The Resurrecting Soil of the Kingdom

When it comes to restoring a barren wasteland, where do you start? By planting one tree at a time. And that’s just what one man did for over 40 years of his life.

Growing up near a small rural town in India, Jadav Payeng was disheartened when he saw his small island suffering from erosion and deforestation. It was an island that meant a lot to him, as he spent his time playing on when as a kid, And so when he saw it slowly die and become barren he determined He would do something about it! And something He did! For at the young age of 16, Payeng decided to plant at least one tree a day for the rest of his life.

At first, his task was difficult, as finding seeds was proving to be a challenge. But nevertheless, he persevered on.

Not every seed he planted flourished, but nevertheless, he continued on with his mission. Eventually, the process became easier and easier as the trees not only produced their own seeds for him to plant, but also began to naturally produce after themselves.

And so after 40 long years, Peyeng’s labors of planting over 1.5 million trees led to the forest being restored, And after it had been restored, evidently a herd of elephants “heard” about it, (pun intended) because they migrated there to live. Which is pretty a remarkable thing if I may say so myself. There’re so CUUTTEEE aren’t they? Yes they are. And if you disagree you’re a monster

Now, how was all of this made possible? Because of one man’s commitment to faithfully labor in planting seed that would lead to flourishing new life.

In Matthew chapter 13, we find a mission by one man, that is of so much greater importance than merely cultivating trees for a forest, it is a mission of cultivating soul’s for eternity. And that mission is Jesus’s, who was disheartened by His world’s spiritual erosion and decay, For it is a world that He Himself made! And so when He saw it slowly dying and becoming a barren spiritual wasteland, He too decided that he would do something about it! And so He did!

And what was that thing He did? He came into our world in order to save it. Not at the age of 16, but as the babe born in Bethlehem - who - as we discussed this past Good Friday, was born to die so that we might live! So that we might receive glorious, life-giving resurrection just as He did.

And yet, though Christ has planted - or we might say sown this resurrection seed abundantly, not every one of those seeds will germinate into resurrection life! In fact, as our passage this morning tells us, most will not sprout to eternal life at all, but to eternal death. And so in Matthew 13, verses 1-23, Jesus warns us to be sure we have resurrecting life. And He warns us by way of a parable about seed and soils. Because only one of these soils leads to resurrecting life! And so if we are to be the right kind of soil - the kind that receives this resurrecting life, we must understand how that life comes! And it comes in 3 ways:

Resurrecting life comes through:

1. Understanding
2. Allegiance
3. Death

1. Understanding

Now, in this passage Jesus is telling a Parable. What’s that? It’s an earthly story with what? A heavenly meaning. Good job - some of you were paying attention as a kid in children’s Sunday School. And that is certainly true, it is an earthly story, with a heavenly meaning, but it’s also a lot more than that. It’s actually an earthly story, meant to BOTH hide and reveal a heavenly meaning. Hide and reveal? What’s all that about? Why would Jesus try to hide what He’s saying from people?

Well that’s a good question - I am glad you asked it. In fact, that’s the very question the disciples ask in verses 10-17. And if any ya’all wanna actually devour any Easter Ham today we’re going to have to give this the super-simplified version So here it is.

Now, if you’ve been with us for our study for the past year and half through the book of Matthew, then you know that chapter 12 ended with a MAJOR shift in Jesus’s ministry. And what happened there that caused said major shift? The King was rejected by His people.

Though Jesus preached as no other, healed as no other, and loved and lived as no other man ever has or could, what did they conclude about Him? They concluded that He wasn’t who He said He was. In fact, they concluded He was of the Devil, not of God. And boy where they wrong. For Jesus is God in the flesh.

And so they outright rejected Jesus as their Messianic King in face of OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE AND PROOF: And if ever anything was proven, here it was: My goodness, He healed the sick, cast out demons, and even RAISED THE DEAD - and all of that wasn’t enough proof for them! And so because they outright rejected Him in the face of such overwhelming proof, He now shifted His ministry and message to speak to them in parables. Or in riddles you might say. And the reason is because of what Jesus says in verse 13.

