Calvary Baptist Church - Canyon Texas - David Crump, Pastor

Matthew 13:1-9

Same day - that Jesus was accused by working under the power of Satan.

Jesus spoke from a boat a little ways away from shore, which made an amphitheater.

Parable - an analogy from everyday life to explain a spiritual truth.

The seed - the word of God - sp. the message about Jesus - God's plan to bring forgiveness and restoration through sacrificing His own Son.

The soils - us, people who hear the message

The sower - Jesus and his followers

Matthew 13:10-17

The reason Jesus spoke in parables.

11. The secrets of the kingdom were given to people who believed and acted on the truth - but not to those who did not believe.

12. God will reveal more truth as you believe and act on the truth you already have.

14-15. Isaiah said of his generation, that they would see and hear but not believe his message. Jesus uses Isaiah's words to say that people would hear and see the his coming in the flesh and still not believe. Isaiah's prophecy was at least in part fulfilled in Jesus day - and still is today.

The invitation to receive Christ is open, clear, and uncomplicated.

Those who harden their hearts against Christ receive no more truth.

The Pharisees had hardened their hearts so much toward Jesus that they just accused him of setting someone free of demon possession by the power of Satan.

16. The disciples see and hear and received the Messiah.

They enjoyed the marvelous privilege anticipated by the OT prophets.

Matthew 13:18-23

The soil along the path eaten by birds - those who hear the message but do not understand it.

The soil on the rocky places scorched by the sun - those who receive the message with joy but have no root and fall away quickly under trouble or persecution.

The soil among the thorns - those who hear the message but it is choked out by the worries of life and the deceitfulness of wealth.

The good soil - those who hear and understand the message and act on it.

The four soils are four different responses to God's word:

1. Hardened

2. Shallow

3. Distracted

4. Receptive

Then What’s Next To Do?

Everyone who asks receives . . . —Luke 11:10

"Then He said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and from inside he answers and says, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything. ' I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" (Luke 11:5-13 NASB)

"So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened." (Luke 11:9, 10 AMP)

Ask, and keep on asking

We must ask God for His will and direction

Seek, and keep on seeking

We must actively seek( search) God out

Knock, and keep on knocking

We must be persistent, and not give up

God moves on His time schedule, not ours

If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all.... Everything that is distinctively Christian... is summed up in the knowledge of the Fatherhood of God. “Father” is the Christian name for God. - J.I. Packer

Protector and defender

Throughout the OT, God spoke through Moses and the prophets that He would fight on behalf of His people.

Nehemiah 4:14 - Nehemiah asks God's people to defend their families.

Provider

Matthew 6:25, 26

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Encourager

Video

Example to Follow

Proverbs 20:7

The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!

Trainer

Proverbs 3:11-12 god disciplines us for our good.

Two points of application for us today.

1. The glorious God of the universe sent His Son into the world.

He taught us how to relate to God in a way that no other religion teaches.

Matthew 6:9

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name."

God wants us to see Him as our Protector, Provider, Encourager, Example, Trainer

He will defend you, provide for you, encourage you, lead you, teach and train you.

He is Father to everyone who will seek Him.

Do you know Him?

2. Men, God wants to show his nature through you.

He has called you to fight for your family.

He has called you to provide for them.

He has called you to be an example of integrity, love, and strength.

He has called you to be an encourager, not a critic

He has called you to lead your family in loving discipline.

Being a father is the most important role I will ever play and if I don’t do this well, no other thing I do really matters.

What God has called you to, He will empower you to do.

He never intended for us to todo this on our own, but to rely on His wisdom and strength.

I remember times in my life where I felt like everything I was doing as a father was failing.

I had brothers come alongside me and remind me, God will help you be the father and the husband that He has called you to be.

Do you need to surrender to His wisdom and strength today?

Do you feel like you've blown it?

The past is the past and God's grace covers it.

What about today? Do you need His strength and wisdom?

From the beginning, God has longed to be with his people.

God's longing to be with us is His heart cry in the Law and the Prophets.

God dwelt in the burning bush for Moses.

Numbers 14:13-14 - when the people rebelled, and God threatened to destroy them, Moses reminded God that it was God's presence that went before them in the pillars of smoke and fire.

Moses said to the Lord, “Then the Egyptians will hear about it! By your power you brought these people up from among them. And they will tell the inhabitants of this land about it. They have already heard that you, Lord, are with these people and that you, Lord, have been seen face to face, that your cloud stays over them, and that you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

Exodus 29:44-46 God's desire to be with His people was the primary reason for the Tabernacle, or the tent of meeting.

“So I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. They will know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God."

