FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP
RENEWING
THE MIND – XVII
THE WORD
OF IAUE - 8
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this
world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove
what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of IAUE.
This is how we are to live, cooperating with the Word of IAUE (the seed),
and
understanding the growth process
in order that the life of IAUE might be released
in power in and through our lives.
Others should be able to look at our lives and
know that the exceedingly great power at work within us is IAUE.
“Understanding the
growth process in order that the life of IAUE might be released in power in and
through our lives.” This is what brings
us back, yet once more, to the parable of the sower.
We have seen that
there is no problem with the seed. The
seed, which is the Word of IAUE, is the same no matter upon what ground it is
cast. The ability to “grow” the seed
unto fruit-bearing is entirely dependent upon the nature of the ground (the
heart of man) into which it is sown.
The heart of man is
a garden. It was created to be able to
grow whatever is sown into it. It will
grow the Word of IAUE, or it will grow thorns and thistles (the cares of the
world, the lusts for other things, the deceitfulness of riches, etc.). Be not unwise regarding this because YOUR
HEART IS GROWING SOMETHING RIGHT NOW! Do
you even know what it is?
In Matthew 13:19, it
says of the first ground, the wayside, that they did not understand the
Word. It is simple for the enemy to
descend upon it like fowl and consume it for they did not even know what they
had. However, in the second ground in
this parable, Matthew says:
Matthew 13: 5 Some fell upon stony
places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung
up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had
no root, they withered away.
If you will remember
from last week’s post, the first thing the life within the seed seeks to do is
to lay down a root (look at the 2nd
and 3rd image above). Once the root is anchored, and only then, is
it safe to divert the life within the seed to emerge upward as the first blade. The stony ground had little earth. There was no room to send forth a root; thus,
all the life of the seed was directed to upward growth where the first wind or
rain or beating sun’s rays could overwhelm it.
It was “because they had no root” that the Word “withered away.” I asked Father how better to explain this
matter of depth of ground. I know that
there are many who think it refers to spiritual maturity; but this is not a
possibility. The parable refers
expressly to the gospel, “the word of the Kingdom.” This is the message that
the lost, the spiritually inept, hear. Spiritual
maturity is not a factor. IAUE explained
to me that the depth of ground in the heart is the depth or intensity of one’s
purpose of heart to grow the seed. It is
the commitment of the disciple to that Word sown in his heart.
Mark depicted the
people who had a stony heart as those who received the Word with gladness (Mark 4:16-17). First, that
means they understood the Word…something the wayside-hearted people did not do. It is easy to become excited about the Word
of IAUE when it is heard and understood.
All manner of false-commitments are made to IAUE upon hearing His word;
but they are made without any regard to the cost of their commitment. They have not purposed in their heart to
defend, protect, water, and cultivate that seed. Growing up in the Baptist church, it was a
common occurrence to see the same people, year after year, rededicating their
life to Messiah; or recommitting themselves to the mission field. They never did either. It was a “flash in the pan” response to the
Word of IAUE. It was something that they knew was right to do, and they had the
best of intentions; but it was a response borne of their emotions and not of
their heart. They received the seed with joy, but they had no true purpose of
heart to fulfill their commitment to the Word.
Once their emotions waned, so too did their purpose of heart.
Notice what message
the church in Jerusalem sent urgently by Barnabas to the believers in Antioch, once
they learned that the Gentiles were responding to the gospel there.
Acts 11:22 Then tidings of these things came
unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas,
that he should go as far as Antioch.
23 Who, when he came, and had
seen the grace of IAUE, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with
purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Master.
Remember also that
the apostle Paul planted churches wherever he went; but he also found it
necessary to revisit those churches, or to write to them if he could not make
it back to them. This was in order to
confirm their purpose of heart, lest the seed sown in their hearts was taken
away or rendered useless to them. This
was a driving desire in the heart of Paul, to protect the seed sown in their
hearts.
So, to be able to
properly grow the Seed of IAUE’s Word in your heart, you must be absolutely
committed to it. Those represented by
the stony ground did not have that commitment; and when the Word was
challenged, they relinquished the seed before it could even begin to mature. I would dare say they also sensed no real
loss, for their lives are superficial. In
the context of another message we have developed in this blog, they only had
the marketing of the Truth. They never
possessed the revelation of it. “So the
life of the seed never made it. No big
deal. I still understand the doctrine of it.”
That is enough for those of a stony heart.
