Pastor Clint Williams
Twitter: @williamsclint
Facebook: Clint
BC podcast on iTunes
(Philippians 2:12 NLT) …. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.
(1 Peter 5:8 NLT) Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
(Matthew 13:1-9 NLT) Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
(Matthew 13:19 NLT) The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts.
The Devil’s plan is….
√ to SNATCH the WORD.
(Galatians 4:7 NLT) Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.
(Matthew 13:20-21 NLT) The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.
√ to return with DOUBT & CONDEMNATION.
(Romans 8:1-2 NLT) So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.
(Matthew 13:22 NLT) The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.
√ to CROWD out the Message.
(Luke 12:15, 21 NLT) Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own. ……. a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
(Matthew 13:23 NLT) The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
√ God’s plan is for you to be FRUITFUL.
√ ACCEPT the plan.
(Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NLT) “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. (GOING PUBLIC) Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. ….”
● HIDE the Word!
(Psalms 119:11 NLT) I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
● CONSUME the Word.
(Matthew 4:4 NLT) But Jesus told him, ……’People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
● LIVE the Word.
(1 John 2:4-5 NLT) If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him.
