Keep the Word of God in Your Heart, and Bear Fruit with Patience (Part 4)

“But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard THE WORD with a noble and good heart, KEEP IT AND BEAR FRUIT WITH PATIENCE.” (Luke 8:15 NKJV).

Beloved, we are concluding our series on the Parable of the Sower, and in this fourth and final part of the series we will discuss the seed that “fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” (see Luke 8:8 NKJV). Jesus said, “But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having HEARD THE WORD with a noble and good heart, KEEP IT AND BEAR FRUIT WITH PATIENCE.” (Luke 8:15 NKJV). Thus it is in HEARING THE WORD with a NOBLE AND GOOD HEART (a heart that is open or sincere and receptive to the truth of God's Word), UNDERSTANDING THE WORD (see Matthew 13:23), ACCEPTING or BELIEVING THE WORD or keeping the Word in the midst of our heart (see Mark 4:20; with Proverbs 4:20-22), MEDITATING on the Word, and putting the Word into practice or DOING THE WORD consistently (see Joshua 1:8; with James 1:22-25, Luke 6:46-49), that we can bear a hundredfold fruit. In this parable also, Jesus gives us two keys that are necessary to our ability to bear fruit when we hear the Word of the Kingdom with a noble and good heart, and these two keys are FAITH (believing the Word and keeping it in our heart), and PATIENCE (being steadfast in believing, confessing and putting the Word into practice, regardless of what temptation, persecution or tribulation the Word might bring). Likewise, the Book of Hebrews implores us to IMITATE those who through FAITH and PATIENCE inherit the promises of God (see Hebrews 6:12). It is indeed through FAITH and PATIENCE that we inherit the promises of God, and bear fruit a hundredfold. Bearing fruit in the Kingdom of God then is synonymous with inheriting (or laying hold on) the promises of God, or walking in the good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (see Ephesians 2:10). The apostle Peter wrote that it is through (laying hold on) the exceedingly great and precious promises of God that we become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (see 2 Peter 1:4).

Beloved, it is very important to our Lord Jesus Christ that we (His disciples) lay hold on all the promises of God, walk in good works, or bear fruit a hundredfold. Thus, Jesus Himself emphasized that He has chosen us and ordained us to the end that we will BEAR FRUIT, and that our fruit should REMAIN. He said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I HAVE CHOSEN YOU, and ORDAINED YOU, THAT YE SHOULD GO AND BRING FORTH FRUIT, and that your FRUIT SHOULD REMAIN: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it you.” (John 15:16 KJV). Then He added that, “Every branch in Me that DOES NOT BEAR FRUIT He (The Father) takes away; and every branch that BEARS FRUIT He (The Father) prunes, THAT IT MAY BEAR MORE FRUIT.” (John 15:2 NKJV, brackets and emphasis mine). Beloved, the ultimate goal of our Christian walk here on earth is for each disciple of Christ to bear a hundredfold fruit; and this can only be attained through FAITH and PATIENCE. Therefore, so long as you are bearing fruit, you shouldn't worry that others are bearing a hundredfold and you are only bearing, say thirtyfold, or sixty; you should be patient, because the Father prunes those who are bearing fruit so that they may bear more fruit. You should thus continue patiently to abide in Christ as He abides in you and His words abide in you, and you will be pruned by the Father to bear more fruit, up to a hundredfold.

