PROTECT YOUR SEED. I am telling you that as surely as the sun will rise, the enemy comes to steal the Word of God. Jesus tells us that the Word of God is seed and it has a purpose. I often wonder why the Word of God does not take in some people? Why does God’s Word not come to pass in some people’s lives? God looks over His Word to perform it; yes. But we also have a part to play.
“The sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.” Mark 4:14-15
From this parable of the sower, we know that the Word of God is being sown. Right now, I am sowing the Word. The preacher sows the Word. Your pastor sows the Word. Even your trusted friend is sowing the Word, as iron sharpens iron. And God is always faithful to do His part. Read that again. God is faithful to do His part. However, you have a role to play.
The “wayside” is a hardened path where the farmer walked to inspect his rows. No seed can grow there. If when the seed comes and your heart is hard, you will not be instructed and corrected, that seed cannot take root. It will sit dormant. The enemy comes and steals that seed and the Word will not come to pass. I have seen this many, many times in the lives of God’s people. Let it be a lesson to receive correction and instruction in righteousness and not let your heart become hardened through bitterness and affliction.
Furthermore, when God gives you a Word you should expect opposition. So not only do you have to receive it, plant it, and protect it; you can expect that the enemy will bring a full arsenal of weapons against that Word. I am telling you the truth, no Word of God comes without a fierce battle. The enemy does not want for God’s Word to take root in your life and so he comes to steal it, kill it and destroy it. He wants you to believe his lies, “Did God really say?” Satan twists and manipulates the Word. He brings doubt and discouragement. He rains down opposition in the form of friends and family who say things like, “Why would you believe that?” As surely as the sun will rise, every Word of God comes with opposition from the enemy. Just ask king David.
If God said it, He will do it. Your part is to plant that seed. I speak from experience. My husband and I are church planters. We started with 6 people. 75-85% of church plants fail. The reason we did not fail is because we did not quit. It has been a hard word.
We have faced opposition, affliction, persecution and rebellion, but we protected the seed. Water that seed. Keep it covered with prayer. Speak life over it and to it. Shut out all voices of opposition, all doubt, all discouragement, all dissension. Dig out rocks and pull the weeds that will choke that Word. Make sure it gets enough sun exposure. Do not share the Word with swine. Keep plowing up the soil of your heart so it doesn’t get hard. As surely as the sun will rise, it will come to pass in its season; if you protect that seed.
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