[0:00] All right. Well, folks, let's go ahead and take the Word of God and turn to the Gospel of Matthew. We are picking up a series that we started quite some time ago. I believe it was three or four weeks ago when we started this series.
[0:21] And then we had Texas Baptist Sunday with Julio Guarneri, the executive director, our special speaker. We had our Lord's Supper Sunday where we kind of devote the whole service to that.
[0:33] And then, of course, we had Easter last week. And so we are just now diving back into this brand new preaching series called Stories of the Kingdom, going through some of the parables of Jesus.
[0:46] So let's go to Matthew chapter 13. Matthew chapter 13. This is the same chapter that we were in last time. We talked about the weeds and the wheat or the tares and the wheat.
[1:00] And that began there in Matthew 13, verse 24. So we are going to back up and go to the beginning of Matthew 13 and look at verses 1 down through 23.
[1:13] So today we're talking about the sower and the soil. For some reason, Carson, I don't have my remote. Mike gave it to me this morning.
[1:24] And somehow, some way between then and now, it sprouted legs and wandered off. So if you'll just kind of watch my slides and click through, thank you.
[1:35] I know normally I have control over that, but I have to give up control today. So there you go. All right, so we are talking about the sower and the soil. And let's begin reading in verse 1 of Matthew 13.
[1:50] Matthew 13 and verse 1. On the day Jesus went out of the house, he was sitting by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him. He got into a boat.
[2:01] He sat down while the whole crowd stood on the shore. He did this a few times that we have a record of in the scriptures. Hey, look at you. Thanks, man.
[2:12] You're on top of it. Carson, you're off duty. You can take a nap like you usually do. I'm just kidding. He doesn't. He pays attention, y'all. I'm messing around. All right. So, Jesus is in the boat.
[2:28] He's teaching the crowd. They're all on the shore listening to him. And by the way, just a little side note. It has nothing to do with the sermon, but I always thought that was fascinating. Jesus, of course, the creator of heavens and earth, would know that sound travels so well across the water.
[2:41] And so the people couldn't press up against him. Of course, they didn't have microphones like we have today. And so he would get out in the boat and he would teach. And the sound would travel across the water. And they could all hear him. Just a neat little addition that I thought to mention.
[2:53] Verse 3, he told them many things in parables. We can just think of them as stories or illustrations that he was using to make a greater point.
[3:06] Saying, consider the sower. Or, if you're reading in the New Living Translation, listen. A farmer went out to plant some seeds.
[3:18] As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath. The birds came in and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock.
[3:31] The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun. And since they didn't have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.
[3:46] Still other seeds fell on fertile soil. And they produced a crop that was 30, 60, even 100 times as much as had been planted. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.
[4:02] Verse 10, his disciples came and asked him, Why do you use parables when you talk to the people? He replied, you're permitted to understand the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. That's why we call this series Stories of the Kingdom.
[4:14] Because these were all about the kingdom of heaven. But others, he said, are not permitted to understand. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given.
[4:27] And they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.
[4:38] So it's important to listen, isn't it? Did everybody hear that? Thank you. You got it. It is important to listen.
[4:49] Especially when it's coming from Jesus. That is why I use these parables. Verse 13. For they look, but they don't really see. They hear, but they don't really listen or understand.
[5:01] Verse 14. This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened.
[5:13] Their ears can't hear. They have closed their eyes so their eyes cannot see. Their ears cannot hear. And their hearts cannot understand. And they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.
[5:24] But blessed are your eyes. Because they see. And your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth. Many prophets and righteous people long to see what you see.
[5:38] But they didn't see it. They long to hear what you hear. But they didn't hear it. Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds. Hey, we get this parable explained this time.
[5:52] Verse 19. The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the kingdom. And don't understand it. Then the evil one comes.
[6:03] Snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message. And immediately receive it with joy. But since they don't have deep roots.
[6:13] They don't last long. They fall away. As soon as they have problems. Or are persecuted for believing God's word. The seed that fell among the thorns. Represents those who hear God's word.
[6:24] But all too quickly the message is crowded out. By the worries of this life. And the lure of wealth. So no fruit is produced.
[6:35] The seed that fell on good soil. Represents those who truly hear. And understand God's word. And produce a harvest. And produce a harvest. Of 30, 60, or even 100 times.
[6:49] As much as had been planted. Would you pray with me? God I pray that right now your word would take root in our hearts. That we would not be like those who hear.