This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

Matthew 13:13 ESV

Why did they not see? Why did they not understand? The parable tells us exactly why. And the reason is because of the condition of their hearts. And speaking of, let’s look at that first condition.

And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.

Matthew 13:3-4 ESV

Alright, so that’s the first soil, now let’s skip down to Jesus’s explanation.

“Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.

Matthew 13:18-19 ESV

Alright, so the gospel message of Jesus is the seed, everyone got that? And Jesus sows out the seed, which is a metaphor for Him calling people to find life and healing in Him. Which is exactly what Christianity’s message is about. Jesus comes to bring us into His kingdom so we can have everlasting life and total healing! And how does He does that? By knocking gates down and destroying everyone and everything who stand in His way? Nope. It’s the total opposite actually. He conquers through peace... It’s really quite remarkable.

Instead of violence, aggression, and dominance, like all the other kings - Jesus brings His message through talking - through His Words! Which means that we receive it by understanding that message, Which means if we are going to understand it then we MUST LISTEN!

And don’t think that’s such an easy thing to do! Because a lot of us have spent a large portion of our life being the hard soil And this is because we only heard, we never LISTENED! Maybe you grew up in church, and you think you’ve heard it all before. “yeah yeah, I get it. Jesus died for my sins and rose on the 3rd day! Easter comes every year don’t ya know!” Now, you need to hear me when I tell you this - because this is what Jesus is saying... But if that’s all Christianity is for you - something you say: “sure why not,” to - then you’re not a Christian And you’re not because you’re hard-hearted. And if you’re hard-hearted, that means there is no resurrecting life within you at all and you are actually destined for an eternal hell. So this is serious stuff.

With that said, let me ask you: what softens a hard soil? Water. And so in the same way there is a type of water that softens a hard-heart, and that water is what Jesus calls living water which He offers to us freely and fully. And the first step of that process requires HUMILITY - or MEEKNESS

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

James 1:21 ESV

Now why would it involve meekness? Because when you realize how HOPELESS you are without Christ, it makes you meek. When you realize how SINFUL YOU ARE, and how far you’ve fallen short of God’s righteous standard, and that you’re so bad that Christ had to die for you, it makes you meek! And how could it not? And so when you realize this, you can no longer look around pridefully at everyone else’s sins and think you’re a saint by comparison, because you know you aren’t! You know you’re a sinner saved by SHEER grace! And so this kind of humility allows you to receive the implanted Word which is able to save your soul!

But… if you aren’t humble, when the Word of Christ hits your heart do you know what’s going to happen? One of two things: You’ll either think you don’t need it, Or you’ll think you do need it, but it only impacts you in a theoretical way. Never in a life-changing deeply emotional way.

So with that first way: The “I don’t need it way,” this is when you think your’e not all that bad. “Sure, I’ve made mistakes! - WE ALL DO! - Nobody’s perfect!” And if that’s you, then you really don’t have a clue of how sinful your heart truly is. And this is probably because you’ve gotten good at hiding it from not only others, but from yourself! But make no mistake, the evil within your heart is there: you’ve just covered it up with things like: 3 meals a day (maybe more) ith enough sleep that day And with some good self-restraint. But those desires are still down there lurking within your heart just waiting for the opportune moment! And another thing - deep down you know that if we all knew the thoughts that go on in your head, you’d never show your face again around here. And that’s not even bringing up the things you’ve done that no one knows about.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 3:23 ESV

Romans 6:23 (ESV) For the wages of sin is death

Do you recognize how bad we are? We are so bad, the Bible tells us, that even our good works are done with sinful motives, and so apart from Christ, they are filthy rags before God

Alright, now for the 2nd way a lack of humility results in a hard heart. This is the “it only impacts you in a theoretical way.” We could call this the head but no heart way. And simply put, this would be like being told you have terminal cancer, and being like: “Oh. Well that is unfortunate - but what can ya do but put a stiff upper lip on it!” WHAT? No one responds that way upon hearing that kind of message. And so, if you hear the Gospel message of Jesus and it doesn’t impact you beyond a mere intellectual, theoretical way, you’re like the cancer victim going right back to life without it even startling them. Which means YOU REALLY DON’T GET IT, now do you? And if you don’t get it, it’s because the soil of your heart is hard-hearted, which means you don’t have resurrecting life within you.

