09-07-08
Sorry, you must have Windows Media Player 9 or higher. This is a large file which may take a few seconds to start Windows Media Real Audio MP3 Click here, or scroll down to view today's diagram (Mark 4:13,14) And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? The sower soweth the word. (Mark 4:15) And these are they by the way side [Gk: road side], where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan [the fowls, the wicked one, the fowls of the air, the devil] cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts [“lest they should believe and be saved” Luke 8:12]. 1. Commentary: the way side = the immediate sides of the road, or the ground of the “heart” in closest proximity to the road, or better yet, the “way” of the world held most dearly. The wise farmer, although industriously striving for a maximum crop, does not sow his precious seeds except they be sown in the ground. Please note that the seed was not sown on the road which would have been a foolish act, but by the side of the road. By this we may know that the farmer of understanding does not waste, but sows his seed in every possible place of its taking hold and bearing fruit, even the most unlikely of soil. Observe, that even this soil “heard” the Word, indicating the possibility of salvation (Rom 10:17), and why else would “Satan cometh immediately?” However, to the farmer’s great disappointment, even though these persons all had the opportunity of salvation, they remain unresponsive, uncaring, and unsaved. Nevertheless, we may note for our instruction and edification the immediate demonic activity in response to the weight of the Word, signifying the acute awareness of fallen angels to the Word’s presence and importance, and the sudden flurry of their reaction, as if a stranger had stepped upon a mound of swarming fire ants, or struck at a nest of angry wasps. a. (Rom 10:17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 2. Commentary: Please notice in this brief verse that we have witnessed three different attitudes or value-judgments toward the seeds of God’s words which completely traverse the love-hate spectrum. a. To the wise farmer attentively dedicated on sowing the seeds of God’s words, the seeds are esteemed precious beyond value. That is love. b. To the foolish men and women dwelling “by the way side” who “understandeth it not” (Mat 13:19), the seeds of God words are deemed of so little value that they are not even worth retaining. That is indifference. c. To the devils, the seeds of God’s words instantly spawn great fear and hostility. That is hate. (Mark 4:16,17) And these are they likewise which are sown on stony [Gk: rocky] ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness [Gk: cheerfulness, delight: joy]; And have no root in themselves, and so endure [what? or who?] but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution [peer group pressure] ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended [“and in time of temptation fall away” Luke 8:13]. 1. offended = Gk: ("scandalized"); entrapped, i.e. tripped up (fig. stumble or are enticed to sin, apostasy or [God’s] displeasure). 2. fall away = Gk: to remove [themselves], i.e. instigate to revolt.; to desist, desert, etc.:--depart, draw (fall) away, refrain, withdraw self. 3. Commentary: The word “likewise” connects the dis-graceful fate of those “by the way side” with the fate of those “on stony ground.” These persons “immediately receive” the Word of God, exclaiming a joyful profession of their salvation, but the seed is sown upon shallow soil, beneath which lays rock-hard strong holds in the mind, and after enduring Jesus for a time, they are “offended” and “fall away,” i.e., these persons, “likewise” associated with the former “by the way side” persons, are not saved either. 4. (2 Cor 10:3-5) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; a. strong holds = Gk: (mean. to fortify, through the idea of holding safely); a castle (fig. argument). b. Dictionary: castle = 1. a fortified residence, as of a prince or noble in feudal times. 2. the chief and strongest part of the fortifications of a medieval city. 3. a strongly fortified, permanently garrisoned stronghold. 5. Commentary: Spiritual strong holds are patterned like large castles made of stone or mental edifices composed of collections or structures of associated thoughts that are strengthened and mutually reinforced by being adjacent to and build up one upon another, thought upon thought, in the mind. Strong holds in the mind are castles of embedded demonic spirits, false doctrines, false thoughts who wage continual spiritual warfare against their human host toward the goal of his or her death. These strong holds or clusters of demonic thoughts are manifested as psychosomatic sicknesses. a. Dictionary: psychosomatic = denoting a physical disorder which is caused by or notably influenced by the emotional state of the patient. b. Commentary: psychosomatic (mind affecting body, thoughts affecting body) causes have been acknowledged by medical Doctors to be the source of 80% of all illnesses. Thus the rise of psychiatrists who combine the knowledge and resources of the physical doctor with those of the mental doctor (the psychologist). 