Luke 8:4-12

So this morning, I want to turn to the book of Luke, but I want to look at chapter 8. I want to talk about Satan in the Word of God from this passage of scripture. I think it would be useful to us in our witnessing. So let’s look at chapter 8. Take a different perspective than we looked at from the last time we, well, probably quite a while ago, maybe over a week. year ago we looked at this passage but look at chapter 8 and I want to read verses 4 to 12 Luke chapter 8 verses 4 to 12 and when much people were gathered together were come to him out of every city spake by a parable the sewer went out to sow his seed and as he sowed some fell by the wayside and it was trodden down and the fowls of the air devired it. Some fell upon a rock, and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. Another fell on good ground and sprang up and bare fruit a hundredfold, and when he had said these things, he cried. he that hath ears to hear let him hear and his disciples ask him saying what might this parable be and he said unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God but to others in parables that they seeing might not see and hearing they might not understand now the the parable is this the seed is the word of God those by the wayside are they that hear then come with the devil and takeeth away the word out of their hearts lest they should believe and be saved 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 in a time of temptation fall away and that which fell among thorns are they which when they have heard go forth and are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life and bring no fruit to perfection. 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. Now my focus this morning, in particular, is going to be on verses 11 and 12. The parable, the seed is the word, those by the wayside are they that hear, and then comeeth the devil, take it away the word out of their hearts, this they should believe and be saved. May God bless to it. May God bless to it. is sacred and holy word this morning. Long ago there was a farmer in Scotland who had the custom leaving a patch of ground uncultivated each year. He said his purpose was to leave this patch of ground to the evil forces so that they would not hurt his crops in the other fields. However, these uncultivated plots of ground became very. beds of thorns and briars and weeds. And these things became a menace to the cultivated ground. For the wind would spread the noxious seeds over the other fields, choking out and interfering with the cultivation of all his crops. In our text is found the first parable that our Lord spoke, the parable of the sower, well-known. And we know that Christ often took well-known subjects, everyday life subjects, to use them to teach spiritual truth. So he tells a story here about a farmer. And everyone could relate to this. And there’s no question about its actual meaning for Jesus provides that interpretation for us as we saw. The parable is close. closely related to Christ preaching the message of the gospel, the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. As you look at verse one of this chapter tells us, it came to pass afterward that he went throughout every city and village preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And so that’s what he’s doing. He’s preaching the gospel. And so that’s his message. And much people. people gathered together to hear the Lord declare God’s word, as verse 4 indicates to us. Here were people who are at least willing to hear the gospel. That’s not always the case. Through the interplay of the sower, the seed, and the soils, Christ shows you the different ways in which people respond to the Word of God. The sower here is the one who brings the divine message. The seed is the Word of God, the message itself. And the soils are those who hear the message of the Gospel. Now I want to focus, as I said on verses 11, 12, and speak on Satan in the Word of God. For the work of Satan explains, I think, the vast, overgrowth of thorns and briars and weeds in our society today. For where the seed of the Word of God does not take root, you are surely going to have all sorts of corruption, wickedness, and evil thriving, and contaminating all society. Just like the Scottish farmer fields that were overgrown with the Scottish farmer. the weeds and so forth. Now, let me say this. You are made aware of Satan’s person here. Christ talks about the devil in association with the preaching of the gospel. It is a great encouragement to any child of God, not just the minister, but to have someone listen to the gospel. However, the question which always arises, what will be the result? How will this person respond to the Word of God? In pondering this question, you have to take into consideration the condition of the soil or the person’s heart. And we might be talking to a neighbor or friend, a relative, an acquaintance. And you have to realize that many are unprepared for the goal. for the gospel message. This is especially true, this degenerate age in which you and I live, far from being a field which is plowed and furrowed and ready to receive the seed, we find that most people are like the well-worn path that’s packed down tight, the wayside that’s mentioned in verse 12. Sometimes this is the first time they’ve