Truly, there is no other way to bear fruit but to ABIDE (or remain) in Jesus Christ and allow His words to ABIDE (or remain) in us. (see John 15:1-8). Abiding in Jesus is the same as abiding (or remaining) in the Word of God, because Jesus and the Word are one (see John 1:1,14). Therefore if you abide in the Word or make your home in the Word of God -- give yourself entirely to the Word, read it always, meditate on it and confess it continually -- and get the Word to also abide (or make its home) in you, and then put the Word into practice with patience, you will definitely bear fruit, and yes, you will bear fruit a hundredfold. The Bible says that the fruits of righteousness are BY Jesus Christ  (see Philippians 1:11). This also means that we do not bear the fruits of righteousness by self-effort under the Law, but by faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. For we walk by faith. (see 2 Corinthians 5:7). You will bear the fruits of righteousness if you will simply remain in Jesus and allow His words to remain in you, in the same way as the branch of a vine bears fruit by simply remaining in the vine. Jesus Himself said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, NEITHER CAN YOU, UNLESS YOU ABIDE IN Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who ABIDES IN Me, and I IN him, BEARS MUCH FRUIT; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5 NKJV). Indeed we have to abide in Jesus (the Word of God) and allow Jesus (the Word of God) to abide in us in order for us to bear much fruit. The apostle Paul was walking in the knowledge and consciousness of this truth when he said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV). Again, Paul said that he labored, striving according to CHRIST’S WORKING WHICH WORKED IN HIM MIGHTILY. (Colossians 1:29). Paul was evidently fruitful in his ministry because he was always conscious of Christ who was in him, and who was his strength, and he also remained in Christ. Paul knew, like the apostle John, that Christ the greater One was in him. (see 1 John 4:4; with Colossians 1:27). He even made the famous declaration, “I have been crucified with Christ; IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live BY FAITH in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NKJV). Indeed Paul was fruitful in his Christian walk, so fruitful that at the end of his ministry he boldly declared: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (II Timothy 4:7‭-‬8 NKJV). Glory to God!

Beloved, we will also bear much fruit with patience if we abide in Christ and His words abide in us. And the evidence that we are bearing much fruit is that others see our GOOD WORKS -- the unconditional love we have for others, our joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness (see Galatians 5:22), our testimony about Jesus Christ, the good news of salvation that we preach and minister to others, as well as other great miraculous works that we perform in the name of Jesus (see Mark 16:16-18; John 14:12) -- and give glory to our Father in Heaven (see Matthew 5:16). As we also noted earlier, the Bible says that God prepared these good works beforehand for us to walk in them. (see Ephesians 2:10). What this means is that although the fruits we bear or the good works we do are “our good works,” they are actually produced by God in us and through us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the days of His flesh, testified of this truth when He said concerning the words that He spoke and the works that He did, that it was the Father in Him who did the works (see John 14:10). Therefore, dearly beloved, as long as we abide in Christ and His words abide in us, as long as we walk in the light (or walk according to the Word of God), as long as we walk by faith or walk in the Spirit, these fruits or good works will manifest in our lives a hundredfold to the glory of God. This is also why the Bible says we are the ones that have to maintain the good works. You cannot maintain what you don’t already have, and so we have the good works already, and we are commanded to maintain them or keep producing them, by remaining in Christ and allowing His words to remain in us. Paul in his letter to Titus wrote: “This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that THOSE WHO HAVE BELIEVED IN GOD SHOULD BE CAREFUL TO MAINTAIN GOOD WORKS. These things are good and profitable to men.” (Titus 3:8). We are all to learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that we may NOT BE UNFRUITFUL. (see Titus 3:14). Again, we maintain good works by abiding in Christ (the Vine) and allowing Him and His words to abide in us (see John 15:4-8), just as the branches of any vine maintain their production of fruits simply by abiding in the vine. Truly, when you hear and receive THE WORD OF THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL with a noble and good heart and keep it in the midst of your heart, it will BRING FORTH FRUIT in you, as it did among the saints in colosse (see Colossians 1:3‭-‬10); you will WALK WORTHY of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, BEING FRUITFUL in EVERY GOOD WORK and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Therefore, desire the sincere milk of the Word, study the Word, believe the Word, meditate on the Word of God for it to abide in you or fill your heart, your mind, your soul, your whole being so abundantly that it would be like a burning fire within you that you can’t help but manifest. The prophet Jeremiah said, “Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name.”But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, AND I COULD NOT.” (Jeremiah 20:9). Again, Jesus said, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART HIS MOUTH SPEAKS.” (Luke 6:45). If you are a true believer (or sincere Christian), you are a good man; you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). And so your words (which are spoken out of the abundance of your heart should bear testimony of Christ. You have to choose to sanctify yourself (or set yourself apart to God) by speaking the truth, which is the Word of God (see John 17:17; Romans 12:1-2), rather than defile yourself with the words of this world that are contrary to the Word of God. (see Matthew 15:11; Mark 7:15). You have to let others see Christ in you wherever you go, and in everything you do. Beloved, I can't emphasize this enough: you need to study and understand the Word of God, and always speak or confess the Word and practice the Word. The Bible says that we are to hold fast our confession (see Hebrews 4:14). In other words, we are to continually confess what the Bible says about us, and what we want to see happen in our lives (in the light of the revelation of the Word of God). We are to confess with our mouth unto salvation (see Romans 10:10) —salvation from diseases, poverty, and every power of darkness or negative circumstance. Begin to use your mouth today to chart the course of your life. The Bible says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21). Every word you speak is a seed you’re sowing that will bear fruit unto life or unto death, so always speak words of life, always speak in agreement with the Word of God.