Resurrecting life comes through:

2. Allegiance

Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.

Matthew 13:5-6 ESV

And for Jesus’s explanation skip down to verses 20-21:

As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.

Matthew 13:20-21 ESV

With this soil, the seed lands, and unlike the hard soil, this time it germinates And in fact, things are looking pretty good, aren’t they? Yeah they are! Because look at them. They are so excited! They jumped into that men’s Bible study! They are reading their Bible, and they seem excited about it too! They go to church and serve in whatever ministries they can! They even quit that besetting sin in their life... For a while... But then it goes way as this “new life experience” of theirs, begins to unravel.

And before you know it, you don’t see much spiritual life anymore. They aren’t growing, They aren’t being nourished in the Word, In fact, things look pretty dead. And it’s because they are dead. And why? Because they listened to the Word with a SHALLOW heart.

Sure that Christian camp brought them to tears when they went forward and walked the isle. Sure that Christian concert was so powerful and moving when they “felt God’s presence like never before” But that’s all it was. Feelings and Emotions. And when those feeling and emotions left so did any resemblance of spiritual life within them.

Do you realize now why Jesus warned SO MANY TIMES in His teachings to count the cost? “The son of man has no house of home - not even a place to lay His head” He said - and the implication is you might not fair any better if you PICK UP YOUR CROSS and follow Him.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:11-12 ESV

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.

Matthew 10:16-18 ESV

The Scripture is clear, suffering is a part of the plan! It’s what we are signing up for when we follow Jesus! Which is why Paul says in Romans 8 that we will share in Christ’s glory - SO LONG AS WE SHARE IN HIS SUFFERINGS! So this “God loves you and has a perfect and happy plan for you life” is hot garbage from the pits of hell trying to snatch away the Word that was sown! And if you listen to it, it will either be snatched away, or, once your emotional experience fades, so will the Word! And if that’s you, hear the warning of Jesus from verse 12, whatever little you have, will taken away and you’ll be left in worse darkness than before!

To follow Christ is follow Christ not because He makes you feel good, it’s to follow Him because HE IS GOOD! And in His perfect goodness He uses even evil and suffering for good! Do you believe that? Or when the sun of persecution and suffering rises, does your seed burn up? When your loved one dies, does heart scream wanting curse God and die? When that dangerous diagnosis arrives, do you say to yourself: “What good was it following Jesus anyways if this is how He treats His followers!” If so friend, look at your heart, for those are the pulsating rhythms of shallow soil!

Maybe for you it’s not persecution or suffering, maybe for you it’s the temptations of this world that the flesh desires. And if so, then your heart might not be shallow hearted, but half-hearted, as the soil of your heart has been crowded out by the thorns and thistles of this world as Jesus describes in verses 7

Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.

Matthew 13:7 ESV

And for the explanation down in verse 22

As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Matthew 13:22 ESV

If this if you, then take no comfort in thinking these verses here provide any sort of confidence for you. For as Jesus says: Matthew 6:24

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Matthew 6:24 ESV

“Whewww! Good thing I don’t serve money!” Well hold up there... Sure you might not be living for money, but that’s not the only idol in town. There’s a whole lot of other things out there that we can lust after! Money isn’t the only thorn and thistle that will choke out the seed!

Maybe for you the soil of your heart is divided up between Christ and your career. “Oh come on preacher - we all got to work! Work isn’t bad!” But who said thorns and thistles were only bad things? Certainly they can be good things too, can’t they? For that is what an idol is It’s not a little statue of a half-man/bird... Well, OK it sometime is.... But you get my point. It is usually something else Like a career, Like that special love interest, Maybe a spouse, a child, or a hobby,

Whatever it is - because it’s moved from good thing that God has created, into an ultimate thing that occupies the soil of your heart, it has prevented you from being able to receive the implanted Word which is able to save your soul! Which is exactly why your life is so full of sin. And it’s because that’s what happens when you invite thorns and thistles it - those bad boys grow! And when they grow, they cause harm! Have you ever tried to pick up a thorn and hold onto it tightly? Can you say ouch? But if your heart is half-hearted that’s exactly what’s happening in your life though...

