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Sermons PREACHED BY JOHN GAINES |
Feeding the Birds and the Pigs
Introduction
1. Mark 4:1-4 (NKJV) And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea. 2 Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching: 3 "Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 "And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it.
2. Jesus was a Master Teacher. We can learn a great deal from looking at the way Jesus taught. Mark 4 gives an account of Jesus' "Sermon on the Sea" as He spoke to a crowd of people while sitting in a boat a short distance off shore. This is the occasion when Jesus spoke the famous parable about the sower sowing seed in four different places . . . good soil, stony ground, among thorns, and, in the verse we read, by the wayside. This study is going to be very limited in its scope because my interest today is in the seed which fell on the wayside.
3. When Jesus explained the meaning of this parable to the disciples, he said that the seed was the word. Verse 14 says, "the sower sows the wood." A parallel account in Luke 8:11 (NKJV) says "The seed is the word of God."
a. The sower represents every teacher of the gospel. Whenever we proclaim words of eternal truth, we give the opportunity for that spiritual seed to take root and grow.
b. Some spiritual seed finds receptive minds which hear it, believe it, and obey it. Paul's preaching in Corinth found that kind of receptive soil -- Acts 18:8 (NKJV) Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.
c. Unfortunately, the gospel seed does not always land in such welcoming soil.
(1) Stony ground -- represents those who hear the word and receive it, but do not allow it to take root and grow. In time of temptation, these fall away. We've all experienced the heartbreak of seeing one obey the gospel only to fall back into the hands of Satan very quickly. They never get grounded (or rooted) in the truth.
(2) Thorny ground -- Luke 8:14 (NKJV) "Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
(3) These people are saved when they obey the word of truth. However, their salvation is lost as they fail to grow and become fruitful in their new faith. Peter writes of such people in 2 Peter 2:21 (NKJV) For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
Now, let us turn our attention to the seed which fell by the wayside.
I. WAYSIDE SEED REPRESENTS FAILURE.
A. The GOAL of seed-sowing is producing a CROP. As the sower walked through the field broadcasting seed, he expected it to germinate, take root, and grow into a plant which would yield a harvest.
1. The fields might be pretty and green -- but that beauty was a side benefit.
2. The man was interested in RESULTS. Anytime seed was sown but no crop was produced, the farmer had failed.
B. Our work for the Lord also needs to be results-oriented.
1. President Bush recently said of diplomacy -- "Talk is nice, but I want results."
2. The Lord wants the same thing -- results. Whenever the gospel is preached, lives need to be changed.
a. The Lord wants us to bear fruit [John 15:8 (NKJV) "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.]
(1) Everything we do is to give glory to God [1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV) Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.]
(2) We glorify God by bearing fruit -- much fruit!
b. We need to be focused on baptisms because that shows results -- people hearing and obeying the gospel. NT writers emphasized results -- 3,000 were baptized on Pentecost [Acts 2:41].
c. We need to be focused on responses to the invitation -- because that shows results. The preaching of the word ought to provoke responses. All responses are not demonstrated by coming down the aisle during the invitation, but we ought to see changes in the lives of men and women because the word has been heard and has taken root in their lives.
3. Whenever no results occur after the word is taught, something has failed.
a. Not necessarily a failure on the part of the teacher or preacher. If the truth is taught with power, love, and conviction, the "seed sower" has done what he could.
b. The failure may happen because the ground is too hard. Consciences can be seared with a hot iron [1 Timothy 4:2]. Hearts can be hardened [Hebrews 4:7 (NKJV) . . . "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts."]
II. WAYSIDE SEED WAS NOT A TOTAL WASTE -- IT WAS BIRD FEED.
A. Seed sown on the wayside could not take root. However, the birds came and ate it.
1. God knows the needs of sparrows [Luke 12:6-7 (NKJV) "Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.]
2. The seed which could not produce a crop became useful for an altogether different purpose.
B. Life takes unexpected turns. The plans we make for church growth sometimes do not turn out as we anticipate. We need to be reminded that God is the ultimate source of growth.
1. 1 Corinthians 3:6 (NKJV) I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
2. We must do what we can do -- sow the seed, water the plants, -- then allow God to provide the increase. [Acts 19:20 (NKJV) So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.] Paul and other disciples worked for the Lord and taught the gospel. They did what they could and left the growth up to God.
III. THE FARMER AND HIS SEED
A. Every farmer has limited resources. Seed and fertilizer cost money. The farmer must use good stewardship to get the most "crop yield" (results) possible from his investment.
1. Seed must not be wasted.
(a) The soil must be properly prepared -- tractors have to break the ground and prepare it for planting. Otherwise the crops would not grow.
(b) Every help possible is provided to promote healthy growth. Appropriate fertilizer is used to cause good crop yield. Chemicals are sprayed to control weeds and insects. In many cases, fields are irrigated so crops will get enough water.
2. Farmers work very hard to produce good crops. Farming takes long hours and hard work. A lazy man cannot be a successful farmer -- it just won't happen.
3. Farmers invest tremendous sums of money buying land and equipment. Without this investment, they simply cannot get the job done.
4. In short, a good farmer will do everything he can to make sure his seeds have the best possible chance to produce a good harvest.
B. Christians planting the seed of the word likewise need to be the best possible stewards.
1. Jesus did warn against feeding pigs with the gospel [Matthew 7:6 (NKJV) "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces."]
2. Some people will not hear God's truth. When they are determined to stay in sin, we cannot force them to be converted. The time comes to shake the dust off our feet [Matthew 10:14 (NKJV) "And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.]
3. Everyone in the world needs to hear the gospel [Mark 16:15 (NKJV) And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.] When one will not listen, sow the seed somewhere else.
C. Whether we're sowing corn or the seed of the word, we must not let some failures keep us from continuing with the work we've undertaken.
1. Some seed will be eaten by birds. That does not keep a farmer from sowing the rest of the seed. He perseveres and at harvest time reaps the fruit of his labors.
2. Some people will not hear the word of truth. Some who do hear refuse to act. We must not be discouraged, but keep on getting the seed out in the most effective way possible. If one method is not working well, find a better way.
a. Some say that door-knocking doesn't work any more. If that is true, find a better way.
b. Some say, "The time for Gospel Meetings is past. I'm not convinced of that, but if it's true, find a better way to reach people with the gospel."
c. Keep sowing the seed and keep looking for a better way to harvest a crop of souls for the Lord.
CONCLUSION
Copyright ©2001 by John Gaines. May be reproduced for non-commercial purposes provided this notice accompanies any use.
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LEONARD STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST |
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