This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”, by continuing to walk through the parable of the sower. Jesus said:
“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.” (Mark 4:13-20 ERV)
Last week I closed out the week with a message focused in on the line, “the worries of this life.” Other translations read, “the cares of this world.” This morning I am led to continue to flow in this same vein, while giving you somewhat of a testimony from the life of my wife Isabella.
Isabella is currently in Haiti. She and a team from RIPMinistries and Ezra Vision Ministries arrived in Haiti on Saturday. Isabella leads the English as a Second Language (ESL) program and she is very excited, as the classes begin today. Last year 29 children gave their lives to Christ and I ask you to pray with us for the supernatural to flow this year as well.
When Isabella arrived on Saturday she was informed that an English speaking Pastor was scheduled to preach yesterday and the projected translator was not available. She was then asked to serve as the translator. She needed to listen to the Pastor in English and then translate what he was saying into Haitian Creole, in real-time, while the service was going on. She called me and she was nervous. While Isabella speaks fluent Creole, the Creole of her native Dominica is not completely the same as Haiti’s, so some words might be different. While that was a slight challenge, the bigger issue was that she had never done anything like this before. She has never preached in Creole. I know from experience that speaking a language and preaching in that language are not the same thing. When you are preaching you are the mouthpiece of God and every word matters.
I could tell Isabella was concerned and I shifted her focus away from her ability. God knew, from the foundations of the world, that she would be asked to translate and His grace was available to do it. Her key was to NOT operate in human ability alone. If she put the focus on her and her ability, she would take on care and the anxiety would lead to fear. Once you are in-fear you are no longer in-faith. I assured Isabella that God had sent her for this assignment, that He would provide the words and perform the work, and that all she needed to do was provide a willing vessel. If she provided the availability, God would provide the ability. Guess what? She did and God did. Isabella translated by the grace of God, and because God is so gracious, the actual translator arrived during the service and relieved her of her duties. She said that while she was up there she was “not sure who was speaking”. For her it was like an out-of-body experience. I can testify that this is how it feels when you are being used of God. It has happened to me on many occasions.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- You get to choose what you mediate on. If you meditate/medicate on the promises of God, the Word will work in your life. However, if you choose to meditate on the cares of this world, the cares will choke-out the Word and keep it from working in your life.
- Whatever you think in your mind and speak from your lips will be what produces fruit in your life.
- There is nothing God cannot do through a person who is completely submitted to Him.
- God does not need your ability. He has all the ability in the universe. But He does seek your availability. If you make yourself available, God is more than capable of doing (through you) what you could never do on your own. This is why meditating God’s Word is so important. If you meditate the problem, instead of the promise, you will take on the cares of this world and you will not be in position to be used. But if you meditate the Word and you give yourself over to God to be used of Him, for His glory, He will put His Super on your natural and you will do things that exceed human ability. It won’t actually be you doing it. It will be the Father, living in you, giving you the words and performing the work (John 14:10).
- You have a choice this morning. You can choose to set your mind on the things that are above or you can take on the cares of this world. If you take on the cares of this world, you will be limited to human ability and you will be confined by your limits. But if you choose to meditate on heaven and on the limitless God who called you, you will operate beyond your limits and experience heaven on earth!
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus in 2016 by meditating and medicating on Your Word day and night. You call me to do things I cannot do on my own. You call me to operate beyond human limits.. because You are poised to do the work. You are not looking for my ability. You are looking for my availability. I declare that I am available and You are able! I will not allow the cares of this world to keep me from Your best. I will not allow the cares of this world to confine me to human limits. I say whatever You tell me to say. I do whatever You lead me to do. Because it is actually You Father, living in me, giving me the words and performing the work. I don’t take care, nor do I give a care. I live by faith. My faith accesses Your grace and I get to live the life I was born… and Born-Again to live! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
