WordFruit4

HOW DOES THE WORD OF GOD BEAR FRUIT IN US?

Part 4 - THE WORD of God planted among thorns

There are, undoubtedly, many things to worry about in the world we live in. When we hear the Word of God, it should help us to stop worrying. Still, it becomes ineffective because we can’t seem to stop worrying (Matthew 13:22, Mark 4:19, Luke 8:14). It is interesting to note that every one of the gospels mentioned above states that as some people hear the Word of God, the worries of life continues to overwhelm them. What do these people do to the Word of God?

For these people, we are told that after hearing the Word of God, they choke it with their worries about life, their deceitfulness of wealth, and their desires for other things, thus making the Word of God unfruitful, and they remain immature (Matthew 13:22, Mark 4:19, Luke 8:14).

We have been told before that the god of this world is the devil (2 Corinthians 4:4). He is a thief who comes only to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10a). When Jesus comes to you through the Word of God, He wants you to have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10b). The Word of God is supposed to teach you how to have a prosperous life in the Lord, which leads to life and peace. But, instead, you chose the riches of this world, which leads to death and worry.

Jesus teaches us not to save up treasures for ourselves on earth, where moth and rust will destroy it, and thieves will break in and steal it. Instead, we are told to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,” where they won’t be destroyed or stolen (Matthew 6:19). If we obey the Word of God through Jesus, He promises a reward for us in Matthew 10:40-42. So let me leave you with these beautiful words from Jesus to you:

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

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.