The Way Out

The Problem “14 The sower sows the word. 15 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. 16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble.

18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” Mark 4:14-20

The Parable Depicts phases that we go through in Christian growth. Phase 0 (the wayside): Can’t hear nothing Phase 1 (stony ground): Can sort of hear Phase 2 (among thorns): Can hear but no results Phase 3 (good ground): Can hear and see results –Even this phase 3 (good ground) has three phases under it (thirtyfold, sixty, and a hundred). The Problem

Phase 0 (the wayside) is really for non/ lazy Christians Phase 1 (stony ground) is for recent converts Phase 2 (among thorns) is where most Christians are Phase 3 (good ground) is only experienced by 25% of all who hear the word The Problem

The Word Failing? The word is powerless against the thorns. If the word is the only tool that we have to become fruitful Christians then we are in a real pickle because the word can not do much to these thorns We must have intervention on top of the Word that helps us become fruitful –In fact this applies to the other types of ground as well

Cross Reference Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. Mark 4: Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. Luke 8:14 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. Mathew 13:22

What are these thorns? Cares of this world (level 1) Deceitfulness of riches (level 2) Desires of other things/ pleasures of life (level 3)

Level 1: Cares Cares of this world (Mark), cares (Luke) cares of this world (Mathew) The anxieties of this world, the worries of life. These are the basic concerns; what we shall eat, what we shall wear, the future? We are born with these cares or are at least conditioned into them by just being human beings on earth

Level 2: Deceitfulness of Riches Deceitfulness of riches (Mark), riches (Luke), deceitfulness of riches (Mathew) If you have the cares of the world sorted then this becomes your issue Now that you have enough, you want way more than enough We somehow get the impression that riches = happiness and this is the true deceitfulness of riches This lie is written both in our DNA and is reinforced by the world (tv, Magazines, conversations etc.)

Level 3: Lust of other things the desires for other things entering in (Mark), pleasures of life (Luke) Once we have attained riches we now desire other things, the pleasures of life The question here is creative use of money and wealth (instead of flying first class, may be we should buy a plane) Again the desire to indulge in the “pleasures of life” is written in one biology and made stronger by our interaction with the world

The Madness At first glance the thorns don’t look like thorns at all, in fact they look like good things, things that shouldn’t get in the way of the Word However at closer look we see how our desire to attain in life can be a evil and maddening thing Example: This desire for attainment is the root of corruption in our country; –Some people steal to feed their families –Others steal to get rich (more than enough, 2 houses) –Others steal to experience creative spending (Olympic size swimming pool indoors and outdoors)

The Madness These seemingly good forces of human nature prevent the word from producing fruit “Money runs the world”, the pursuit of happiness is often equated to the pursuit for money. The core lie is that more money = more happiness Because we are preoccupied with attaining we don’t allow the word to have its full effect (worry, deception, substance abuse)

Happiness According to God His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. Mathew 25:21

The Solution But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8, Luke 24:49

The Solution And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Act 2:1-4)

The Solution However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. John 16:13

The Power Acts 1:8 The power of the Holy Sprit is the necessary intervention Power; Ability to change Jesus didn’t do anything until he had been baptised in the Holy Spirit The disciples did not do anything until they were baptised In the Holy Spirit The power the Holy Spirit gives is the only solution to the problem of Human weakness

The Comforter In John 16 Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth He will guide us out of the madness and gives as rest (fruitfulness in the word) The holy spirit is the answer to the problem. A person can only be fruitful in the Word by being assisted by the Holy Spirit

Drunk in the Spirit See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (Eph 5:15-19)

Drunk in the Spirit Ephesians 5:15 tells us to replace getting drunk on alcohol with being filled with the Spirit Excessive Alcohol is an escape for the World from the madness (the lie that riches make you happy) Being filled with the spirit is the Christians solution to the madness, it results in clarity of mind and in peace and happiness

How to access the Power So we know the solution is in the power of Holy Spirit but how do we access this power? Acts 2 tells us that the very first effect the Holy spirit had on the Disciples was to allow them “speak in tongues” after they were filled Through out the New Testament every time someone was filled with the Holy Spirit they spoke in tongues

Access the power, Build yourself “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself.” 1 Corinthians 14:4 “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” Jude 1:20 Praying in the spirit Builds a person in the most holy faith. It repairs the land of our hearts.

The Spirit of Life “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Rom 8:2 “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Rom 8:11

Conclusion Clearly the Holy Spirit gives us power to deal with our physical (Adam) weaknesses including the deceitfulness of riches. With the power of the Holy spirit we can achieve Fruitfulness The only obvious difference between a person filled with the spirit and one not filled with the spirit is “speaking in tongues”

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light; and there was light.” Genesis 1:1-3