Hi Everyone
We are continuing to have a lot of fun and insight in this one parable. Last Friday, we looked at Soil #2, stony ground.
And share this as you are blessed!
Blessings!
Chris
Sower and the Soils Part 3
This message was brought to you by God in His love.
He wants you to know this not because He wants you to behave better, but because He wants you to have His very best, to truly taste and see that He is good.
Matthew 13:5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. (NKJV)
Matthew 13:20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. (NKJV)
Mark 4:5 Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. (NKJV)
Mark 4:16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. (NKJV)
Luke 8:6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. (NKJV)
Luke 8:13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. (NKJV)
Good Vibrations…
Matthew 13:20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
Mark 4:16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
These hear the Word and are driven by the rush of emotions. They heard a good message and did not disagree with it. They were actually EXCITED by it!
Emotions are great, but we cannot live on emotions. If we come to church to be entertained, to hear a great message each Sunday without doing much else, we will be like these.
Emotions ARE from the Lord…
Psalm 31:23 Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, And fully repays the proud person. (NKJV)
Psalm 103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! (NKJV)
Psalm 103:2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (NKJV)
David experienced plenty of emotions, but they were based on his deep meditation of the heart of God, the Word of God (Ps 1).
…Emotionalism is not
Emotionalism results from a failure to mull deeply in the Word, but driven instead by the rush of emotions.
Matthew 4:4a But He answered and said,… “It is written…
We depend on what is written. Emotions can and should follow the Word (love letter) but must be based on the truth of the text (find someone else’s love letter, or crying because you received a loved letter but never reading it).
Emotions are the servant not the master.
Rooted
Matthew 13:20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while.
Mark 4:16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time.
The Word has to grow roots into our lives. It takes time to grow these roots. How fast it grows roots depends on how much it is on our minds.
A deep root system anchors the plant and makes it able to live through tough conditions. Tall trees are able to last a long time in dry conditions because of their deep roots.
Plants with deep roots are also not easily shaken. Often, the roots of weeds are deeper than the foliage on top suggests!
Luke 8:6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. (NKJV)
The seed must be kept in the soil and nurtured, watered. (lack moisture)
How are We Rooted?
Ephesians 3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (NKJV)
We have to be rooted and grounded in love – in His love for us. All that He did for us, He did because He loves us. Every promise of God, every spiritual gift, every blessing was all given by God because He loves us.
We can actually believe in the Word of God for a moment because it sounded spiritual, religious, profound, moral or even something awesome (creation), but until we realise that it was all done because He loves us, we will not be rooted.
David said it a little differently:
Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. (NKJV)
We will have the moisture (tree planted by rivers of water) when we STAY in the Word and meditate on it. We will bring forth fruit IN SEASON (it takes time). We won’t wither away. We will prosper in all we do.
Built on the Word is built on the rock.
Persecution because of the Word
Matthew 13:20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. (NKJV)
Mark 4:16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. (NKJV)
The persecution is not because we profess to be Christian. It is often because we profess belief in something in God’s Word.
2 Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (NKJV)
Examples of Persecution Because of the Word
- People in the world pressuring us to conform (social acceptance of “science”, relative moral standards etc.)
- Pressure from certain Christians who don’t believe parts of the Word or have explanations/theology that negate these
The belief comes before the receiving. Many don’t believe and don't receive and they use this to justify their doctrines on how certain parts of the Word (healings/signs and wonders/spiritual gifts) are not for today. Jesus said if we believe, we will receive. If we doubt, we do without.
In a Time of Temptation…
Luke 8:13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. (NKJV)
In a time of temptation – when there is testing, things don’t seem to happen the way the Word says, we start to discount what it says, believing instead in what we know. We abandon the ship of faith, jumping into the murky waters of unbelief. But James said:
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (NKJV)
We need to stand in patience. What are we standing in faith for today? If we are not standing in faith for anything, might I suggest that we are not growing?
The Take Away
- Go beyond the excitement of the message – get into it on your own and mull on it
- Remember always that God manifested in His Word is for your growth and goodness – God gave you His Word that you might be fruitful. Be rooted in His love!
- Remember that persecution will come when you choose to hang on to what the Word says. You may never be persecuted for coming to church but once you start to take God on His Word, watch out.
- The more we know of God’s love for us, the less these persecutions will bother us in our walk.
- Stand in faith for something new all the time – build upon your victories. Trials will come but wait on the Lord, hang on to His Word.
- And remember – Jesus loves you.
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