This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”. We have been studying the parable of the sower for months. This weekend the Father gave me the ‘release’ to move on to our next topic. But before I do, I will spend a few days providing you a recap of what we have learned from this powerful parable.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. The power that lies within the Word of God will work for anyone who receives it, believes it and applies it.
2. The power that lies within the Word of God will attract opposition from the enemy. When the Word is sown in your heart, you should not be surprised when opposition comes because of the Word.
3. Understanding the Word of God is critical. You will never maximize what you do not understand. The good news is that the author of the book lives IN every Born-Again believer. So ask the author, the Holy Spirit, to explain His Word to you.
4. While the same Word is sown into many people, by the same God, the results will vary based upon the person who receives it. This is both a warning and a source of encouragement. It’s a warning to every believer to be good ground every time you hear the Word. And it’s a source of encouragement, because it means the condition of other’s hearts will not impact the harvest the Word produces in your life. The Word will only be limited or enabled by the condition of your own heart.
5. In a time when minds are constantly distracted, the focus you give the Word matters.
a) The youth today are accustomed to doing multiple things at once. They watch television, play a game on their tablet and text on their phone at the same time. It seems like it’s hard for them to slow down long enough to ONLY DO ONE THING or to give their ENTIRE FOCUS to one thing. But this is exactly what the Word of God requires. The distracted mind is likened to the unproductive soil in the parable of the sower.
b) You must develop the discipline required to give God and His Word your undivided attention. Divided attention is not the type of attention God is looking for. Find time… no make time to give God your attention. It’s much better to GIVE God your attention than for Him to have to GET it!
c) In this season you should rediscover the power of a focused mind and heart. If you do, you will live life with a greater level of clarity and the Word will work IN you, WITH you, FOR you and THROUGH you.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus in 2016. I thank You for taking the time to sow Your Word in my heart. I declare that the power within Your Word will be unleashed in my life, because I give You and Your Word the proper focus. I meditate and medicate on Your Word day and night. I allow Your Word to go DEEP into my life. As I do, I live life with divine clarity, focus, direction and purpose. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