[7:01] And don't understand. Who see. But cannot comprehend it. Reveal to us your truth. Let it take root in us. And bear fruit in your name.
[7:13] And we'll give you the glory for it. In Jesus name. Amen. By the way. Thank you to the choir. To June. For providing such beautiful music. For us this morning.
[7:24] As well as your lovely voices. Y'all sounded great. Singing out there. Really enjoyed the music. Last Sunday on Easter. And again this morning. Let's dive into this passage here. In Matthew chapter 13.
[7:36] Number one. The path and the birds. Right? The path and the birds. That's what we see. So let's back up. To verse 4. Back up to verse 4.
[7:49] As he sowed. The sower went out to sow. The farmer went out to plant seed. You might say. And as he planted his seed. As he sowed his seed.
[8:00] Some of it fell along the path. Apparently. This was whatever crop. That Jesus is hypothetically using. This illustration. As an example in his parable.
[8:10] Whatever crop this sower is going out. He's not carefully digging. And planting it in intentional spots. In good earth. He's just casting it. And seeing where it falls.
[8:21] In this story. So some of it fell along the walking path. And what happens? Did it take deep roots. And grow up big fruit?
[8:32] No. Thank you. Appreciate that. You're right. It did not. The rest of y'all were like. Does he really want us to answer right now? Just making sure you're with me here.
[8:43] That's right. He didn't. The seed did not take root. What happened? It just lay there. Doing no good. And what happened? The birds came.
[8:55] And ate it. Didn't they? The kids like this story. I like this story. Who are we kidding? All right. Verse 19. Jesus then gives us an explanation of what he's talking about.
[9:07] So skip down to verse 19. Listen to the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn't understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.
[9:22] This is the one sown along the path. So, well, there's the bird. There's the culprit. The evil flying beast that ate up the good seed that was sown, right?
[9:34] He doesn't look all that bad. But listen. This happens, all right? When God's word is preached, sometimes it falls on ears that will never understand it, never believe it.
[9:51] And what happens? The deceiver comes along. Satan comes along. The forces of Satan in this world come along, and they snatch away the truth that was told.
[10:07] They might distort it. They might try to change it. They might try to use it to fit their agenda. Whatever it was, it's no longer the truth that was sown.
[10:19] That truth is now gone. And I hate to see that happen. But I've been on missions trips all around this world, and I've seen that happen.
[10:30] Where you go to a place that's in spiritual darkness, been to deep, remote villages in India, where they've never heard the truth of Jesus Christ ever.
[10:41] And you go and you sow the seed of the gospel, the good news of Jesus, and the people listen, and you can see some of that seed is falling on good ground, and ears are hearing, and they're understanding, and God is giving them that understanding, and they're responding to it.
[10:59] And then others, you see, it's just not making sense. And sometimes you even go back later, and you see that the devil has been at work. And he's snatched up the truth that was planted, attempted to be planted in some of those hearts.
[11:19] And he's distorted. He's changed it. He's rerouted them back to the land, to the traditions of their land, to their false gods, to things that will never bring them hope, joy, and peace like Jesus can.
[11:31] So that is a reality. That sometimes, even in your attempts, you know, we're doing this, who's your one campaign. And sometimes in your attempts, to share the gospel with the people in your life, you might feel like it's just landing on the path, and the devil is coming, and snatching the seeds away.
[11:53] So that's the path, and the birds. We're not responsible for that. We can't help that. We can mourn it. We can grieve it.
[12:04] We can be sorry, and wish that somehow, the light of the gospel would cut through the darkness. And we never know, if at some point, God is going to allow that to happen.
[12:17] But there is a very real reality, and Paul warns about it in his second letter, to the church at Corinth. He says, in their case, the God of this world, has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them, from seeing the light of the gospel, the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
[12:34] That is reality. This world is surrounded by darkness. That's not too hard to see, right? But the light doesn't always cut through, some of the darkness.
[12:46] Thank God it shined in your heart. Thank God it shined in mine. It's nothing that we did. That was all according to God's grace, and his mercy.
[12:59] So, some of the seed, will fall along the path, and the birds will eat it up, and it will never bear fruit. But he doesn't stop there. He goes on to the rocky ground.
[13:11] The rocky ground, verse five, let's look at it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it didn't have much soil, and it grew up quickly, since the soil wasn't deep.
[13:23] Y'all, now we're getting a little bit closer to home here. It's easy to look along the path, and say, yeah, some of those people, they might hear about Jesus. Maybe they'll visit church on Easter, but we'll never see him again.
