Friday, November 2, 2012

SATAN’S TOOLS: FEAR AND RICHES

I am writing this post especially to those whose relationship to the Lord has been hindered by a fear of, or by the riches of the world. In the Lord’s Parable of the Sower, it is clear that the first of the four types of soil fails to “get the message” (Mt. 13:4 w/ 13:19). It is also clear that the fourth type of soil receives the Gospel, and multiplies (Mt. 13:8-9 w/ 13:23). But what about the other two?

Matthew 13:5-6 says, “Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.” The explanation reads, “But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended” (Mt. 13:20-21). These appear to be believers who, when faced with opposition, become silent out of fear. Their lack of faith in God’s ability to protect them results in their failure to “be fruitful and multiply.”

Matthew 13:7 says, “And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them.” Jesus explained these in Matthew 13:22, which says, “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.” Again, these “sprung up” meaning the “seed” produced life, but their focus was upon their own enjoyment of life rather than on those around them who needed to hear the Gospel. The key here is that they “becometh unfruitful.” They had life, but produced no fruit.

I want to ask you who are reading this: are you afraid to witness for Christ because you do not want to be ridiculed, rejected, or even worse, harmed? The solution is to compare the Lord’s Omnipotence to the impotence of the world! God is greater than Satan and his minions! Jesus said that He would always be with His disciples (Mt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5)!

To those of you who would rather spend your lives on trying to make for yourselves a heaven on earth, do you not realize that by so doing, you are failing to present the Gospel which offers an eternal heaven to those who do not know Christ? Are you so selfish that you do not care churches all over the world need Sunday School teachers, outreach workers, evangelists, etc.? Have you no gratitude for what Jesus has done for you, that you would waste your time in pursuit of riches rather than pursuing the lost? Shame!

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Gal. 6:7)!

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A sower went out to sow (Photo credit: Fergal of Claddagh)

sower went out to sow (Photo credit: Fergal of Claddagh)

THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER

A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell on the edge of the path and was trampled on; and the birds of the air ate it up.
Some seed fell on rock, and when it came up it withered away, having no moisture.
Some seed fell amongst thorns and the thorns grew with it and choked it.
And some seed fell into rich soil and grew and produced its crop a hundredfold.’ Saying this he cried, ‘Listen, anyone who has ears to hear!’

His disciples asked him what this parable might mean, and he said, The mysteries of the kingdom of God are revealed to you; for the rest there are only parables, so that they may see but not perceive, listen but not understand
‘This, then, is what the parable means: the seed is the word of God.
Those on the edge of the path are people who have heard it, and then the devil comes and carries away the word from their hearts in case they should believe and be saved.
Those on the rock are people who, when they first hear it, welcome the word with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of trial they give up.
As for the part that fell into thorns, this is people who have heard, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life and do not reach maturity.
As for the part in the rich soil, this is people with a noble and generous heart who have heard the word and take it to themselves and yield a harvest through their perseverance.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29770761@N06/5765705109http://www.flickr.com/photos/29770761@N06/5765705109