The Seed by the Wayside- how to avoid Bad Birds and Keep the Word

In my last article we explored the parable of the sower, particularly the seed that fell upon a rock. In this article I want to focus on the seed that fell by the wayside contrasting it against the seed that fell on good ground which is a picture of genuine salvation.

Let’s begin by reading the relevant verses in Luke 8

Vs 5 A sower went out to sow his seed and as he sowed some fell by the way side and it was trodden down and the fowls of the air devoured it.

Vs 11 Now the parable is this: the seed is the Word of God 

Vs 12 Those by the wayside are they that hear; then cometh the devil and taketh away the word out of their hearts lest they should believe and be saved.

Vs 15 but that on the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word keep it and bring forth fruit with patience.

KEEP IT

Can you see how Jesus contrasts the seed that is devoured by birds or “taken away” by the devil against those who hear the word and “keep it” in their hearts.

Keep in vs 15 is katecho 

Kat-ekh-o in the Greek and means to retain, hold fast, keep firm possession of

This reminds me of Proverbs 3

Vs13

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom and  the man that getteth understanding. 

Vs18

she is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her and happy is every man that retaineth her.

Once having obtained wisdom, having heard the Word of God, it is our job to retain it. 

Not allow it to be devoured by birds.

Only then can the seed send down roots and grow into a “tree of life”, that is, produce spiritual life in our hearts.

THE BIRDS

What do the birds represent in the parable of the sower?

Revelations 18:2

And he cried mightily with a strong voice saying Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen and is become the habitation of devils and the hold of every foul spirit and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

We see here that birds represent unclean, that is, unregenerated people held captive to false religion. Babylon representing false religion.

Jeremiah 23:30

therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words, every one from his neighbour.

Vs 32 behold I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies...

The birds devour or steal the Word from peoples hearts by preaching lies.

Devour is katesthio Kat-es-thee-o in the Greek and means destroy, ruin or waste, so the Word of God is stolen in the sense that it’s true meaning is destroyed thus it is turned into a lie.

THE LIE

What was the first lie mentioned in the bible? 

It was when the serpent spoke to Eve in the garden of Eden.

Genesis 3:3&4

(Eve said) But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden God hath said Ye shall not eat of it neither shall ye touch it lest ye die.

and the serpent said unto the woman, ye shall not surely die:

This is the ultimate lie and it’s rife in the church world today, that one can sin and not die, that one can claim to be Christian whilst committing wilful sin.

Any doctrine that makes place for sin, even in a subtle way, is dangerous and destructive to people’s souls. 

Why? Because it “taketh away the Word from out of their hearts lest they should believe and be saved”, meaning it prevents people from obtaining salvation.

Let me give you an example of what I mean in 1 John chapter 1. 

The reason John wrote this letter was to remind people of the Word of God and warn them not to fall for the deception having crept into the church that one could be a Christian yet sin.

He said in vs 5

This is the message...God is light and in him is no darkness at all

You can’t get any more black and white than that.

Vs 6 if we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lie and do not the truth.

Don’t claim to be a Christian whilst committing wilful sin.

Vs8 If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

Now despite what we just read in verses 5 & 6, many interpret verse 8 to mean that everyone sins and those who claim to be living above it are self-deceived.

On the contrary, John is warning those who say they “have fellowship” with God yet “walk in darkness” to acknowledge their sin, like David did in Psalm 51:3

For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me.

Only after having acknowledged, confessed and forsaken sin can one be forgiven and cleansed from ALL unrighteousness, that is, be truely saved.

Vs 9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Now let’s go to 1 John 2:1 a verse I once misunderstood.

My little children these things I write unto you that ye sin not. And if any man sin we have an advocate with the father Jesus Christ the righteous.

First of all we see the purpose of Johns letter was that we “sin not” but can you also see how the second part of this verse is linked to verses 8&9 in the previous chapter?

“if any man sin we have an advocate with the father” describes an unsaved person coming to Christ and receiving forgiveness. It is not talking about a Christian committing wilful sin over and over again and being forgiven by God over and over again.

That would negate Hebrews 10:26

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.

Can you see how by misinterpreting 1 or 2 scriptures, conviction is turned down, the fear of God dissipates and enduring temptation is not so important anymore?

That’s what false doctrine does.

THE SOLUTION 

How does one avoid birds and keep the Word in ones heart?

Psalm 1:1-3

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

For he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season. And his leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Verse one tells one how to avoid birds.

Verse two is how to “keep” the Word and verse three is the result when one does.

Don’t...follow the advice of ungodly people, especially in spiritual matters 

Don’t...stand in the way of sinners, meaning don’t identify yourself with them for in doing so you agrees with what they do and believe.

