1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,600 Speaker 1: Let us pray, and when it is sown, it groweth 2 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:09,480 Speaker 1: up and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out 3 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 1: great branches, so that the fowls of the air may 4 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: lodge under the shadow of it, Mark four thirty two. 5 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:22,600 Speaker 1: Those who have ears to hear here these words are 6 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 1: the staples in which I am listening to to day's reading. Lord, 7 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: I thank you that you have given me the Bible 8 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:32,600 Speaker 1: to help lead and guide me in the way that 9 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:37,240 Speaker 1: I should live my life. Jesus, thank you for being 10 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 1: the personification of the living Word here on earth. As 11 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 1: I meditate on to Day's truth found in Matthew thirteen 12 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:49,199 Speaker 1: and Mark fourth one through thirty two, I realize that 13 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 1: your word is the seed in which all my purpose 14 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: and destiny will blossom and come forth. Therefore, my heart 15 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 1: will not be like the soil that allowed your seed 16 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:05,759 Speaker 1: to lay unprotected, so that other people around me can 17 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 1: steal what You've deposited in me. My heart will not 18 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 1: be like the shallow soil that could not allow the 19 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 1: root of your word to take hold, so that when 20 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 1: the trials of life come, it withers under the heat 21 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:25,680 Speaker 1: of pressure. I also declare that I will not let 22 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 1: your word fall on the thorns of life and become 23 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 1: so focused on my trials that they choke your promises 24 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 1: out of my thoughts and speech. I declare that my 25 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: heart and my life is good soil. I declare that 26 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 1: I'm healthy and ready to have your word produce a 27 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: crop of abundance thirty sixty, a hundredfold in Jesus's name. Amen, 28 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 1: Thank you for praying with us today. Continue your time 29 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 1: with God by listening to today's Bible story, brought to 30 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 1: you by Bible in a Year dot com The Four Soils. 31 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 2: In our last story, Jesus accepted a sinful and broken 32 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 2: woman who had been scorned by the world. He rebuked 33 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 2: the Pharisees for their judgment. Now Jesus reveals more about 34 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:35,920 Speaker 2: the Kingdom of God through the story of the Four Soils, 35 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 2: inspired by the Gospels. 36 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:43,360 Speaker 3: Hello, this is Jack Graham with today's episode of the 37 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:47,959 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. In yesterday's episode, Jesus was 38 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 3: shown extravagant love and honor by a sinful woman who 39 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:53,799 Speaker 3: entered a home and wiped the Lord's feet with her 40 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 3: tears and hair before bathing them in expensive perfume. Jesus 41 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 3: used this occasion to each those gathered with him, many 42 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 3: of them religious leaders who felt that they were righteous 43 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:08,240 Speaker 3: and justified by their good deeds. A lesson about forgiveness 44 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 3: and the proper response of those who have received that grace. 45 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 3: Today we'll hear Jesus teaching about different ways in which 46 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 3: God's word is received and what happens to the seeds 47 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 3: planted in different kinds of soil. It's one of the 48 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 3: most famous stories Jesus ever gave, so let's hear it 49 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 3: now from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 50 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 2: The seagulls flew gracefully across the face of the calm ocean. 51 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 2: The gentle breeze rocked the anchored boats slightly. As Jesus 52 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 2: sat at the front of a ship, thousands of people 53 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 2: sat on the shore, listening to his words and wisdom. 54 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 2: They were enraptured by him. Jesus smiled and began to 55 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 2: speak of a farmer and his seed. There once was 56 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 2: a farmer, and he went out to sow his seed 57 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 2: among his land. Some of the seeds fell along the roadside. 58 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 2: They were vulnerable and easily wept up by the birds. 