Mark 4:20
But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the Word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.
Jesus is taking time to teach His disciples and a large crowd this very important parable. It appears simple enough, fueled by action words that should prompt them to also be about the Fathers business as Jesus was;however,the disciples didn't appear to get what He was teaching them. Once the disciples were alone with Jesus, they confess that somehow they missed the lesson He was trying to teach, and needed the Master Teacher to break it down. Jesus then then tells them that good ground are those that hear, accept, and bear fruit even up to a hundredfold.
Hear the Word
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Hearing the Word can not only increase our faith, sensitizes us to the Spirit of God, but challenges each of us to live by His word. Paul told young Timothy to be ready in and out of season because there would come a time when people would wander from the truth and not want to hear sound doctrine but fables because it suited them and made them feel good. I think this pretty much sums up what is going on in not all, but a lot of churches around the world. I refer to as "Mary Poppins Gospel" where instead of preaching what thus said the Lord, preachers are preaching what increases the flow of the almighty dollar through the church because prosperity ministry is more appealing than presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice. A living sacrifice sounds painful, almost unappealing, but Paul said it is our reasonable service unto God. In His Word He tells us that His Word is sharper than any two-edged sword and it penetrates dividing soul and spirit; joints and marrow. While it sometimes uncomfortable to "hear the word", the pain it cost us now, will save our lives later.
Accept It
Many believers live in a gray area where the Word of God is concerned. There is a constant: "It was written so long ago. It's not relevant to what's happening in today's society." And don't even say something that doesn't line up with their theology, they will whack you across the head with the infamous "We shouldn't judge!" Nothing can straighten someone out quicker and better than what is written between the pages of Genesis and Revelation. It may take some of us a little bit longer to "get the message", but once there has been conviction, a contrite spirit and repentant heart, God work through us to complete His good work. What is written in Leviticus is just as applicable to today's current events. Jesus said before one jot or tittle from His Words fall, Heaven and earth would pass away first. That's how serious He took and accepted what the father said, even down to the smallest grammatical error (a jot or tittle), and so should we.
Bear It
Jesus came that we could have and live life even more abundantly. Instead of eternal death, He offers each of us eternal life. Once we accept His gracious gift and get plugged into the vine, we can begin to bear fruit. What does this mean? We can effectively witness, share our testimonies, while spreading the good news thus increasing the size of the Kingdom. I believe he broke it down in the increments of thirtyfold, sixty, and a hundredfold, because sometimes people will not want to hear the Gospel. Each of us are ambassadors for Christ and should try our best to remain ready to point someone to the Way. While they may not be ready now, that doesn't mean never; we should never give up because God didn't give up on us. Through our tenacity and prayers there will one day be a hundredfold harvest for the Kingdom.
Matthew 5:17-18
John 10:10
Romans 10:17
Romans 12:1
2 Timothy 4
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Not Playing the Shame Game
Psalm 25:20 Keep my soul and deliver me; let me not be ashamed for I put my trust in You.
I have always had a strong dislike for the news, but now more than ever it is just down-right depressing! On the national and local fronts there is trouble everywhere we turn; crime is at an all-time high and constantly rising; the economy appears to stay down; but even with such dire circumstances we must continue to trust in God and not put our hopes in what the newscaster is telling us. It seems like an impossible feat, and the fleeting thoughts begin to race across our minds: "Where is God? Does He know what I'm going through? Does He even care?" We can be confident that the answer is a resounding YES to all those doubts the enemy tries to plant to chip away at our faith. We serve an omnipresent (everywhere at the same time) omnipotent (all powerful, omniscient (all knowing) God. It is completely safe to relax because He has each and everyone of us on His GPS! We can rejoice that while others have forgotten, will forget, and do cast us away, He will not. His Word serves as a guarantee that He is continually reminded about us. Isn't it encouraging to know that no matter what our situation may be, how many times we feel we have let Heaven down, and "think" we have failed, we have nothing to be ashamed of because we aren't trusting in our own strength and human weaknesses, but a living God who see, knows and understands all.
Isaiah 49:15-16
I have always had a strong dislike for the news, but now more than ever it is just down-right depressing! On the national and local fronts there is trouble everywhere we turn; crime is at an all-time high and constantly rising; the economy appears to stay down; but even with such dire circumstances we must continue to trust in God and not put our hopes in what the newscaster is telling us. It seems like an impossible feat, and the fleeting thoughts begin to race across our minds: "Where is God? Does He know what I'm going through? Does He even care?" We can be confident that the answer is a resounding YES to all those doubts the enemy tries to plant to chip away at our faith. We serve an omnipresent (everywhere at the same time) omnipotent (all powerful, omniscient (all knowing) God. It is completely safe to relax because He has each and everyone of us on His GPS! We can rejoice that while others have forgotten, will forget, and do cast us away, He will not. His Word serves as a guarantee that He is continually reminded about us. Isn't it encouraging to know that no matter what our situation may be, how many times we feel we have let Heaven down, and "think" we have failed, we have nothing to be ashamed of because we aren't trusting in our own strength and human weaknesses, but a living God who see, knows and understands all.
Isaiah 49:15-16
Thursday, February 18, 2010
For My Good
Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted. That I may learn your statutes.
I HAD to give up FB for Lent because of the great sacrifice that I knew it would mean to me personally. These next forty days will challenge me in ways I would've never expected if I had not given up FB. Already I can sense and feel a move of God behind the scene as I commit to drawing closer, digger deeper and growing stronger.I am ashamed to admit how many hours I spend on FB; time that could be spent learning a new hobby, reading, exercising, or even more importantly reading more of the Word to grow. Afterall, spiritual growth is what we desire, is it not? Sometimes our growth comes from a broken place-the Bible says many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord will deliver them out of them all. We are compared to sheep and Jesus depicted as our Good Shepherd,because of our constant wandering off, getting attacked by the enemy, we are in a constant need to be delivered,guided, restored, protected and provided for.
Many times when afflictions and troubles arise, it is for our own good. I KNOW it doesn't feel like it, but it REALLY is. It is in those times that we can find peace, renewal, restoration, and joy unspeakable. Those moments that seem like an eternity are actually getting us ready to pass our test and share our testimony with someone who needs to hear it. Once we make it over, we look back and wonder just how did we make it over? Those moments teach us about the ways of God and we can begin to relax and realize, it was only for our good.
Psalm 34:19
I HAD to give up FB for Lent because of the great sacrifice that I knew it would mean to me personally. These next forty days will challenge me in ways I would've never expected if I had not given up FB. Already I can sense and feel a move of God behind the scene as I commit to drawing closer, digger deeper and growing stronger.I am ashamed to admit how many hours I spend on FB; time that could be spent learning a new hobby, reading, exercising, or even more importantly reading more of the Word to grow. Afterall, spiritual growth is what we desire, is it not? Sometimes our growth comes from a broken place-the Bible says many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord will deliver them out of them all. We are compared to sheep and Jesus depicted as our Good Shepherd,because of our constant wandering off, getting attacked by the enemy, we are in a constant need to be delivered,guided, restored, protected and provided for.
Many times when afflictions and troubles arise, it is for our own good. I KNOW it doesn't feel like it, but it REALLY is. It is in those times that we can find peace, renewal, restoration, and joy unspeakable. Those moments that seem like an eternity are actually getting us ready to pass our test and share our testimony with someone who needs to hear it. Once we make it over, we look back and wonder just how did we make it over? Those moments teach us about the ways of God and we can begin to relax and realize, it was only for our good.
Psalm 34:19
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