April Showers
One day as I was praying and meditating on God's word I was thinking about the parable where the sower went out to sow the word. This is the one found in Mark 4 where Jesus is talking about the word of God being sown in the hearts of men. He said if you understand this parable you will understand the Kingdom of God.
First, in this chapter, the Lord tells us how the word was sown which was;
By the wayside. Which in the greek means by a course of conduct, a way of thinking, a feeling, and/or a decision(s). Here, the Lord tells us the word will take no root because people are leaning on their own abilities, thinking, and ways, conduct, course, direction, etc. This is where Satan comes and takes the word away because the word is taken casually and for granted and is not taken outside of their own understanding and feelings. (v15)
Then the Lord tells us the word was also sown,
2. On stony ground. Which is a ground or heart full of rocks and hard places. These, He tells us, are places of offense where persecution and affliction from the enemy and circumstances have created these offenses. Here there is no root and no sprout can spring up. (v17) In Hebrews 3 the word of God tells us that hardness of heart is unbelief. Which means believing something else other than what the Lord has said. Israel in the wilderness allowed themselves to become hardened by their situation, persecutions, and afflictions. They never received the promise land because of that.
He stated the word was sown,
3. Among thorns where the word is choked and unfruitful in this heart. (v19) Here it is because the thorns, as Jesus said, are cares, worries, desire for other things rather than the word of God, and deceitfulness of riches. Here deceitfulness of riches can be clearly as the greek word states, "that with which one is enriched". People can be enriched with their own ideals, strengths, abilities to success and climbing the corporate ladder, as well as the things of pleasure that are filled with the temptations that sin has to offer. All these things are filled with the cares of the world, the deceit of the world, which all produce a growth from thorn seeds that create unfruitfulness and produce the double minded heart desiring God at one moment and other things at another.
And finally,
Jesus talked about the good ground where the word is "received" and produces fruit. (v20) You can think of ground as a foundation for building and constructing and as a place that is inhabited. You can also see ground is a place where it is generally tilled, yielding, and producing sustenance when planting seed is involved. Above the wrong things were being built on 'unfruitful' ground. Jesus promises in the verses to follow that there is a harvest of God's word in 'good' soil and a great building of His kingdom on this ground.
In verses 27-29, He makes it clear that when the seed is planted that the seed grows as you go about your daily business without your help or you knowing how. Then within time, you see, eat of, and experience the harvest and He produces in your life great things. Then He states in verses 30-32, that the seed of God's word and His kingdom's ways are likened to the smallest seed, a mustard seed, but, it grows to a mighty harvest and even others will benefit from it.
He made it clear in verses 21-22 that a candle or light cannot be hid and is not meant to be hidden. He said nothing can be hidden that will not come forth. A seed is planted in the ground but will burst forth like light through darkness and, His word will manifest the same. His word is a lamp unto our feet, a light unto our paths. (Ps 119:105)
Which brings me to April showers...
The term, "April showers bring May flowers" is one I'm sure you are familiar with. I had asked the Lord about the soil, the ground, and the heart, and how does ground become 'good' for that 30 fold, 60 fold, 100 fold harvest found in Mark 4? He said to me, it is through the 'rain', or as rain is, 'water'. Water softens ground and brings growth to seed.
Hebrews 6:7-8, "For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned."
Rain? Water? Throughout the word of God He refers to the Holy Spirit and His word as waters, rain, gushers, and blessing. He refers to rain in Proverbs 16:15 being His favor coming from the light, (word, glory, and character) of His countenance.
"In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain." Proverbs 16:15
Here we can see that the harvest of His word in our lives brings life and light. His glory and His blessing. Just as Jesus said in Mark 4 along with the parable of the sower, 'you can't hide the light or candle of God's word, which is His favor, presence, and personhood, under a bushel.'
So what's the key to being good soil and bringing your children into the position of the harvest of God's word in their lives?
1. Don't keep yourself or your children in a course of conduct or thinking that is contrary to God's word.
2. Don't get caught up in anger or offense at circumstances or people. Choose a positive outlook and forgiveness.
3. Don't let yourself or your children get caught up in what sin has to offer and follow the temptations of the world by offering them opportunities through the thorns of Godless ideals, self achievements without God's design, and empty, vain philosophies that cheat them and yourselves out of the rudiments of Christ and the blessings of God.
Most importantly,
4. 'Receive' God's word like the ground receives April showers. Be thirsty for it and embrace the rain... Looking to His ways and expecting your harvest for you and your children. You will find so richly, God's greatest and His increase in your lives. In this mighty harvest, it says in Isaiah 55, you will find more seed, that even you may spread around and sow into the lives of others.
