A Fruitful Life - Part 5
We have made it to part 5 in our series and the Lord is revealing so many good things to us concerning the condition of the human heart and how it affects the level of harvest we receive from the seed of the Word of God.
Because of the world that we live in and the nature of our flesh we must constantly remind ourselves that God is never the problem. His seed is perfect and He is perfect. Specifically I will say it this way, God is flawless! He is perfect in motivation and action at all times. Completely just! The parable of the sower is a revelation from Jesus concerning the heart of humanity. The parable of the sower gives us detailed lessons concerning spiritual laws that govern the production of God's seed (word) in our lives. Jesus is revealing how we can be the good ground if we choose to be. This parable reveals that every person who is willing can have a harvest of God's promises in their lives 30, 60, and 100 fold. That truth alone should be motivation enough for us to pursue this truth.
Last week we looked at the "wayside ground," and this week we looked into the "stony ground." Let's look at Matthew 13:20, 21.
Scripture: 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.
Here we have an account of the stony ground. This ground represents a person who initially is excited and filled with Joy at the preaching of the Word of God. So, this person is not turned off to what they hear, the seed of God's Word does not sit on the surface of their heart it finds acceptance in the soil of their heart and begins to put down roots. The enemy in this case has to employ a different tactic when it comes to removing this seed because he couldn't snatch it off the surface of their heart. Here we see that the enemy uses two tactics, tribulation and persecution to get the seed of God's Word removed from the person. Let's look at this verse in the amplified version to get even more clarity.
Matt 13:20 As for what was sown on thin (rocky) soil, this is he who hears the Word and at once welcomes and accepts it with joy; 21 Yet it has no real root in him, but is temporary (inconstant, lasts but a little while); and when affliction or trouble or persecution comes on account of the Word, at once he is caused to stumble [he is repelled and begins to distrust and desert Him Whom he ought to trust and obey] and he falls away. AMP
Notice what happens through tribulation and persecution, "at once he is caused to stumble [he is repelled and begins to distrust and desert Him Whom he ought to trust and obey]." The enemy uses tribulation and persecution to cause the believer to stumble. Let's give definition to these three words.
Tribulation (2347 thlipsis) – This word implies pressure, anguish, and trouble. Thayer’s says, a pressing together.
Persecution (1357 diogmos) – This word has to do with being mistreated. Someone innocent being abused. Being innocent does not stop persecution for the Words sake.
Stumble (4624 skandalizo) – We get the word scandalize from this word, or scandal. This word means to entrap, trip up, stumble, or offend. To cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one who they ought to trust and obey. To cause to feel displeasure at a thing or to make to feel indignant. It means to put a snare or stumbling block in the way.
You can see from these definitions that the enemy is after the seed of the Word of God in our lives. He uses tribulation and persecution to attempt to get us offended at God. He is attempting to get us to release our trust and expectation concerning God's faithfulness and promises. If we will continue and endure in faith we will pass the test of tribulation and persecution and see the results of God's Word in our lives.
Let's choose to be good ground and not stony ground. Here are some good questions to ask ourselves as we are fellowshipping with the Lord in our devotion time.
Where is the enemy attempting to us tribulation in my life?
Where is the enemy attempting to us persecution in my life?
Am I getting offended at God because of these tactics of the enemy?
Because of the world that we live in and the nature of our flesh we must constantly remind ourselves that God is never the problem. His seed is perfect and He is perfect. Specifically I will say it this way, God is flawless! He is perfect in motivation and action at all times. Completely just! The parable of the sower is a revelation from Jesus concerning the heart of humanity. The parable of the sower gives us detailed lessons concerning spiritual laws that govern the production of God's seed (word) in our lives. Jesus is revealing how we can be the good ground if we choose to be. This parable reveals that every person who is willing can have a harvest of God's promises in their lives 30, 60, and 100 fold. That truth alone should be motivation enough for us to pursue this truth.
Last week we looked at the "wayside ground," and this week we looked into the "stony ground." Let's look at Matthew 13:20, 21.
Scripture: 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.
Here we have an account of the stony ground. This ground represents a person who initially is excited and filled with Joy at the preaching of the Word of God. So, this person is not turned off to what they hear, the seed of God's Word does not sit on the surface of their heart it finds acceptance in the soil of their heart and begins to put down roots. The enemy in this case has to employ a different tactic when it comes to removing this seed because he couldn't snatch it off the surface of their heart. Here we see that the enemy uses two tactics, tribulation and persecution to get the seed of God's Word removed from the person. Let's look at this verse in the amplified version to get even more clarity.
Matt 13:20 As for what was sown on thin (rocky) soil, this is he who hears the Word and at once welcomes and accepts it with joy; 21 Yet it has no real root in him, but is temporary (inconstant, lasts but a little while); and when affliction or trouble or persecution comes on account of the Word, at once he is caused to stumble [he is repelled and begins to distrust and desert Him Whom he ought to trust and obey] and he falls away. AMP
Notice what happens through tribulation and persecution, "at once he is caused to stumble [he is repelled and begins to distrust and desert Him Whom he ought to trust and obey]." The enemy uses tribulation and persecution to cause the believer to stumble. Let's give definition to these three words.
Tribulation (2347 thlipsis) – This word implies pressure, anguish, and trouble. Thayer’s says, a pressing together.
Persecution (1357 diogmos) – This word has to do with being mistreated. Someone innocent being abused. Being innocent does not stop persecution for the Words sake.
Stumble (4624 skandalizo) – We get the word scandalize from this word, or scandal. This word means to entrap, trip up, stumble, or offend. To cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one who they ought to trust and obey. To cause to feel displeasure at a thing or to make to feel indignant. It means to put a snare or stumbling block in the way.
You can see from these definitions that the enemy is after the seed of the Word of God in our lives. He uses tribulation and persecution to attempt to get us offended at God. He is attempting to get us to release our trust and expectation concerning God's faithfulness and promises. If we will continue and endure in faith we will pass the test of tribulation and persecution and see the results of God's Word in our lives.
Let's choose to be good ground and not stony ground. Here are some good questions to ask ourselves as we are fellowshipping with the Lord in our devotion time.
Where is the enemy attempting to us tribulation in my life?
Where is the enemy attempting to us persecution in my life?
Am I getting offended at God because of these tactics of the enemy?
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