6. Commentary: Jesus Christ is the only God ordained “root” of salvation; He is the “Root of David” (Rev 5:5 & 22:16). The seeds (the true doctrines of God) sown on stony ground have “no root” in that ground, nor real opportunity to take root, because the ground (biblical symbol of woman) is in actual fact unwilling ground, and has underneath its superficial covering of soft inviting soil, an extensive and defensive layer of existing embedded hard rocks (false doctrines of Satan – the “way” of the world) that have, in the sense of being embedded, already taken “root.” Peripheral Commentary: We who are born-again are positionally the married wife of Christ Jesus. How did we get that way? To become married to the Lord Jesus, the soil of our minds must first experience the ministry of John the Baptist. Our minds must become plowed (syn: tilled, cultivated, turned over, broken up), which corresponds to becoming prepared through repentance (Gk: to reconsider, to think differently) to accept the seed of God. Like a loving husband and a loving wife preparing to copulate, to unite in sexual intercourse, both he and she must be willing. Then, with the pathway heretofore strewn with obstacles now cleared through repentance, the sown seed (the Word of God) will have opportunity to take root in the heart of the unsaved hearer (figuratively: woman) for salvation (for a new birth – her new birth - fruit). For salvation (a new birth) to occur, Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God and the only begotten seed of God (John 1:14) must take root in the heart of the hearer (the willing recipient: Rom 10:17). The act of salvation parallels perfectly the act of conception, i.e., God’s Holy Spirit enters into us just as He did Mary (the pattern), conceptualizes, and we are thereafter, not unreasonably, called “the children of God.” Please note that willingness on our part is of prime importance, crucial, and cannot be understated, otherwise, the loving act of salvation would become the hateful abomination of rape. 1. Father God is at this very moment willing to sow His seed of salvation into your heart to conceptualize your new birth, are you willing to receive it? Amen Click here, or on diagram for a printable (pdf) version. Previous Chapter Table Of Contents Next Chapter Click here to download a printable version of this message Click here to download a DOC version of this message
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(Mark 4:13,14) And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? The sower soweth the word.
(Mark 4:15) And these are they by the way side [Gk: road side], where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan [the fowls, the wicked one, the fowls of the air, the devil] cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts [“lest they should believe and be saved” Luke 8:12].
1. Commentary: the way side = the immediate sides of the road, or the ground of the “heart” in closest proximity to the road, or better yet, the “way” of the world held most dearly. The wise farmer, although industriously striving for a maximum crop, does not sow his precious seeds except they be sown in the ground. Please note that the seed was not sown on the road which would have been a foolish act, but by the side of the road. By this we may know that the farmer of understanding does not waste, but sows his seed in every possible place of its taking hold and bearing fruit, even the most unlikely of soil. Observe, that even this soil “heard” the Word, indicating the possibility of salvation (Rom 10:17), and why else would “Satan cometh immediately?” However, to the farmer’s great disappointment, even though these persons all had the opportunity of salvation, they remain unresponsive, uncaring, and unsaved. Nevertheless, we may note for our instruction and edification the immediate demonic activity in response to the weight of the Word, signifying the acute awareness of fallen angels to the Word’s presence and importance, and the sudden flurry of their reaction, as if a stranger had stepped upon a mound of swarming fire ants, or struck at a nest of angry wasps.
a. (Rom 10:17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
2. Commentary: Please notice in this brief verse that we have witnessed three different attitudes or value-judgments toward the seeds of God’s words which completely traverse the love-hate spectrum.
a. To the wise farmer attentively dedicated on sowing the seeds of God’s words, the seeds are esteemed precious beyond value. That is love.
b. To the foolish men and women dwelling “by the way side” who “understandeth it not” (Mat 13:19), the seeds of God words are deemed of so little value that they are not even worth retaining. That is indifference.
c. To the devils, the seeds of God’s words instantly spawn great fear and hostility. That is hate.
