11.Aug.2009 Stoney Ground

Mark 4: 5, 16-17
Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died… The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.

Continuing on through this series on the seed, it is crucial to note that the life you have is the life you have created. Let’s put this saying in the context of this parable. The garden you have is the garden you planted. I.e.: The condition of your soil and what is growing in your heart are determined by you.

The seed, as pointed out in the last sermon, is the word of God. Recall that, throughout life, you are both the sower and the soil. You want an answer from God; He has it for you. The answer is in the seed. God’s miraculous salvation, His answer for your problem is in the seed. The Holy Spirit plants the seed, but even He cannot infiltrate a hardened heart. The Holy Spirit will never override the free will of man. Thus, if you are not tending your garden, you will miss the miracle.

The parable highlights four types of soil. A heart that is hard is the first type. The second type is the one that has stones or is shallow. A shallow-hearted person is someone who came to church for one reason or another–life is rough, marriage is in the pits, things are going to hell, etc…–and found Jesus. This person gets excited about the Christian life, receives it, and goes forward with it. They learn the language (”hallelujah!” or “Amen, brother!”); they learn the trends; they fit in. But, suddenly, persecution comes. Suddenly, this Christian thing isn’t working out for them, and they leave. Why? Shallow soil.

You see, the Word of God brings persecution with it. We receive a revelation; we build our lives on the foundation of that revelation. Satan tries to snatch it. If that doesn’t work; if the seed has already been planted, then he attacks it. Problems arise to challenge the revelation.

A revelation is a boundary you place on your world. You get a revelation on tithing. You set that boundary on your spending. You begin to tithe. And then, BAM, financial troubles. Your new boundary is being tested. Your job is now to decide if you will stand on the revelation God has given you and fight for victory, or decide that you will give up, let the revelation die, and go back to your old ways when finances were not so hard.

Ephesians 1: 17-18 states that “…That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.”

When you receive the seed of revelation, your mind is enlightened. You are challenged to live at a higher standard. You are given a vision. A person without vision has no direction. This person lives life with shut eyes; groping in the darkness for some sort of goal. There is no way out for this person. A seed of revelation brings light into the situation. The sun rises, so to speak; but with the sun comes the heat. It is not the sun’s fault that heat comes (the sun brings life to a seed). Heat has the potential to kill the seed; kill the revelation; kill the vision.

So, beware of rocks. The rocks that make the soil shallow are the fears and the trials and persecution that come upon you when you receive something new. It wants to kill your vision. Stand strong on the promise of God! Believe in the revelation He has given! When you stand strong under the pressure and the heat, the dream is birthed. The seed takes root and sprouts.