¤[Music]¤
00:01:30.05\00:01:40.10
¤[Music]¤
00:01:40.10\00:01:47.27
>>John Bradshaw: This is It
Is Written. I'm John Bradshaw.
00:01:49.74\00:01:52.14
Thanks for joining me.
00:01:52.17\00:01:53.48
One of my enduring
memories from my childhood
00:01:53.51\00:01:55.71
is my father's vegetable garden.
00:01:55.74\00:01:58.18
It was magnificent.
00:01:58.21\00:02:00.22
We always had a
great big garden.
00:02:00.25\00:02:01.65
Dad grew everything,
00:02:01.68\00:02:03.59
so we ate a lot of
wonderful, fresh food
00:02:03.62\00:02:05.42
that went straight from the
garden to our kitchen table.
00:02:05.45\00:02:08.59
My dad dug that
big garden by hand.
00:02:08.62\00:02:11.66
He'd dig row after row
and he'd add whatever he could
00:02:11.69\00:02:14.30
to the soil to build
it up and make it rich.
00:02:14.30\00:02:16.46
I remember, I remember
the dirt being full of worms,
00:02:16.50\00:02:18.77
which is usually a good
sign that your soil is good.
00:02:18.80\00:02:22.70
My father grew, oh, you
name it: Sweetcorn, fantastic.
00:02:22.74\00:02:26.81
Potatoes: we'd eat potatoes half
an hour or so after they were
00:02:26.84\00:02:30.61
taken out of the ground.
00:02:30.65\00:02:31.55
Hmm.
00:02:31.58\00:02:32.51
Carrots, lettuce.
00:02:32.55\00:02:34.48
Peas and beans that I'd
eat straight off the vine.
00:02:34.52\00:02:36.72
I'd pick them, eat half of them
00:02:36.75\00:02:38.19
before they made it
back to the kitchen.
00:02:38.22\00:02:40.12
Beets of course, we
called that beetroot.
00:02:40.16\00:02:42.79
Pumpkins... We'd
pick the pumpkins
00:02:42.82\00:02:44.19
and they'd last all winter long.
00:02:44.23\00:02:47.20
Now, Dad's
tomatoes never did too well;
00:02:47.23\00:02:48.73
I'm not sure why.
00:02:48.76\00:02:49.53
So they were the exception.
00:02:49.56\00:02:51.53
It seems that every year
00:02:51.57\00:02:52.73
we'd wait to see if the
tomatoes had the blight.
00:02:52.77\00:02:56.47
I still don't know
what that blight was,
00:02:56.50\00:02:58.47
but I knew it was
not good for tomatoes.
00:02:58.51\00:03:00.78
But you name it and
it was in our garden.
00:03:00.81\00:03:03.38
Certain things just
sprang up every year.
00:03:03.41\00:03:05.58
One of them was
something called chokos,
00:03:05.61\00:03:07.72
often called chayote.
00:03:07.75\00:03:09.48
They just
sprang up on their own;
00:03:09.52\00:03:10.95
they grew
pretty well everywhere.
00:03:10.99\00:03:12.35
I never knew how to grow them
00:03:12.39\00:03:13.49
‘cause I didn't have to know.
00:03:13.52\00:03:14.52
They just, they just grew.
00:03:14.56\00:03:16.59
My mother was a
genius at cooking them;
00:03:16.62\00:03:18.06
she would cook them
in any old way she chose.
00:03:18.09\00:03:20.83
And we lived
like kings and queens,
00:03:20.86\00:03:22.46
because we ate out of
that magnificent garden.
00:03:22.50\00:03:26.53
Jesus often
talked about agriculture.
00:03:26.57\00:03:29.57
Or horticulture.
00:03:29.60\00:03:31.51
He didn't say too much about
the best way to grow a garden.
00:03:31.54\00:03:34.88
He had his mind
on higher things.
00:03:34.91\00:03:36.34
He talked about, he talked
about faith like a mustard seed.
00:03:36.38\00:03:39.55
He said the kingdom of heaven
like, was like wheat that grew:
00:03:39.58\00:03:42.68
“first the blade, then the head,
00:03:42.72\00:03:45.15
after that the
full grain in the head.”
00:03:45.19\00:03:47.59
He talked about a man
who had a wheat field,
00:03:47.62\00:03:49.56
and someone came along and
sowed weeds in with the wheat,
00:03:49.59\00:03:52.76
causing big problems.
00:03:52.79\00:03:55.60
And He talked about a
sower who went out to sow.
00:03:55.63\00:04:00.17
Today I'm continuing a series
called “Lessons for All Time,”
00:04:00.20\00:04:03.97
in which we're looking
at the parables of Jesus.
00:04:04.01\00:04:07.01
Today we're in
Matthew, chapter 13.
00:04:07.04\00:04:08.81
Matthew, chapter 13.
00:04:08.84\00:04:11.11
And we're going to begin reading
00:04:11.15\00:04:12.18
in Matthew,
chapter 13, and verse 3:
00:04:12.21\00:04:16.65
“Then He spoke many things
to them in parables, saying:
00:04:16.69\00:04:20.22
‘Behold, a
sower went out to sow.
00:04:20.26\00:04:23.46
And as he sowed, some
seed fell by the wayside;
00:04:23.49\00:04:27.93
and the birds
came and devoured them.
00:04:27.96\00:04:31.00
Some fell on stony places, where
they did not have much earth;
00:04:31.03\00:04:35.34
and they
immediately sprang up because
00:04:35.37\00:04:37.21
they had no depth of earth.
00:04:37.24\00:04:39.31
But when the sun was
up they were scorched,
00:04:39.34\00:04:42.54
and because they had no
root they withered away.
00:04:42.58\00:04:45.31
And some fell among thorns,
00:04:45.35\00:04:46.65
and the thorns
sprang up and choked them.
00:04:46.68\00:04:49.28
But others fell on good
ground and yielded a crop:
00:04:49.32\00:04:52.72
some a hundredfold,
some sixty, some thirty.'
