God makes sure that the Word of God is made available to a multitude of people. He seeks to have disciples in all the nations. "God likes diversity," said Bishop Derek Grier in his 1/13/2013 mid-morning sermon to Grace Church in Dumfries, Virginia. The parable of the sower reveals four sets of people who respond to the Word of God.
1) "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." -- Luke 8:5 New King James Version Bible
2) "Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture." -- Luke 8:6 New King James Version Bible
3) "And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it." -- Luke 8:7 New King James Version Bible
4) "But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop of a hundredfold." -- Luke 8:8 New King James Version Bible
In the first group, they hear the Word of God, but the devil comes and takes the Word out of their hearts. The first and second group seem to believe in God intellectually, but don't actually have God living on the inside. Some of the ways the devil takes the Word out of the heart are through distraction, confusion and subversion.
In the second group, the people receive the Word of God joyfully, but they too don't seem to receive the Spirit of God and grow into spiritual maturity. John 7:38 New Living Translation Bible says, "Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare "Rivers of living water will flow from his heart."" Living water wears down the rocky places of temptation. Lacking the Spirit of God, they lack the power, ability, efficiency and might to stand up to temptation. So when the temptation comes, their faith goes.
In the third group, they have the Spirit of God, but they remain undeveloped spiritually, and do not become deeply rooted in the Word of God. They allow the cares, riches and pleasures of life to block spiritual maturity. Many Christians have traded status-symbol cars, houses and spouses for a close and committed relationship with God whom they ardently chase.
It is easy to be distracted and absorbed in the work of managing a household, pursuing wealth and/or enjoying entertainment. Becoming deeply rooted in the Word of God takes a certain amount of time -- reading the Bible, studying it, applying it daily and then perfecting the application.
If we are not in the Word regularly, we cannot produce fruit. Our human nature is not loving, kind, gentle, peaceful, faithful, patient, self-controlled, joyful or good in ways that please God.
In the fourth group, these people have the Spirit of God and cooperate with God to grow in their relationship with God. As a consequence they bear much fruit over a period of time and in a positive manner.
While God is always stimulating us to connect with Him, the fourth group understands that God likes to be chased. We should not take our relationship with God for granted. Hebrews 11:6 New Living Translation Bible says, "And 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."
God's Word in our life is meant to be active, living. The Bible is not just for reading pleasure. God wants us to first see ourselves. and others clearly and then to cooperate with God to be transformed into the image of Christ. Hebrews 4:12 New Living Translation Bible says, "For the Word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." Once we see, then secondly we can cooperate with God to an ever-increasingly accurate reflection of Jesus Christ..
God is most concerned with our inner life. When we first enter relationship with Him our Spirit is reborn, but our mind has an unchanged part. The Word of God is designed to magnify the mind of Christ in us and minimize the mind of human nature. The more the mind of Christ rules, the more the fruit of the Spirit will show through us.
Pray that many will receive a relationship with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, and that those who already have a relationship with God will not be deceived by Satan become lazy and lose interest in their First Love. Pastor and author Francis Chan says in his book multiply disciples making disciples, "Following Jesus is not about diligently keeping a set of rules or conjuring up the moral fortitude to lead good lives. It's about loving God and enjoying Him."
Please share a message about how you love God and people and enjoy them.
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