elevate review September 12

It has been awhile since I spoke at elevate. I missed it. It's very cool to be part of a group of people that so encourage each other and enjoy each other's presence.

We took a look at Matthew Chapter 13, the parable of the sower and the seed.
We saw that Jesus told a lot of stories like this one. But he was somebody who attracted large crowds not only because of the miracles he did it because he spoke in such a way that people could understand what and who God is.

This particular parable took a very familiar tone with a farmer/sower out planting seeds. Jesus described four places that the seeds would fall. One of the places no growth occurred. Two of the places showed growth, but ultimately died off before any fruit showed up. The final place showed growth and 30, 60, 100 times seed to fruit ratio.
After the story Jesus was questioned by his disciples.
The questions seemed to indicate that the disciples did not understand the meaning of these stories, and didn't quite understand why Jesus wouldn't want everyone to know the meaning of the stories.
Jesus responded by letting the disciples know that they did understand the meaning of the stories. They had the ability to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God I think the verses indicate the disciples did not seem that convinced.
Jesus then quoted the book of Isaiah and indicated that not everyone would understand the mysteries of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. That those who did not understand were not meant to understand. Jesus also indicated that the disciples were hearing things and seeing things that many prophets and followers of God in the Old Testament desperately wanted to see and hear but never had the opportunity.

Jesus ultimately had to interpret the parable for the disciples.
The seeds were the gospel of the kingdom of God. The ground was the hearts and minds of those who are given/received the seeds. The results of the seeds being planted were based on the soil on which they fell.
Jesus said some people are so hard of heart that they do not even here about the life of God's kingdom and the seeds never produce anything. The ideas of the Kingdom of God are actually stolen by the evil one.
Jesus said some people started out great grow up quickly and then do not allow their roots to go deep. Deep roots include worship, prayer, fellowship, community, and a host of other things that allow us to grow deeper in our knowledge of God. Without deep roots the heat of the day arrives and the plants whither before producing fruit.
Jesus said that some received the seed of God's and they grow up. Alongside this nice growth are weeds. These weeds are the cares of the world and the desire for money.over time to the cares of the world/weeds choke out the plant before any fruit could be produced.
Jesus shows the final place that the seeds land would be the good soil. These plants produce growth and also allow the farmer to reap a harvest many times that number of seeds that were planted.

The fruit that Jesus is talking about talking about would be aspects of the kingdom that he calls his people to produce in this world. Things like love, joy, patience, gentleness, weakness, and the like. Things like community, healing, prayer, service to others, and sharing the Gospel.
we all have the opportunity to produce fruit like this in the name of Jesus.

I do not believe that this is a one time offer from God. I don't think that this parable is talking purely/only about those who hear the gospel message. I think this passage is about those who already have the gospel and are given the opportunity by God to produce fruit for the kingdom. I don't think the farmer/God in this case only plants one seed in each person but instead seeks multiple harvests, and therefore plants and re-plants in the soil of people's lives.
I think we need to evaluate what our response is to the seeds that God is trying to plant in our lives.
Do we even hear what God is trying to say or do we let the seeds be stolen.
Have we grown quickly but tend to wilt when pressure come as it never actually produce anything of God's kingdom.
Have we grown in our walk with God but have been choked out because life has gotten complicated so we have decided that other things are more important right now then producing God's kingdom around us.
Have we taken in God's kingdom and begone to see the fruit of that kingdom all around us.

Regardless of where we are right now I believe God has more seeds to plant and we need to make sure that our heart is ready to receive and grow in the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.