John K. Jenkins Sr - The Causes of Spiritual Defeat

Luke chapter eight. I want to talk to you today about the causes of spiritual defeat. The causes of spiritual defeat. Say that. What causes it? We have a lot of people who are losing in life; they are missing out and not achieving the things that God desires for them to achieve. They are not becoming what God wants them to become, nor doing what it is God has called them to do. Jesus, in chapter 8 of Luke, begins reading at the fourth verse: «And when a great multitude had gathered, they came to Him from every city.» He spoke by a parable: «A sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. Some fell on rock, and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop a hundredfold.» When He had said these things, He cried, «He who has ears to hear, let him hear.» Verse 9: «Then His disciples asked Him, saying, 'What does this parable mean? '»

So, I want to talk about this passage, this section of Scripture, and I want to use, as I said, the topic today: the causes of spiritual defeat. I want to spend some time taking a look at this passage because it unveils to us a very significant and important spiritual truth. Jesus goes to talk to a crowd of people; in fact, it says in verse 4 that they had come from every city, and He wants to unveil to them some truth. He tells them this parable. He talks about a sower who sows seed, and some seed fell on waste; the wayside, some fell on rocky soil, and some fell on the rock. It gives different places where the seed landed, and some of the seeds didn’t produce. Of the four areas that He mentions, only one is productive and yields a crop. In fact, it produces and flourishes a hundredfold. It’s successful; it wins.

Now, the question is, I want to take a look at this passage. Amen, go ahead and preach, Pastor! It’s okay. I hear you all listening to me; you' re so quiet. This is a very pointed passage because it’s talking about why your life might not be successful. It’s talking about why you might not be accomplishing the things that, by now, you thought you would achieve. I want to spend some time discussing it. I’m not going to preach before you long-that’s all I needed to hear! I was just waiting for somebody to say it. I gave you time and space to say, «Take your time.» You shouldn’t have told me because I can take my time at this service.

I want to take a look at this because there are some common elements in this parable. There is a sower, there are seeds, and there is soil-those are the three elements. Now, some of the seeds prosper, but some do not. But look at what we have: it’s the same sower. You all have one sower sowing into your life. And why am I saying that? Because people, y’all listen! Look at the person sitting next to you; look at the people on both sides of you. Now listen to whatever I say to you-the same message from the same sower produces something different in your life. Why? Why could you have a dynamic sower sowing into your life? Somebody say «dynamic,» " anointed,» " gifted,» " called,» and all of that. You have it down there. We have the same sower! As a matter of fact, it’s the same seed. It’s not different seeds that are being sown; it’s the same seed.

So why is it that some seeds prosper and some seeds don 't? The difference is the soil. The soil determines the product and what happens with the seed. «Well, Pastor, what is the soil?» I’m glad you asked the question. The soil is the condition of your heart. Let me wait-let me let that sink in for a second. Look at your neighbor and say, «It’s your heart that makes the difference.» Let me try that again. Just look at your neighbor and say, «It’s your heart.» Look on the other side and tell them, «It’s your heart.»

I learned that some of y’all know I’m a pilot. I learned how to fly and took flying lessons, and I learned something about flying. I learned that when you learn how to fly, there are certain things you have to check on the plane to ensure everything’s in order. You have to make sure you have a propeller; you gotta have wings, an engine, and some gas. If the plane has gas, the engine is rolling, the wings are in the proper configuration, and the propeller is spinning, the plane will fly every time. I’ve been flying for 20 years now. Go ahead, Pastor, with your bad self! Every time I have gotten on the runway with the propellers spinning, the engine rolling, the gas in the tank, and the wings in the proper configuration, the plane has taken off 100% of the time. What am I saying to you? I’m telling you that if you put the principles of God’s word into action in your life, you will produce something 100% of the time. How do you know that, Pastor? I know that because Jesus…