00:04:52.75\00:04:55.82
And then Jesus said,
00:04:55.86\00:04:57.26
‘He who has ears to
hear, let him hear!'”
00:04:57.29\00:05:01.20
So this being a parable,
who is this sower we read about?
00:05:02.30\00:05:05.77
Well, that's Jesus, the
Sower who came to the world
00:05:05.80\00:05:08.44
to scatter the
heavenly grain of truth.
00:05:08.47\00:05:11.07
You could imagine in
that agrarian society
00:05:11.11\00:05:12.94
there might have
been a sower growing seed,
00:05:12.97\00:05:14.94
or sowing seed
near where Jesus taught.
00:05:14.98\00:05:18.25
Maybe those who
were listening to Jesus
00:05:18.28\00:05:19.58
could see someone sowing
seed as Jesus spoke to them.
00:05:19.61\00:05:22.62
If that were so,
that would really,
00:05:22.65\00:05:24.42
that would
really anchor the lesson
00:05:24.45\00:05:25.95
into the minds of the people.
00:05:25.99\00:05:27.69
The sower goes forth to sow.
00:05:27.72\00:05:30.16
Now, these days
you're more likely to see
00:05:30.19\00:05:31.69
a tractor plowing a field
and then planting the seed.
00:05:31.73\00:05:35.76
Where I grew up there
used to be big cornfields.
00:05:35.80\00:05:38.47
Today, the corn's
all gone and instead
00:05:38.50\00:05:40.47
there's a great big crop
of warehouses and businesses
00:05:40.50\00:05:43.14
that have
sprung up in its place.
00:05:43.17\00:05:45.61
The seed is the word of God.
00:05:45.64\00:05:48.88
And there's
something powerful here.
00:05:48.91\00:05:50.38
In each case, when the
seed got into the soil,
00:05:50.41\00:05:54.22
something happened.
00:05:54.25\00:05:56.75
God's word is powerful,
and it makes a difference.
00:05:56.79\00:06:00.22
Something grows;
something is produced
00:06:00.26\00:06:03.19
when the word of God
gets into a person's heart.
00:06:03.22\00:06:06.63
And notice, the idea
is that there's a harvest.
00:06:06.66\00:06:11.20
When you plant a garden
you don't normally put the seed
00:06:11.23\00:06:13.03
into the ground
just for the sake of it.
00:06:13.07\00:06:15.20
You have an objective in mind:
00:06:15.24\00:06:16.97
you want a harvest!
00:06:17.01\00:06:19.81
You know, when Jesus
returns there will be a harvest.
00:06:19.84\00:06:23.18
In Matthew, chapter 13, it says,
00:06:23.21\00:06:25.21
“The harvest is
the end of the world.”
00:06:25.25\00:06:27.52
When Jesus comes back,
00:06:27.55\00:06:28.42
there'll be
people ready to meet Him
00:06:28.45\00:06:29.85
and ready to
spend eternity with Him.
00:06:29.88\00:06:32.39
And that's because the word
of God got into their hearts
00:06:32.42\00:06:36.19
and something powerful happened.
00:06:36.22\00:06:38.59
If you want to see
growth in your life,
00:06:38.63\00:06:41.13
if you want to see the
right fruit in your life,
00:06:41.16\00:06:43.06
if you want there to be change
00:06:43.10\00:06:44.83
and maturity and
spiritual strength,
00:06:44.87\00:06:47.24
the key is to get the
word of God into your heart,
00:06:47.27\00:06:52.51
into your mind.
00:06:52.54\00:06:54.64
When the seed of God's word gets
into the soil of your heart,
00:06:54.68\00:06:58.01
that seed is going to grow.
00:06:58.05\00:07:01.58
It's important
for us to know that.
00:07:01.62\00:07:03.65
Because so many
people are struggling
00:07:03.69\00:07:04.99
with things in their life
that they wish were not there.
00:07:05.02\00:07:06.99
Sin.
00:07:07.02\00:07:08.32
Bad habits.
00:07:08.36\00:07:09.42
Something in your character
that you want to change.
00:07:09.46\00:07:11.89
Some people are miserable
because of what they are.
00:07:11.93\00:07:15.46
You want change?
00:07:15.50\00:07:17.27
Get the word of
God into your life.
00:07:17.30\00:07:19.17
Put the seed into the ground;
00:07:19.20\00:07:20.60
it grows.
00:07:20.64\00:07:22.47
Get God's word into your heart;
00:07:22.50\00:07:24.07
it'll grow and
you'll become strengthened.
00:07:24.11\00:07:26.54
You'll become a new
person as God's presence,
00:07:26.57\00:07:29.98
through His word,
takes over your life.
00:07:30.01\00:07:33.95
Now, in this
parable Jesus emphasized
00:07:33.98\00:07:35.52
that there's different types of
soil that the seed falls into.
00:07:35.55\00:07:39.19
Different people respond to the
word of God in different ways,
00:07:39.22\00:07:42.82
just like
different growing conditions,
00:07:42.86\00:07:44.63
different soil
and growing conditions
00:07:44.66\00:07:47.10
impact a seed in different ways.
00:07:47.13\00:07:50.17
I mentioned a few months ago
00:07:50.20\00:07:51.37
we had something
called chokos, or chayote.
00:07:51.40\00:07:54.54
They grew like weeds in our
garden when I was growing up.
00:07:54.57\00:07:57.97
Pumpkins were the same.
00:07:58.01\00:07:59.74
Ours seemed to
thrive on neglect.
00:07:59.77\00:08:02.81
We never even watered them,
00:08:02.84\00:08:04.05
but they grew and
produced prolifically.
00:08:04.08\00:08:07.28
Now, on the other hand,
00:08:07.32\00:08:08.72
watermelon were
about impossible.
00:08:08.75\00:08:10.95
I don't know why.
00:08:10.99\00:08:12.15
We just couldn't
get them to grow.