ever even heard the gospel. The true gospel. There’s plenty of false gospels out there, but the true gospel of scripture and what Jesus taught in his apostles. For the church of this generation has really cast aside the glad tidings of the gospel. Ignorance abounds even in Christian circles. The seed has now been sung. You have done what is necessary from a human perspective for a spiritual crop. But Satan, we see, stands in opposition to all your efforts. And this is what Jesus points out here. If the unprepared condition of people’s souls wasn’t bad enough, you’re told here of a strong opposition of a powerful, unseeing being called the devil. The devil, we know, was once a high angelic creature who rebelled against the Creator and was cast out of heaven. The devil, the serpent, the evil one, or Satan, is now the arch enemy of God and man. In the beginning, in the Garden of Eden, Satan was busily engaged in undermining the Word of God. He hasn’t changed since. He has caused the fall of man, the human race, into sin. His efforts are what led to man’s alienation from God and spiritual blindness. He is doomed to the everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels. but Satan intends to drag along with him every human being he possibly can. Therefore, he is diametrically opposed with the salvation of souls. As verse 12 indicates he does not want someone to believe and be saved. He is present with his destructive powers wherever the word of God is being sown, as verse 11 indicates. He’s always out of sight. We have to realize that Satan is not a run around with red suit with horns and a pitchfork. He is a spiritual being invisible to the naked eye who secretly goes about his work. But Jesus wants us to be aware of this work that he’s doing and be on guard against it. The devil does more harm if he works totally unaware of people’s knowledge. Yes, Christ reminds you of his presence after you’ve spoken the word of God to others, because he doesn’t want you to realize that there’s no opposition there. He is busily engaged in opposing you. So you must not forget about him. You must not undermine, underestimate, I should say, his work. You must not be ignorant of the methods that he will use to frustrate your witness to others. So you’re made aware of Satan’s person here. Secondly, you’re told of Satan’s punctuality. Then cometh the devil. Now picture the scene. Christ is laying out for us here. It’s customary for wheat and barley and oats and rye and so forth to be sewn by hand. You see the farmer out there with a bag of seed on his side. He reaches in, grabs a handful of it, and scatters it over the field. It’s been plowed. It’s unavoidable because of the lightness of the seed and even a slight breeze. that a portion of the seed happens to fall by the wayside. Now, the wayside is where the human footsteps harden this part of the earth or ground, and it’s impossible for the seed to immediately enter into the soil because the ground is hard. And this was exposed area where the seed could easily be seen. Perhaps if it rained, and somewhat softened the soil, as the seed lay there, it might take root. However, what always happens when a farmer is sowing his seed? Well, from out of the trees come the fowls of the air down and they snatch up the seed. They eat it. And it’s easily picked up. It’s easy pickings when it’s on the wayside. Soon they are pouncing on the seed in the devier, according to verse five. Now the easiest seed, of course, is what I said is on the wayside of the pathway. And of course the birds will set to work on the whole field to gobble up the freshly sewn seeds. That’s a common sight. And this is why, you know, farmers often construct a scarecrow out of, you know, straw and clothes and put it on a pole. And they try to scare the birds away. But in this manner, Christ here portrays the work of Satan and his angels. They are like these fowls of the air that swoop in and snatch away the seed. After all, Satan is the prince of the power of the air. The plurality of the word fow here indicates he has many helpers, his demonic forces that help him in this. then shows the devil’s speed of action whenever the seed is sown. He rushes to the scene, like a fire engine to a fire. Mark’s gospel puts it even this way. Satan cometh immediately, Mark 415. Whoever else may linger and pause Satan never does. The devil knows full well that the word of God is dangerous. to any souls that are in his kingdom of darkness. So he rushes immediately to try to prevent them from hearing and believing the gospel. For the word of God is quick. It’s lively and powerful, sharper than any two-edgedged sword, piercing even the dividing asunder of soul and spirit of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, Hebrews 412. This person’s heart that’s on the wayside has not been plowed up. It’s not been prepared for the seed. And so it is easy pickings. Now let me throw a practical thought in here as we look at this. Oh, that you and I were half as quick and active in the service of the Lord as Satan is here in our text. Sadly, most Christians are quick to complain about spiritual responsibilities and yet slow on actually putting their hand to the plow to churn up the soil to churn up the soil of a person’s heart. Why is it that so many people fit the description of