In Mark’s gospel, Jesus told a parable in which “He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, HE HIMSELF DOES NOT KNOW HOW. For THE EARTH YIELDS CROPS BY ITSELF: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”(Mark 4:26-29). The seed in this context is the Word of God, and the ground (or the earth) is your heart. Purpose today to always sow (or study, meditate on, and confess) the Word of God in/from your heart, and NEVER GIVE UP IF YOU DON’T SEE THE FRUIT (or the evident progress) JUST YET; be steadfast in keeping the Word in your heart, and hold fast your confession, for as you sleep by night and rise by day, the Word is definitely working in you —it is sprouting and growing, even though you don’t know how —and you will eventually see the fruit, for the heart yields fruit by itself; the Word that you have kept in your heart will eventually manifest its power in you for a great harvest of good and miraculous works to the glory of God. So hold on to the Word of God, keep it in your heart, and bear fruit with patience. Remain blessed.

I share this message, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 KJV).

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Keep the Word of God in Your Heart, and Bear Fruit with Patience (Part 3)

“But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard THE WORD with a noble and good heart, KEEP IT AND BEAR FRUIT WITH PATIENCE.” (Luke 8:15 NKJV).

Beloved, we are continuing our series on the Parable of the Sower, and in this third part of the series we will unveil the revelation in the seed that “fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.” (Luke 8:7 NKJV). Jesus explained that “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who HEARS THE WORD, and THE CARES OF THIS WORLD and THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES choke the word, and HE BECOMES UNFRUITFUL.” (Matthew 13:22 NKJV). It is implied in this verse that this category of hearers also hear the Word alright, they understand the Word alright, and even believe the Word alright, but the Word does not bear fruit in them because the CARES (or worries) OF THIS WORLD, the DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES, PLEASURES OF LIFE (see Luke 8:14), and THE DESIRES FOR OTHER THINGS (see Mark 4:19) enter in and CHOKE THE WORD or make the Word of no effect. It is also implied here that this category of hearers become so preoccupied with the things of this life and the desires for other things (including not only material things, but the traditions, opinions and philosophies of men, and the praise of men), that they neglect the Word of the Kingdom and refuse to consistently put the Word into practice, and so they BECOME UNFRUITFUL; they, in the words of the apostle Peter, FORSAKE the right way and GO ASTRAY, “following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, WHO LOVED THE WAGES OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS" (see 2 Peter 2:15). Jude says,  "Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run GREEDILY in the error of Balaam FOR PROFIT, and perished in the rebellion of Korah." (Jude 1:11 NKJV). He says, “These are grumblers, complainers, WALKING ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN LUSTS...” (Jude 1:16 NKJV). And Jesus says of such people that, “Every branch in Me that DOES NOT BEAR FRUIT He (God) takes away…” (see John 15:2 NKJV, brackets and emphasis mine).

