Sermon Transcript:

The Parable of the Sower

Rapport & Illustration: During the mid-18th century, the word “broadcast” originated. This was a word that came from farmers who scattered seed widely by hand. The word combines broad which is wide and cast which is to throw. Later, this word would take on a more figurative form where the widespread deliverance of information was beginning to shape society. We now think of Detroit Tigers games being broadcast on our television. 

Relevance: Much like the word broadcast that was once literal in its meaning, but now more figurative in its usage, we continue our series in Matthew where Jesus will begin His parabolic discourse with a parable related to, you guessed it, farming. The parable of the Sower is not a lesson on agriculture as it is a spiritual lesson on God’s Word and who will receive it.

Main Point: God’s Word divides its hearers. Some reject it through hardness, shallowness, or worldly cares. By God’s grace, believers receive it and bear much fruit.

Transition: Let’s jump right in.

• The parable of the Sower. (v.1-9)

Explanation:

Matthew 13:1-2, “That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach.”

• Matthew tells us this occurred ‘that same day.’ That day the Pharisees had rejected Christ, blasphemed the Holy Spirit, demanded another sign, and refused to believe despite overwhelming evidence.
• After all these confrontations with the Pharisees, Jesus still has a captive audience. They have gathered at the beach. Jesus gets into His pulpit on the boat, so to speak, and begins to teach the crowds in parables. His first parable is that of the Sower.

Matthew 13:3-8, “3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 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, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

• Jesus begins this parable by speaking of a Sower, a farmer that spreads out seeds in hopes that the seeds will grow. The Sower is the proclamation of God’s Word through His children. The Word goes forth and is planted throughout the world. Yet, the attention of this parable isn’t on who the Sower is. Jesus wants to draw their attention to the seed and the types of soils that the seed falls upon. The seed which is God’s Word is the same in every case, but the different soil (those who hear the Word) are not. 
• So, what did a farmer look like during this period? If the Word of God goes out like a farmer spreading seeds, we must understand that 1st century agriculture looks much different than today’s farming. They did not have rototillers, sophisticated equipment, or Miracle-Gro topsoil to cultivate the ground. A farmer would carry his sack around with him and start spreading seed around a large area. Some would fall to the packed down path, some to the rocky ground, some to the thorny ground, and finally some to the good soil. This parable isn’t about how they did agriculture in the first century, but a spiritual illustration of who receives the truth of God’s Word.

Let’s look then at the different parables, how Jesus describes each of the soils, and then jump to verses 18-23 to see how Jesus connects the dots.

The Path (v.4) 

• When seeds fall on a hard packed path, the birds are usually at close watch, waiting for the Sower to leave. As soon as he does, the birds swoop in and eat. The seeds are devoured because there is no opportunity for the seeds to take root.

Rocky Ground (v.5-6)

• Seeds that are planted on rocky ground sprout quickly because the warm soil encourages rapid growth. Since there are rocks underneath the surface, the roots cannot grow deep. When the heat comes, the plant withers and dies, because it never developed deep roots. Essentially, the plant had the appearance of being alive but never came to maturity.

Thorny Soil (v.7)

• When those same seeds are planted on thorny soil, they seem to grow normally at first. Yet, there is hidden competition with thorns and weeds. As the seed grows, so do the thorns. The thorns eventually choke out the life that is in the plant, causing it not to bear fruit. 

Good Soil (v.8)

• Finally, seeds planted in good soil take deep root because the ground is free from rocks and competing weeds. With rain and sunlight, the plant grows strong, drawing moisture and nutrients from deep within the soil. Its roots anchor it through heat and changing weather until it reaches maturity and produces an abundant harvest. The purpose of the seed is fulfilled—not merely growth, but fruitfulness.

Jesus ends the parable with a command for careful self-examination.

Matthew 13:9, “9 He who has ears, let him hear.”

Transition: Now, I want you to do something for me. On the left and right side of your head, use your hands and feel. What do you feel? Are there two ears? Am I preaching the Word of God to you this morning? If Jesus calls the crowds to listen closely to what He is saying, I pray that we all would open our ears for this next part. Not that you would listen to me, but that we would carefully examine what Jesus is teaching us about the Kingdom through this parable and respond. So, take out those Q-Tips, clean out the earwax and let’s take a look.

• The meaning of the first three soils. (v.18-22)

Explanation: Now that Jesus called attention to this parable, He later calls His disciples to hear the meaning behind the parable.

