- I am the vine; you are the branches.
- If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;
- apart from me you can do nothing.
- ......
How Does The Word Of God Bear Fruit In Us?
Part 3 - The Word of God planted on Rocky ground
These people love hearing the Word of God. Then, after hearing the Word, we are told they immediately received it with joy (Matthew 13:20, Mark 4:16, Luke 8:13)!
We are also told that because they have no root (no intention of understanding and keeping the Word in their hearts), their joy for the Word lasted only for a short time, or they believed the Word only for a short time (Matthew 13:21a, Mark 4:17a, Luke 8:13b).
In addition, we are told that when trouble or persecution comes because of the Word or in the time of testing (obeying the Word of God will sometimes cause you to suffer greatly, and you will have to choose: God or the devil), they quickly fall away (if you are suffering too much when you obey God, you will be tempted to give up and follow the devil) (Matthew 13:21c, Mark 4:17b, Luke 8:13c).
Imagine going to church on Sunday because you are excited about what the Word of God has to tell you about living a godly life. You enjoyed what you heard from the Word of God because you felt He was talking to you personally. Then, you celebrate your renewed strength from the Word (Nehemiah 8:10) by doing a victory dance as you head back home into a world ruled by the devil, who is the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Since you won’t be hearing the Word again until Bible Study on Wednesday or church service on Sunday, who do you think will demand your attention on the ‘off days,’ especially when life situations go from bad to worse? The quick and easy answer is the devil. However, he knows he has no authority over your life because of what Jesus did on the cross to save you and me, so he has to rely on you to try to ‘figure stuff out.’
When you try to figure things out by yourself, you ignore God’s Word (Proverbs 3:5) and allow the devil to help you on your ‘off days.’ The sad thing is that the devil will enable you to feel okay doing or saying ‘ity, bity’ ungodly things, then going to church to celebrate how good you feel or cry out for how bad you feel. The devil does not mind you feeling good or terrible at church as long as the Word of God is ignored.
He will find a way to let you feel that the Word of God is working in your life, even if you have fallen away from it during difficult times. Here’s what the Word of God says:
James 1:2-4 tells us to consider it pure joy when we face difficult times. But, you can only do this if you embrace the Word of God daily!
Matthew 13:18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 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. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Mark 4:13 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 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.”
Luke 8:11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.