59 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 2: Other seeds fell on rocky soil. They sprung up quick 60 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 2: with water and sun, but they died just as quickly 61 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 2: because their roots could not go deep enough. Some of 62 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 2: the seed fell among thorny soil. Once they grew, the 63 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:19,279 Speaker 2: weeds choked the life out of the plants. Jesus paused 64 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 2: for a moment and looked around the crowd. He stood 65 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 2: to his feet and lifted his fingers, saying, but there 66 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:29,839 Speaker 2: were some seeds that fell on good soil. It was soft, pleasant, 67 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 2: and yielded great fruit. Some of the crops increased thirtyfold 68 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 2: and sixtyfold, some even one hundredfold. Whoever has an ear 69 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 2: to truly hear here. Then the people left back to 70 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 2: their homes, and Jesus was by the camp fire with 71 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 2: his disciples. Silence fell among the disciples as they gazed 72 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 2: at the stars. The flames flew up to the skies. 73 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 2: The sound of popping wood and crashing waves filled the silence. 74 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 2: Do you understand the story I told them today? Jesus 75 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:05,280 Speaker 2: asked his disciples. They looked up at him. If they 76 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 2: were being honest, none of them truly knew what he 77 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:12,159 Speaker 2: was saying. Jesus laughed, how will you understand if you 78 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 2: don't ask? He said in jest. He picked up a 79 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:19,559 Speaker 2: stick and poked the fire. The soil represents the Word 80 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 2: of God, Jesus said. The seeds that fell on the 81 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:26,479 Speaker 2: road represent those that here, but Satan swoops up the 82 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 2: truth like the birds. The rocky soil represents those that 83 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:33,799 Speaker 2: receive the Word with joy at first, but when hard 84 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 2: times fall, their root is shallow and they fall away. 85 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 2: The disciples began to nod. They were understanding Jesus as 86 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 2: he explained. The thorny soil represents the cares and worries 87 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:49,280 Speaker 2: of the word. Some are so anxious that they are 88 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 2: unable to truly receive truth. They are choked by the 89 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 2: worries and cares of the world. Jesus grinned from cheek 90 00:05:56,600 --> 00:06:00,599 Speaker 2: to cheek. Then there's the good soil. Those that hear 91 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:03,919 Speaker 2: the word and accept it. They do not toil or worry. 92 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:08,560 Speaker 2: They simply receive with gladness. These are those that will 93 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:10,920 Speaker 2: bear much fruit for the Kingdom of God. 94 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 3: Our reading today is an illustration of the kinds of 95 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:19,680 Speaker 3: hearts that receive God's truth, and how the seeds of 96 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 3: truth grow or wither in each kind of soil. Jesus 97 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 3: is speaking to his followers a larger crowd at first, 98 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:31,600 Speaker 3: and he's using an agricultural image. This is something his 99 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 3: audience would have understood well. He spoke to the crowd, 100 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 3: telling them of a farmer who went out to spread seed. 101 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 3: Farming was much different in those days. No high tech 102 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 3: farming equipment of course, precise planting of seeds and neat 103 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 3: little rows. This farmer was just walking across his plot 104 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:53,920 Speaker 3: of land, scattering seeds. It almost seemed haphazard. I picture 105 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:55,839 Speaker 3: a man with a bag of seeds in one hand, 106 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 3: dipping his other hand into the bag and pulling out 107 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:01,559 Speaker 3: a handful of seed that he tosses here and there, 108 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 3: letting them land where they may. So as he walks along, 109 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 3: the seed falls on four different kinds of soil. Some 110 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 3: doesn't even make it to the ground. It hits the 111 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 3: path and birds quickly eat it up. Some falls among 112 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 3: rocky ground, and though they sprouted, the seeds lacked nutrients 113 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 3: and water, so the plants withered. A third bunch fell 114 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 3: among the thorns. The soil was good enough for the 115 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 3: plants to grow, but the environment around them was hazardous 116 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 3: and toxic, and the thorns choked out the crops. But 117 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 3: some of the seed fell in a good soil. It 118 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 3: grew strong and healthy and produced a great crop, yielding 119 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 3: one hundredfold. That's the good stuff. Jesus then said to 120 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 3: the crowd, whoever has ears to hear, let him hear. 121 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 3: The disciples asked why he spoke in parables, and he 122 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 