This morning, we continue our series on “The Parables of Jesus.” We will seek to glean “Pearls from the Parables.”
Before we get to the parable, let’s look at a scripture we have been looking at all year. This is something I believe the Lord wants us to meditate on.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us.
We have been looking at “The Mother of All Parables.” Let’s get back to it today. 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 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.
Yesterday, we started looking at the thorny ground. This ground is full of thorny weeds. What are the weeds? Jesus explains. This ground is likened to people who “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.” My question for you this morning is, “What is your life full of?“
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Jesus explained how the seed of the Word of God cannot produce a harvest in the lives of people like the thorny ground. The Word has the potential to produce, but after the Word is sown in their hearts, these people allow their lives to get “full of other things.” Don’t make this mistake. I know we are all busy, but don’t allow your life to be so “full of others things” that you don’t even give God’s Word a chance (time and space) to work.
2. When your life is full of the cares of this world, the love of money, and your own selfish pursuits, you can go to church and hear the Word, but you are not giving the Word a chance to work. You are too busy living your own life and pursuing your own desires to make God a priority. As a result, your competing priorities trump God’s Word and His purpose for your life.
3. Jesus teaches us that the Word of God is like a seed, while the cares of this world, the love of money, and selfish desires are like weeds. He warns us that if we allow these weeds to grow in our lives, they can choke out the potential of the Word of God in our hearts, preventing it from producing the life-changing results that it was meant to bring. It is important to cultivate our hearts and minds with Godly priorities and to remove anything that might hinder the growth of God’s Word in our lives. Only then can we experience the fullness of the power locked up inside the Word.
4. If we want to see the Word of God bear fruit in our lives, we must give it our undivided attention. When we allow ourselves to become preoccupied with other things, we inhibit the potential of the Word to grow and flourish within us. It’s important to prioritize our focus and make time for the Word every day to experience its transformative power. Said another way, if you don’t focus on the Word God has sown in your heart, your focus on other things will cause that Word (although it is spirit and life) to be ineffective.
5. What is your life full of? If it is full of God’s Word and His love, then you will become the man/woman God called you to be. But if it is full of the cares of this world, the love of money, and your own selfish desires, you will arrive at the end of your life someday and realize you have nothing but regret.
6. The Word of God has the power to transform our lives, but we must prioritize it above all else. Just as a farmer carefully tends to his crops, we must cultivate the Word in our hearts and guard against the thorns of worldly distractions. Picture a farmer out in his fields, pulling out weeds. That’s what you must do with the distractions in your heart.
7. It’s essential to recognize the influence of the cares of this world, the love of money, and selfish desires in our lives. These thorny weeds can suffocate our spiritual growth and hinder the manifestation of God’s promises. We must uproot them by consciously aligning our thoughts, actions, and priorities with God’s Word.
8. To ensure the Word takes root and bears fruit, we must guard our hearts diligently (Prov 4:23). We must be intentional about protecting our minds from negative influences, fear, doubt, and unbelief. By surrounding ourselves with faith-filled environments, positive relationships, and empowering teachings, we create fertile ground for the Word to flourish.
9. Remember that the condition of our hearts determines the reception and productivity of the Word. We must continually examine ourselves, seeking to cultivate a heart of humility, receptivity, and faith. A humble heart acknowledges our dependence on God and acknowledges His Word as the ultimate authority in our lives.
10. The harvest we experience is directly connected to the quality of the soil in our hearts. The Word can produce a harvest of blessings, success, and spiritual growth, but we must prioritize it above all else. The more we align ourselves with God’s truth, the more we see His power and favor manifest in our lives, relationships, and endeavors.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me! I boldly declare:
My life is not consumed by worldly distractions. I am completely focused on You, Your Word, and Your plans for me!
I refuse to allow the cares of this world, the love of money, and selfish desires to hinder the growth of Your Word within me.
I prioritize Your Word above all else, giving it the time and space to work in my life.
I recognize that Your Word is a seed, and it has the potential to change me from the inside out. I will not allow worldly cares to grow like weeds in my heart, choking out the Word!
I cultivate my heart and mind with Godly priorities, removing anything that hinders the growth of Your Word.
I give Your Word my undivided attention, allowing it to flourish within me and produce fruit from me!
My life is full of Your Word and Your love, guiding me to become the person You have called me to be.
Just as a farmer tends to his crops, I diligently cultivate Your Word in my heart and guard against worldly distractions.
I prioritize Your Word daily, and it produces a bountiful harvest of blessings, success, and spiritual growth in every area of my life.
This is how I know, GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
