“Parable of the Sower”

The “Parable of the Sower,” is an interesting parable. Every time I read it I get more out of it. In fact, if we’re going to be effective in winning people to Christ, we had better understand it. Why? Because it helps us understand why some people listen and why some don’t, or why some people get saved when others won’t. You see, when we deal with people spiritually we need to understand that we all are on different levels. In this parable Jesus compares a “seed” to the Word, and the four “soils” to the hearts of all men. 1) Hard soil is a hard heart that hears the word but understands it not. In this case, there is nothing wrong with the word preached, but this person’s heart is not willing to hear, and so Satan steals away the word. 2) Stony soil is a heart that listens and agrees, but never really lets the word take root. So, because they are faking salvation they quit when difficult times arise. 3) Thorny soil is a backslider’s heart. Although they are truly saved the world has control of the heart, and so they lose interest in winning souls. 4) Good soil, Is the heart of someone who not only accepts Christ, but loves Christ above all others, and bears much fruit. The heart is the key to bearing fruit. This parable is as much about us, as the unsaved! The reason we don’t bear fruit is because of heart #3.

For the love of money

“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Tim. 6: 10). The Bible does not say that money itself is evil, but it does say that the love of it is. We as Christians must be careful how we handle the money God has entrusted to us. The church is to be a non-profit organization, and we must be careful that it does not lose its focus or why its money has been entrusted to us by God. 1) The church is not a welfare system whereby we support everybody in it. In (1 Tim. 5:3-13) we are warned to not even support widows unless they are desolate. The reason being, that men and women of the church should learn to care for themselves, because  our  giving to them may encourage them to be lazy and selfish people. 2) In (5:17-18) we are instructed to provide for the Pastors that labor in the church. It says that they are worthy of a “double honor.” That being honor and respect, and our financial support. 3) In (6:19) we are also instructed to be content with our income, and not love money more than serving God. Too many Christians work too much, (and some even on Sunday), and give very little time or money to the church. Jesus said, that we must make a choice to either serve God or (mammon) or money. The love of mammon steals away from the tithe, Faith Promise, church, and the churches outreach, because our hearts are no longer faithful, but covetous.

Purity

“Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.” In the above verse the Apostle Paul is instructing the young Pastor Timothy to teach his church to respect their elders and to treat one another as if they were a family. The word “elder” here is not just the pastor of the church, but the older men and women of the church, and the words “rebuke not,” mean to not disrespect them verbally with harsh or critical words. In the church the elderly are to be treated with the same respect as one would give to a mom or dad. Be careful in this world of selfishness and self-centeredness that you do not forget to love and treat the older saints with honor. The Apostle Paul also wanted the younger members to treat one another as brothers and sisters. Sometimes brothers and sisters fight and disagree, but they are still family. We need to have a spirit of kindness, longsuffering, humbleness, forbearance, and forgiveness, if we are going to get along. Most families have conflict sometimes, but somehow they work at getting past it, and so should the church. Be careful to be a brother of grace more then of conflict, and as the Holy Spirit says, learn to also practice brotherly love in “purity.” The purity He is referring to, is a moral purity between churches members. Since the church is composed of men & women, respect for the opposite gender is extremely important. The highest regard to avoid instances of sexual temptation and bad behavior between ourselves needs to be a priority. Many a church, or Pastor, or life, has been destroyed by not taking heed to brotherly purity.

“personal conduct.”

(1Ti 4:7-8) “But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things..., In this world in which we live people are very interested in bodily exercise, but in the above verse God says that it’s still not more important than exercising personal godliness. Satan hates personal godliness, and morality, and so he attacks the church by lulling its people into being more interested in the flesh then in the spirit. The above verse commands the Christian to forsake fleshly fables and to exercise godly habits. You might ask, well how do I exercise godliness ? Simply by taking the word of God, memorizing it, and then practicing it over and over, until you get stronger by it. For example, the Apostle Paul instructed Timothy to be an example to believers in “word.” The “word” he spoke of here, is the speaking of the truth. He wanted Timothy to practice being a man of his word, telling the truth at all times. To exercise himself in this area consistently, and if perhaps he does fail, to again remember the Word of God and to get up and try again until he gains strength in this area. The same is true, when it comes to our “personal conduct.” Satan loves it when Christians look, and act, and talk like the world. Why, because we lose our power with God, our testimony before others, and we cause our weaker brothers and sisters to fall and stumble by our ungodly examples.  Satan wants the church fleshly, immoral, worldly, & more interested in self then in the will of God and others.  So their remains only one question; how strong is your godliness today ?  Your godliness is a direct result of your spiritual exercise.