Indeed the Bible has many examples of such people who HEAR THE WORD, and THE CARES OF THIS WORLD and THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES, PLEASURES OF LIFE, and THE DESIRES FOR OTHER THINGS enter in and CHOKE THE WORD, and they BECOME UNFRUITFUL. The apostle Paul in his second letter to Timothy, mentioned Demas, who he said had forsaken him, “HAVING LOVED THIS PRESENT WORLD, and has departed for Thessalonica” (see 2 Timothy 4:9‭-‬10). Then, of course, there is the example of Balaam whom we mentioned earlier, “who LOVED THE WAGES OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS" (see 2 Peter 2:15). The Lord Jesus Christ Himself spoke against Balaam, that he “taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality." (Revelation 2:14 NIV). Thus Balaam, having heard THE WORD OF GOD, allowed the Word to be choked by THE CARES OF THIS WORLD and THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES, PLEASURES OF LIFE, and THE DESIRES FOR OTHER THINGS, so he became UNFRUITFUL; he cunningly went against the Word of God by coveting the prize Balak was offering him to curse the children of Israel. The Bible says that Balaam was GREEDY FOR PROFIT (see Jude 1:11), and LOVED THE WAGES OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS (see 2 Peter 2:15). How tragic!

JUDAS ISCARIOT is yet another example in the Bible, of a man who heard the Word of the Kingdom, and THE CARES OF THIS WORLD and THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES, PLEASURES OF LIFE, and THE DESIRES FOR OTHER THINGS, entered in and choked the Word, so that he BECAME UNFRUITFUL. Judas (the son of perdition) betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ FOR MONEY, for THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER. Oh, what ruin the deceitfulness of riches brought upon Judas! Peter said that Judas “became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.” (Now THIS MAN PURCHASED A FIELD WITH THE WAGES OF INIQUITY; and FALLING HEADLONG, HE BURST OPEN IN THE MIDDLE AND ALL HIS ENTRAILS GUSHED OUT. And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.)” (see Acts 1:16-19).

The apostle Paul says of those who HEAR THE WORD, and THE CARES OF THIS WORLD and THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES, PLEASURES OF LIFE, and THE DESIRES FOR OTHER THINGS choke the word, and THEY BECOME UNFRUITFUL, that they “are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is  their belly, and whose glory is in their shame— who SET THEIR MIND ON EARTHLY THINGS.” (see Philippians 3:17‭-‬19 NKJV). Thus, the root of the problem such hearers of the Word have is that THEY SET THEIR MIND ON EARTHLY THINGS; they love the things of this present world. And so the apostle Paul offers a preventive measure for this condition; he says, “If then you were raised with Christ, SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. SET YOUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON THINGS ON THE EARTH.” (Colossians 3:1‭-‬2 NKJV). Then he adds, “Now GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN. For WE BROUGHT NOTHING INTO THIS WORLD, and IT IS CERTAIN WE CAN CARRY NOTHING OUT. And having FOOD and CLOTHING, with these WE SHALL BE CONTENT. But THOSE WHO DESIRE TO BE RICH FALL INTO TEMPTATION AND A SNARE, and into many foolish and harmful lusts WHICH DROWN MEN IN DESTRUCTION AND PERDITION. For THE LOVE OF MONEY IS A ROOT OF ALL KINDS OF EVIL, for which SOME HAVE STRAYED FROM THE FAITH in their GREEDINESS, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (I Timothy 6:6‭-‬10 NKJV).

Indeed, the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and therein lies the deceitfulness of riches, which chokes the Word of God in some hearers and they become unfruitful. Therefore beloved, examine yourself and determine where your love and loyalty is; is your love and loyalty toward God and His Word, or toward the world and the things in the world? Paul said, "Examine yourselves as to whether you are IN THE FAITH. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified." (II Corinthians 13:5 NKJV). Truly, “if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.” (see I Corinthians 8:3 NKJV). Jesus said, “NO ONE CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS; for either HE WILL HATE THE ONE AND LOVE THE OTHER, or else HE WILL BE LOYAL TO THE ONE AND DESPISE THE OTHER. You CANNOT SERVE GOD and MAMMON (money). “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND His RIGHTEOUSNESS, and ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED TO YOU. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:24‭-‬34 NKJV,  brackets and emphasis mine). In other words, Jesus wants us to set our mind on things above, and not on the things of the earth, just as the apostle Paul said.

