1. Rocky Soil: Can’t Grow Fruit On The Rocks
A Specific Request
Rocky Soil: Can’t Grow Fruit On The Rocks
Text: Matthew 13:18-21
Scripture Reading: I Pet. 1:6-9
By Nathan L Morrison
All Scripture given is from NASB unless otherwise stated
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2. Paul admonishes saints to “take heed lest you fall”
A Specific Request
Intro
I Cor. 10:12:
Paul admonishes saints to “take heed lest you fall”
Unfaithfulness has always been a problem for God’s
people:
Judas – desire for money motivated him to betray Christ (Mt. 26:14-16)
Demas – love of the world motivated him to go back into the world
(II Tim. 4:10)
Hymanaeus and Alexander – faith became shipwrecked (I Tim. 1:18-20)
Hymenaeus and Philetus – departed the faith for false doctrine (II Tim. 2:16-18)
Diotrephes – love of “self” motivated him to reject apostles’ teachings
(III Jn. 9)
Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks
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3. Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks
A Specific Request
Intro
Mt. 13:18-21
18. "Hear then the parable of the sower.
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 the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
20. "The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
21. yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.
Emphasis in Scripture mine!
Luke 8:13
13. "Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.
Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks
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4. What causes a Christian to become unfaithful?
A Specific Request
Intro
The problem is not:
Person never heard the word – Mt. 13:20: Heard it!
Refusal to receive the word – Mt. 13:20: Received it with joy!
What causes a Christian to become unfaithful?
Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks
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5. Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks
A Specific Request
Affliction (Trouble)
Mt. 13:21 (Mk. 4:17)
21. yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.
Affliction is the common lot of man – Job. 14:1-2
Family trouble
Health trouble
Economic trouble (financial, security, etc.)
Interpersonal relationships trouble
This is specific trouble: “because of the
word” (Mt. 13:21)
This affliction can take many forms, often from family troubles, interpersonal relationships, and in some cases can affect economic trouble (jobs)!
Emphasis in Scripture mine!
Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks
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6. Affliction (Trouble) Why would trouble cause one to forsake Christ?
A Specific Request
Affliction (Trouble)
Why would trouble cause one to forsake Christ?
Perhaps they feel as Christians they should be excused from trouble?
Mt. 10:16-23: Jesus never promised it would be easy
Grow weary from targeted trouble – II Tim. 3:12
May not understand the value of such trouble – Js. 1:2-4
Trouble exercises our faith and produces endurance
Trouble in of itself does not cause one to fall away, but
one’s reaction to it!
The “rocky” Christian has no firm root for whatever reason
The earthly consequences become more real or important to this individual than the eternal, long-term blessings (Neh. 2:18; 4:6, 8-15)
The one who falls away because of
affliction teaches us: you can’t grow
fruit on the rocks!
Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks
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7. Persecution “because of the word” is suffering for being a Christian
A Specific Request
Persecution
Mt. 13:21 (Mk. 4:17)
21. yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.
Persecution “because of the word” is
suffering for being a Christian
(I Pet. 4:12-16)
Emphasis in Scripture mine!
Forms of persecution (still around today):
Verbal abuse, intimidation – I Pet. 4:3-4
Physical abuse – Acts 5:40-42; 7:58
Death – Acts 7:58-60; 12:1-2
Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks
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8. Any value in persecution?
A Specific Request
Persecution
The early church was persecuted (hunted):
Apostles suffered – Acts 4-5
Church was scattered – Acts 8:1-4
Saints mercilessly hunted down – Acts 22:4-5; 26:9-11
Paul suffered – II Cor. 11:24-28
Any value in persecution?
I Peter 1:6-9
6. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
7. so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
8. and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9. obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks
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9. The one who falls away because of persecution teaches us: you can’t
A Specific Request
Persecution
Persecution in of itself can’t make one fall away, but one’s
reaction to it
Paul said he tried to force saints to blaspheme (Acts 26:11)
Roman persecutions tried to force saints to blaspheme and deny Christ
When faced with torture and death, many refused (Acts 26:10) that they may “obtain the salvation of their soul” (I Pet. 1:9)
The “rocky” Christian who has no firm root, will only look at the temporal consequences, and ignore the long-term blessings
The one who falls away because of
persecution teaches us: you can’t
grow fruit on the rocks!
Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks
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10. A Specific Request
Temptation
Luke 8:13
13. "Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.
Temptation doesn’t cause one to fall away, but giving
in to it can!
Mt. 13:21: Doesn’t mention temptation by name but says when affliction and persecution arise, the “rocky” Christian falls away
Js. 1:14-15: We sin when we give in to temptation
Emphasis in Scripture mine!
When we let “affliction or persecution” get to us so that
we give in to the temptation, we did so because we
desired something more!
Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks
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11. Temptation God enables us to resist temptation (I Cor. 10:13):
A Specific Request
Temptation
God enables us to resist temptation (I Cor. 10:13):
Resist temptation with knowledge
Know how it works – Js. 1:14-15: Avoid things that will arouse our lusts
In the case of persecution, remember it is only temporary (Rom. 8:18)
Resist temptation with determination
Determine to resist (Js. 4:7)
Daniel resisted with purpose (Dan. 1:8: “Made up his mind…”)
Resist temptation by dedication
Love righteousness and unrighteousness loses its appeal (Rom. 12:9)
Temptation when not resisted will turn
a heart from God!
Emphasis in Scripture mine!
The one who falls away from giving in
to temptation teaches us: you can’t
grow fruit on the rocks!
Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks
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12. Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks
A Specific Request
Conclusion
Affliction, Persecution, and Temptation are symptoms of
the greater problem
Mt. 13:21: “No firm root in himself”
You can’t grow grain on the rocks!
This person’s heart never became fertile soil
Lack of dedication caused weakness!
The solution is not to promise a removal of trouble, persecution or temptation
Troubles will come – II Cor. 1:3-5
Persecution is sure – II Tim. 3:12
Temptation is inevitable – Heb. 4:15-16
The solution is to work on the soil –
The grain must take hold in your heart
and grow!
Fruitfulness is equated with being the good soil! (Mt. 13:23; Mk. 4:20; Lk. 8:15)
Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks
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13. Conclusion The Fruit can’t grow on the rocks!
A Specific Request
Conclusion
The Fruit can’t grow on the rocks!
Mt. 13:21; Mk. 4:17; Lk. 8:13
Let your faith take firm root and stand firm!
(Eph. 6:10-13)
Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks
Prepared by Nathan L Morrison /

14. “What Must I Do To Be Saved?”
Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:17)
Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 8:24)
Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38)
Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10)
Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16)
Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10)
For The Erring Child:
Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9),
Pray (Acts 8:22)