We begin our journey through The Parable of the Sower understanding how a natural seed not only represents the “logos,” or total written counsel of God, but also the “rhema” words God speaks to us personally. These rhema words can come through many sources, such as the revelation of scriptures, prophetic words from others, and even through dreams and visions.
A natural seed never begins growing in a package. It must be planted in soil to begin the germination process. The focus of The Parable of the Sower is the soil where God’s word seeds are sown.
God speaks of natural soil to represent our heart, or what I view as our subconscious mind. Our heart is the spiritual womb and birthing center for God’s precious words and thoughts.
In The Parable of the Sower, recorded in Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8, God describes four different “states of mind” our heart can be in when we hear a message about God. Take the time to read the parable in all three gospels. Each account provides different tidbits of truth to give greater understanding.
The soil of the first heart mentioned in the parable is hard and packed down.
“Once there was a man who went out to sow grain. As he scattered the seed in the field, some of it fell along the (foot) path, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it up.” Luke 8:5
For whatever reason, this heart does not value the words spoken. It does not understand and is not open or receptive to hearing the message of God on a spiritual level. THEREFORE THE GREATEST CREATIVE POWER IN THE COSMOS (THE WORD, WHO IS JESUS) HAS NO EFFECT ON THIS PERSON!
“Consider, then, the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sowed along the path.” Matthew 13:18-19
In 2 Corinthians 4:4, it says “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”
Matthew 13:15 says “For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and THEY have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.”
Believers are not exempt to becoming hardened to the voice of God. We need to keep watch over our hearts, “lest we drift away from the things we have heard.” Hebrews 2:1
Walking in sin is a sure fire way to become deceived and drift away from God’s ways. Also, experiencing trauma and loss can cause our hearts to become distrustful and hardened to God’s presence and voice.
Jesus refers to The Parable of the Sower as the greatest of all parables and said it is the key to understanding the mystery of God’s kingdom, the kingdom of heaven! It is the secret to how God desires to manifest His kingdom down here on earth!
In Luke 12:32, Jesus reveals the heart of our Father when He says, “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Keeping our hearts in a state of openness to God and what he desires to say is crucial to experiencing the benefits of His kingdom as listed in Psalm 103. He has given us His Holy Spirit to show us “the things that have been FREELY GIVEN to us by God.” 1 Corinthians 2:12
God desires to sow and grow His words in our heart to bring forth a harvest of His kingdom promises. When lost souls around you see God’s power and the benefits of the kingdom operating in your life, it will help draw them into God’s kingdom as well!
Hebrews 3:15 – “Remember what it says: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.”
Hebrews 3:12-14 – “Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.”
Proverbs 28:14 – “Blessed and favored by God is the man who fears [sin and its consequence] at all times, but he who hardens his heart [and is determined to sin] will fall into disaster.”
Be encouraged with this song by Jeremy Riddle to keep your heart open to God!