00:08:12.19\00:08:13.46
My father-in-law?
00:08:13.49\00:08:15.16
He grows some of the
best watermelon on the planet,
00:08:15.19\00:08:19.53
rivaled only by
the watermelon grown by
00:08:19.56\00:08:22.06
my buddy Bob Wint
in southern Tennessee.
00:08:22.10\00:08:25.20
Few things in this world taste
better than good watermelon.
00:08:25.23\00:08:30.74
But you know, that seed might
do well in certain conditions,
00:08:30.77\00:08:33.88
and not so good in others.
00:08:33.91\00:08:35.71
It didn't do well in ours.
00:08:35.74\00:08:37.65
Jesus taught this in
the parable of the sower.
00:08:37.68\00:08:41.05
Now, in this
parable Jesus identified
00:08:41.08\00:08:43.62
four different outcomes
for the seed that was planted.
00:08:43.65\00:08:46.99
Most outcomes were not
great, but one, excellent.
00:08:47.02\00:08:53.60
So which outcome
best describes you?
00:08:53.63\00:08:58.00
We'll look at
that in just a moment.
00:08:58.03\00:08:59.33
¤[Music]¤
00:08:59.37\00:09:05.94
>>Announcer: Planning
for your financial future
00:09:09.11\00:09:10.65
is a vital aspect of
Christian stewardship.
00:09:10.68\00:09:14.58
For this reason, It Is
Written is pleased to offer
00:09:14.62\00:09:17.32
free planned giving
and estate services.
00:09:17.35\00:09:20.16
For information on
how we can help you,
00:09:20.19\00:09:22.36
please call 800-992-2219
00:09:22.39\00:09:27.30
Call today, or
visit our website,
00:09:27.36\00:09:29.50
HisLegacy.com
00:09:29.53\00:09:31.73
Call 800-992-2219
00:09:31.77\00:09:36.30
>>John: Today I'd like to send
you a booklet that demonstrates
00:09:37.61\00:09:39.64
how God foretold world
events with absolute accuracy,
00:09:39.67\00:09:43.45
thousands of years in advance.
00:09:43.48\00:09:45.68
This booklet is
called: “Can God Be Trusted?”
00:09:45.71\00:09:48.08
and its absolutely free.
00:09:48.12\00:09:50.05
Just call 1-800-253-3000
00:09:50.09\00:09:52.79
and ask for “Can God Be Trusted”
00:09:52.82\00:09:55.72
If the lines busy,
please do keep on trying.
00:09:55.76\00:09:58.39
Or you can write to us at
00:09:58.43\00:09:59.73
It Is Written P.O. Box
6 Chattanooga, TN 37401
00:09:59.76\00:10:05.63
We'll mail a free copy to
your address in North America.
00:10:05.67\00:10:08.80
>>John: Thanks for
joining me on It Is Written.
00:10:09.94\00:10:12.04
I'm John Bradshaw.
00:10:12.07\00:10:14.18
In the Parable of the Sower,
00:10:14.21\00:10:15.81
Jesus talked about a man
who sowed seed on his land.
00:10:15.84\00:10:19.75
Most of the seed grew up,
00:10:19.78\00:10:21.28
but, but not all of
it really came to much.
00:10:21.32\00:10:23.95
There were four
different growing conditions
00:10:23.99\00:10:26.25
Jesus identified,
four different outcomes
00:10:26.29\00:10:29.06
when the seed was
planted into the ground.
00:10:29.09\00:10:31.53
He said some seed
fell by the wayside,
00:10:31.56\00:10:34.00
a path running along
the edge of the field.
00:10:34.00\00:10:36.70
When the seed was scattered,
00:10:36.73\00:10:37.93
some of it inevitably
landed on that pathway.
00:10:37.97\00:10:40.54
That seed
wouldn't even germinate.
00:10:40.57\00:10:42.40
It got beaten,
trodden and trampled,
00:10:42.44\00:10:44.57
ultimately devoured
by the birds of the air.
00:10:44.61\00:10:47.81
Jesus said the birds here
represent the evil one, Satan.
00:10:47.84\00:10:51.61
The wayside hearers are those,
00:10:51.65\00:10:53.48
well, superficial
hearers upon whom the truth
00:10:53.52\00:10:56.35
of the gospel have no effect.
00:10:56.38\00:10:57.89
They just don't respond to
God's love and grace and mercy.
00:10:57.92\00:11:02.99
It all rolls off them
like water off a duck's back.
00:11:03.02\00:11:05.96
And think about that:
the word of God intersects
00:11:05.99\00:11:08.96
with some lives and
those lives are unaffected,
00:11:09.00\00:11:13.47
for a variety of reasons.
00:11:13.50\00:11:15.24
Before it can take root,
00:11:15.27\00:11:16.77
Satan snatches the
seed of God's word away.
00:11:16.81\00:11:20.11
Next we have seed that
falls into stony ground.
00:11:20.14\00:11:23.78
Now, you'll find
where I live in Tennessee
00:11:23.81\00:11:25.85
areas where
there's a lot of rock,
00:11:25.88\00:11:27.58
near the surface of the ground,
00:11:27.62\00:11:29.25
its covered by a
thin layer of soil.
00:11:29.28\00:11:31.52
That doesn't do much
to help a garden prosper.
00:11:31.55\00:11:34.96
Here the gospel seed falls
into the hearts of the hearers
00:11:34.99\00:11:36.99
and finds enough
soil to germinate,
00:11:37.03\00:11:38.89
but that the soil is shallow.
00:11:38.93\00:11:42.03
No depth.
00:11:42.06\00:11:43.53
One of the great
things about this parable
00:11:43.57\00:11:44.80
is that Jesus
interpreted it for us.
00:11:44.83\00:11:46.80
In talking about
this he said in Matthew,
00:11:46.84\00:11:48.40
chapter 13, verses 20 and 21,
00:11:48.44\00:11:51.64
“But he who received
the seed on stony places,
00:11:51.67\00:11:55.78
this is he who hears the word
00:11:55.81\00:11:57.35
and immediately
receives it with joy;
00:11:57.38\00:11:59.88
yet he has no root in himself,
but endures only for a while.
