Untitled Document

Open Hand Ministries, Inc.
www.ohm-inc.org

Sower and the Seed

Following Christ down the path of Glory

In our study of Mark 11:23, we learned that Christ seeks believers who reside in the Sphere of Faith and press forward towards maturity. He eschews believers who live outside the Sphere of Faith in pursuit of their own personal agenda. This is what the bible means by living in the pig pen of carnality. But those who live within the confines of a spiritual lifestyle and upon the Path of Righteousness are those who seek to ultimately glorify God by carrying out God's plan for their lives. This Christ did.

I glorified Thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which Thou hast given Me to do. And now, glorify Thou Me together with Thyself, Father, with the glory which I ever had with Thee before the world was, Jn. 17:4-5.

As Christ glorified the Father, it is expected of us to do the same. Yes, it is His agenda (follow Me) for you and I, and not our own that He wishes us to implement. Why? Because His agenda has our best interests at heart. It worked for Him, and it will work for us. It is a plan for our temporary and eternal well-being. And for this He died.

Behold I have inscribed you on the palms of My [nail scarred] hands; Your walls [well-being] is continually before Me, Is. 49:16.

Yes, our well-being is continually before Christ, but unless we willingly follow Him down the Path of Righteousness, we will never realize our potential. Our potential is linked to our spiritual maturity. And until we reach this state of mind, the Glory Blessings will always be beyond our reach.

Christ's Agenda for our well-being

We are now going to take the idea of Christ's agenda for our well being one step further. We are going to discover how our spiritual maturity and glory blessings result from a steadfast and progressive walk with Christ as related in the parable of the Sower and the Seed. It is here we discover the power and superiority of Christ's agenda versus anything man can conceive.

Because of the importance of this teaching and the necessity of its application, Christ presses us to understand this parable. He questions us,

Do you not understand this parable?
And how will you understand all the parables? Mark 4:13

The Parable of Parables

How will we understand all the parables if we do not understand this one? If we truly seek an understanding of the spiritual life, we need to start here. For this parable is the parable of all parables. It is the key which unlocks all the others in dealing with the Kingdom of God and the spiritual life. Knowledge of this powerful parable will enable us to properly and correctly interpret all the rest. So says Christ!

We begin this parable of the Sower and the Seed with a general overview of the ground conditions. The successful farmer will check the soil conditions before attempting to plant. And if we are to be successful in our spiritual lives, we must be aware of what constitutes the proper condition of the soul. The ground or growing conditions represent the state of our heart or mental attitude towards God's Word. Simply put, it represents a humble or arrogant state of mind. And in our parable, we will see three states of arrogance and one of humility.

It is well known that all people do not give the same weight to God's Word. God's Word is perceived in different ways by different people. And this verse highlights general responses to God's glorious and all powerful Word, which is

alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword......., Heb. 4:12.

These general responses fall into four categories:

seed besides the way
seed upon rocky soil
seed among the thorns
seed upon good ground

The descriptions above represent four general responses as to how the believer in Christ perceives the validity, virtue, and value of God's Word and the spiritual life. In so doing, he learns there are benefits to be enjoyed. And here is where the waters part. As we study these four responses, we will learn whether one seeks God's face or hand. And just what motivates these groups of believers? Is their motivation to get or to give, lust or love? Are they a hypocrite or true? We shall shortly see.

But first, let me back us up a bit. We are studying the spiritual life of believers. These are those who have come to believe in Christ as their personal savior. In so believing, they have eternal life. It is these we are addressing and not the unbeliever.

However, a case can be made that the seed besides the way refers to non-believers. Maybe, maybe not. But this we do know. We must believe in God's Word if we are to derive its benefits. Failure to believe does not catch God's notice though millions may call upon Him. It is only through the exercise of faith in Christ that He notices when one tugs upon His sleeve. Therefore, we can juxtapose the non-believer who fails to believe in Christ for his eternal life with the believer who fails to believe in Christ for his spiritual life.

Illustrated below are our four responses. I show that they fall under three different power spheres and their corresponding orbits or lifestyles.

I. SPHERE OF EVIL
II. SPHERE OF CARNALITY
III. SPHERE OF FAITH

The above outline represents three spheres of influence under the authority of two masters: Satan and the Lord Jesus Christ. Satan is Lord of the Kingdom of Satan and his sons and daughters reside in the Sphere of Evil. Christ Jesus is the Lord of the Kingdom of God and God's children reside in the Sphere of Faith and Sphere of Carnality.

Now each sphere has three orbits or general lifestyles. All of mankind can be classified as being a resident of one of three spheres: evil, carnal, faithful. The orbit represents a particular lifestyle, agenda, or path the resident has decided to walk. A more detailed account can be read in The Power Spheres.

The Parable of the Sower and the Seed will assist us in our spiritual growth and lay aside all false notions of spirituality and lead us down the right and true path. This parable will liken our spiritual growth to that of a seed and will illustrate the following stages of development. They are:

root structure
the degree of growth
production of fruit

The Seed

To better grasp this parable, it is important we have some understanding of the seed. In simplistic terms, a seed consists of :

a seed coat, an endosperm and an embryo. The seed coat or outer covering of the seed helps in the retention of moisture within the seed and helps protect the seeds inner parts. The endosperm is the seed's food supply and the embryo is a tiny plant.