Matthew 13:18, “18 “Hear then the parable of the sower:”

The Path (v.19)

Matthew 13:19, “19 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.”

Explanation: As was previously mentioned, the seeds that are spread out represent the Word of God. For the present crowd, it is the message of Christ and the salvation that He has come to bring. For us, it is the gospel message that we give you every week. That you all go out and share with others every week, and hopefully what I am giving you this morning. We share the truth of Christ’s bloody death on a cross and His resurrection 3 days later. We spread the message that Jesus was the fulfillment of all Scriptures, was sufficient in His payment through the death, burial, and resurrection, and one day will return to judge the world. But we cannot expect everyone to receive that message. It was clear that the Jewish leaders did not receive it. Their hardened hearts were unable and unwilling to let the truth of Christ penetrate. They did not understand the Word, so the enemy swooped in like a bird to devour and snatch away what was planted.

• Satan is active and working hard to oppose the gospel and remove the Word before it takes root. It was no different here. The Pharisees knew the Word of God, yet because of their sinful pride, they actively rejected its truth. The enemy brought forth a lie that their kingdom mattered more than Christ. And in so rejecting the heavenly kingdom, they rejected the Christ, who was there to save His people. Sadly, there are many people still rejecting Christ today. And the Scriptures say that those who have hardened their heart like the path will never receive God’s Word, nor it’s truth.

We know this is true, because this has been the plan from the beginning. Satan has always brought deception. with Adam and Eve he says, “Did God actually say?” Always prowling. Always sneaking and slithering. Always trying to snatch away the truth from their hearts. 

Illustration: Do any of you remember the show Dora the Explorer. If you have had young kids in the past 15 years, you’ll probably remember Swiper the Fox. He was always trying to steal Dora’s map or bag. “Swiper no swiping.” She’d say. Unlike Swiper the fox, Satan is no cartoon character. He is a vicious enemy that is always looking to snatch away the truth before it can take root. He is swooping in to steal away God’s Word before unbelievers have a chance to understand its truth.

Look at what Paul writes.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4, “3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 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 of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

• The gospel is veiled to those who are perishing, because Satan has removed the truth of God from these people. These perishing are those that will ultimately never receive Christ in this lifetime. They will spend their entire existence away from Christ and outside of relationship with Him. 
• This is a grim reality for us to hear as believers. We should not be excited for God’s judgment to be enacted, only that He is just in doing so. It will be a horrible day for those who persisted in rejecting Christ. 

Application: Ultimately, the Path is one of three “soils” that represents unbelievers. Brothers and sisters, we must be willing to share the gospel to all, even the difficult ones. If they continue to reject you, you obviously need to use wisdom as to when to dust off your shoes and move on. But we must not get prideful like the Pharisees and show partiality. The gospel is the good news given to all, and as long as people have breath in their lungs, we are commanded to fulfill the Great Commission. Also, we must remember that we aren’t God. We will never truly know who will persist in their unbelief. We must simply share the gospel with those who will hear us and let God sort out the rest. Let this be a lesson for us.

• If you are here this morning and you aren’t a believer in Jesus Christ, listen closely. Maybe you were dragged here by your parents. Maybe you’re looking for an answer to some existential crises. Maybe you arrived here looking for some material blessing. Maybe you are here with a rock-hard heart, but do not know how to get better. I don’t know what situation you find yourselves in, but I heed you with this warning. Don’t be like the Pharisees who hardened their hearts. Who thought they could replace the truth of God for a lie and live for their own kingdom. Don’t be like many who have sought to live for their own crown, rather than submit to God and His gospel truth. Ask God right now to soften your heart before it’s too late. I plead with you to repent and turn from your wicked and sinful ways, because Jesus is enough to save you. He Has paid for it all. And if you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart, by faith, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and the reconciliation of a severed relationship to God through Christ alone, the Lord is faithful to save you. Your hardened heart of stone will be replaced with a soft heart of flesh. Don’t leave here this morning without talking to someone about the good news of the gospel. Today, the Word of God is being sown in you. Do not let Satan take it away before you can respond. 

He who has ears, hear.

Rocky Ground (v.20-21)

Matthew 13:20-21, “20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 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.”

Now, what about the seeds sown on rocky ground? There are many who “come” to the Lord with immense joy. They see this radical gospel and its truth that it can bring forgiveness and respond. Often, they are ones who when they first make a profession of faith, they are on fire for the Lord. They want to share the good news with everyone they encounter. There is an appearance of resurrection life, but then the trials start to come. A loved one passes away. The cancer diagnoses comes. They experience rejection and alienation because they claim to be a Christian. Some in other nations are faced with persecution and martyrdom on account of Christ. Then what happens?