00:11:59.91\00:12:04.69
For when tribulation
or persecution arises
00:12:04.72\00:12:07.39
because of the word,
immediately he stumbles.”
00:12:07.42\00:12:12.09
You know, people
can be like that.
00:12:12.13\00:12:13.86
The seed of God's word goes in,
00:12:13.90\00:12:15.36
it takes root, and
it grows, for a time.
00:12:15.40\00:12:19.57
But there's no depth.
00:12:19.60\00:12:21.74
Some people will respond to the
Gospel on an emotional level,
00:12:21.77\00:12:26.51
but when difficulties come or if
there's trouble or persecution,
00:12:26.54\00:12:28.91
you find their roots
just don't go down very far.
00:12:28.94\00:12:32.21
If they're challenged,
00:12:32.25\00:12:33.21
if their lives
are shaken in anyway,
00:12:33.25\00:12:35.52
they just don't last with Jesus.
00:12:35.55\00:12:37.69
And challenges do come.
00:12:37.72\00:12:38.82
Opposition can come.
00:12:38.85\00:12:40.52
A friend of mine told me
that in his academic field
00:12:40.56\00:12:42.72
it's challenging to
be a Christian because,
00:12:42.76\00:12:45.03
because so many of the
academics are atheists.
00:12:45.06\00:12:47.20
And he said they
tend to discriminate
00:12:47.23\00:12:49.90
against Bible
believing Christians,
00:12:49.93\00:12:51.23
at least in his environment.
00:12:51.27\00:12:53.13
I'd like to think
that's not always the case,
00:12:53.17\00:12:54.70
but it was his experience.
00:12:54.74\00:12:56.34
He said a lot of
his peers turned away
00:12:56.37\00:12:59.51
from faith in Christ because,
from a career perspective,
00:12:59.54\00:13:03.68
it just made things easier.
00:13:03.71\00:13:06.51
Now, most of us
living in the western world
00:13:06.55\00:13:08.38
don't really know much of
anything about persecution.
00:13:08.42\00:13:11.62
But I've met people
who've had to hide their faith;
00:13:11.65\00:13:14.36
I know people who have
had family members executed
00:13:14.39\00:13:16.79
for their faith in Jesus,
00:13:16.83\00:13:18.59
people who fled
their homeland for a chance
00:13:18.63\00:13:20.56
at being able to
worship God freely.
00:13:20.60\00:13:22.63
Of course, not all
challenges are that severe.
00:13:22.66\00:13:25.33
But however they come,
you don't want challenges
00:13:25.37\00:13:28.14
or obstacles to
push you away from God.
00:13:28.17\00:13:30.67
Instead, let them, let
them push you towards God.
00:13:30.71\00:13:34.78
And some of the
seed fell among thorns.
00:13:34.81\00:13:37.78
In verse 22, Jesus defined
the thorns of the Christian life
00:13:37.81\00:13:41.25
as the “cares of this world and
the deceitfulness of riches.”
00:13:41.28\00:13:45.95
The people represented
here don't wither away
00:13:45.99\00:13:49.16
as rapidly as the
stony ground hearers.
00:13:49.19\00:13:51.16
In fact, they look
like they're doing well
00:13:51.19\00:13:54.13
when they get
started on their journey.
00:13:54.20\00:13:56.56
But they get
sidetracked and distracted.
00:13:56.60\00:14:00.64
It's easy to get busy
with the cares of this world.
00:14:00.67\00:14:04.31
For some people
it's business or family.
00:14:04.34\00:14:06.88
Maybe, maybe a sport.
00:14:06.91\00:14:09.41
Some people are so
blessed with money,
00:14:09.44\00:14:11.85
but the blessing becomes a curse
00:14:11.88\00:14:13.31
when they start to love
money more than they love God.
00:14:13.35\00:14:16.45
Weeds, of whatever kind,
00:14:16.48\00:14:18.29
don't usually appear immediately
when the seed is sown.
00:14:18.32\00:14:21.86
The seed takes
root; it springs up;
00:14:21.89\00:14:23.22
it begins to look like a
plentiful crop is on the way.
00:14:23.26\00:14:25.33
But given a
chance, thorns or weeds
00:14:25.36\00:14:28.26
will overtake your garden
and prevent you from growing.
00:14:28.30\00:14:31.60
That's how it works spiritually.
00:14:31.63\00:14:33.30
We reap what we sow.
00:14:33.34\00:14:34.90
And the busyness or
the distractions of life
00:14:34.94\00:14:37.81
can prevent you from
reaching spiritual maturity.
00:14:37.84\00:14:41.74
You can be so busy you think
you don't have time to pray,
00:14:41.78\00:14:44.25
or don't have
time to read the Bible,
00:14:44.28\00:14:46.38
or be involved in church,
00:14:46.41\00:14:47.58
or with sharing your faith.
00:14:47.62\00:14:49.85
You never reach
your potential that way.
00:14:49.88\00:14:52.69
That way, you can never become
what God wants you to become.
00:14:52.72\00:14:57.03
When you're gardening,
weeds need to be pulled out.
00:14:57.06\00:15:00.43
It's important to weed negative
influences out of your life.
00:15:00.46\00:15:05.13
Now, they can be
people, associations, places,
00:15:05.17\00:15:08.30
things you read or listen to.
00:15:08.34\00:15:10.61
The old habits of a life of sin
are not completely weeded out;
00:15:10.64\00:15:15.71
if you allow Satan to
take root in your life,
00:15:15.74\00:15:18.08
God's word will be
choked right out of your heart.
00:15:18.11\00:15:23.12
I remember my Dad doing battle
with a weed called Convolvulus.
00:15:23.15\00:15:27.22
Even though it
had a pretty flower,
00:15:27.26\00:15:28.62
it was a nuisance.
