This morning we continue our series entitled “Leveling Up with the Word!” We have been looking at the parable of the sower. Let’s get back to it today.
Setting the stage:
Jesus said:
(Mark 4:13-20 ERV)
“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 for 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.”
We have been looking at “the cares of this world.” Today we shift into the statement, “the love of money.”
So what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. God’s Word must be “settled” in your heart.
— In this parable, one of the underlying messages Jesus teaches us is about receiving God’s Word and then allowing the Word to be so settled in our hearts that it is free to grow and produce fruit.
— If you question God and His Word, then your heart is unsettled concerning what He said. The unsettled condition of your heart is NOT conducive to the Word working. The fact that you don’t totally believe and receive what God said opens your heart to the weeds that will choke out the Word.
— God’s Word is settled in heaven, but if it is going to produce in your life, it must be settled in your heart.
— For the Word to work in your life, your heart needs to be at rest. When you enter into God’s rest concerning any area of your life, you show God that you are in faith and are not concerned. You trust God, and you know He will make His Word good, so you don’t take on any care concerning the situation. You know the issue is settled in heaven, and it is only a matter of time before it is settled on the earth. But you also know that in order for you to have the faith that endures long enough to see what God said, the issue needs to be settled in your heart.
— One of the issues that compete with the Word, especially as it relates to being settled, is the issue of money. Jesus made it clear that “the love the money” competes with the Word. If your heart is focused on money, it is because you are not at rest in your heart concerning God and His commitment to providing for you.
2. The revelation of God being your source must be a truth that is “settled” in your heart.
— If you want to maximize your purpose and potential, you must get to the point where you enter God’s rest where your money is concerned.
— The love of money and the tireless pursuit of it has ruined lives, destroyed marriages, and derailed countless people from their destiny.
— If your heart is open to take on care, fear, doubt, or unbelief concerning money, then you can rest assured that anxiety will creep into your heart, and it will grow like a wild weed. This weed will choke out the power of God’s Word and keep it from working in your life.
— When you are “in faith” concerning your finances, and you are convinced that God is your source, you have supernatural peace, you have entered God’s rest, and the money issue is settled in your heart.
— When you know God is your source, you believe He has already prepared everything you will ever need to accomplish His purpose for your life. You are fully persuaded that everything you need has already been provided, and it is only a matter of time before you lay hold of it.
— God called you to His divine purpose. He did this from the foundations of the world. Along with His purpose, God already stored up everything you will ever need to get it done. When you are pursuing money instead of pursuing God, it is because you don’t believe what I just said. You don’t trust God where your finances are concerned.
— You will never enter into rest where your money is concerned until you believe what God believes about you and your provision.
— If God gave you the vision, it is proof that the provision is already stored up for you. As you walk and live by faith, being led by the impulses of the Holy Spirit, God will lead you to lay hold of what you need when you need it.
— When you know God is your source, and you believe He already prepared everything you will need for your success, you are not concerned about money. God has millions of ways of getting you millions of dollars. Your job is to keep your focus, trust, and confidence in Him.
We will discuss this further next week. But for today, I will close with this statement from Matthew 6:33. Don’t pursue money; pursue God. If you do, God will see to it that everything you need pursues you! This is a much better way to live!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of LEVELING UP for me! I LEVEL UP by bringing my life into focus and by making You my #1 priority. I pursue You every day of my life. I choose to pursue You instead of pursuing things, and when I pursue You over things, things wind up pursuing me. You are my source. You are my supply. I never have a fear of running out. I have faith in running over! Everything I need has already been prepared for me. You bless me abundantly. You give me all things richly to enjoy. I declare: money is not an issue for me. I enter into Your rest where my money is concerned. You bless me to give, save and spend. You give me bread for eating and seed for sowing. You minister to me the seed You want me to sow, and You then multiply it as I sow it! Understanding this, I know I will never run out! GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
