It matters where we fall - Audio

Falling is enviable. it will happen. No one goes through life without falling. In our familiar parable, the farmer sows the seed. Some fell on the path; some fell on rocky ground; some fell into thorns and some fell on good ground. Not all seed falls on the same type of ground. Some seed fails to reach it's potential. The point of the parable is not the seed, rather it was about where the seed fell. All the seed is the same. The seed was for whatever ground would receive it. Jesus was telling us that there are four types of places to fall. The seed will find one of four different kinds of people. Where it lands will determine what becomes of the seed. Only one out of four will receive the full benefit of the seed. We will try to reach everyone, but only one in four will take it in. God pours out upon us, but are we ready to receive all that He has? Are we too hard to let the seed to take root? Do we think that the seed is falling by the wayside? Have we said "that seed isn't for me?" The seed that fell by the wayside did not live it's life outside the boundry. It didn't get to choose what became of it. It was eaten up by something else. The devil does not care about the seed, he just wants to keep it from us so he destroys it. Some of the seed fell in rocky places. At first there seemed to hope. The seed sprouted, but there were no roots to sustain it. The rocky soil wants the seed, but is too hard to allow it to fully take root. The rocky soil has the desire, but not the passion. He wants to receive the seed, but does not want to give anything back. The seed that falls into the thorny place is in a tumultuous environment. Life is crowded and busy. This ground is one of the most common in today's world. These people understand what is needed and required, but life gets busy. This ground understands the importance of the seed, but life requires more and more. The thorns begin to choke out the sprouts of the seed. Good intentions are great, but hell is full of people with good intentions. Trying to balance church, finances, job and family can become an overwhelming tangle of thorns. There are many people who have great intentions and spend a lot of time trying to work for the kingdom. If they are not careful, these things can choke out the seed that God has planted in our life. There are good people who do good things for God, but they may not be getting the better part. Finally there is the good soil. This is the soil that seems to just get it. It produces crops and yields much more than is put into it. This is the one that spends time seeking God's face. The one who seeks God's will. These people will remove the thorns and rocks from their life and prepare themselves to receive the seed that God wants to plant. Bro. Long wants to know where do we fall? It matters where we fall.