00:15:28.66\00:15:30.33
It could take over a garden
00:15:30.36\00:15:31.83
and choke the life
out of everything else.
00:15:31.86\00:15:34.96
But Dad spent
hours and hours one year
00:15:35.00\00:15:36.56
getting rid of this menace.
00:15:36.60\00:15:39.00
But if he didn't?
00:15:39.03\00:15:40.40
If he didn't, that whole
garden and his years of work
00:15:40.44\00:15:43.51
would be completely ruined.
00:15:43.54\00:15:46.07
Just like that weed
had to be rooted out
00:15:46.11\00:15:48.04
so the garden could be saved,
00:15:48.08\00:15:50.61
there are negative
influences, destructive things,
00:15:50.65\00:15:53.15
some of which look good,
00:15:53.18\00:15:55.55
that have to be uprooted
and pulled out of the life.
00:15:55.58\00:15:57.95
You need to be
honest about this,
00:15:57.99\00:15:59.29
because some of these
can be things you love.
00:15:59.32\00:16:01.96
Weeds can be destructive.
00:16:01.99\00:16:04.53
Getting rid of them can
take vigilance and effort.
00:16:04.56\00:16:08.46
It takes faith in God
and surrender to His will
00:16:08.50\00:16:11.33
to get the weeds of
sin out of your life.
00:16:11.37\00:16:13.10
But let me tell
you, it's worth it.
00:16:13.13\00:16:16.64
Here's how Paul explained
how he kept the weeds of sin
00:16:16.67\00:16:19.94
out of his heart.
00:16:19.97\00:16:21.41
He said this in Galatians,
chapter 2 and verse 20.
00:16:21.44\00:16:26.55
“I have been
crucified with Christ;
00:16:26.58\00:16:29.08
it is no longer I who
live, but Christ lives in me;
00:16:29.12\00:16:32.75
and the life which I now live
in the flesh I live by faith
00:16:32.79\00:16:36.93
in the Son of God, who loved
me and gave Himself for me.”
00:16:36.96\00:16:42.80
Jesus in your heart is to sin
00:16:42.83\00:16:47.47
what a powerful
weed killer is to weeds.
00:16:47.50\00:16:52.14
So did any of the
seed in the parable thrive?
00:16:52.17\00:16:55.28
Yes, some did.
00:16:55.31\00:16:57.01
And that can be you.
00:16:57.05\00:16:59.51
How?
00:16:59.55\00:17:00.82
We'll take a look
at that right ahead.
00:17:00.85\00:17:03.02
¤[Music]¤
00:17:03.05\00:17:09.46
Announcer: In Matthew
4:4, the Word of God says,
00:17:11.76\00:17:14.20
“It is written, ‘Man
shall not live by bread alone,
00:17:14.23\00:17:17.13
but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God.”
00:17:17.17\00:17:21.30
“Every Word” is a one-minute,
00:17:21.34\00:17:22.90
Bible-based daily
devotional presented by
00:17:22.94\00:17:25.04
Pastor John Bradshaw,
00:17:25.07\00:17:26.24
and designed especially
for busy people like you.
00:17:26.27\00:17:29.34
Look for Every Word
on selected networks,
00:17:29.38\00:17:32.55
or watch it online
every day on our website,
00:17:32.58\00:17:34.88
ItIsWritten.com
00:17:34.92\00:17:36.95
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:17:36.99\00:17:39.02
Watch “Every Word.”
00:17:39.05\00:17:40.49
You'll be glad you did.
00:17:40.52\00:17:41.99
Here's a sample.
00:17:42.02\00:17:44.93
¤[Theme music]¤
00:17:45.53\00:17:51.30
>>John: It's good
to know the difference
00:17:51.97\00:17:53.07
between right and wrong.
00:17:53.10\00:17:54.44
But sometimes a person
might feel as though he or she
00:17:54.47\00:17:57.24
needs to straighten out people
00:17:57.27\00:17:58.67
who don't see
things his or her way.
00:17:58.71\00:18:01.28
In the parable of
the wheat and tares,
00:18:01.31\00:18:02.44
some men asked the farmer
if they should uproot weeds
00:18:02.48\00:18:05.25
growing among the wheat,
00:18:05.28\00:18:06.58
and he replies by
saying in Matthew 13:29,
00:18:06.61\00:18:09.48
“No, lest while
you gather up the tares
00:18:09.52\00:18:11.72
you also uproot
the wheat with them.”
00:18:11.75\00:18:14.29
Now, these were weeds,
00:18:14.32\00:18:15.39
yet God advised
caution in dealing with them.
00:18:15.42\00:18:18.26
He said he'd take care of that.
00:18:18.29\00:18:20.43
We can surely see here
that God's wish is that
00:18:20.46\00:18:22.26
we are patient and
careful with erring people.
00:18:22.30\00:18:24.83
As with children or plants,
00:18:24.87\00:18:26.77
rough treatment
can be disastrous.
00:18:26.80\00:18:28.90
Do what you can do
today to encourage people,
00:18:28.94\00:18:32.04
rather than
working to uproot them.
00:18:32.07\00:18:34.38
Usually, what
failing people need most
00:18:34.41\00:18:37.51
is kindness and caring.
00:18:37.55\00:18:39.11
I'm John Bradshaw
for It Is Written.
00:18:39.15\00:18:41.92
Let's live today by every word.
00:18:41.95\00:18:45.32
>>John: In the
parable of the sower,
00:18:46.42\00:18:48.49
a man sowed seed in his field.
00:18:48.52\00:18:51.03
Some of it fell on the
wayside and was eaten by birds.
00:18:51.06\00:18:53.83
In the
experience of some people,
00:18:53.86\00:18:55.76
the seed of God's
word is sown but Satan
00:18:55.80\00:18:57.57
snatches it away and it does not
take root in the human heart.
00:18:57.60\00:19:01.00
Some seed landed
where there was no depth,
00:19:01.04\00:19:03.81
the plant grew up but couldn't
last without deeper soil.
