The Bible What a Book!

Transcription

1 The Bible What a Book! Pastor Eddie Turner Wednesday, July 19, 2017 Luke 8:5-15(NLT)- 5 A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. 6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted! When he had said this, he called out, Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. 9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He replied, You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: When they look, they won t really see. When they hear, they won t understand. 11 This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God s word. 12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. 13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. 14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so, they never grow into maturity. 15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, goodhearted people who hear God s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. - The reason distractions from daily devotions and church attendance

2 invade our lives with powerful influence is because Satan doesn t want us to hear and receive the word. We must realize anytime we are about to hear the Word of God, forces go to work to either keep us away from hearing or stealing what we have heard. 1). The Word of God is stolen immediately: Luke 8:5(NLT)- 5 A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. Luke 8:12(NLT)- 12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. 2). The Word of God Never takes Root and lacks Water Luke 8:6(NLT)- 6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. Luke 8:13(NLT)- 13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. Watering the seed is the continual and consistent hearing of the word of God.

3 3). The Word of God doesn t take First Place in our Lives Luke 8:7(NLT)- 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. - Luke 8:14(NLT)- 14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so, they never grow into maturity. - Prov. 4:20-22(NLT)- My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. 21 Don t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, 22 for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. 4). The Word of God is planted and watered and produces fruit Luke 8:8(NLT)- 8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted! When he had said this, he called out, Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. Luke 8:15(NLT)- 15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. For Seed to Grow It Must be Planted and Watered Luke 8:11(NLT)- 11 This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God s word.

4 Having a bible and loving the good book is a noble and honorable trait. But the blessings of the book will not take place in our lives until we understand it is seed that must be planted, watered and nurtured in our hearts. God s word on the page is stored seed, God s word in your heart is sown seed. going and buying, or going and charging. God s Kingdom continues to operate on the principle of seedtime and harvest. Gen. 8:20-22(NIV)- Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 21 The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. 22 As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease. Gal. 6:7-9(NIV)- Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

5 1 Cor. 3:6(NIV)- 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. - Notice that God does not plant, God does not water-that is our responsibility. God only makes grow what we plant and water. Acts 8:14-23(NLT)- 14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God s message, they sent Peter and John there. 15 As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. 16 The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands-on people, he offered them money to buy this power. 19 Let me have this power, too, he exclaimed, so that when I lay my hands-on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit! 20 But Peter replied, May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God s gift can be bought! 21 You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. 22 Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, 23 for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin. A Revelation of the Word Tim. 3:16(NASB)- 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; Heb. 4:12(NASB)- 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 1 Thess. 2:13(NASB)- 13 For this reason we also constantly thank God

6 that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. the key to my healing came- when I received the revelation that God and His word are one. John 1:1(NASB)- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:14(NASB)- 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. The word word is the Greek word logos. Heb. 4:12(NASB)- For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit Both the bible and Christ are the word of God; they both contain the divine nature of God (Zoe) in different manifestations. John 14:18-23(NIV)- I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them. 22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world? 23 Jesus replied, Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My

7 Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. We will not love God any more than we love His Word. Our attitude toward God s Word is our attitude toward God Himself!