not having the Word. When we receive the word of God, difficult and difficult situations come to us. At that time, in order not to fall, trust in God's Word and roots are necessary.
You will find out by hearing the word of God. However, since we do not put those words into practice, we cannot bear any fruit. They know the word of God, but do not put it into practice and use the word according to their circumstances and circumstances. It is to interpret the Word in the direction they want. In fact, this was the kind that could be found in the Pharisees and the scribes.
The Word of God is not a myth in the world. It is a living Word that does not change even if the world changes. To hear the word and not do it, we must practice it by cultivating a dead heart and trusting in the word of God. This is good land that bears abundant fruit.
Third, if the thorny field is tilled, it becomes a good land that bears abundant fruit.
The thorns are unfruitful because of the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth. This is not an internal problem, but comes from external factors such as the surrounding environment, material, etc. A field among thorns means that the soil itself is good, but the field has not been trimmed, so the Word cannot grow in the heart. This heart is a person who wants to serve God and riches together because purity and worldliness coexist. A Christian must be in the world, but not of the world, but on the side of God. Otherwise, the Word is bound to choke in your heart because you listen to the world's temptations. It is the cares, worries and temptations of the world that take hold of the thought.
Thoughts govern actions. What is filled in the heart is revealed through action. In a village there was a man who liked to make slingshots. Whatever he saw, he thought about how to make a new slingshot out of it. So, of course, not only did he make a lot of slingshots, but also how other people made slingshots out of them. A heart filled with God thinks only of God. Therefore, no matter what he does, God is to be seen in him. We must think only of God by dispelling the thoughts that have been taken over by the world, and the worries, worries, and temptations of the world are present. This is good land that bears abundant fruit.
How is your field? Is it a good field that has been tilled and the seeds bear abundant fruit? The good field listens to the Word, understands it well, and takes it as one's own. A holy change in life and character bears fruit.
To hear the word and not do it, let's cultivate a dead heart and put it into practice by trusting God's word.
Happiness depends on what you think it is. I hope that you and your family will be filled with the happy thoughts God has given you in May in the month of reconciliation and become a Samrak family that bears abundant fruit.