Don’t...sit in the seat of the scornful, meaning be careful who you assemble yourself with and who’s teaching you sit under. Scornful people not only make place for sin but they mock holiness and holy people. 

These are the birds that will steal the word from out of your heart.

Do...delight in the law of the Lord, that means love truth. It’s imperative that we love truth above everything else. 

2 Thessalonians 2:10&11 gives a warning to those who don’t love truth. It says that they’ll receive a strong delusion causing them to believe the lie.

Do...meditate on the Word day and night. 

Literally retain it in your mind, commit it to memory, think about it, seek to understand it.

The tree described in psalm 1 is a picture of salvation, it’s what a Christian looks like, spiritually healthy, resilient and bearing an abundance of good fruit. 

Let’s go to another portion of scripture similar to psalm 1

Jeremiah 17:5

Cursed be the man that trusteth in man..

Are you trusting in a man to deliver truth to you each Sunday morning?

I’ve been there. I relied way to heavily on a particular person to deliver truth to me and as a result I became spiritually lazy. 

Lazy people are easily deceived.

The bible says on a number of occasions, be not deceived. This is our responsibility.

It also says in 2 Tim. 2:15

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of truth

This verse means what it says. God will not approve of us unless we seek to know and understand his Word. 

Why is this important? Jesus is the Word. Therefore if we’re believing a misinterpretation of the Word do we really know Him? Are we really following the Jesus of the bible or a Jesus of our own creation or that of whom we listen to?

Jeremiah 17:7&8

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD

For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters and that spreadeth our her roots by the river and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green, and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

In “keeping” the Word, one’s “roots spread out” meaning the Word becomes firmly established within one’s heart. 

One will then bear fruit corresponding with that which is in ones heart.

Good fruit is a holy, righteous lifestyle that emanates God’s love. 

This is the mark of a Christian, the evidence of being saved.

In conclusion,

For the seed, that is, the Word of God to take root in ones heart one must “keep it”. 

Not allow it to be devoured or stolen by unregenerated men preaching false doctrine. 

We keep the word by NOT trusting in men, rather trusting in the LORD. 

Studying to show ourselves approved and and seeking to understand the Word. 

A person who both understands and does the Word is like a healthy, strong, resilient tree bearing an abundance of good fruit. 

Good fruit being the mark of a Christian, the evidence of salvation.

Let us each work out our salvation with fear and trembling, God bless.

The Seed on a Rock- Are You Saved or Do You Sin?

In this article I want to explain what it means to “believe” in Jesus, the importance of repentance and using the parable of the sower, I want to contrast genuine salvation against the counterfeit experience so many have.

I’ll begin with Romans 10:9

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Based on this scriptures and others similar to it many think that all one must do to receive salvation is recite the “sinners prayer” or something to that effect.

Maybe you’ve done this? Perhaps someone even gave you a little birth certificate to stick into your bible just to confirm you were “born-again” at that moment.

What did that experience produce in you? A strong Christian character able to endure temptation and live above sin? Or are you caught in a miserable cycle of sin, confess, sin, confess, sin, confess?

If the latter is your experience I urge you to read this entire article and honestly examine your heart in light of the scriptures I share.

Firstly, what does the word “Believe” mean?

Believe is pist-yoo-o in the Greek and has a couple of meanings. It can mean...

‘Mere acknowledgement of some fact or event: intellectual faith’

Does an intellectual belief in Jesus = salvation?

Does merely acknowledging that he died and rose again for us= salvation?

Let’s consider what James 2:19 says

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doesn’t well: the devils also believe and tremble.

James is saying that Devils believe in God yet they are obviously not saved, so too one can have an intellectual belief in Jesus yet live like a devil and in no way be saved.

I was that person. 

I “believed” yet I hadn’t actually forsaken sin so as soon as temptation came along I fell for it. 

This scenario is explained perfectly in the parable of the sower

Luke 8:5&6

A sower went out to sow his seed...and some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. 

In verse 13 Jesus explains this parable...

they on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

Then we have the same parable in the gospel of Matthew

Matthew 13: 3,5,6

...a sower went forth to sow; 

Some (seeds) fell upon stoney places, where they had not much earth, and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

And when the sun was up, they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.

And here is Jesus’s explanation of the parable in verses 20&21

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he no root in himself, but dureth for a while, for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word by and by he is offended.

I, like the plant on the rock, was happy to hear the word, I received it with with joy, I sprung up.

So too, a person may enthusiastically “believe”,“confess” and even think they’ve “received” Jesus into their heart, however, when temptation, tribulation or persecution comes along their true spiritual state is revealed. 

What is temptation?