00:19:03.84\00:19:07.24
Jesus said this
represented people
00:19:07.28\00:19:08.74
who accept the word of God,
00:19:08.78\00:19:10.28
but when trials come
they don't have any depth.
00:19:10.31\00:19:13.78
Trials separate
them from faith in God
00:19:13.82\00:19:16.08
instead of driving
them to faith in God.
00:19:16.12\00:19:19.82
Then there were the people
who rejoiced in the word of God,
00:19:19.85\00:19:21.96
but the cares of this
world distracted them,
00:19:21.99\00:19:23.99
and they lost their way.
00:19:24.03\00:19:25.79
They're the ones represented
by the thorny ground.
00:19:25.83\00:19:29.76
But then some of the
seed fell into good soil.
00:19:29.80\00:19:33.50
So now we see the heart
responding to the softening
00:19:33.54\00:19:36.30
influence of the word
of God and the Holy Spirit.
00:19:36.34\00:19:39.24
A good crop is produced.
00:19:39.27\00:19:41.44
And that's the object of faith:
00:19:41.48\00:19:43.58
to give yourself to God in such
a way that His righteousness
00:19:43.61\00:19:47.65
is seen in your life.
00:19:47.68\00:19:49.45
If you've ever done much growing
you'll have had something
00:19:49.48\00:19:52.22
that looked good but
didn't produce anything.
00:19:52.25\00:19:55.02
A fruit tree maybe,
a bush of some kind.
00:19:55.06\00:19:58.26
You might keep the plant or
tree for decorative purposes,
00:19:58.29\00:20:01.00
but if you're
serious about a harvest,
00:20:01.03\00:20:03.33
that fruitless tree or
bush or plant is going to go.
00:20:03.37\00:20:07.74
The idea is to produce fruit.
00:20:07.77\00:20:11.64
Remember the
thorny ground hearers:
00:20:11.67\00:20:13.01
things started well but withered
00:20:13.04\00:20:14.91
in the face of
difficulty and opposition.
00:20:14.94\00:20:17.48
But things are
different in the hearts
00:20:17.51\00:20:18.88
of the good ground hearers.
00:20:18.91\00:20:20.82
The changes that we see here
are permanent and effective.
00:20:20.85\00:20:23.65
Can you see what's happened?
00:20:23.69\00:20:24.92
As the seed takes
root in the good soil,
00:20:24.95\00:20:27.46
the life is
transformed; the heart changes.
00:20:27.49\00:20:32.03
And this doesn't
happen by chance.
00:20:32.06\00:20:34.10
It happens because a
person perseveres in faith,
00:20:34.13\00:20:38.20
and clings to God
in spite of whatever
00:20:38.23\00:20:40.47
may happen in their life.
00:20:40.50\00:20:42.10
In Jesus, this believer sees
something worth holding onto
00:20:42.14\00:20:46.44
no matter what.
00:20:46.47\00:20:48.14
Jesus said in
Matthew 13 and verse 23:
00:20:48.18\00:20:52.68
“But he who received
seed on the good ground
00:20:52.71\00:20:56.48
is he who hears the
word and understands it,
00:20:56.52\00:20:59.79
who indeed bears
fruit and produces:
00:20:59.82\00:21:02.56
some a hundredfold,
some sixty, some thirty.”
00:21:02.59\00:21:07.40
A fruitful life.
00:21:07.46\00:21:08.66
Now, that's
what we want to live.
00:21:08.70\00:21:10.93
And we can, and we
will, when the word of God
00:21:10.97\00:21:13.57
enters your life and
is allowed to do its work.
00:21:13.60\00:21:16.94
The good ground here
didn't force itself to produce.
00:21:16.97\00:21:20.14
It's just what happened
when the word of God got in,
00:21:20.18\00:21:22.68
and there was depth,
and the weeds were kept out.
00:21:22.71\00:21:26.11
Growth happens when
the conditions are right.
00:21:26.15\00:21:31.49
I have family
living in New York City
00:21:31.52\00:21:33.82
who decided to grow a garden
on their balcony in Manhattan.
00:21:33.86\00:21:37.33
Mum and Dad bought
containers and bags of soil
00:21:37.36\00:21:40.06
and the children
got involved and helped,
00:21:40.10\00:21:41.56
and they grew eggplant
and lettuce and strawberries
00:21:41.60\00:21:44.23
and mint and more
tomatoes than they could count.
00:21:44.27\00:21:48.30
Right there in New York City!
00:21:48.34\00:21:50.07
The children
learned quickly that
00:21:50.11\00:21:51.44
if you want a garden
to grow successfully,
00:21:51.47\00:21:53.48
if you, if you get the
growing conditions right,
00:21:53.51\00:21:57.55
good soil,
00:21:57.58\00:21:58.18
the right amount of water,
00:21:58.21\00:21:59.08
you keep the pests away,
00:21:59.11\00:22:01.08
then you have the
elements of success
00:22:01.12\00:22:03.18
even on a New York City balcony.
00:22:03.22\00:22:06.05
It's the same with
the spiritual life.
00:22:06.09\00:22:07.96
Attend to the soil of the heart,
00:22:07.99\00:22:10.26
let the Spirit of God take root
00:22:10.29\00:22:11.59
and you will manifest
the fruit of the Spirit.
00:22:11.63\00:22:15.90
Gladys Mary Talbot
tells the story of a pine tree
00:22:15.93\00:22:18.77
that grew near a
beautiful lake in Maine.
00:22:18.80\00:22:20.94
It was loved by
people all around.
00:22:20.97\00:22:23.37
One day the pine was glad
to notice a little spruce tree
00:22:23.41\00:22:25.87
had been planted nearby.
00:22:25.91\00:22:27.01
It was glad
because for some time
00:22:27.04\00:22:28.84
it had wanted the
company of other trees.