[13:37] Some of those people, they just live like heathen all the time, and you know there's nothing about God in their life. But what about the ones, where it falls on rocky ground, and all of a sudden, you see this shoot up, and it looks like, wow, something really happens there.
[13:57] Boy, that person just found Jesus, didn't they? What an amazing change we see. All of a sudden, from rocky, barren ground, we see this little plant pop up.
[14:08] Amazing. And we celebrate, and we get excited, and what happened? The sun came up. The hot sun shined on it.
[14:21] You know what plants need to grow? Anybody? Sunshine, don't they? They need water too. But sunshine is one of the key ingredients, that plants need to grow.
[14:32] But in this case, the sun came up, and the plant was scorched, and it had no root, and it withered away.
[14:48] I can promise you, that this happens time, and time, and time again, with people who hear, the good news of Jesus, and they're drawn to it.
[15:01] They think, I want that. That promises me something better, than what I have. That's something bigger, that I could believe in. That sounds really good.
[15:13] I got me a free ticket to heaven. How great is this? And they latch on, but no root, takes place.
[15:25] They're never rooted, in the gospel. They never have, a real understanding, believing, that they are a child of God, only by His grace.
[15:36] They think maybe, they had something to do with it. I think maybe that, because they made a good decision, to come to church that day, and God changed their life, and now He's going to give, untold blessings to them, turn their life around, and everything's going to be okay now.
[15:52] But then the sun comes, the troubles come, the storms of life come, and what happens? There's no root there. They were never taught, and seemingly never drawn, by the Holy Spirit, to learn more about the Lord.
[16:12] Maybe they never even truly, made a commitment to follow Jesus. Maybe it was in their head, but it never made it, to their heart. Anybody know the difference?
[16:24] How many inches, between the head and the heart? What's that? 18, is it 18? I think that's right. 18, I had 16 in my head, but you might be right. Split the difference, 17 inches.
[16:38] Look, there is a difference, between knowing, knowing that God is, and even believing, that He is good.
[16:51] There's a difference, between that, and placing your faith, in God, and God alone. It doesn't mean, you have to know, all the theology. It doesn't mean, you have to be able, to answer all the quiz questions, about God and the Bible.
[17:07] But there is a difference, when it's real, and when it's shallow. And I'm afraid, that many of us, might be rocky ground, followers of Jesus.
[17:28] And our soil is very shallow. And that's why sometimes, the storms of life, will veer us off course. Sometimes we'll, quit coming to church, for a while.
[17:40] Because we got, upset at somebody. Because the storm came, the sun, shined hot, and scorched us. And we couldn't take it, because the roots, were not, deep.
[17:52] I promise you, if your roots, are deep, nothing can shake you. You might feel shaken, at times. But nothing, can shake those roots.
[18:03] Nothing, can dig those roots up. nothing can make, your plant die, because Jesus, is the root of it. And he will continue, to feed you.
[18:14] He will continue, to cause you, to thrive. To cause you, to recover. To cause you, to come back. So I promise you, rocky ground Christians, are not, genuine followers, of Jesus.
[18:31] And someday, they'll stand, before the father, and he will say, depart from me, I never knew you. Don't let that be you.
[18:44] Don't be a, rocky ground Christian, because a, rocky ground Christian, is not a Christian, at all. They've just jumped in, with a nice group of people.
[18:58] They've done, what society expected. They've done, what felt right, at the time. They had a moment, where maybe they felt, close to God. They had a moment, where something, felt good, and felt right.
[19:12] And so they said, yeah, I'm in. I want to jump in, with that group. But we see it, time and time again. The sun comes up, and they can't survive it.
[19:25] That's how you know, their roots were never planted, in Christ. Now I pray, that at some point, God takes those, rocky ground Christians, and that seed, gets planted, in good soil.
[19:43] That's up to God, and their response. But so many times, that seed, falls on rocky ground, and the sun, scorches it.
[20:01] What are you? I'm asking you, to examine your heart, this morning. Is your heart, the hard footpath, where the birds come, and eat the seed, before it ever has a chance?
[20:13] Is your heart, the rocky ground, with the shallow bit of dirt, that can pop up, the little plant there? Or, is your heart, one of these others?
[20:23] Let's move on. So we've got, the rocky ground, we've got the, path and the birds, and then we've got, the thorns. The thorns. Jesus picks it up, in verse 20, he said, the one sown on rocky ground, this is the one, who hears the word, and immediately, receives it with joy, but he has no root, it's short lived, when distress, or persecution, comes because of the word, immediately, he falls away, and then he moves on, to the thorns.