3: responded that the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven had 123 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 3: not been given to them, but to the disciples. In 124 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 3: other words, Jesus was going to give these men special 125 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,559 Speaker 3: insight into the things of God, into the Kingdom of God, 126 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 3: to prepare them for what is to come. Jesus also 127 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 3: said he spoke in parables to reveal truth to those 128 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 3: who would respond to it and receive it. He said 129 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 3: in Matthew thirteen, sixteen and seventeen, bless to your eyes 130 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 3: because they see in your ears because they hear. For truly, 131 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 3: I tell you, many prophets and righteous people long to 132 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 3: see what you see but did not see it, and 133 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 3: to hear what you hear, but did not hear it. 134 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:35,960 Speaker 3: The disciples were hungry for understanding, so Jesus explained this 135 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:40,160 Speaker 3: parable to them. The seeds represented the word of God 136 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 3: and the soil represented human hearts. Some hear God's word 137 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:48,960 Speaker 3: but the enemy comes and snatches away the word. It 138 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 3: never takes root in the heart, so it never grows. 139 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 3: The rocky ground represents the hearts that accept the word quickly, 140 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 3: but without any depth. The root of truth doesn't establish itself, 141 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:04,199 Speaker 3: and so when troubles arise, those people fall away from 142 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 3: the word. Still others represented by the thorny ground, receive 143 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 3: the word and it sprouts in their heart, but worldly 144 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 3: worries choke them out and they never produce any fruit. 145 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 3: The good soil represents the heart that receives the word 146 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:23,320 Speaker 3: and bears much fruit. This is the heart of the 147 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 3: believer who understands God's word. The truth of the Gospel 148 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 3: grows in their heart and they yield fruit for the 149 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 3: Kingdom because they believe what God has said. That's an 150 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 3: important word for us here as believers today, we are 151 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 3: to be sowers of seeds. We are to give the 152 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 3: Gospel to the world and spread it to the hearts 153 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:47,679 Speaker 3: of men. The yield does not depend on us, and 154 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 3: we are not to pick and choose where we sow 155 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:53,080 Speaker 3: the seed. We are to share all the Gospel with 156 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:58,160 Speaker 3: all men, until the whole world hears. Some will receive 157 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 3: the truth and yield fruit, but others, for various reasons, 158 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:07,559 Speaker 3: will either never receive the word or will never bear fruit. Nevertheless, 159 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 3: it is the calling of every one of us who 160 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:12,840 Speaker 3: name the name of Christ, who are followers of Jesus, 161 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 3: to be witnesses of the Gospel, to sow the seeds 162 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 3: of truth and to trust God for the harvest. God, 163 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 3: we thank you that your word is always effective, that 164 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:30,320 Speaker 3: it always accomplishes your purposes. May we boldly proclaim your truth. 165 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 3: Thank You that we have been called to participate in 166 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 3: the ministry of the Gospel by sowing seeds among men 167 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 3: and women. That as many as will receive Christ can 168 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:42,640 Speaker 3: be saved by your grace and your love because of 169 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 3: your cross and resurrection. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. 170 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a year. 171 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 3: I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. You can download 172 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:57,079 Speaker 3: the pray dot Com app and make Bible study and 173 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 3: prayer the priority of your life. And if you appreciate 174 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 3: this podcast, please share it with someone else. I also 175 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:07,560 Speaker 3: want to encourage you to go to Jack Graham dot org. 176 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 3: That's Jack Graham dot org for we have resources that 177 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 3: are free and available for you so that you may 178 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:18,360 Speaker 3: know Christ and grow in Him. You can go to 179 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 3: Prestonwood dot org for information. God bless you. 180 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:31,560 Speaker 1: This episode is sponsored by Meta Share, an innovative healthcare 181 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 1: solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.