Rooted
Mark 4:1-9;14-20 passion translation
Once again Jesus went to teach the people on the shore of Lake Galilee and a massive crowd surrounded him. The crowd was so huge that he had to get into a boat and teach the people from there. 2 He taught them many things by using parables to illustrate spiritual truths, saying: 3 “Consider this: A farmer went out to sow seeds. 4 As he cast his seeds some of it fell along the beaten path and soon the birds came and ate it. 5 Other seeds fell onto gravel with no topsoil and the seeds quickly sprouted since the soil had no depth. 6 But when the days grew hot, the sprouts were scorched and withered because they had insufficient roots. 7 Other seeds fell among the thorns, so when the seeds sprouted so did the thorns, crowding out the young plants so that they could produce no grain. 8 But some of the seeds fell onto good, rich soil that kept producing a good harvest. Some yielded thirty, some sixty—and some even one hundred times as much as was planted! 9 If you understand this, then you need to respond.” 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”
Consider this(listen, behold!): A sower went out to sow.
Jesus, as the sower has looked at you, has looked at this region and said I CAN SEE A HARVEST HERE. He has planted seed on purpose with purpose.
bearing fruit is never a problem with what is sown but with the soil it falls upon.
Satan attacks 2 major things in our lives, the identity of the Father and our identity.
Matt13:20 but his experience remains shallow. / this implies a shallow interest that doesn’t sink spiritual roots into the truth of God
This is the place that requires Holy Spirit digging, removing, shifting, breaking and rebuilding. This is the place where we get honest about what’s really going on in our hearts and minds. This is the place where we decide if we want to go past the surface of knowing about God and into knowing Him intimately.
This process can feel overwhelming but let his love and goodness come and overwhelm any fear or anxiety that tries to come in. He is a good father, the master gardener and He is for you.
Matthew 11:28-30 passion
Are you weary? Carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for i am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. (Bend your neck to my yoke. The metaphor of a yoke is that it is a wooden beam that joins two animals to work as one to pull together)learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that i require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.
He is more than enough and more than able. He is bigger, He is stronger and it’s not too much for Him.
when the trials of life come we can sink further into the truth of who we know Him to be.
EPH. 3:19 to know the love of God which goes beyond understanding.
Know: experience for yourself so it becomes truth.
Matthew 13:22 the one sworn among thorns represents one who receives the message, but all of life’s busy distractions, his divided heart, and his ambition for wealth result in suffocating the kingdom message and it becomes fruitless. (And the adversary causes him to forget the word of God)
cares: “to divide” and “the mind”
thorns come in and take over the environment. And They will do the same in our minds and our spiritual growth if we allow them.
The thorns continue to rapidly press against the plant and soon it cannot take in sunshine moisture or oxygen and nutrients essential to its survival. Engulfed in the shadow of the thorns the plant begins to choke as the slow process of suffocation starts.
1 peter 5:7 pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.
Matthew 6:31-34 “So then, forsake your worries! Why would you say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For that is what the unbelievers chase after. Doesn’t your heavenly Father already know the things your bodies require? “So above all, constantly seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness, then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself.”
God is for you, God is with you. When you seek His face He will care for you. He takes care of His children.
How do we become rooted and produce much fruit?
1. Accept the word
2. Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart, to prepare good soil
3. Water the seed(word) with the word
4. Sun light = passionate relationship with Jesus
John 14:21 TPT
“Those who truly love me are those who obey my commands. Whoever passionately loves me will be passionately loved by my Father. And I will passionately love him in return and will reveal myself to him.”
reveal: it is used of a special divine manifestation. “I will reveal myself to him” is more than merely “showing him who I am”. It means “I will personally come to him”.
Manifest comes from 2 words which means “in” and “to cause to shine”.
Abide to be.