[20:50] The one sown among the thorns, this is the one, who hears the word, but the worries of this age, and the deceitfulness, of wealth, choke the word, and it becomes, unfruitful.
[21:05] Now folks, seemingly, these are the ones, who genuinely, did become followers, of Jesus. They had a real, conversion experience, they truly placed, their faith in him, but at some point, along the way, something keeps them, from bearing fruit.
[21:22] You know what it is? It's the thorns. The thorns, choke, what God's trying to do, in their life, in their heart. And do you notice, what he said, the specific thorns were?
[21:38] He said, the worries of this age, age, and the deceitfulness, of wealth. The worries of this age, the deceitfulness, of wealth.
[21:53] Isn't that fascinating? Those are the two things, that he seemed to indicate, were the primary thorns, that could choke this out. Back in, what is that, verse 22, in the New Living Translation, that we read at first, it said, the seed that fell among the thorns, represents those, who hear God's word, all too quickly, the message is crowded out, by the worries of this life, and the lure of wealth.
[22:20] Have you ever been deceived, or lured by wealth, or the pursuit of it? I had to add that last part, because you're looking at me like, no, wealth has never really, wrapped its arms around me, and you know, carried me away.
[22:35] It's stayed pretty far away, from me in my life. But how about the pursuit of it? The pursuit of wealth, the obsession with wealth. Has that ever deceived you?
[22:47] Has that ever lured you? All of our bank accounts, look different, don't they? All of our retirements, look different. All of our savings, look different.
[23:01] Some of it, we're happy with. Some of it, we wish, was a whole lot better, better than it is. But I can promise you, that it's not money, that's the root of all evil.
[23:16] How many of you knew that? Money is not the root of all evil. Some of you are looking at me like, isn't that in the Bible? What is it? What is the root of all evil? The love, right.
[23:27] The love of money. Why? Because then you've been deceived. Money is an inanimate object. It's a means to an end. But if you love it, then you've been lured by it.
[23:38] You've been deceived by it. And your love is misplaced. Money will never make you happy. God can make you happy. And God can provide resources along the way that will help you fulfill what he has you to do in your life.
[23:58] But the love or being deceived by or lured by money, that will absolutely become a thorn that chokes out whatever God's trying to do in your life.
[24:11] Because your agenda will never be God's agenda. Do we realize that? Our hearts will on their own never pursue what God's heart has for us.
[24:24] They will always lead us towards something that we can't ultimately ever achieve. They will always lead us down a path that ends in destruction.
[24:36] That's where our hearts will lead us. But if God has a different plan for you and a different path for you to walk, be careful of the thorns.
[24:47] Because those thorns can come up and even without you realizing it, they can choke out the fruit that God's trying to bear in your life.
[25:00] Young people, be careful of the lure of money. Be careful of the lure of the pursuit, the love of wealth.
[25:12] It can absolutely be seductive. It can absolutely lead you to concentrate on that and all of a sudden you're making decisions not based on what is good for my soul.
[25:25] What does God want with me in my life? Instead, you're making decisions based on what makes the most sense financially for me. Sometimes, those things might coincide.
[25:39] Sometimes, God might have you make the soundest financial decision. But sometimes, your financial advisor might say, you tithe money to the church every month.
[25:50] Do you realize what you could do with that? Do you realize the investments you could make with that? You give extra money to this church and what does that do for you?
[26:04] How does that improve your bottom line? How does that ensure your financial security? Doesn't make sense on the balance sheet. And so, you choose not to follow God's command in giving back a portion of what he's given to you.
[26:23] And the thorn has come up and it's choked out the blessings that God wanted for you. Because when you invest in the kingdom of God, God returns that to you more than you could ever, ever imagine.
[26:37] And I'm not talking about you give $10 and God's gonna turn it into a thousand in your bank account. That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about God reaps great rewards in your life.
[26:50] In the areas that only he can know. Whether it's relationships being put back together. Whether it's you being used to bring other people to the saving knowledge of Jesus brought from darkness to light.
[27:03] You don't know what God's gonna do in your life transform you and those you love in ways that you can't imagine. But when you invest in God's kingdom you see it happen.
[27:15] That's your time. That's your energy. And yes, that's also your finances. So the lure of wealth can be a thorn that chokes what God's trying to do.
[27:28] Also the worries of this life. The cares of this life. Say man, I'd love to come help with the teens, you know. They're doing Wednesday night activities. They're going out and going to youth camp.