00:22:28.88\00:22:31.51
The spruce tree
asked the pine tree
00:22:31.55\00:22:33.88
how he could grow as
big as the pine tree.
00:22:33.92\00:22:36.05
The pine tree said,
00:22:36.08\00:22:38.45
“If you want to grow
as tall and as big as me,
00:22:38.49\00:22:41.22
then you need to
look upward every day.”
00:22:41.26\00:22:45.69
Which the spruce tree did.
00:22:45.73\00:22:47.86
And it grew into
beautiful, tall tree.
00:22:47.86\00:22:49.76
Just a story, now.
00:22:49.80\00:22:50.93
You won't find too
many talking trees.
00:22:50.97\00:22:54.00
But the story
makes a good point.
00:22:54.04\00:22:55.34
If you want to grow spiritually,
00:22:55.37\00:22:58.01
put your roots deep
into the soil of God's word,
00:22:58.04\00:23:00.31
and look up.
00:23:00.34\00:23:01.94
Look up.
00:23:01.98\00:23:03.41
Don't allow the devil to snatch
God's word out of your heart.
00:23:03.45\00:23:06.58
Don't be shallow;
00:23:06.61\00:23:07.68
don't let trials turn
you away from a loving God;
00:23:07.72\00:23:09.55
and don't let the
cares of life distractions,
00:23:09.58\00:23:13.36
busyness, choke
spiritual life out of you.
00:23:13.39\00:23:17.86
Friend, look up, look toward
God in faith and Jesus Christ,
00:23:17.89\00:23:22.10
who died for you.
00:23:22.13\00:23:23.43
Look up, and let God grow you;
00:23:23.47\00:23:26.47
let God prepare you
for eternity with Him.
00:23:26.50\00:23:29.10
Make it your
business to read the Bible.
00:23:29.14\00:23:32.37
Carve out some
time every day and read.
00:23:32.41\00:23:36.44
Pray.
00:23:36.48\00:23:37.78
Commit parts of
the Bible to memory.
00:23:37.81\00:23:40.22
And the good seed of
God's word will reach down
00:23:40.25\00:23:43.79
deep into the
soil of your heart,
00:23:43.82\00:23:46.09
and then will grow up and
produce a harvest for eternity.
00:23:46.12\00:23:51.49
¤[Music]¤
00:23:51.53\00:23:57.80
>>John: Today I'd like to send
you a booklet that demonstrates
00:23:59.23\00:24:01.30
how God foretold world
events with absolute accuracy,
00:24:01.34\00:24:05.24
thousands of years in advance.
00:24:05.27\00:24:07.51
This booklet is
called: “Can God Be Trusted?”
00:24:07.54\00:24:10.01
and its absolutely free.
00:24:10.05\00:24:11.85
Just call 1-800-253-3000
00:24:11.88\00:24:14.58
and ask for “Can God Be Trusted”
00:24:14.62\00:24:17.52
If the lines busy,
please do keep on trying.
00:24:17.55\00:24:20.26
Or you can write to us at:
00:24:20.29\00:24:21.46
It Is Written P.O. Box
6 Chattanooga, TN 37401
00:24:21.49\00:24:27.50
We'll mail a free copy to
your address in North America.
00:24:27.50\00:24:30.87
It Is Written is a
faith based ministry,
00:24:30.90\00:24:33.44
and your support
makes it possible for us
00:24:33.47\00:24:35.50
to share God's good
news with the world.
00:24:35.54\00:24:39.01
Your tax-deductible gift
00:24:39.04\00:24:40.34
can be sent to the
address on your screen.
00:24:40.38\00:24:42.34
Or through our
website at itiswritten.com
00:24:42.38\00:24:46.28
Thank you for your
continued prayerful support.
00:24:46.31\00:24:48.65
Again our toll free
number is 800-253-3000
00:24:48.68\00:24:53.39
and our web
address is itiswritten.com
00:24:53.42\00:24:58.16
>>John: There's
power in the word of God,
00:24:59.66\00:25:01.00
but how do you get
that power into your life?
00:25:01.03\00:25:03.00
Let me take a couple of
moments to share with you,
00:25:03.03\00:25:05.40
how you can practically
experience God's power;
00:25:05.43\00:25:08.44
the power in His word,
00:25:08.47\00:25:10.11
in your life.
00:25:10.14\00:25:11.47
When you come to the bible
there are hundreds and hundreds,
00:25:11.51\00:25:13.91
its even been said thousands
of promises in God's word.
00:25:13.94\00:25:17.58
Those are promises
that are made to you,
00:25:17.61\00:25:20.48
and you can claim
those promises and tell God
00:25:20.52\00:25:23.45
that you expect
Him to do for you
00:25:23.49\00:25:25.39
what He says in the
bible that He will do.
00:25:25.42\00:25:28.52
Now careful,
00:25:28.56\00:25:30.29
you don't want
to be presumptuous,
00:25:30.33\00:25:31.59
this is about
faith not presumption.
00:25:31.63\00:25:33.73
So if you were living a
life in opposition to God,
00:25:33.76\00:25:36.60
you're not repentant,
00:25:36.63\00:25:38.03
you're not
stretched out before God,
00:25:38.07\00:25:40.87
you wouldn't ordinarily
be expecting too much.
00:25:40.90\00:25:43.64
That's not to say that
God doesn't do great things
00:25:43.67\00:25:46.01
for people who, are
way outside of God's will,
00:25:46.04\00:25:48.94
but typically these promises
are made to people of faith.
00:25:48.98\00:25:52.25
So, not presumption, faith.
00:25:52.28\00:25:55.28
You go to the promises of God;
00:25:55.32\00:25:56.28
Philippians 4:19 is a
great example, it says:
00:25:56.32\00:25:59.92
“And my God shall
supply all your need
00:25:59.95\00:26:04.23
according to His riches
in glory by Christ Jesus.”
00:26:04.26\00:26:06.80
Now you heard that.
00:26:06.83\00:26:08.53
Paul wrote to the
church at Philippi
00:26:08.56\00:26:10.43
and he said that God
will supply your need.
