Kingdom Principle: Since Jesus’ kingdom, in the current iteration, is a spiritual kingdom, that is to say he rules in the hearts of mankind primarily, and what may seem obvious to the physical realm, isn’t always true in the spiritual realm. Because of this reality, only a fraction of those, to whom you present Jesus’ kingdom, will be truly born again and persevere unto eternal life.
The ___________________________ Soil
Luke 8:13 (ESV) — 13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.
There is the real potential of receiving the benefits of a savior and not receiving the savior himself. What Jesus is getting at here, in this soil in particular, is that there are those who hear a message of salvation and want the salvation more than they want the savior who secured it.
John 6:25–27 (ESV) — 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
Kairos: a _____________________ moment
What manifests a lack of depth is a definitive moment. There is a moment in their life when the spurious nature of their faith is found out due to trial and tribulation.
The _______________________________ Soil
Luke 8:15 (ESV) — 15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
Grain crops were the staple food of rich and poor alike, although the poor may have had to consume barley bread rather than the more palatable wheat. Both were sown by scattering the grains into prepared land usually ploughed by draft animals. The parable of the sower (Matt. 13:3–23; Luke 8:5–15) provides an interesting account of grain sowing and the subsequent fate of the seed. Peasant agriculture, unlike modern farming practices, was unsophisticated with primitive implements often used in harsh conditions where rocky ground and vigorous weeds militated against a good yield. Hence it would be normal for some of the scattered seed to fall on a path of compacted soil where it would not be covered and lie vulnerable to birds. Similarly, some seeds would fall at the margins of the fields where thorny thickets and rapidly growing thistles easily suffocated the germinating wheat. Shallow soil and lack of moisture during the hot dry summer encouraged the withering of the seeds that did sprout into young plants on the field’s outer borders. Those seeds that fell on moist, deep soil grew and matured their ears ready for harvest.
In order for the seed of the gospel to take in the soil of one’s heart, it must be properly prepared by God.
John 6:43–45 (ESV) — 43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—
The endurance proves the quality of the soil it does not establish it. Hear this, one’s salvation is not dependent upon his endurance, one’s endurance is dependent upon his salvation.
James 1:2–4 (ESV) — 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