the wayside, the unplowed area? Maybe because we have not been witnessing as fully or completely as we have, we should be. You need to be ready for what is good. like Paul, who approached each person, whether they be Jew or Gentile or weak or whatever the case may be, in this manner. He said, I am made all things to all men that I might by all means save some. This I do for the gospel’s sake, 1 Corinthians chapter 9. He does what he can to reach each soul that he meets. Satan doesn’t hesitate. act. And yet we are not ready and prepared to do so. But the scripture says in 1. Peter 315, be ready. Be ready to give an answer to everyone that asketh you of the reason of the hope that is in you. There’s a famous saying, seize the day. And the point is, take advantage of the opportunities you have at the moment. to be diligent, to be about your Heavenly Father’s business. So you’re told of Satan’s punctuality. Then cometh the devil. Thirdly, this morning, you’re told of Satan’s power. He taketh away the word out of their hearts. He taketh away the word out of their hearts. During the American Revolution, A vital message reached Colonel Raw, the commander of the British troops at Trent, New Jersey. However, he was distracted by playing a card game, and the courier brought the urgent message and gave it to the colonel, but the colonel being distracted just put it in his pocket. Now, that message was a message about General George Washington crossing the Delaware with his troops. Raw, however, simply missed it. He was in this trivial card game. So they didn’t bother to pay attention to the message, and when he finally did look at it, it was too late for him to do anything. Eventually, we find he realized the seriousness of the situation, but he couldn’t rally his troops in time to meet the coming attack. The card game distraction became his undoing. He wasn’t prepared, and he and many of his men were killed. The rest of the regiment was captured. Nobert Quail put it this way. Only a few minutes’ delay cost him his life, his honor, and the liberty of his soldiers. Now, this story, I think, illustrates well, what happens to lost souls when you speak the gospel to them, when you witness. You’re the courier. You’re bringing the vital. message. The lost soul that you’re speaking to is like Colonel Raul. And Satan is the one providing the distraction, the card game, so to speak. And the result is the destruction of the distracted person. Satan is no fool. He is aware of the potential of the seed of the gospel lying there, even by the wayside. Perhaps someone might water the, hard ground. It might rain where the seed lies. So, on Satan’s intention is to devire that seed as soon as possible. The heart, where the word of God has been sown, here should be looked upon as the mind. The heart in Scripture is not the physical muscle, but the inner part of man, his mind, his will, his affections, and so forth. Obviously, Satan realizes the mind is what thinks, what ponderes matters. So your mind is where your memory is. Your thinking takes place. And a lapse of time might provide the opportunity for a person to think over what you’ve said, to ponder it. Careful thought, further deliberation on the gospel message might bring conviction. Might lead to repentance. So Satan is angels work directly on the thoughts of men to distract you. Keep your mind off of the message. So with great skill, Satan uses common incidents of life to distract you. His plan is to get you off the glad tidings of the kingdom of God that you just heard. Now, a farmer is unconcerns. about the type of bird that devires the seat. It doesn’t really matter if it’s a crow or robin, a sparrow, or a cardinal, whatever. It doesn’t matter. The result is the same. So the type of distraction is irrelevant. Whatever will work best is what Satan will use. Perhaps you speak to someone about the gospel at work, at the gym, at school, at the shopping, center of the family gathering or something. And you see this person pondering what you’ve said. And then suddenly someone comes up and interrupt your conversation. This person begins like, hey, John, did you see the Steeler game last night? And off the conversation goes to sports and away from the gospel message. And that one comes up and begins telling a funny joke. Or perhaps a friend wants to introduce this person to someone else. pulling away from your conversation. Or guy’s attention is drawn away by a pretty girl walking by. Or maybe this person’s child begins crying or making a fuss. There’s all kinds of distractions. Perhaps this person, you’ve witnessed to, goes home with the gospel on his or her mind, but the cares of the world distract him from the message. Their mind is maybe shifted to the bills that lie. they’re unpaid, or the problem of on a job, or the roast that got burnt, ruining dinner, or a family member has been a car accident, or the company’s coming for dinner, the toilet overflows, or the refrigerator quits working, or something happens, get your mind and attention off the gospel message. Now, even in church, Satan. is actively working. It’s an interesting thing. If you look at Luke chapter 4, verses 31 to 34, it’s an interesting thing we read here. We read about Christ here, and he came down to Copernium, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the