“What's Wrong with the Soil?”  --  Mark 4:1-20

 

Introduction:  There are many gardens spoken of in the Word of God

1.  The Garden Of Eden  --  Place of Perfect Fellowship 

2.  The Garden Of The Bridegroom  --  Place of Personal Love

3.  The Garden Of Gethsemane  --  Place Of Agonizing Prayer

4.  The Garden Of World  --  Place Of Productive Lives

In every garden there is opposition.   There is always someone trying

to destroy the work of the gardener.   Behind this is Satan as he trys to

destroy the fruit of God.  Eden  --  Serpent,  Solomon’s --

Gethsemane  -- Agony,  and in Mark 4 he uses three methods.

The Seed in God’s Garden wishes to reproduce.  I Peter 1:23

Here in this passage  --  4:14 -- “the sower soweth the Word”

There are two ways Satan attacks the Church

1.  The Soil  --  The Heart of the Sinner  --  Hardness

2.  The Seed  --  The Tares mixed with the Wheat -- Hypocrisy

Three problems with the soil in this parable.  Illustrates the problems

we have that prevent the Word of God from producing in our lives.

 

I.  Problem Of Penetration  --  vs. 4&15 -- The Seed Stolen

    A.  Hardness Of A Critical Heart  -- Wrong Attitude

         1.  Mark  3:1-5  --  Jesus was healing a man with a withered

             hand and was criticized by the Pharisees for healing on the

             Sabbath.   Jesus was grieved in his heart.

         2.  Critical attitudes are seed killers.  Its real easy to sweep

             around the door step of someone else,  check yours.

         3.  If someone trys to do anything for God or themselves,

             keep your mouth shut until you have accomplished everything

             you should in your life.

    B.  Hardness Of A Contrary Heart  --  Rebellion

         1.  Mark 10:1-9  --  Jesus answers the Pharisees concerning

             divorce, and explains that the law was given because of the

             hardness of their hearts.  In Moses’ day men would put away

             their wife outside the boundary of the engagement period.

         2.  Hardness can be established by acting contrary to God’s

             Word.  This shows the importance of obedience.  When we

             disobey God’s Word, we are risking losing the seed.

    C.  Hardness Of A Carnal Heart  -- Doubt

         1.  Mark 16:9-14  --  Jesus upbraided the disciples for their

             unbelief.  Upbraided means to “exose one’s shame or

             reproach.

         2.  Christ could use the Word of God to produce so much more if

             we simply would believe what he tells us.  We sit in doubt till

             that opportunity is stolen away.

         3.  Don’t Let Hard Soil prevent the growth of the Seed.

II.  The Problem Of Preparation  -- vs. 5&16 -- The Seed Scorched

    A.  Shallow Soil

         1.  There was a problem here of the soil not being prepared. 

             The stones had not been removed.  The soil was deep enough

             to cover the seed, but not protect it from the heat of the sun.

         2.  It speaks of superficial lives.  On the surface one couldn’t

             tell there were beneath the surface. 

         3.  Hosea 10:12  --  Fallow = “nyir” means “untilled”

    B.  Scorched Seed

         1.  The seed could never take root because of the shallowness

             of the soil.  The stones caused destruction.  Just like a rock

             under the surface of the water.  Jude 12

         2.  Don't let Hidden Stones destroy the seed in your Garden.

III.  The Problem Of Priorities  --  vs. 7&18  -- The Seed Strangled

    A.  Distraction From Responsibilities  --

         1.  Cares of this world  speak of obligations we all have in our

             lives.  Too many times we turn our lives upside down in the

             area of important things.  Don't get so burden down with

             responsibility that you neglect your garden.

         2.  The thorns were already there when the seed fell.  Don't

             allow things in your life distract you from the seed.

         3.  Colossians 3:2  --  Set your affections on things above”

             Don’t allow Satan to distract you from the Church.

    B.  Deception Of Riches 

         1.  Vs. 18-19  --  The two causes for the seed choking are the

             deceitfulness of riches and other lust

         2.  Don’t allow Satan to deceive you by causing you to think

             this life is all to live for.  We are going to face God with the

             fruit we allowed the seed to produce in our lives.

         3.  The the strangled hold of the world caused the seed not to

             produce any fruit.

 

Conclusion:  Have you let Satan keep you from Preaparing the soil, and giving
the seed time to penetrate and produce in your life.  Maybe you have rebelled,
or simply haven’t given priority to the seed.