Temptation is Pi-ras-mos in the Greek and means ‘a test to prove ones character’

In the parable of the sower, the sun represents temptation, tribulation and persecution and we see here that when the sun came out, the plant upon the “rock” or “stoney places” immediately “withered away”.

So what did the sun reveal about that plant?

The sun revealed the fact that the plant had no root with which to access water thus survive the scorching heat of the sun.

Why did the plant have no root?

The plant had no root because it was trying to grow upon a rock.

You see, when a seed germinates, the first thing it does is send down roots. However, for it to do so it requires “deepness of earth”. Rock cannot provide this “deepness of earth”.

What does the rock represent? 

The rock in this parable represents a rock hard heart.

Therefore, no matter how much one “believes” or “confesses” Jesus, one cannot truely receive him until one’s heart has been properly prepared to receive him.

There is a preparation process that must occur before salvation can take place. 

Certain ground work needs to happen before one can truely receive the seed.

I’ll give you an analogy.

My husband and I recently landscaped my mother’s yard with pebbles and pavers but before we could lay a single paver we first had to prepare the ground. 

We used a hoe to brake up the hard, lumpy dirt, remove rocks, old roots and create a level surface.

So too, Jesus requires us to remove the rocks, roots and any other rubbish laying within our lives and hearts.

This ground work is called repentance.

Repentance prepares the heart for Jesus to come in.

What did John the Baptist say in Matthew 3:3?

Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 

What else did John say in this same chapter?

Vs2 Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Vs 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance 

Repentance is metanoia met-an-oy-ah in the Greek and means 

a change of mind, as it appears to one who repents, of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done.

Genuine repentance manifests itself in actions.

In verse 8 that we just read “fruits” is Karpos in the Greek and means work, act or deed.

“Meet” is axios and means worthy.

Therefore John the Baptist was saying “bring forth works, acts or deeds worthy of repentance”.

Do you see how an intellectual belief in Jesus or mere acknowledgment of what he’s done for us does NOT = salvation?

We have to actually DO something.

We see an example of this in Acts 19:18&19

And many that believed came and confessed, and showed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men...

These people believed, confessed then demonstrated their belief through burning their expensive books on magic.

Let’s take another look at the Greek word for “believe”. 

Pist-yoo-o means

entrust (especially ones spiritual well-being to Christ), commit, commit unto (one’s) trust

Notice the word commit?

This reminds me of a marriage. In committing to a particular person in marriage, one chooses to forsake all others.

Similarly, committing to Christ means forsaking anything and everything that would come between oneself and him.

In this way, “believing” and “repenting” are synonymous.

In conclusion,

Genuine salvation is proceeded by works, acts or deeds worthy of repentance.

Genuine salvation produces a strong Christian character able to endure temptation and live above sin.

If therefore you are caught in a miserable cycle of sin, confess, sin, confess, you need to ask yourself...

“Am I the plant trying to grow upon a rock with a superficial belief but no actual root below the surface, in other words, without Christ actually abiding within my heart?”

Let me share my story....

I spent over 20 years going to church and professing to be a Christian, however, during that time I did commit sin. I don’t mean a mistake or a lapse in judgement, I mean wilful sin. 

Each time I did it i felt dreadfully ashamed and fearful of facing God. I would pray and cry and beg Gods forgiveness, then a few months later I’d do it again. What I’m saying is that I know how it feels to be caught in the sin, confess cycle. It’s a horrible state to be in. 

Part of my problem was that I believed Jesus was my “advocate” and the blood was always there. That I could go back to God and receive his forgiveness whenever I required it. This then caused a lot of confusion in my mind, was I saved? was I lost? At what stage did I regain my salvation before loosing it again and so on. 

I knew that sin put me out of the kingdom but I didn’t truely appreciate the danger of being in a sin, confess cycle; that the longer I stayed in it, the harder my heart would become until it would be almost impossible to find a true place of repentance. I was in danger of becoming reprobate.

This is why I implore anyone reading this article, that can relate to my experience to be really honest with themselves. 

Genuine salvation is not inclusive of a sin-confess cycle. True repentance which is dying to self, happens once and for all when we first come to God and after that we simply endure. 

Maybe you’re waiting for God to magically remove your desire to sin. Maybe you feel completely defeated and think there’s no hope. There is hope but in order to break out of the sin, confess cycle YOU have to DO something.

If you eye offends you pluck it out, if your hand offends you cut it off.

Maybe like the believers in Acts 19 you have things in your possession you need to destroy or perhaps there’s a person or activity you need to cut out of your life? You’ll know what that thing is. We need to take God and his salvation seriously.

Let us each work out our salvation with fear and trembling, God bless.

Cath Gavin

crystalriver053@gmail.com