[27:40] They're doing all kinds of things. I'd love to help in the children's department. I know they need more teachers. They need more volunteers. I know there are places that God has for me to serve.
[27:52] But you see, I can't right now because the cares of this life are thorns that are choking me. So what you're saying is, and I'm not picking on anybody in this room, but what you're saying is these thorns are bigger than God.
[28:12] These thorns, I can't handle and if I can't handle them, God can't handle them. So I can't do what I was placed on this earth to do, which is let God use me to impact others.
[28:27] I can't do that because the cares of this world are choking me. Y'all, I promise you, we serve a God who understands what you're going through.
[28:38] He's been there. He's been rejected by everyone. He's had those he loved and loved him turn on him. He's been tempted in every way that you could possibly be tempted.
[28:50] He's been tired. He's been hungry. He's been poor. He's been without. He's been through it all and he says, I am enough for you. I will sustain you.
[29:02] I will see you through. Don't cut out the healthiest part of your life when you're going through difficult times. Maybe you've got to cut back certain areas.
[29:15] Maybe you've got to cut back certain things you're involved in, certain obligations you have, but don't cut out serving Jesus. That's where your lifeline is.
[29:27] That's where your strength comes from. Maybe God places you in a situation where you can't physically do something. Or maybe you're in a season where you're exhausted.
[29:41] And you understand that I've got to step back from teaching, but I'm going to find another way to serve. I'm going to jump on the prayer team. I'm going to do whatever I can do to be a part of God's kingdom because that's where I get my strength from.
[29:55] That's where I get my lifeline from. What are our priorities? And what thorns are choking out what God wants to do in our lives?
[30:07] The path had seeds on it. The birds came and ate it. The rocky ground had seeds, but the sun scorched them because they had no roots.
[30:18] The thorns grew up. The roots went down, but it choked out. What God wanted to do with the cares of this world and the lure of wealth.
[30:33] But then you get to the good ground. You get to the good ground. Let's look at verse 23. The seeds that were sown on the good ground, this is the one who hears and understands the word, who does produce fruit and yields.
[30:53] Sometimes a hundred, sometimes sixty, sometimes thirty times what was sown. The good ground is what God desires all of us to be.
[31:07] All of us can be good ground. Say, man, if you think I can be good ground, you don't know me very well. I'm more like that rocky ground. I've got a pretty rough exterior.
[31:17] I'm more like that thorns, you know, I'm kind of thorny. So I'm not this good ground, this soft, fertile soil. God can make you good ground if you'll let him.
[31:32] If you will open up your heart to the Lord, God can change you. He can soften you. He can make you into good ground that bears fruit for his kingdom.
[31:43] There are four types of soil here. A sower went out to sow. You've got your pathway. It was trampled on. The birds ate it up. And what happened?
[31:54] The seeds were destroyed. You've got your rocky ground. There were no roots. The sun scorched it and the plant withered away. You've got your thorny ground. The thorns choked it out.
[32:06] It suffocated and it died. God might bring you home to heaven if you're not going to bear fruit for his kingdom. He warns about that time and time again.
[32:18] He's warned entire churches about that. In Revelation, he says, I'll shut you down, church, if you don't bear fruit for me.
[32:29] The way he put it, he said, I will remove your lamp stick. I will remove your lamp stand. I don't want to see that happen to you.
[32:43] I don't want to see that happen to me and my family. I don't want to see that happen to this church. So what can we do to be good ground, good soil? Because what happened there? It grew up.
[32:53] It increased. It yielded many times what was originally planted. Would you go one more place with me and we'll be done. Colossians chapter 2. Colossians chapter 2 in verse 6.
[33:05] Paul is writing this letter to the church at Colossae and he says, so then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, Colossians 2.6, continue to walk in him.
[33:18] Just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, being rooted and built up in him. This is how you know if you are good soil.
[33:31] Are you being rooted and built up in Christ Jesus? established in the faith just as you were taught and overflowing with gratitude. Verse 8.
[33:42] Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition.
[33:54] Based on the elements of this world rather than Christ. Do you see what he's saying here? This is how you know if you're good ground.
[34:04] This is how you know if you're good soil if you're being rooted and built up in Christ. You see that? Being rooted and built up. Trying to give you a visual here.
[34:15] Being rooted and built up. That is how we know we're good ground. Are you being rooted and built up in Christ? I love how the New Living Translation puts this.
