The Hill Church · Pastor Beau
Silo Soil
Matthew 13:3-9 · Jeremiah 17:7-8 · How to grow when your environment says otherwise
The parable of the soils
"A farmer went out to plant some seeds… Some fell on a footpath… shallow soil… among thorns… Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!"Matthew 13:3-9 NLT

Some say it's the parable of the Farmer - we've gotta sow the Word.
Some say the parable of the Seeds - He put in you what He wants out.
Some say it's the parable of the Soils - that's a fact.

"You're the soil. You get to decide which soil. I'm the 1 in 4."

The 4 soils
Soil 1
The Footpath
Hard - the word never takes root. The enemy takes it away.
Soil 2
Shallow Rock
Quick start, no depth. Can't sustain under pressure.
Soil 3
Among Thorns
Choked out by worry, wealth, and distraction.
Soil 4
Fertile Soil
30x, 60x, 100x harvest. This is the one. Be this one.
The tree in the silo
Sometimes the best soil is in the silo

Pastor Beau and his 14-year-old son came across a tree growing up through an old grain silo. He told his son: "Help me write a thought on what it takes to succeed when you're dealing with obvious limitations."

The tree didn't do anything to deserve its placement. But it was still a seed that God had a plan for. So it had to work harder than the other trees. And it did.

It shaped the tree - but it didn't contain it.

Jeremiah's promise
"Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit."Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT
Transplanted
"They didn't start there, but they will finish there."
Vs. 7 - "Blessed is he who trusts." They made the Lord their hope and confidence. Sometimes we say we trust in the Lord - but at the end of the day, our hope and confidence is in what we are capable of doing. The problem with that: Ephesians 3:20 says He can do exceedingly and abundantly more than we could want or imagine. When He is our confidence, we are beyond capable. No excuses.
How to grow in a silo - 3 choices
1
Choice 1
Work Harder
▾
◆The tree didn't deserve its placement, but it's still a seed God had a plan for - so it has to work harder than the other trees.
◆It's not fair. It doesn't have to be fair to be possible.
"To give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning… that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified."Isaiah 61:3 ESV
What oak roots teach us
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They tie into water lines
It can be dry for other trees - but Jeremiah said you'd thrive when others throw in the towel. How? Find the water. Reach for living water. Still bearing fruit in drought.
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They break foundations and basement walls
You're going to hit a wall or a lid at some point. Don't give up. Keep pushing, pressing, grinding - eventually if you faint not, you will find breakthrough.
?
They grow into septic tanks
Sometimes life stinks. Sometimes it's messy. Choose to let it be fertilizer on your dreams. What some said should have killed you will be the thing that brings growth in all seasons - hope, joy, fruit.
What matters most is the depth of soil. To grow higher, you've got to dig deeper.
2
Choice 2
Take Advantage of Every Opportunity
▾
◆This tree doesn't get sunlight all day. So it can't miss opportunities.
◆Neither can you. You don't get to be "too tired" or "too sad." You've got to decide: if you get 2 hours of sunlight, you're going to grow.
"Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do."Ephesians 5:16-17 NLT
◆Don't be idle - be intentional.
◆Culture is going against us. Make the most of every moment.
◆I have all the time in the world - but none to waste.
Notice: no limbs under the top. The tree is shaped by its environment but not limited to it. We are shaped by our environment too - but we are not limited to it.

"Forgetting what's behind, I press on." - Philippians 3:13

You can't go forward constantly looking back. Your call should be bigger than your but.
3
Choice 3
Have Faith
▾
"It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him."Hebrews 11:6 NLT
◆Faith is heaven's currency. If you're going to live up to heaven's capabilities, it will require faith. It's beyond you - but it's so worth it.
◆The thing that used to hold you can free you - because you're not responsible for outcomes. You're only responsible for obedience. Outcomes are on Him.
"Could I trust God to heal my ankle but not to provide?" - Either He is or He isn't. Faith doesn't compartmentalize. He's Lord over all of it.
◆This tree has to work hard and take advantage of every opportunity - but at the end of the day, it has to put its hope and confidence in God.
◆There were 4 soils. 1 produced. You can grow in any environment. You just have to choose to be the right soil.
The bottom line - 3 choices
Dig Deep
Work harder than your environment says you have to. Roots go down before branches go up.
Seize It
Take advantage of every opportunity. Don't waste your sunlight.
Trust Him
Have faith that God will do it. You're responsible for obedience - outcomes are on Him.

"It may shape you - but it doesn't have to contain you."

You can grow in any environment. You just have to choose to be the right soil.
Reflect - which soil am I?
Personal response
0 of 4 complete
Which soil best describes where I am right now?
What is my "silo" right now?
What environment or limitation is God asking me to grow through - not around?
Where do I need to dig deeper roots?
Water (living water), breakthrough (keep pressing), or fertilizer (choosing growth from the mess)?
What is one thing I will trust God with this week that I've been carrying myself?
You're responsible for obedience. Outcomes are on Him.