Note: Thank you for praying with me yesterday. Let’s continue to pray for our nation. Satan is NOT going to tear us apart! Satan is not going to have this nation. Not going to happen!
This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”. We have been studying the parable of the sower for months. Before I move on to the next topic next week, I feel led to recap what we have learned from this powerful parable. This is recap #4.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. The grace of God does not exonerate you from your personal responsibility in your walk with Christ.
a) God’s grace is unmerited, unearned and in most cases, clearly undeserved.
b) The soil did nothing for the sower to freely provide the seed. The sower initiated the contact, He sought out the soil, and He provided the seed. This is a picture of how God pursues us by His amazing and unearned grace.
c) The grace of God provided the seed, but the grace of God did not dictate the results. The condition of the soil dictated the results. This is a critical point. The grace of God is made available to all men, but we still have a role in how we respond to God’s grace. The results we experience will be contingent upon how we respond.
d) Instead of allowing jealousy to get ahold of your heart when you see God bless others in a way you desire to be blessed, take self-inventory and consider your ways. In most cases you will realize that you have not appropriated God’s grace in a way that it would yield the results you are looking for. So instead of blaming God, you have to take responsibility for not cooperating with Him to the level where He can fully operate in your life.
2. God’s grace is always there, but the same cannot be said for your faith. The Word helps you live by faith.
a) God provides the grace (which comes unearned and undeserved), but you must provide the faith. Your faith taps into God’s grace. If you don’t provide the faith, then God’s grace will be available, but it won’t be working in your life. And it won’t be God’s fault.
b) The sower provided the seed, but the soil had to provide the conditions for the seed to cause growth. God is the sower, His Word is the seed, but your heart is the soil. God is doing His part. Are you doing yours?
c) The more Word you get down in your heart, the better positioned you will be to live by faith. And once you do, once you start living by faith, your faith will access God’s grace and you will experience God’s best.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus in 2016. You have been better to me than I deserve. Your amazing grace is always available for me. You made plans for me before the world began and Your grace is already there for me to walk in those plans. My success has already been mapped out. Everything I need has already been stored up by Your grace. Now You are looking for my faith. That’s why I fill my heart with Your Word. Your Word helps me to live by faith. I have faith that taps into Your grace so I can live the life You sent me to this planet to live. Your part is already done. Your grace is already there. I declare that my part will also be there. You have provided the grace. I WILL provide the faith… every day of my life! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
