What Makes Us Fruitful, Part 2

August 25, 2013

Matthew 13:1-9That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up

Matthew 13:1-9quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop-a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 He who has ears, let him hear."

Matthew 13:18-2318 "Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When

Matthew 13:18-23 When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

Introduction• God designed fruit to be a healthy part of life.• Theme throughout scripture of bearing fruit.• Produce fruit in repentance Matt 3:8• By their fruit you will recognize them. Matt

7:16• Cannot bear fruit apart from Jesus, the vine. John 15• Type of fruit we bear depends on type of soil of our

hearts.

Review• Pathway People – Disappointed with no fruit• Rocky People – Without deep roots• Thorny People – Lost in the weeds• Productive People – Good ground

Pathway People• There is no productivity, no fruit to pick.• Beaten down paths by:

-Friends and Associates-What we watch & read -Music/Entertainment-Pursuit of Pleasure-Personal Ambitions-Thought Life**Jesus’ Footprints**

Rocky People• Marginal soil• Thin layer of soil lies over vast expanse of bedrock, deceptive

because it looks good.• Springs up quickly, but it’s short lived. • Engaged in many activities to cover barrenness of soul• Have positive response to God’s word, flush of new growth, but

starts to shrivel & wither• Key is Unbelief

Rocky People• Trust in experience of church rather than Christ.• Church is designed to nurture our faith, not be a substitute for

it.• Shaken when believers let us down• When things go wrong, grow hard, cynical• Church cannot sustain you in stress of society and

difficult times!

Rocky People• Unbelief toward God’s word.• Question credibility or application of scripture• Refuse to recognize it as supernatural revelation of

spiritual integrity• Don’t consider it mandatory to consult the Bible for

understanding, direction, & insight• Hardness of heart coincides with unwillingness to

accept God’s word as truth• Not living by the word of God as a compass or

navigation system

Rocky People• Preoccupation with self.• Self-reliant, self-confident, self-promoting• If I’m self-reliant, I’m not able to be God reliant• Must lose our lives to follow Him, give ourselves in

service to others• When a person prefers to disobey God, go his own way,

heart is stony soil• When a person determines to cease being grateful to God, turns

our hearts stony

Conclusion1. Ask God to show you Himself.

2. Ask God to show you yourself. 3. Ask God to impart to you great faith by His Spirit.