Because you’ve made romance an idol, you’re abusing your sexuality in a way the Bible clearly condemns! Because you’ve made your intellect into an idol, you freak out and act like a jerk whenever anyone questions it! Because you’ve made peace your idol, you never speak the truth in love because you value your false-peace over true peace! Because you’ve made your time an idol, serving Christ in His church is something you’ll eventually get around to, but just not yet, cuz “you’re so busy.” And look, I am really NOT just trying to guilt ya’ll into just “DOING MORE AND BEING BETTER” Moralism is a nasty drug! The point is, there’s a million ways that we can try to divide the soil of our heart up to be shared with Christ and something else, and everyone of them is destructive!

In verse 22, what does Jesus say the divided heart would prove to be? Matthew 13:22 (ESV) As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

What word is it church? “unfruitful.” And what did Jesus tell us earlier about that unfruitfullness? “By a tree’s fruit you know them” He said in chapter 12 Which is the same thing He said back in chapter 7:

A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Matthew 7:18-20 ESV

Is your life fruitless because your heart is hard? Is it fruitless because your heart is shallow? How about because your heart is divided between Christ and the things of this world? If so, then hear Christ’s words! Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire! Thus you will recognize the good tree from the bad tree BY THEIR FRUITS! And so, if your life has shown mere intellectual fruit, Or mere emotional fruit that appears for a moment and then vanishes after things get hard, OR, if your life has shown divided fruit, that is plagued with thorns and thistles, Then you’re fruitless! And if you’re fruitless, you’re a dead tree, who is dead in your trespasses and sins! And if that’s you, then LISTEN and RECEIVE the implanted Word of Christ, which is able bring you from death unto life. Which leads us to our final point.

Resurrecting life comes through:

3. Death

As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Matthew 13:23 ESV

When Peyeng began to plant the forest, do you remember what we said was one of the greatest challenges that he faced? Getting the seed to plant it! For without it, nothing would ever grow! Not in a million years!

It wouldn’t have mattered how much he tilled the lands, It wouldn’t have mattered how much he watered it, It wouldn’t have mattered how much sun it got! Unless he had seed, it was an IMPOSSIBLE effort!

Do you see where we are going here? Some of ya’ll been trying to grow eternal life through your good works. Going to church, Praying, Maybe just being a nice person And do you know what that is? It’s totally backwards! It’s a WHOLE lot of works with any seed.

But that’s now it works! And that’s not how it works because the power of life is in the SEED! And what gives the seed power is CHRIST - NOT YOU! And how does Christ give that seed power? Resurrection Sunday! Easter! That’s what we are celebrating church! We are celebrating the life-giving power of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, which is the only power that can bring death to life! For without that power, NOTHING THAT IS DEAD WILL GROW IN A MILLION YEARS!

So the question is, do you have that power at work within you producing fruit? For all heart’s that have that power WILL produce fruit! Not all the same - some 100, some 60, and some 30 But make no mistake, when Christ brings new life into you it will grow abundantly into everlasting life, and that everlasting life is coming oh so very soon!

Does your heart feel cold and intellectual? Does your heart feel shallow and do life’s struggles cause you to doubt God’s love & goodness? Are their thorns and thistles everywhere and you don’t know where to begin? Do you you feel unworthy? Good. Because you should. For their is only ONE who is worthy! There is only ONE who can bring us new life! And it is because He is the RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE! And He offers the seed of resurrection life to us freely and fully if we will but receive it!

Have you you listened, or just heard it? Have you listened? Have you received it? “He who has ears to hear,” let Him hear and receive the resurrecting life that comes through our resurrected King! And it comes because the grave is not empty! For death could not hold Him! He is alive!

Is that same life within you? I trust and pray that by God’s grace it is.

This is the manuscript the sermon was preached from, so the recording may differ in places.