(Mark 4:16,17) And these are they likewise which are sown on stony [Gk: rocky] ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness [Gk: cheerfulness, delight: joy]; And have no root in themselves, and so endure [what? or who?] but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution [peer group pressure] ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended [“and in time of temptation fall away” Luke 8:13].
1. offended = Gk: ("scandalized"); entrapped, i.e. tripped up (fig. stumble or are enticed to sin, apostasy or [God’s] displeasure).
2. fall away = Gk: to remove [themselves], i.e. instigate to revolt.; to desist, desert, etc.:--depart, draw (fall) away, refrain, withdraw self.
3. Commentary: The word “likewise” connects the dis-graceful fate of those “by the way side” with the fate of those “on stony ground.” These persons “immediately receive” the Word of God, exclaiming a joyful profession of their salvation, but the seed is sown upon shallow soil, beneath which lays rock-hard strong holds in the mind, and after enduring Jesus for a time, they are “offended” and “fall away,” i.e., these persons, “likewise” associated with the former “by the way side” persons, are not saved either.
4. (2 Cor 10:3-5) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
a. strong holds = Gk: (mean. to fortify, through the idea of holding safely); a castle (fig. argument).
b. Dictionary: castle = 1. a fortified residence, as of a prince or noble in feudal times. 2. the chief and strongest part of the fortifications of a medieval city. 3. a strongly fortified, permanently garrisoned stronghold.
5. Commentary: Spiritual strong holds are patterned like large castles made of stone or mental edifices composed of collections or structures of associated thoughts that are strengthened and mutually reinforced by being adjacent to and build up one upon another, thought upon thought, in the mind. Strong holds in the mind are castles of embedded demonic spirits, false doctrines, false thoughts who wage continual spiritual warfare against their human host toward the goal of his or her death. These strong holds or clusters of demonic thoughts are manifested as psychosomatic sicknesses.
a. Dictionary: psychosomatic = denoting a physical disorder which is caused by or notably influenced by the emotional state of the patient.
b. Commentary: psychosomatic (mind affecting body, thoughts affecting body) causes have been acknowledged by medical Doctors to be the source of 80% of all illnesses. Thus the rise of psychiatrists who combine the knowledge and resources of the physical doctor with those of the mental doctor (the psychologist).
6. Commentary: Jesus Christ is the only God ordained “root” of salvation; He is the “Root of David” (Rev 5:5 & 22:16). The seeds (the true doctrines of God) sown on stony ground have “no root” in that ground, nor real opportunity to take root, because the ground (biblical symbol of woman) is in actual fact unwilling ground, and has underneath its superficial covering of soft inviting soil, an extensive and defensive layer of existing embedded hard rocks (false doctrines of Satan – the “way” of the world) that have, in the sense of being embedded, already taken “root.”
Peripheral Commentary: We who are born-again are positionally the married wife of Christ Jesus. How did we get that way? To become married to the Lord Jesus, the soil of our minds must first experience the ministry of John the Baptist. Our minds must become plowed (syn: tilled, cultivated, turned over, broken up), which corresponds to becoming prepared through repentance (Gk: to reconsider, to think differently) to accept the seed of God. Like a loving husband and a loving wife preparing to copulate, to unite in sexual intercourse, both he and she must be willing. Then, with the pathway heretofore strewn with obstacles now cleared through repentance, the sown seed (the Word of God) will have opportunity to take root in the heart of the unsaved hearer (figuratively: woman) for salvation (for a new birth – her new birth - fruit). For salvation (a new birth) to occur, Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God and the only begotten seed of God (John 1:14) must take root in the heart of the hearer (the willing recipient: Rom 10:17). The act of salvation parallels perfectly the act of conception, i.e., God’s Holy Spirit enters into us just as He did Mary (the pattern), conceptualizes, and we are thereafter, not unreasonably, called “the children of God.” Please note that willingness on our part is of prime importance, crucial, and cannot be understated, otherwise, the loving act of salvation would become the hateful abomination of rape.
1. Father God is at this very moment willing to sow His seed of salvation into your heart to conceptualize your new birth, are you willing to receive it?
Amen
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