God's richest,
Isaiah 55:9-11,
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."
First, in this chapter, the Lord tells us how the word was sown which was;
By the wayside. Which in the greek means by a course of conduct, a way of thinking, a feeling, and/or a decision(s). Here, the Lord tells us the word will take no root because people are leaning on their own abilities, thinking, and ways, conduct, course, direction, etc. This is where Satan comes and takes the word away because the word is taken casually and for granted and is not taken outside of their own understanding and feelings. (v15)
Then the Lord tells us the word was also sown,
2. On stony ground. Which is a ground or heart full of rocks and hard places. These, He tells us, are places of offense where persecution and affliction from the enemy and circumstances have created these offenses. Here there is no root and no sprout can spring up. (v17) In Hebrews 3 the word of God tells us that hardness of heart is unbelief. Which means believing something else other than what the Lord has said. Israel in the wilderness allowed themselves to become hardened by their situation, persecutions, and afflictions. They never received the promise land because of that.
He stated the word was sown,
3. Among thorns where the word is choked and unfruitful in this heart. (v19) Here it is because the thorns, as Jesus said, are cares, worries, desire for other things rather than the word of God, and deceitfulness of riches. Here deceitfulness of riches can be clearly as the greek word states, "that with which one is enriched". People can be enriched with their own ideals, strengths, abilities to success and climbing the corporate ladder, as well as the things of pleasure that are filled with the temptations that sin has to offer. All these things are filled with the cares of the world, the deceit of the world, which all produce a growth from thorn seeds that create unfruitfulness and produce the double minded heart desiring God at one moment and other things at another.
And finally,
Jesus talked about the good ground where the word is "received" and produces fruit. (v20) You can think of ground as a foundation for building and constructing and as a place that is inhabited. You can also see ground is a place where it is generally tilled, yielding, and producing sustenance when planting seed is involved. Above the wrong things were being built on 'unfruitful' ground. Jesus promises in the verses to follow that there is a harvest of God's word in 'good' soil and a great building of His kingdom on this ground.
In verses 27-29, He makes it clear that when the seed is planted that the seed grows as you go about your daily business without your help or you knowing how. Then within time, you see, eat of, and experience the harvest and He produces in your life great things. Then He states in verses 30-32, that the seed of God's word and His kingdom's ways are likened to the smallest seed, a mustard seed, but, it grows to a mighty harvest and even others will benefit from it.
He made it clear in verses 21-22 that a candle or light cannot be hid and is not meant to be hidden. He said nothing can be hidden that will not come forth. A seed is planted in the ground but will burst forth like light through darkness and, His word will manifest the same. His word is a lamp unto our feet, a light unto our paths. (Ps 119:105)
Which brings me to April showers...
The term, "April showers bring May flowers" is one I'm sure you are familiar with. I had asked the Lord about the soil, the ground, and the heart, and how does ground become 'good' for that 30 fold, 60 fold, 100 fold harvest found in Mark 4? He said to me, it is through the 'rain', or as rain is, 'water'. Water softens ground and brings growth to seed.
Hebrews 6:7-8, "For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned."
Rain? Water? Throughout the word of God He refers to the Holy Spirit and His word as waters, rain, gushers, and blessing. He refers to rain in Proverbs 16:15 being His favor coming from the light, (word, glory, and character) of His countenance.
"In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain." Proverbs 16:15
Here we can see that the harvest of His word in our lives brings life and light. His glory and His blessing. Just as Jesus said in Mark 4 along with the parable of the sower, 'you can't hide the light or candle of God's word, which is His favor, presence, and personhood, under a bushel.'
So what's the key to being good soil and bringing your children into the position of the harvest of God's word in their lives?
1. Don't keep yourself or your children in a course of conduct or thinking that is contrary to God's word.
2. Don't get caught up in anger or offense at circumstances or people. Choose a positive outlook and forgiveness.
3. Don't let yourself or your children get caught up in what sin has to offer and follow the temptations of the world by offering them opportunities through the thorns of Godless ideals, self achievements without God's design, and empty, vain philosophies that cheat them and yourselves out of the rudiments of Christ and the blessings of God.
Most importantly,
4. 'Receive' God's word like the ground receives April showers. Be thirsty for it and embrace the rain... Looking to His ways and expecting your harvest for you and your children. You will find so richly, God's greatest and His increase in your lives. In this mighty harvest, it says in Isaiah 55, you will find more seed, that even you may spread around and sow into the lives of others.
God's richest,
Isaiah 55:9-11,
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."
posted by Pastor Kim @ 1:12 AM
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