Sabbath days, and they were astonished at his doctrine for the word, his word was with power. and in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean devil and cried out with a loud voice saying let us alone what have we to do with thee thou Jesus of Nazareth art thou come to destroy us I know thee who thou art the holy one of God here is the worship service and in the worship service there’s someone who’s demon possessed Satan is at work Satan never fails to visit a place of worship where the word of God is being preached. Oh, he might let some pulpits alone because they’re not preaching the word of God. But you put an earnest man in there preaching the word of God and Satan cometh immediately and tries to undermine the men. message. It’s interesting. Sometimes the minister has some kind of unusual mannerism, maybe droops a shoulder, and that becomes a person’s focus. Or maybe there’s some aspect of his speech or appearance. Maybe his tie doesn’t go with his suit. And Satan’s bird devires the seed. Because you’re focused on this rather than on the message. You’re in church hearing the word of God, but your mind is distracted at times. Thinking about the big game this week or the problem at home or a sick child or rushing to get dinner done when you get home or something of this nature. Sometimes the devil fascinate your mind with all kinds of creative ideas while you’re at church. Reherent thoughts fill your mind. Well, God is so unfair. Or no one believes that. Or this is foolish. sometimes the devil uses a very direct approach to turn your heart from the truth. The false prophet of Lymus on the island of Crete in Acts chapter 13, the devil filled his heart. The devil caused him to oppose Paul in his preaching of the gospel. Regardless of how the devil does it, his work is so effectual at times, that people are unmoved by the message and it’s soon forgotten. And this is why you are battling against a difficult thing when you witness because Satan is busily engaged in preventing a person from coming to know the Lord. Now you begin to see why it takes the power of God to regenerate a soul. There’s just so much against that person coming to know the Lord. the Lord. So you’re told of Satan’s power and you are told of Satan’s purpose. The devil taketh away the word out of their hearts lest they should believe and be saved. Now the devil is not omniscient. He does not know who the elect are. He cannot be sure who God is going to save. But he knows something. In many cases, better than theologians and many ministers. He knows how people are saved. He knows that. He fears above all else you might believe and be saved. He knows the substance of the gospel lies in those few words. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. So the devil doesn’t fear good works. He doesn’t fear the doctrine of justification by works. He does fear a message of the doctrine of justification by grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ. If he can lead a person to good works for acceptance with God, his work is done. That’s perfect for him. He doesn’t care if you go to worship services where salvation by works is taught. He can go there all your life and he’s happy with that. What he dreads is believing because God has coupled believing with being saved. Every hearer should know this biblical fact. When you witness to someone, make clear the uselessness of good works to be saved and emphasize that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. For this is the point which Satan desires the most to confuse people about. He’ll attempt to soothe your conscience by you focusing upon earning acceptance with God. I once witnessed to a woman who was in tears upon hearing the truth of her condition before God and the damnation of hellfire that was coming. And she said to me, if what you said is true, I’m going to hell. She understood the danger, waiting for her in her present state. And I pressed home the message of salvation by faith in the person and work of Christ. I carefully explained the idea of Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross for sinners. And I thought when she left, God was dealing with her soul through that message. However, a few days later, I saw her again. She said she wanted to thank me. Our conversation caused her to return back to the Catholic Church, which she had neglected for so long. And she seemed content now that all was well. I continued to speak to her, emphasizing the Roman Catholic Church, on what it taught concerning salvation was by works, but she was blinded to it. She’s still attending the dark bastion of error and darkness and enslavement, and Satan’s happy. She can go there all her life, as long as she doesn’t repent and believe in Jesus Christ. Well, the farmer in Scotland, who left a patch of ground uncultivated, ending up ruining all his crops, because all the thorns and the thistles and the briars spread their seeds elsewhere. Satan has effectively done damage in our society, just as the farmer has done to his fields. He’s contaminated all society with his evil. Realize how Satan works. Realize how he wants to thwart the goths. possible. Keep people blind. And so when we witness, keep in mind this and pray that God would work and open people’s hearts to the truth. Let’s close for the word of prayer.