For the seed to produce fruit, germination must occur. Germination occurs only when environmental conditions are favorable. Favorable conditions are adequate moisture, oxygen, and temperature. Germination may occur without being planted in the soil; however, if full growth is going to occur, the seed must be planted in the earth to obtain necessary minerals.
Seeds develop root systems, which include a primary (tap root) and secondary roots. The root system is a vital organ in the development of the plant. The root system absorbs and translocates food, minerals and water. It also stores reserve food. And most importantly, it anchors the plant.
Once the root system begins to develop, the seed puts forth an upward stem. From the young stem, a shoot system is developed which offers mechanical support to the plant. The system supports, produces, distributes leaves for maximum carbon dioxide intake in order for photosynthesis to take place. The stem also transports water.
The stem system also supports the flower portion of the plant. The flower is a complex structure that not only contributes to our aesthetic enjoyment, but is a means of reproduction for certain plants.
As the plant develops a strong support system, the immature fruit begins to emerge. Given the adequate amounts of moisture, nutrients, and sunlight, the immature fruit matures and is ready for harvest.

reference material for seed and plant taken from The American People's Encyclopedia

The above description of a seed developing its root and stem systems for the production of fruit is a simplistic overview. Even so, given perfect conditions, the seed will produce fruit. But as every farmer knows, we do not live in a perfect world. Much has to be done in our imperfect world to harvest a crop from the seed.

UNDER ATTACK

In our imperfect world, the seed will come under attack by the weather, pests, weeds, and disease. The farmer must be ever diligent to bring in his crop. He must institute an irrigation system to water in times of inadequate moisture. And he must employ control measures to ward off pests, kill weeds, and prevent disease.

Birds and insects are enemies to a crop. Insects attack both plant and fruit causing yields to be reduced dramatically. Likewise, birds eat the fruit, also reducing yields. These pests must be controlled.

Weeds, too, are a constant menace and threaten the young plants by competing for water and nutrients. If weeds go unchecked, they will overtake the fruit bearing plants. They will literally be smothered to death.

Be on Guard

Certainly, we must not miss this important point. We do not live in a perfect world. This world is under Satan's control. He is the Kosmo-krator, or Lord of this world. We, as believers, are under constant attack to prevent us from reaching spiritual maturity and glorifying our Father. In so doing, he also prevents us from receiving the Glory blessings. We must remained focused on Christ, so that our spiritual life will not be devoured, smothered, or destroyed. Let's be diligent! For nothing so humiliates, Satan, as the believer reaching spiritual maturity and bringing glory to God.

FOUR RESPONSES TO GOD'S WORD CONCERNING THE SPIRITUAL LIFE

We will now examine each of the four following responses. Keep in mind that the first three responses failed to achieve the production of fruit. Only the last response brought forth a crop. In studying the failures of the first three, we will better understand what not to do. Armed with such knowledge, we can then go forward and execute God's plan for our lives.

Four responses:

It was said at the beginning of our lesson, that the parable of the sower and the seed contained wisdom to help you and I better understand the foundation of the spiritual life. Christ says that if we cannot understand this parable, how are we to understand all the parables?

The challenge is ours. We must come to understand the spiritual life and live it. It is a mystery, this spiritual life, but Christ's gives us a clue. He does not want us in darkness.

Christ, our lamp in a world of darkness

No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a container..., Lk. 8:16.

Parables contain God's Intimate and Precious Wisdom but it is hidden from those who refuse to live pleasing before Him. God doesn't throw pearls before swine.

nutcracker. It is only as we apply pressure to the Word that its precious nutrients comes forth to our consciousness. Therefore, study to show thyself approved.

Now in this parable of the Sower and the Seed, God reveals the mystery of the spiritual life in plain and simple language. He systematically teaches the believer in Christ what not to do through negative examples. We are to do just the opposite of the carnal mind. We turn from self to God. This is in order to glorify Him.

The first three responses point out the short falls, traps, detours, and problem areas we as Christians will be subject to. These we have previously seen in our study. God knows our frame. He knows our weaknesses. But He has provided for us, the born again believer, the power to overcome. This power is experienced ONLY when we are filled with and controlled and influenced by the Holy Spirit.

The evangelist has much to say to a dead and unbelieving world. He speaks of sin and its consequences, failures of religious systems, the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ. But after all of this, he gives God's commandment:Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved! Nothing is so important for the unbeliever to act upon. For it will bring him eternal life. But the pastor/teacher of a church has an equally important imperative for his congregation. And it is simply this:Be filled with the Spirit. The filling of the Spirit initiates and lends towards the development of the spiritual life.

Do not get drunk (controlled, influenced, overcome by) with wine [pleasures of this cosmic system run by Satan], which is dissipation (a waste of time, energy, and effort-it will get you no where), but be filled with the Holy Spirit, Eph. 5:18

The Holy Spirit empowers us to follow Christ. He reveals God's Intimate Counsel, which is our spiritual food. And it is He who convicts us when we foolishly decide to take a detour off the Path of righteousness. This results in the loss of the filling of the Spirit. Therefore, he must act upon 1 John 1:9.

I like to illustrate God's truths with charts, figures, and illustrations. I believe pictures are indeed worth a thousand words. I have charted the essense of this parable, and I believe it will help you see and come to understand the mystery of the spiritual life. God does not want us ignorant in these things. To view this chart, click here.

June 17, 1996

Lesson Directory|Power Spheres Teaching System
Bookorder|Email|HomePage