The Word: Mark 4: 3 – 6(KJV)
3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: 4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. 5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: 6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
Dig Deeper: Mark 4: 7 – 8(KJV)
7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
Think about it
RIGHT HEART, RIGHT HARVEST
In Mark 4:30-31, Jesus explained that the kingdom of God works like a seed. However not only is the seed important. The soil is also important. If we have good seed but the wrong soil, the growth and harvest will be affected not because the seed lacked capacity but because the soil is not of enough good quality. In agriculture, if the soil is too acidic or too alkaline, it will affect the harvest depending on the requirement. Some crops grow best in alkaline soil. Some grow best in acidic soil. Words whether good or bad are seeds. A soil or heart which is corrupt will be fertile ground for sexual immorality, pornography etc. A soil or heart full of the fear of God will be receptive to honesty, nobility, dignity. That is why the soil is sometimes treated with fertilisers or other nutrients or chemicals depending on the kind of crops to be planted in it. The soil is the state of the heart. When the heart is in a bad state, God’s word is still the fertiliser that would be used to treat that soil. It is amazing that God’s word is the seed, the fertiliser for the soil and the water to make the seed grow. In other words, God’s word is everything. God’s word is the seed that brings an harvest, It is the fertiliser that corrects the state of the soil / heart and it is the water that you need to continually need to water the seed until there is an harvest.
– A good heart is a receptive heart
– A good heart is a believing heart
– A good heart accepts the word
Hebrews 4: 2
For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them; but the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
Unless faith is generated, the word brings no benefit. Faith has to be borne by the word for there to be an harvest.
Word + faith = action = harvest or result
When the right word is sown into a receptive heart, faith is birthed, when faith is birthed, action is stimulated, when we act on the word, there comes an harvest and our expectation is not cut short.
So the word should not be read just for information or to argue or for us to show we have deep knowledge. The word should be read so that faith can be generated, when faith is generated and acted upon, miracles are birthed.
Proverbs 4: 23
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
The right heart is needed for the right harvest. God’s word is like medicine. Different medicines for different sicknesses. A different word for healing, a different one for financial breakthrough, another to correct a wrong mindset or heart. God’s word not only corrects our hearts and gives us new seed for growth. It is the water that waters the seed continually until there is an harvest. That is why a balanced word will lead to a balanced life. When our heart is right, God’s word has the capacity to give us 100% harvest
Mark 4: 20, 24 – 25
20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty fold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. 25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
In other words, every believer should take a dose of the word of faith everyday. That would address fear, depression and prepare the soil of the heart to receive other seeds and bear maximum harvest.
Nuggets:
The right soil is needed for maximum harvest. The word of faith is what develops the right soil for other word seeds
Our memory verse for April 2018
Psalm 119: 130
130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Let’s take a few moment to learn our memory verse for this month by heart. It can be memorised in 2 lines:
Line 1: The entrance of thy words giveth light;
Line 2: It giveth understanding unto the simple.
Once you say it a few times it will stick.
Prayer focus: Our next level prayers:
Lord help me to get your word into me
On the word: Recommended book
The Bible Study Methods – Rick Warren
The Word: Deuteronomy 2: 2 – 3(KJV)
2 And the Lord spake unto me, saying,
3 Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.
Dig Deeper: Daniel 43: 18-19(KJV)
18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
Think about it
REVISTING THE PROMISES FOR THIS YEAR
As we have come to a weekend of seeking God and in a month of focus on God’s word, it is important to appreciate that God’s prophecy or promises are equally as powerful or potent as the scriptures.
The bible is documented promises or words inspired by the Holy Spirit. A direct word to the house is a Rhema (word in real time) which is equally as powerful and relevant for our year.
Our father said this year is our year of NEXT LEVEL and we said NEXT LEVEL is changing position upwards, moving to the next stage spiritually, physically, maritally as a Church and in every spect of our lives. But for many of us and the church does it look like next level right now? Perhaps many will answer: NO
For some people it might even look like a lower level. But we must not forget that God said we should be expectant of four things.
– New things. He will do New things
– Restructuring. Our lives will need to be restructured and reorganised
– It’s OK to take a step back in order to leap forward
– He will take away all reproach.
Remember Haggai 2:9 The glory of the latter shall be greater than the former. It may not yet look like NEXT LEVEL but God’s word is settled forever. That is what he said. Let’s key in and align ourselves to this.
Nuggets:
God’s word is like the rain and the snow. It will accomplish what’s it’s been sent to do
Our memory verse for April 2018
Psalm 119: 130
130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Let’s take a few moment to learn our memory verse for this month by heart. It can be memorised in 2 lines:
Line 1: The entrance of thy words giveth light;
Line 2: It giveth understanding unto the simple.
Once you say it a few times it will stick.
Prayer focus: Our next level prayers:
Lord help me to align myself to your word of prophecy
On the word: Recommended book
The Bible Study Methods – Rick Warren
