What Makes Us Fruitful, Part 3

September 1, 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, Key is Unbelief• Trust in experience rather than Christ.• Unbelief toward God’s word.• Preoccupation with self.• Ask God to show you Himself.• Ask God to show you yourself.• Ask God to impart Great faith by His Spirit

Thorny People• Ground infested with weeds and thistles.• Constant diligence necessary to guarantee good ground• What is growing in the ground of my life?• What takes up the most space in my life? • What occupies most of my time and attention?• What has gained prime place in my priorities?

Thorny PeopleWorldly Cares• We are not exempt from stresses & strains• We have to meet responsibilities placed on us• He provides for us, tells us not to worry• I have only today, yesterday is gone, no guarantee for

tomorrow• Adopt daily discipline of delighting in God’s faithful

provision for us• Transfer my focus from my needs to needs of others.• Live in simplicity, get rid of the clutter of our lives• “Give God my best and He will do the rest”

Thorny PeopleDeceitfulness of Wealth• Difficulty lies in our attitude toward wealth.• Riches have capacity to distort our thinking.• Instead of “what can I get out of life?” Ask “what can I give in

this life?”• Riches are a trust from the Lord• Use it sparingly, wisely to meet my needs• Use it generously, graciously to meet others

Thorny PeopleMagnetism of Materialism• Most things are neither wrong nor wicked.• A man’s life does not consist of the abundance of his

possessions Luke 12:15• We do not possess things, they turn around and possess us.• What priority do things have, lay them aside.• Christ holds secret of my strength & stability.

Conclusion• Thorny people are those who yield in the struggle with 3

types of weeds:

Cares of World Deceitfulness of Riches Magnetism of Materialism

• Delight in God’s faithful provision• Be generous in giving• Lay aside things that have you