• The Word hasn’t changed. The Scriptures tell us of the problem of sin. They tell us that we are separated from God and need a savior. They tell us that following Christ will come with a cost. That Christians will need to bear their cross and repent. That Christians are ultimately citizens of heaven rather than this world. The Scriptures tell us that we bear the stripes of Christ and will endure trials and suffering as He did.
• But those who are like the rocky ground, when seeds are spread on this soil, will never fully receive the full truth of the gospel. They know it but it has never taken root in their hearts. When these tribulations and persecution come on account of the Word, they fall away because there is no depth. There is no root. They are not truly born again. Where there were once excitement and joy for the truth, that truth becomes despair when the suffering hits. We must understand that it is not the trials themselves that destroy genuine faith, but it exposes a false faith.

On the contrary, James tells us that the mark of genuine faith is perseverance. 

James 1:2-4, “2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

• Perseverance isn’t something that just happens one day. This is a process in which God equips you to endure deep grief, deep struggle, and intense persecution and tribulation. This is a marathon event that takes a lifetime to complete. 
• Ask Bill or Curtis what perseverance looks like, and they will tell you something different than the 55-year-old pastor who was faithful for 30 years and then had an affair, cause the ministry got too hard. 
• Talk to Sandy and Craig about perseverance concerning marriage, when you’re 21 years old and think your life is ending after a breakup.
• Ask Jacque or Camilla how easy it is to be widows compared to one year of marriage and they will tell you that it was God who has carried them throughout their marriage and after the passing of their spouses.
• With each of these people, the roots weren’t shallow. There was no rocky ground under the surface. They are enduring the trials of life and by God’s grace, continuing forward.

Application: Friends, I have seen from up close and from far, so-called Christians, who start to run the race, but later not cross the finish line. This must mean that are many churches full of people who are unconverted. They hear the Word of God or even maybe preach the Word of God regularly, but over time as the winds and the waves crash, they eventually fall away. It is a tragedy when we see these things take place, but we must remember, the rocky ground is a picture of unbelief. For the true believer, it is God who carries us through the storms. Sometimes the best news that we can hear is that life doesn’t get any easier. May we take comfort in knowing that it is God who is sovereign and is using every trial for our good and His glory. May we see clearly that those who persevere are not doing so by their own strength but are being carried by the God who loves them.

Romans 8:28, “28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

If you are here this morning and do not believe in Jesus or where you stand with God and resonate with the rocky ground, there is still hope. Maybe you pursued Christ for a time and something tragic happened that caused you to reject Him. You may be going through a difficult storm at this time, but I appeal to you to keep listening to this message. Don’t check out just yet. There is hope found in Christ. 

• If you are a believer and you feel run down and beat up. You feel like you have rocky ground when the Word comes. That just isn’t true for those in Christ. The rocky soil represents unbelief. There is security that God will keep you. Remember that our perseverance is only possible by His preservation. Cling to Christ at this time, because He has promised to cling to His children. He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of the Lord. 

He who has ears, let him hear.

Thorny Soil (v.22)

Matthew 13:22, “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.”

Explanation: Now, what about the thorny soil? These are those who hear the Word but remain double-minded. Their heart remains divided between Christ and competing loyalties. These loyalties are worldly in nature. Whether it is the realm of politics, status, career, money, or something else that is competing with Christ, the prioritization of these things will always choke out God’s Word. 

• The important part here, is the longevity on which this response to God’s Word lasts. Just as a weed and a plant will grow side by side one another for the duration of its growth cycle, so will one who hears God’s Word and their competing loyalties. They may grow and learn through God’s Word, but it never bears fruit, because of what is choking them. 
• The cares of this world could mean so much. I believe Jesus is referring to the basic necessities of which we seek to obtain. That we have food on the table, money in the bank, and the family’s health accounted for. While the context has changed since the first century, the needs of people haven’t changed from a worldly perspective. People need to eat. People want to feel safe, secure and healthy. It isn’t wrong to want to take care of these things. 
• God has always given us a responsibility to steward over and care for ourselves and the world that He’s created. But it is sin that has ruined the priority of that stewardship. With the introduction of sin, idolatry takes root like a weed. Instead of living and caring for this world under the umbrella of provision given to us by God, we like Adam, all prioritize our own desires and needs over submission to God’s providence. One who receives the Word in thorny soil likes the idea of Jesus but is not willing to sacrifice earthly possessions in service to the Lord. They are willing to say out loud that they are a follower of Jesus, but also willing to compromise truth to keep their possessions and status intact. Jesus says these types of people are unfruitful, because their dependence is upon things that will perish.
• This is also why Jesus mentions the deceitfulness of riches being a part of this soil. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. It doesn’t say money is the root of all evil, but that the love of money is. The Scripture is clear.