In the same vein, the apostle John also says: “DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD OR THE THINGS IN THE WORLD. If anyone LOVES THE WORLD, the love of the Father IS NOT IN HIM. For ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD —the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—IS NOT OF THE FATHER but is of the world. And THE WORLD IS PASSING AWAY, AND THE LUST OF IT; but HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF GOD ABIDES FOREVER.” (I John 2:15‭-‬17 NKJV). Therefore, let us set our mind on things above; let us set our mind on the Word of God and continually DO THE WILL OF GOD by putting the Word of God into practice, and never departing from it. For God says, “My son, GIVE ATTENTION to my words; INCLINE YOUR EAR to my sayings. DO NOT LET THEM DEPART from your eyes; KEEP THEM in the midst of your heart; For THEY ARE LIFE to those who find them, AND HEALTH to all their flesh.” (Proverbs 4:20‭-‬22 NKJV). Indeed it is only by keeping the Word of God in the midst of our heart, and being doers of the Word that we can bear fruit a hundredfold. Let us also turn away from those in our assembly who are “LOVERS OF THEMSELVES, LOVERS OF MONEY, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, LOVERS OF PLEASURE RATHER THAN LOVERS OF GOD, having a form of godliness but denying its power.” (see II Timothy 3:2‭-‬5 NKJV).

In the concluding part of this series, we will discuss the seed that “fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” (see Luke 8:8 NKJV). Please return to this Page in two days to read Part 4, for I am confident that by the end of this series you will fully understand how having heard the Word with a noble and good heart, you can keep it and BEAR FRUIT WITH PATIENCE. Remain blessed.

I share this message, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 KJV).

To learn more, order my glorious book, "Spirit Life"

Keep the Word of God in Your Heart, and Bear Fruit with Patience (Part 2)

“But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard THE WORD with a noble and good heart, KEEP IT AND BEAR FRUIT WITH PATIENCE.” (Luke 8:15 NKJV).

Beloved, we are continuing our series on the Parable of the Sower, and in this second part of the series we will unveil the revelation in the seed that “fell on (rock -- Luke 8:6, or on) stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.” (Matthew 13:5 NKJV, brackets and emphasis mine). Jesus said, “But the ones on the rock are those who, WHEN THEY HEAR, RECEIVE THE WORD WITH JOY; and these HAVE NO ROOT, who BELIEVE FOR A WHILE and in time of temptation FALL AWAY.” (Luke 8:13 NKJV). You will notice here that this category of hearers don't just receive the Word into their heart, but they receive it WITH JOY, and even BELIEVE IT FOR A WHILE. They would shout the loudest Amen and then praise the Word when the preacher is preaching, they would receive the Word with gladness. But because they have no root in themselves, because they are not grounded in the truth of the Word, they only BELIEVE FOR A WHILE, they only endure for a while, until PERSECUTION or TRIBULATION arises BECAUSE OF THE WORD (see Mark 4:16-17; Matthew 13:20-21), until TEMPTATION comes because of the Word, then they stumble, they stop believing it, they fall away. How tragic!

What Jesus is saying here also is that when you hear and receive the Word of the Kingdom, temptation, persecution or tribulation MAY ARISE BECAUSE OF THE WORD (see Mark 4:16-17; Matthew 13:20-21; Luke 8:13). And when temptation or persecution or tribulation comes because of the Word, Jesus says, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” (see Mark 5:36; Luke 8:50). The Lord Jesus Christ Himself presents a classic evidence of this truth. The Bible says that after Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan and the Holy Spirit had descended upon Him, “Then a voice came from heaven, “YOU ARE My BELOVED Son, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.” (Mark 1:11 NKJV). Then, “IMMEDIATELY the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, TEMPTED BY SATAN …” (Mark 1:12‭-‬13 NKJV). In this temptation, Satan went straight after the Word which Jesus had received from God the Father: “YOU ARE My BELOVED Son, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.” Satan came to Jesus and said, “IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD, command that these stones become bread.” (Matthew 4:3 NKJV). But as the story relates, Jesus did not succumb to the temptation of Satan, because not only had Jesus heard the Word of God, not only had He understood the Word, not only had He received or believed the Word, He also had root in Himself and so He kept the Word in His heart and bore fruit WITH PATIENCE -- He believed steadfastly that He was the Son of God, regardless of what charge the devil would bring against Him. Indeed, when temptation came because of the Word, Jesus was not afraid; He only believed, He submitted to the Word of God, resisted Satan, and Satan flee from Him. The Bible says that Jesus “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (see Hebrews 4:15 NKJV). Indeed, in time of temptation, Jesus CONFESSED His faith in the Word of God, and CONFESSED His dependence on the Word of God by declaring to Satan that “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but BY EVERY WORD OF GOD.’”(see Luke 4: 4). And so Jesus lived by every Word of God.