[34:27] It says, let your roots grow down into him. And then the Christian standard, which is what I've got right here, says being built up in him. So you put that together, what do you have?
[34:40] Let your roots grow down into him. Being built up in him. Let's say this together. Ready? If we can get to it. Here we go. Here we go. Ready? As my roots grow down, I'm built up.
[34:53] One more time. Ready? As my roots grow down, I'm built up. That is how we avoid being rocky ground, being the path that the birds eat from, and being thorny ground.
[35:07] When my roots grow down, I'm built up. Grow down into what? Rooted, built up, established in Christ Jesus.
[35:22] There are a lot of voices calling for your attention, but one voice you must hear.
[35:34] One voice you must listen. The words are in red in some of your Bibles. How many of you have seen a red letter Bible that has all the words of Jesus in red?
[35:45] Isn't that neat? Crowder wrote a song about it. A Christian singer wrote a song about it. It said, then I read the red letters and the ground began to shake. Prison walls started falling.
[35:55] I became a free man that day. Why? What changed him? What changed his life? The words of Jesus. When he said, I came to seek and to save those who were lost.
[36:10] He said, I, if I am lifted up, I will draw all men unto me. He said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man can come to the Father except through me.
[36:22] He is the one. He's the source of strength. He's got all the nutrients. He's got the power and the grace and the love to save you from sin and to change you into who he wants you to be.
[36:38] The only enemies are the rocky ground, are the thorns, the things that can derail that. So where are you? This is a check your heart moment right now.
[36:50] Where are you in your life? Maybe you've been saved for six months. Maybe you've been saved for two weeks. Maybe you can save for 50 years.
[37:01] Maybe you've been a follower of Jesus as long as you can remember. Maybe you've been part of this church as long as you can remember. I'm not asking about that. I'm asking what kind of soil your heart is right now.
[37:13] What is Jesus working with? As my roots grow down, I'm built up. Man, you wonder why God hasn't changed you that much.
[37:25] Maybe you're rocky ground. Maybe your soil is very shallow. Maybe the sun scorched you at some point along the way. Maybe the thorns have choked out the fruit that God's trying to bear in your life.
[37:41] As my roots grow down, I'm built up. Here's our takeaway this morning. is God's truth taking root and changing you.
[37:52] How much have you changed since last year? How much have you changed in the last 10 years? how much of that was God? How much of that was Him?
[38:05] Your roots going down into Him and Him building you up. If not, it's not too late. It's not too late to change. Number one, it's never too late to turn to Jesus.
[38:18] We might have one of our young people, we might have one of our older folks, we might have somebody in between who says, you know what, I've been holding out but today is the day I'm going to turn to Jesus and say, okay God, I hear, I'm going to listen and the Holy Spirit is going to help me understand what you're talking about.
[38:34] I know I'm a sinner, I know Jesus died for my sin, I know God raised Him from the dead and I'm choosing to place all my faith in Him to forgive me of my sin. I'm not good enough, I never will be but Jesus wants to save me so I'm going to say yes.
[38:49] Save me from hell, the punishment of my sin and I can become God's child. If that's you, if you want to make that decision today, would you bow your heads with me together all across this room? Would you bow your heads and let's be in prayer right now.
[39:01] If you know in your heart that you are a child of God, you are signed, sealed and going to be delivered someday, then would you do me a favor and pray for those in this room right now who are still struggling with that.
[39:14] There are people in this room who think they're not quite good enough, they wonder if somewhere along the way they didn't measure up. would you in your heart pray that the Holy Spirit would reveal God's love to them that it's nothing that they can do that can earn forgiveness of sins.
[39:31] It's only what Jesus did on the cross. Would you pray for them right now? I'm going to address those of you who I just mentioned a moment ago, maybe you're not sure.
[39:44] Maybe you don't know if you're completely forgiven. Maybe you don't know if your imperfections have cost you heaven, cost you the chance to be God's child.
[39:59] But today you want to get that settled. Would you slip your hand up? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Anybody else? Thank you.
[40:12] Thank you. In a moment the music's going to play. Those who raised their hand, would you just slip out of the aisle? Everybody's going to stand. We'll try not to draw any attention to you, but would you slip out of the aisle and just come meet me at the front pew down here?
[40:25] We'll sit and talk about it. Let me address the rest of the room before we dismiss here. Those of you who have full assurance that you are God's child and He's forgiven you and you know you're standing before God.
[40:46] Let me ask what kind of soil you are. Have your roots gone down into Him? Have you been built up into Him? Thank you.