00:26:10.47\00:26:14.44
How does that work in our lives?
00:26:14.47\00:26:16.17
You need to make
the rent payment,
00:26:16.20\00:26:17.67
a car payment,
00:26:17.71\00:26:19.07
and you just try as you might,
00:26:19.11\00:26:20.88
don't know where the
money's going to come from.
00:26:20.91\00:26:22.18
You go to God, you say God
I need your help with this.
00:26:22.21\00:26:24.98
There is a way you
can get me through.
00:26:25.01\00:26:26.65
I'm claiming Philippians 4:19,
00:26:26.68\00:26:28.65
you have said that
you will supply my need.
00:26:28.68\00:26:31.89
Here it is written in the bible,
00:26:31.92\00:26:34.12
and I'm asking and
expecting you to do so.
00:26:34.16\00:26:38.93
And then you watch and
see God do great things.
00:26:38.96\00:26:41.06
Pray, but pray on
the basis of the promises
00:26:41.10\00:26:43.73
that God has made to you;
these promises are for you.
00:26:43.77\00:26:49.64
Now careful, sometimes
you'll claim a promise,
00:26:49.67\00:26:51.57
maybe about
health; somebody dies.
00:26:51.61\00:26:55.54
Well this is
where faith comes in.
00:26:55.58\00:26:56.81
We don't always
see the big picture
00:26:56.85\00:26:58.98
and if someone's
life was dependent
00:26:59.01\00:27:01.75
simply upon claiming a promise
of God, well who would die?
00:27:01.78\00:27:06.76
You've got to remember that not
00:27:06.79\00:27:07.56
all of our prayers are answered.
00:27:07.59\00:27:09.62
And when that happens
we defer to the will of God
00:27:09.66\00:27:11.59
and believe that in
eternity we will understand
00:27:11.63\00:27:14.13
why these things are so.
00:27:14.20\00:27:17.77
Now there's another
promise in proverbs chapter 3
00:27:17.80\00:27:22.64
starting in verse 5:
00:27:22.67\00:27:23.61
“Trust in the Lord
with all your heart,
00:27:23.64\00:27:25.04
lean not unto
your own understanding;
00:27:25.07\00:27:27.71
in all your
ways acknowledge Him,
00:27:27.74\00:27:29.68
and He shall direct your paths."
00:27:29.71\00:27:32.48
That's a promise.
00:27:32.51\00:27:34.05
God promises to guide you,
00:27:34.08\00:27:36.38
to bless you,
00:27:36.42\00:27:37.15
to lead in your life.
00:27:37.19\00:27:39.29
It's the promise of God for you.
00:27:39.32\00:27:41.19
You go to God, you say:
God here's what you have said.
00:27:41.22\00:27:44.49
I believe it,
00:27:44.53\00:27:45.36
I'm trusting you,
00:27:45.39\00:27:46.73
I'm expecting you.
00:27:46.76\00:27:47.76
When you pray like
that, and you take God's word
00:27:47.76\00:27:49.26
and His promises to
Him like that in faith,
00:27:49.30\00:27:52.63
you can expect to
see God do great things.
00:27:52.67\00:27:54.97
¤[Music]¤
00:27:55.00\00:28:01.44
If you'll let the word of
God in take root in your life,
00:28:02.34\00:28:05.41
then you can
expect the word of God
00:28:05.45\00:28:07.25
will produce a
harvest in your life:
00:28:07.28\00:28:09.82
a harvest of righteousness,
00:28:09.85\00:28:10.95
a harvest of peace,
00:28:10.99\00:28:13.59
a harvest of confidence,
00:28:13.62\00:28:15.79
and a harvest of hope.
00:28:15.82\00:28:17.69
Let's pray together now.
00:28:17.73\00:28:19.96
Our Father in Heaven, I
thank you for your word.
00:28:20.00\00:28:23.60
We're just humans here, Lord.
00:28:23.63\00:28:24.87
We struggle, we are weak,
00:28:24.90\00:28:27.07
we battle,
00:28:27.10\00:28:29.37
we have tendencies towards
walking in the wrong way.
00:28:29.40\00:28:34.38
We love sin way too much.
00:28:34.41\00:28:37.65
And yet you call
us to live holy lives.
00:28:37.68\00:28:41.15
Thank you, Lord, for
allowing that to happen
00:28:41.18\00:28:44.45
through the power of your word.
00:28:44.49\00:28:47.26
Give us grace to hide
your word in our hearts.
00:28:47.29\00:28:51.73
Let it be a lamp to our
feet, a light to our path.
00:28:51.76\00:28:56.36
We remember David
asked the question,
00:28:56.40\00:28:58.17
“Wherewithal shall a
young man cleanse his ways?”
00:28:58.20\00:29:01.74
and answered it by saying,
00:29:01.77\00:29:03.81
“By taking heed thereto
according to your word.”
00:29:03.84\00:29:06.88
Give us grace to do that,
00:29:06.91\00:29:08.78
that your word would be
our guide and our strength,
00:29:08.81\00:29:11.45
and that through
the power of your word
00:29:11.48\00:29:14.28
we can be
everything you want us to be,
00:29:14.32\00:29:16.82
and ready to meet
Jesus when he comes again.
00:29:16.85\00:29:19.95
Keep us until then, we pray,
00:29:19.99\00:29:22.26
in Jesus' name,
00:29:22.29\00:29:24.63
Amen.
00:29:24.66\00:29:25.59
Thanks so much
for joining me today.
00:29:26.23\00:29:27.66
I'm looking forward to
seeing you again next time.
00:29:27.66\00:29:30.70
Until then, remember:
00:29:30.73\00:29:32.93
It is written,
00:29:32.97\00:29:34.30
man shall not
live by bread alone,
00:29:34.34\00:29:36.91
but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God.
00:29:36.94\00:29:41.51
¤[Theme music]¤
00:29:41.54\00:29:56.56