Evidently, Jesus was also continually PERSECUTED, and eventually given over by the Jews (the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, and chief priests) to be CRUCIFIED, because of the Word which He had received from the Father, which He had kept in His heart, which He had lived by, and which He had continually confessed with His mouth that He was THE SON OF GOD. The Jews insisted, “We have a law, and according to our law He OUGHT TO DIE, because He MADE Himself THE SON OF GOD.” (John 19:7 NKJV). And so they accused Jesus of blasphemy and killed Him. Jesus’ truthful confession that He was the Son of God, had Him falsely convicted of blasphemy and crucified. It was Jesus’ confession of the Word of God that infuriated the enemy and got Him killed, because the enemy couldn’t stand it! Today Satan still can’t stand to hear us confess who we are as new creations in Christ. He can’t stand to hear us confess that we are the beloved sons of God who are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. (see John 1: 12; 1 John 3: 2, with Ephesians 1: 3). Satan can’t stand to hear us confess that we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 5: 21), and that there is therefore now no condemnation for us because we are in Christ Jesus. (see Romans 8: 1; Romans 8: 33-39). Satan can’t stand to hear us confess that sin shall not have dominion over us because we are not under Law but under Grace. (see Romans 6: 14). This is why the Bible tells us to hold fast our confession. (see Hebrews 4: 14). We have to continually confess who we are in Christ according to the Word of God. Indeed, we overcome the enemy by the blood of the Lamb, and by the WORD (logos) OF OUR TESTIMONY, not loving our lives UNTO DEATH. (see Revelation 12: 11). Jesus wasn’t afraid to confess who He was even if it meant death, and neither should we be afraid to confess who we are in Christ, even if it means death, because that is how we overcome the enemy.

Thus the Bible tells all believers to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (see Ephesians 6:10), exhorting us to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through MANY TRIBULATIONS enter the kingdom of God.” (see Acts 14:22 NKJV). “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION.” (II Timothy 3:12 NKJV). So we are to “run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (see Hebrews 12:1‭-‬2 NKJV). But unfortunately there are many who fall away or reject the faith in time of temptation, persecution or tribulation, and of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom Paul delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme (see I Timothy 1:20 NKJV).

There are many today who hear the gospel and receive it with joy; they hear or read John 3:16 and receive it with gladness: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH in Him SHOULD NOT PERISH, but HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.” (John 3:16 KJV). Oh, what joy, what great news! They are also told that if they will sincerely confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in their heart that God has raised Him from the dead, they will be saved (see Romans 10:9). So they gladly receive the Word, and FOR A WHILE they BELIEVE the Word, and they believe that they are saved because of their faith in Christ, until they are TEMPTED and they sin, or until PERSECUTION or TRIBULATION ARISES BECAUSE OF THE WORD, until the people who seek to put us back in bondage to the Law, whom Paul refers to in Philippians 3:1-11 as “dogs,” “evil workers,” “the mutilation,” and later in verse 18, “enemies of the cross of Christ,” come along to condemn them and persecute them for believing that they are saved by faith alone in Christ alone, and then THEY STOP BELIEVING THAT THEY ARE SAVED, and start working FOR their salvation, they start seeking the righteousness that comes through the Law, instead of laying hold on the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ Jesus; they fall away. To such people the apostle Paul says, “You have become ESTRANGED FROM CHRIST, you who attempt  to be justified by law; YOU HAVE FALLEN from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” (Galatians 5:4‭-‬5 NKJV). Then he asks, “This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the WORKS OF THE LAW, or by the hearing of FAITH? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3: 2-3). “For by grace you have been saved THROUGH FAITH, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8‭-‬9 NKJV).

