Speaker: Pastor Neil Lindwall

Mark 4:9 Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”  

NIV Mark 4:3-9 Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” 9 Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

Four Soil Conditions:

NIV Mk 4:15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.

Hard Soil. 

• Bad Habits. 
• Worldliness
• Pride
• Unrepentance
• Pain

How Do You Deal With Hard Soil?  

1. Listen Up! NIV Mark 4:9 Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”  

2. Loosen Up! NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Hosea‬ ‭10:12 “Plant righteousness for yourselves and you will reap the fruit of unfailing love. Break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.” ‬ ‭‬‬

NIV Mark 4:16-17 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

Rocky Soil. 

• Stinking Thinking.

• Lack of Commitment.

• Fear of Man.  

• Love of Comfort.

• Addictions.

• Motives. 

NIV Matthew 13:6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

How Do You Get Rid of The Rocks?  

1. Refuse to Excuse or Ignore and Leave It There!  

2. Reading and Studying the Bible. NIV Ps 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Rom 12:1-2  

3. Receive and Respond to the Word and the Spirit

NIV Mark 4:18-19 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 

Thorny Soil  

• Purposelessness

• Emotionalism

• Discontentment

• Pursuing Wealth. 

• Desiring Things.  

Philippians 2:12-13 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 

How Do I Clear the Thorns?

1. Love. NIV Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

2. Seek. NIV Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

NIV Mark 4:20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

Good Soil  

• Preparation

• Perception

• Prioritization

• Patience

SEASONS

• Spring (Revival): 
• Summer (Growing, Harvest): 
• Fall (Harvest, Pruning, & Cleansing): 
• Winter (Dormancy, Rest): 

"He who has ears, let him hear”

How Is My Soil? 

What Am I Doing Now to Prepare For Growth?