This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”. Last week I introduced you to the parable of the sower. Let’s get back to it today. Jesus said:
“The farmer is like someone who plants God’s teaching in people. Sometimes the teaching falls on the path. That is like some people who hear the teaching of God. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the teaching that was planted in them.
Other people are like the seed planted on rocky ground. They hear the teaching, and they quickly and gladly accept it. But they don’t allow it to go deep into their lives. They keep it only a short time. As soon as trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching they accepted, they give up.
Others are like the seed planted among the thorny weeds. They hear the teaching, but their lives become full of other things: the worries of this life, the love of money, and everything else they want. This keeps the teaching from growing, and it does not produce a crop in their lives.
And others are like the seed planted on the good ground. They hear the teaching and accept it. Then they grow and produce a good crop—sometimes 30 times more, sometimes 60 times more, and sometimes 100 times more.” (Mark 4:13-20 ERV)
We’ve been discussing the soil along the path. We already learned that when God’s Word is sown into the hearts of these type of people, satan comes immediately and snatches away the Word away. Why? Because their understanding is unfruitful. A lack of understanding makes you susceptible to losing the Word you received. We have been looking at this passage for days, so it should be clear to you by now that understanding is absolutely critical.
Yesterday we looked at people who see, but fail to actually see, and who hear, but fail to understand. This morning, as I prayed over what to teach today, I was led to discuss the role of the Holy Spirit in this understanding. In 1 Corinthians 2 Paul explained part of the role of the Holy Spirit. He said, “The prophet said, “No one has ever seen, no one has ever heard, no one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” But God has shown us these things through the Spirit. The Spirit knows all things. The Spirit even knows the deep secrets of God… No one knows God’s thoughts except God’s Spirit.. We received God’s Spirit so that we can know all that God has given us.” (1 Cor 2:9-12)
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- While the Word of God is extremely powerful, God’s Word will not benefit you if you do not understand it. Further, any Word you fail to understand can be snatched away from you by the enemy. He wants to get the Word from you before you attempt to understand it.
- This series is about divine focus. If you focus while you are receiving the Word, and you give your full attention to God and what He is saying, you are in a better position to receive spiritual understanding.
- If you are Born-Again the author of God’s book lives IN you. He is more than capable of giving you divine understanding of the Word.
- God gave you His Spirit so that you would know, comprehend, and spiritually understand the things He has freely given you; this includes an understanding of the scriptures.
- When you are in-tune with the Holy Spirit and you open up your Bible, it is like the words jump off the pages and get down in your heart. The Holy Spirit can give you insight, clarity and understanding that far exceeds human ability. This is not reading the Word of God with your head. This is receiving from God’s Word in your heart.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus in 2016 by giving careful attention to Your Word and by developing my relationship with Your Spirit. You made plans for me before the world began. My success is tied to those plans. You left me 66 books full of divine wisdom. My success is also tied to Your Word. In and of myself I could not access neither Your plans nor Your wisdom. I can’t peer into the annals of time with human ability. Your ways are above my ways, so I cannot understand Your Word with just my intellect. I need supernatural intervention and You provided me just that with Your Spirit. Your Spirit reveals to me the secret things concerning my life. Your Spirit reveals things that would otherwise remain concealed to me. Your Spirit illuminates the scriptures in a way that only He, as the author, can. Thank You Father for giving me Your Spirit. I am led of Your Spirit every day, and as I am, You change the world through me! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