Indeed, the Christian walk is a walk of faith. “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (II Corinthians 5: 7 NKJV). To the Corinthian Church, Paul said, “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, BY WHICH ALSO YOU ARE SAVED, if you HOLD FAST THAT WORD WHICH I PREACHED TO YOU —unless you BELIEVED IN VAIN.” (I Corinthians 15:1‭-‬2 NKJV). Thus, those who, WHEN THEY HEAR, RECEIVE THE WORD WITH JOY; and these HAVE NO ROOT IN THEMSELVES, who BELIEVE FOR A WHILE and in time of temptation FALL AWAY, have BELIEVED IN VAIN. “For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence STEADFAST TO THE END ” (Hebrews 3:14 NKJV).

There are also those who are well-rooted in the elementary principles of Christ, the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God. Yes, they steadfastly believe that they are saved by faith alone in Christ alone, and yet they do not believe in some of the benefits or the fruits of redemption -- for instance, they do not believe in the healing that is theirs by the stripes of Jesus, they do not believe in prosperity even though the Bible says our Lord Jesus Christ though He was rich became poor that we through His poverty might become rich, and John also prayed that we may prosper and be in health even as our soul prospers, they do not believe in speaking with new tongues even though it's among the signs Jesus said will follow those who believe, neither do they believe in miracles, and so they do not enjoy any of these benefits.

Beloved, is there any remedy for this category of hearers of the Word of the Kingdom? Indeed, there is. Jesus implied in the Parable that their problem is not that they do not understand the Word they hear; their problem is not even that they do not believe the Word, for they believe it alright. But their problem is that THEY HAVE NO ROOT IN THEMSELVES. Now, what does Jesus mean by this? He means they are not deeply-grounded or rooted in the truth of the Word, they are not fully submitted to the Word, they do not give themselves entirely to the Word, they do not put the Word into practice. And so such people are easily tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting (see Ephesians 4:14). Having no root in themselves, they only BELIEVE THE WORD FOR A WHILE, not putting the Word into practice, not being doers of the Word, for they stumble or stop believing the Word and fall away WHEN TEMPTATION, PERSECUTION OR TRIBULATION ARISES BECAUSE OF THE WORD. You would remember that Jesus had said earlier, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and DO NOT DO WHAT I SAY? As for everyone who comes to me and HEARS MY WORDS and PUTS THEM INTO PRACTICE, I will show you what they are like. They are LIKE A MAN BUILDING A HOUSE, who DUG DOWN DEEP and LAID THE FOUNDATION ON ROCK. When A FLOOD CAME, the torrent STRUCK that house but COULD NOT SHAKE IT, because IT WAS WELL BUILT.  But the one who HEARS MY WORDS and DOES NOT PUT THEM INTO PRACTICE is like a man who built a house on the ground WITHOUT A FOUNDATION. The moment THE TORRENT STRUCK that house, IT COLLAPSED and its destruction was complete.” (Luke 6:46‭-‬49 NIV). What this means is that only those who hear the Word of the Kingdom AND PUT IT INTO PRACTICE become rooted or have root in themselves. Jesus said that such people are like a man who has built his house on a rock, who has dug down deep and laid its foundation on rock, and is thus unshakable by the flood or torrent when it strikes. Beloved you will not be shaken by temptation, or tribulation or persecution, when you hear the Word of the Kingdom, understand it, believe it, keep it in your heart, and put it into practice. Submitting to the Word of God and putting it into practice will give you root in yourself, so that you can resist all the temptation, persecution, and tribulation that the devil might throw at you. James says, "Therefore SUBMIT TO GOD. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7 NKJV). Submitting to God is the same as submitting to the Word of God, for God and His Word are one (see John 1:1). Indeed you need to believe the Word of God enough to be moved to confess what it says, to do what it says and to claim what it says, regardless of what temptation or persecution or tribulation the Word might bring.

In Part three (3) of the series, we will discuss the revelation in the seed that “fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.” (Luke 8:7 NKJV). Please return to this Page in two days to read Part 3, for I am confident that by the end of this series you will understand how having heard the Word with a noble and good heart, you can keep it and BEAR FRUIT WITH PATIENCE. Remain blessed.

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