1 Timothy 6:6-10, “6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

• It is ultimately the pursuit of their own desires and possessions that leave these people bankrupt, rather than finding contentment in the basic needs that God has given them. It is the pursuit of these things which cause them to place the importance of money above what God has provided and will provide. To take care of their needs means they need to get as much money as they can, so that they can be self-sufficient. It is exactly why Jesus says later on that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven.   

Application: This thorny soil represents unbelievers as well. This is a description of those who have understood the gospel but have not truly put their trust there. They are living as though they depend upon themselves. I pray the Spirit will be revealed to those who may be like this here this morning. 

• For the believer, there is hope in Christ, because we have been given treasure far more valuable in Him than the world has to offer. If you are here and struggling with the cares of this world and the pursuit of money. Whether it’s where you’re going to get your next meal or if you are going to be able to pay the rent this month, bring these things before the Lord. Trust that God will take care of these things.

Matthew 6:25-33, “25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

He who has ears, let him hear.

Transition: So far, we have seen in Jesus’ parable, the response of one group of people (unbelievers) represented by three soils (the path, rocky ground, thorny soil) when the Word (the seed) is planted. Yet it was for the purpose of this parable that His disciples would understand who they were in Him. Thus, we move to the final soil. To those who can truly hear this message, this is how the Lord will use you. This final soil represents true faith, that is steadfast, and dependent upon Christ until the end, which is evident by bearing fruit.

• Our rest in Christ. (v.23)

Explanation: As the Sower throws out seeds to be planted, some finally land in good soil. And God purposes these people to receive God’s Word by faith and bear fruit of varying degrees.

Good Soil (v.23)

Matthew 13:23, “23 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.”

The final soil here represents those that have been cultivated by God to receive His Word. This cultivation is only made possible through regeneration. It is then that we respond by faith, which is a free gift given only by God. If you are here this morning and you identify with Christ as your Lord and Savior, this good soil represents how God has prepared you to receive His Word.

• We must first remember that it was never through our own efforts that we came to Christ. For those that are now in Christ, our previous state was such that our hearts were rock hard like the path. We were unwilling to hear the truth and rejected Christ because of our sinful state. We sinned and rebelled, committing treason against a perfect and righteous God. We actively participated with Satan in revolution against God. Our previous state before Christ was destitute. We deserved the punishment of Hell, but God did something that none of us could truly understand, far before we even started sinning. 
• God made a choice.

Ephesians 1:3-6, “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”

• Because of the glorious and sovereign work of election, we have been chosen to receive the gospel. We have been chosen to believe in the sufficiency and potency of Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. We have been chosen as sons and daughters of God. God’s love for us is that He died for us. He not only died, but rose again, giving His children new life in Him. The mark of that reality is that there is fruit. It is solely the work of Christ on our hearts to bring us to God to experience true spiritual blessings. His payment on a cross has brought forgiveness for our filthy sin. When someone shared the good news with us, it was the Holy Spirit that brought regeneration. It was at that moment that we were justified, deemed righteous by a Holy God. It wasn’t a righteousness we earned though. This is indeed the imputed righteousness of Christ which has brought us to good standing with our Lord. We have been set apart and made Holy, and it is the work of the Spirit which gives us spiritual blessings in Christ in our unity with Him. All of this was evidence of good soil that was cultivated by God.  
• It was His sovereign choice for us to be able to hear the gospel at all. This is a profound and joyous truth that I don’t even think we can grasp the fullness of.  

This does not mean that we have it all together. Not all plants produce the same amount of fruit, yet they still produce fruit. In my backyard by my garage, I have two separate cherry tomato plants growing fairly close to one another. Both are healthy plants, but one is outgrowing the other at a rapid rate. These seeds were neither sown on a hard path, on top of rocky ground, overgrown with thorns and thistles, but on good soil. This is a demonstration that this parable isn’t teaching that more faith will produce more fruit. It is that every seed that is planted in good soil will produce fruit. There is evidence of genuine faith that took root in the believer’s life. In some cases, a believer may produce fruit of a hundred-fold. In others it is sixty-fold, and some yet, thirty-fold. Now, what does this hundred-fold, sixty-fold, and thirty-fold mean? 

