Adult Bible Study ABS

FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FAITH, and THIS IS MY PRAYER

Tuesday August 10, 2021

Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23
A SOWER, HIS SEED AND THE SOILS, Lesson 40a

Jesus Christ was the master teacher! He had the unique ability to take scenes from everyday life and use them to teach profound spiritual truths. Such is the case with the passage we have read today. As Jesus sat by the seaside teaching, He began to talk about an image with which everyone present was familiar. He talked about a man taking seed into a field. He pictured that man casting the seed upon the earth. This seed fell upon the ground and landed upon differing types of soils. Some of the seed brought forth fruit, other seed did not.

Jesus used this common image to teach those who heard Him about the condition of the human heart. Here, we see that the sower is the Holy Spirit, the seed is the Gospel of grace and the soil is the human heart. From His words, we learn that the human heart is like soil. It can receive the seed of the Gospel and produce a harvest of spiritual fruit, or it can be unprepared and produce nothing of value for the glory of the name of God.

Today, I would like for us to investigate this parable. I want to teach for a while about “A Sower, His Seed And The Soils”. As we move through these verses, I would ask you to examine your own heart to see what kind of soil you are. It may be that the Lord will have a word for your life in this passage. Let's think for a time about “A Sower, His Seed And The Soils”.

THE PLAN OF THE SOWER

The sower in this parable is a man who goes into his field with the intention of raising a crop and gleaning a harvest. He expects to reap a profit from the crop he is sowing.

Such is the case with the Lord God. He sent His Son into the world to die and He sends His Spirit into the world to convict lost people of their sins so that He might reap a spiritual harvest to the glory of His name, (John 16:8). Just as a bountiful harvest brings riches and honor to the farmer, so the salvation of souls brings glory to the name of God. After all, the only reason God does anything, including saving souls is for the glory of His name!

Even though the plan of God to save the lost is all for His glory, I still praise God for the fact that He devised such a perfect plan to save those who believe! If you are saved, you should praise His name that He sent His Son Jesus to die for you; that He rose from the dead; that in spite of your sinful condition, He loved you and extended grace to you and saved your soul, (Rom. 5:8; Eph. 2:8-9). We think we are doing God a favor when we come to Him, the very opposite it true!

TODAY’S HYMN!
“I Love To Tell The Story” By: Catherine Hankey (1866)

1. I love to tell the story
of unseen things above,
of Jesus and his glory,
of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story,
because I know 'tis true;
it satisfies my longings
as nothing else can do.
Refrain:
I love to tell the story,
'twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.

2. I love to tell the story;
more wonderful it seems
than all the golden fancies
of all our golden dreams.
I love to tell the story,
it did so much for me;
and that is just the reason
I tell it now to thee.
(Refrain)

3. I love to tell the story;
'tis pleasant to repeat
what seems, each time I tell it,
more wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story,
for some have never heard
the message of salvation
from God's own holy Word.
(Refrain)

4. I love to tell the story,
for those who know it best
seem hungering and thirsting
to hear it like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory,
I sing the new, new song,
'twill be the old, old story
that I have loved so long.
(Refrain)

TODAY’S PRAYER!
Most Holy Father, Most Loving God!
This world is always enticing us to worry about this or that. Empower us so we can refuse to worry, and teach us to learn to trust You in all matters of life. The best defense is to stay in continuous communications with You: to stay connect through Jesus and the Word; to listen and respond only to the Holy Spirit; to stay busy producing fruit for the glory of God; to share the greatest love story of all time. This awareness lifts us up above our circumstances, and enable us to see problems from Your perspective. Enable us to live close to You and keep the wolves of worry at bay. These things we bring before Your throne of grace in the name of Jesus, knowing that You love us and answer our prayers. Amen!