The ark of the covenant, the Holy of Holies, even the priests to represent God on earth - these were all driven by God's desire to be with hHis people.

I cannot express the profoundness of this idea.

God is transcendent.

He does not need us.

He is exalted high above us.

Acts 17:24-25 - Paul preached in Athens

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.

God's longing to be with us is most clearly seen in the name of the Messiah - “Immanuel” or “God with us”.

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

And then in the closing chapters of the book of the Revelation we see this unrelenting pursuit of God triumphantly realized in words of victory as John writes,

Revelation 21:3

“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God!’”

This is the unrelenting longing and pursuit of God; and He will be victorious!

God's longing to be with us is evident in the lives of His people.

God dwelling in the midst of His people is not simply a doctrine we are supposed to understand or claim on some theological level, but it is rather to be the evident experience of His people.

This was the clear testimony of the disciples at Pentecost and throughout the book of Acts.

The presence of the Holy Spirit is the reason that the church grew, the apostles healed, and the missionaries endured persecution.

The reason the church is the church, the reason people are taught, fed, healed, encouraged, brought to salvation is because of the presence of God in the people of God.

When Jesus is in the midst of His people, He will be Himself. He will teach, He will convict, He will forgive, He will cleanse, He will pardon, He will bless, and He will heal. He will call people to Himself, and reveal that we are in Him and He is in us.

He desires that our lives and deeds will manifest the reality of His presence.

Colossians 4:7-18

Farewells (7-9)

vv. 7-8. Tychicus accompanied the apostlePaul on his voyage to Jerusalem (A.D. 58), with contributions raised for "the poor saints at Jerusalem." he was with the apostle in his imprisonment at Rome, but sent home with two letters, and in charge of Onesimus, on whose account the apostle sends a private letter to Philemon. Paul later proposed to send him to Titus in Crete (Titus 3:12), and finally sent him from Rome once more to Ephesus (2 Timothy 6:12).

"Dear brother, faithful minister, fellow servant in The Lord."

v 9. Onesimus - "faithful and dear brother and one of you". He was a runaway slave of Philemon, who was a member of the church in Colosse. Paul wrote the letter we know as Philemon asking him to forgive Onesimus and to treat him as a brother in The Lord. Onesimus was apparently led to The Lord by Paul.

Greetings (10-15)

v. 10. 3 Jewish Christians - Aristarchus was a native of Thessalonica, arrested in the riot in Ephesus, accompanied Paul to Jerusalem, and traveled with Paul from Caesarea to Rome.

Mark was the writer of the gospel.

v. 11. Jesus Justus nothing more is known

Paul's calling had alienated him from his countrymen.

These three were the only fellow Jews working with Paul in his ministry.

These three were a "comfort" to Paul. Console,

vv. 12-13. Epaphras is the founder of the Colossian church.

He continually strives (labors, toiled) for them in his prayers - that they may stand firm, mature, fully convinced of the will of God. Because they were in danger of wavering in their faith.

v. 14 Luke, the doctor, writer of Luke and Acts, companion of Paul in many of his missionary journeys.

v. 15. Greetings to the brothers in Laodicea.

Nymphas as may be masculine or feminine depending on the placement of the accent mark, so versions differ.

There were no church buildings in this time.

In the NT, church always referred to an assembly of believers, not the place they met.

Instructions (16-17)

v. 16. The Colossians and Laodiceans were to swap letters to read.

Some think this was the letter to the Ephesians, but it seems more likely that the letter to the Laodiceans was lost. (Another lost letter in 1 Co 5:9)

v. 17. Archippus is mentioned in Philemon 2 in a way that suggests he is part of Philemon's household.

Could be that Paul was rebuking him to do better or that Paul wanted the Colossians to know that Archippus had his support.

Whatever it was, his ministry was a service in The Lord, so it was important.

Be diligent to fulfill the calling and role that God has given you.

V. 18. Paul wrote the salutation in his own hand

Observations:

Paul gave up his comfort for the sake of the ministry.

Even in chains, he continued to minister

He called on fellow workers to continue their work.

We want to be part of a culture that is encouraging in ministry.

Surrounded by people who are spend themselves in carrying out God's calling.

Do you have people in your life that spur you on in good work?

2 Timothy 4:6-7

Can we be people who, like Paul, burns with passion to see gospel of Christ spread?

Charles Wesley was asked why he was so influential. He said, "When you light yourself on fire, people love to watch you burn."

Are you burning for something? Something bigger than yourself?

The feminine heart reveals the heart of God.

God created mankind to bear his image. Somehow in the creation of gender, male and female, reflect his image.

Genesis 1:26-27

Both the man's and woman's characters are found in God's heart.

