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.
For days, we have been dealing with “the worries of this life” or “the cares of this world.” Yesterday I shared a message with you that highlighted Mark 4:26–29, where we learned that the Word sown in our hearts will work night and day, whether we are up or sleeping. The Word is always working to produce a harvest, whether we understand how it is working or not, just as long as we don’t actively work against it. When we worry, doubt God, or take on the cares of this world, we are actively working against the Word. Our cares become weeds that grow alongside the seed of the Word, and these weeds run the risk of choking out the Word. This is why entering into God’s rest is so important. Let’s close out the week with a message focused on God’s rest.
So what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. The writer of Hebrews told us to labor to enter into God’s rest (Heb 4:11). He was teaching us that we should work hard at NOT working. The point is not to take on the pressure to perform or produce God’s will. This is not easy because this world is programmed to emphasize human ability and effort. In this world, the “go-getters” will tell you that if you want something, YOU have to go out there and get it. You have to go make it happen. Under this scenario, the spotlight is on YOU. In Christ, the spotlight is on God. In Christ, you must learn NOT to do something just because you can. You must reach the point where you are resting in God and only doing what He leads you to do.
2. Resting in God is not about inactivity. Resting in God is not about doing nothing. Resting in God does not mean you are not working. Resting in God means you are working while you are resting. You are working while you are trusting. You are not working FOR grace; you are working BY grace. Living this way- doing only as you are led by the Holy Spirit- you can work harder and get more done because it is not you doing it. It is the Father (living in you) who will give you the words and perform the work (see John 14:10, 12).
3. The highest form of faith is REST (see Heb 4:10). Truly living by faith means you have accepted God’s Word, you are resting in what He promised, and you are ONLY doing what He leads you to do. When you are at this point, the Word can work in your life unhindered. This is the goal. We want our hearts to be in a place where the Word is free to produce a harvest because YOU have not produced any weeds (the cares of this world, the love of money, and selfish desires) to compete with the Word.
4. Don’t allow weeds to get in the way of the Word. Jesus called the cares of this world, the love of money, and the lust for selfish desires weeds that can choke out the Word. You don’t have to allow weeds to grow. You can rest in God. Jesus said, “Do not allow your heart to be troubled” (John 14:1). Just like you can ALLOW your heart to be troubled, you can ALLOW your heart to rest. Faith is a choice, just like fear is a choice. You can choose to worry, or you can choose to rest. God will allow whatever you allow, so choose wisely (see John 14:27).
5. Entering into God’s rest will keep you from getting frustrated. Frustration is “a feeling of dissatisfaction, often accompanied by anxiety or depression, resulting from unfulfilled needs or unresolved problems.” Will there be times when you feel like you have unfulfilled needs or unresolved problems? Of course, there will be, but that’s where divine rest comes in. While you are waiting on God to do what He said He would do in your life, you must resist the urge to get frustrated.
The Father wants you to trust Him SO much that you can truly rest, even while you are waiting on the manifestation of His promises in your life. Because if you don’t enter God’s divine rest (and allow His rest to enter into you), satan can creep in and get you to lose heart, to relax the grip you have on your faith, to get you frustrated. If this happens, you will grow weeds in your heart and give on the harvest of the Word. In other words, YOU WILL QUIT ON GOD IF YOU FAIL TO REST! God did not quit on you. You quit on HIM!
6. Resting in God’s rest means finding peace in the midst of uncertainty. It’s actually being certain of things you cannot see. It’s being convinced of things you cannot prove. The farmer cannot see the seed working. He cannot prove to anyone what is happening below the surface. But he has to rest and trust the seed is working, even when he cannot see it working. Resting in God means that the UNSEEN realm is more real to you, that you are not moved by what you see or what you fail to see!
7. Resting in God’s rest requires patience and endurance. It is understanding that His timing is perfect and trusting that He will fulfill His promises in due time. It is choosing to wait with expectation and confidence, knowing that He is faithful to His Word.
8. Resting in God’s rest opens the door to supernatural favor and blessings. Why? Because when you are resting in God’s promises, you are showing God how much you trust Him. That positions you to be completely open to God’s grace. Once you are there, God will freely lead you to divine opportunities, connections, and favor. It happens because you are no longer in the way. You are not producing weeds to hinder God, so God is free to do what He destined to do in, with, and through your life! At that point, God will open doors that no man can shut.
9. Resting in God’s rest leads to a life of peace, joy, and fulfillment. Once you are free from the cares of this world, the love of money, and the lust for selfish desires, you will experience the abundant life Jesus promised, where your soul finds true rest and satisfaction in Him. You will live without care, stress-free, with a grateful heart, and be OPEN to everything God planned for you. I call this #TheGraceLife!
That’s enough for today.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me! I boldly declare:
I will work hard at not working, for the pressure to perform or produce Your will does not rest on my shoulders.
I shift the spotlight from me to You, Father, and I will only do what You lead me to do.
I will not allow weeds, such as worries, the love of money, or selfish desires, to hinder the growth of Your Word in my heart. I choose to rest in You!
I will not allow my heart to be troubled. I choose faith over fear. I choose rest over worry!
Entering into Your divine rest will keep me from frustration.
I find peace in the midst of uncertainty. I am certain of the unseen realm and convinced of what I cannot prove (in the natural). I trust that Your Word is working, even when I cannot see it, and I will not be moved by what I see or fail to see.
Resting in Your promises opens the door to supernatural favor. While I am resting, You raise up people to use their power, ability, influence, and money, to help me in ways I cannot help myself.
You open doors for me that no man can close, and I walk through those doors by Your grace and for Your glory!
I experience a life of peace, joy, and fulfillment. I am free from the cares of this world, the love of money, and selfish desires. GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! This is #TheGraceLife! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