One final image of
this can be seen in the life of Elisha.
When Elijah (Eliyahu) found him and selected him to be his apprentice,
Elisha was plowing a field with twelve yoke of oxen (1 Kings 19:19).
Most farmers would plow a field with a single yoke of oxen…two oxen. No doubt, Elisha’s father had tasked him with
the job of plowing the field and making it ready for planting. This ground, however, had become so fallow
and hard that one yoke would not do.
Elisha probably tried with two yoke, then four yoke, then finally, to
insure success, hooked up 24 oxen to 12 yokes and was able then to break up the
fallow ground and plow the field. That
is purpose of heart. That is tenacity. That is how we much be to provide the kind of
ground necessary to bear the seed of IAUE unto fruit-bearing.
The third ground had
depth of earth; but that was not all it had. It had thorns. The thorns are identified as 1)
the cares of this world, 2) the deceitfulness of riches, and 3) the
lusts of other things. This is a
matter to which most believers give any attention; and if they do, they do not
realize how damaging the thorns are to them.
In this ground, there is sufficient purpose of heart to allow the seed
to send down a tap root before beginning its upward growth; but it is not the
only kind of seed that is drawing from the heart’s ability to grow things. There is a divided purpose of heart, a shared
commitment. We all know how easy it is
to receive the Word of IAUE and begin to cultivate it, meditate upon it, pray
about it, etc., while at the exact same time, concern ourselves with worldly
things that draw our hearts and minds on to the things of the flesh. We may be studying about IAUE’s ability and
desire to provide for us while at the same time wondering how on earth we are
going to be able to pay all our bills by the end of the month. We may be studying and meditating on Yahushua’s
provision of healing for all believers and at the same time worrying about the
cold season, the flu season, allergies or other health issues. We may be learning of the sanctification of
all believers while at the same time pursuing fleshly lusts. These are thorns
that cancel out the growth of the Word of IAUE in our hearts. Tenacity, purpose of heart, would reject all thoughts
that were in disagreement or conflict with the Word.
The good ground
understands the destructiveness of worldly cares, the love of money, and the
desires for other things when IAUE is not the one who has created those desires. These thorns are the subject of renewing the
mind. Purpose of heart/tenacity, is not
an issue of renewing the mind; but the thorns very much are. Everything about our life should be dedicated
to the preservation and growth of the seed of IAUE’s Word within our hearts. We should see our hearts as IAUE’s gardens in
the earth that will reveal and display his glory, goodness, power and love to
those around us.
There is one last
thing about this planting to fruit-bearing process we need to understand.
Mark 4: 21 And he said unto them, Is a
candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a
candlestick?
22 For there is nothing hid,
which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it
should come abroad.
For all practical
purposes, these two verses are the conclusion of the parable of the sower. This is extremely important to
understand. Many have questioned what it
means to bear fruit, “some thirty-fold, some
sixty-fold, and some an hundred-fold.”
What we are to understand is that the Word of IAUE is not given to us
simply for our benefit. So many believers
are students of the Scriptures only to learn for themselves. They take joy in the learning and revel in
its grace and beauty for themselves. However,
we are given the Word, then understanding of the Word, then revelation knowledge
of the Word, in order to share its fruit with others; and I don’t mean just
telling what we have learned to other people.
If the Word sown and grown in our heart is regarding IAUE’s supernatural
ability and desire to provide for us, then we must GIVE to others to meet their
needs. If it is a Word regarding the
healing that Yahushua has provided to us through His sacrifice, then we must
lay hands on the sick that they might recover.
If it is a Word regarding deliverance, then we must set other captives
free of demonic harassment. If it is
about the love of IAUE, then we must show His love to others.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good
measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men
give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it
shall be measured to you again.
2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which
soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully
shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not
grudgingly, or of necessity: for IAUE loveth a cheerful giver.
8 And IAUE is able to make all grace
abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may
abound to every good work:
Bearing fruit is not
intended for the purpose that we should horde the harvest. Remember, the purpose is to show forth the
light and life and power of the good news that others might see and partake of
the Master as well. If we are not giving
the fruit away, there can be no fruit to take its place upon the tree. We must fortify our purpose of heart and be
tenacious with the Word of IAUE. We must
root out our thorns and prevent the sowing of new thorns. We must give away what IAUE gives to us. Then we shall be a fruitful garden of IAUE.
Kingdom
heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the
performance of the will of IAUE.
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