- God possess in perfection the character of men and women.

- Fused together in God's character is the strong, protective love of a man and the tender, comforting love of a mother.

Genesis 2:18-23

v. 18a. God created everyday and said, "it is good." But when he saw man without woman, he said, "it is not good."

Man needed a helper - the same term is used of the Holy Spirit, refers to some one to come beside, a help, a comforter.

v. 19. All the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and man God made from the ground.

v. 21. Woman was made from the side of man.

This shows that men and women are distinctly different from all the animals.

They uniquely bear the image of their creator.

The fact that woman was made from the man's side shows the intimacy they would have and the heart of a woman be at the side and show comfort and tenderness.

Author Jack Frost writes about the masculine and feminine hearts:

“The masculine heart cries out to do, to form and create, to initiate.... The feminine heart seeks to be; it longs for communion and connection, to bond, and to know and to be known.... The feminine... nature is compassion, empathy, nurture, comfort, intimacy, and the ability to receive and express love.” -Jack Frost

While the masculine heart reveals the warrior, builder, leader characteristics of God,The feminine heart bears the image of God's loving nature; his compassion, comforting, concern, nurturing, and his patience.

Comforting

Isaiah 66:12-13 - refers to a time when The Lord will carry and comfort His people.

For this is what The Lord says, "I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees. As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.

Like a mother carries, comforts, and dandles her children, so God will care for His people.

Zephaniah 3:17 - a promise of God that He would save rejoice over his people

The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.

“Quiet in His love,” the tender moments between mother and child, when the child is fully contented and enjoying the closeness of his or her mother.

Concern and Patience - Jesus quotes an OT passage when he looks out over Jerusalem

Matthew 23:37

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather you together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.

This passage reveals the concern that God has for his people.

He wants them at his side, to care for them and to protect them - even when they are unwilling.

Like the mother who waits for and continues to love her son or daughter who have ventured away.

God patiently waits for us to return to him.

"I have longed to gather you" it means he wants, wills, desires those who are far off to return to him.

God longs for you like a mother who will not give up on her son or daughter.

Has he been patiently waiting for you? Is it time to return to the loving God?

Colossians 4:2-6

v. 2 - Be devoted in prayer - "be strong," "persist" in prayer

Keep watch - active in prayer, never mechanical, but alive

Maintain your zest for prayer through thanksgiving

Privately - be devoted to prayer

vv. 3-4 - Pray for open doors and clear communication

Pray for God to open the door to share your faith with the people around you - a coworker, a fellow student, another mom, someone you regularly come into contact with.

vv. 5-6 - live in such a way that unbelievers will see and gain a favorable impression of your faith.

Walk in wisdom with outsiders.

Watch what you say and do.

If Someone at work talks badly about you, model forgiveness.

Don't view others as a hassle. Love people, take time to listen to their stories.

Treat them as someone for whom Christ died.

Make the most of opportunities.

Seize opportunities to share your faith.

Privately - be devoted to prayer

Publicly - live out and share your faith

If we Christians are hermetically sealed from non-Christians, how will the lost ever be saved?

Escape the Christian subculture.

1. Eat with others, including Non-Christians.

We all eat three meals a day. Share one of those meals with others? Go to lunch with a co-worker. Invite the neighbors over for dinner.

When you go out for a meal invite others. Cookout and invite Christians and non-Christians.

2. Be a Regular.

Instead of hopping all over town for gas, groceries, haircuts, eating out, and coffee, go to the same places. Get to know the staff. Go to the same places. Smile. Ask questions. Be a regular. Build relationships.

3. Talk to Your Co-workers.

Take your breaks with intentionality. Go out with your team after work. Show interest in your co-workers. Pick one or two and pray for them. Form mom groups in your neighborhood and don’t make them exclusively Christian. Schedule play dates with the neighbors’ kids. Work on mission.

Speak with grace, purity and life.

Your mouth reveals your heart

There is no way to shortcut this.

People know when you're sincere.

People know whether or not its real in your life.

This has to be real.

The way to speak and act in a godly way is to have a vibrant relationship with The Lord.

Get near him.

We often don't share our faith because we're afraid we don't know enough.

1 Corinthians 2:1-2

When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Lose confidence in you, gain confidence in Him.

No one was ever argued into the kingdom of God.

It is always Jesus that drives men to God.

What do you do when they ask you something you don't know?

Say, "I don't know."

You will have to broach the subject - un spiritual people do not bring up spiritual things.

God has placed you where you are and whom you're around.

Acts 17:26-27

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the time set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

God has you living around specific people so that they might find Him through you.

May we be a people who are devoted to prayer and actively share our faith.