• Jesus is simply explaining that each seed that is planted in good soil varies in its production. He was not giving a specific number that would relate to a farmer’s crop production. A thirty-fold crop yield would have been a large amount for a farmer at that time. Jesus is simply giving an exaggeration of fruit-bearing that shows the difference for each seed in good soil. Simply put, some seeds yield some fruit, other seeds even more fruit, and some seeds much more fruit. All results are a good harvest.

Illustration: The same is true for a maple tree. As a kid, do you remember being mesmerized by those helicopter seeds that would fall from the maple tree? I would always try to catch them. After catching them, I would throw them in the air to catch them again. Those things would be everywhere, flying in all directions. What happens when those helicopter seeds fall onto good soil? The seed is germinated, then over time we get another maple tree. Trust me, I have seen many of these seeds trying to grow more maples in my backyard. Those helicopter seeds are the product of a healthy tree looking to expand. To sow more seeds. But not every seed falls onto good soil. For some of those seeds, they fall onto the path, some onto the rocky ground, some onto thorny soil, and some on good soil. Each believer will sow seeds that vary in their landing onto good soil.

• It is such for the believer. The Word of God was planted in your heart by someone faithfully following the Great Commission. They shared the good news of the gospel in your life and you believed. As that seed springs up and takes root, you grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. God so changes you that all you want to do is live for Him. Your desires will change. Your purpose in life will shift. It doesn’t guarantee that your life will improve, but the old you will be dead and gone. God has accomplished the work through regeneration by the preaching of His Word. You are justified and as you are sanctified, you’ll want to grow in holiness and share the good news with others. It is there that the fruit is evident. What do people see when they look at your life? Are you salt and light in a darkened world? Are you sharing the gospel with unbelievers? With your family? Are you sowing seeds with God’s Word?
•  What I am not saying is that you need to have a large ministry following, or some podcast that attracts thousands of followers. Bearing fruit is found in the mundane of everyday living. This process can be strenuous, painful, and it requires a lot of patience and prayer. We must all be conscience as well that God has given each of us different responsibilities and roles to play. For some of us, the Lord may be directing you to share the gospel with your co-worker. They may respond or they may not. For others, it may mean to disciple your children to know who Jesus Christ is. You may never see that fruit for another 30 years. For some, like Pastor Kevin, Pastor Carlos, and myself, we get the privilege to share God’s Word with you every Sunday. Some are going to hear it and understand and some won’t. For some, God may ask you to be obedient to sow God’s Word until one soul is saved. God may ask you to pray for that individual for 45 years, before the seeds of truth take root.
• My hope is that you would believe and trust that God is at work within you regardless of the visible fruit you see. We may never really see all the ways God is at work through our testimonies and lives. Let us not lose heart and let all our motivations and purposes be directed by the truth of God’s Word through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 6:9, “9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Conclusion

Clarification: Finally, my brothers and sisters, may we find our rest in Christ. This parable is not a prescription for us to try really hard to win souls for Christ, or by our own good works grow in holiness. This parable from Christ is a promise for believers to know that through the implanted Word, believers will grow in their intimacy with the Lord. They will push forward by the strength and power of our mighty God. For those who are in Christ, the Lord will keep them until glory and beyond. They will produce fruit, because God had chosen them in Christ and adopted them as children. If that is you, take heart. Don’t be afraid of the attacks of the enemy. Come to Christ where there is true hope and life in Him. Where there is no condemnation. Where there is rest.

Final Application: Let us then, with our eyes fixed on Jesus, find our joy and affection in Him. Have assurance that His death on a cross was enough to forgive us of our trespasses. May we be confident that this bloody atonement for our sins has cleansed us fully from unrighteousness and sin. That we’d be satisfied in Him, willing to sow the seeds of repentance and truth in God’s Word with who God has given us to share this good news. That we would understand that we don’t have to earn the fruits of growth, but it is God who will produce that in our lives. Whenever the lies come from Satan, wherever there are storms in life, wherever there are idolatrous desires that creep in to drive us away from God, we can, with boldness, bring all of these things to the Throne room, where Christ has offered His blood once and for all. There will be perseverance for the Saints, because of His victory at Calvary.