God's plan for His people is that we would have joy no matter what season of life we are in; no matter the ups and downs. Nehemiah 8:10 tells us that The Joy of the LORD is our strength. When we have joy, we have strength--in mind, emotions, and spirit. God also knows that there are Joy Stealers. We went through the Parable of the Sower found in Mark 4:15-19. Here we find 3 types of ground or as I call them, heart conditions, as these represent people. Here is a very brief overview.
Wayside--this person is near or beside the Path of Life but not on it. The Seed of God's word comes and never makes it past their head to their heart. The Accuser comes and does what he does, accuses and makes them to doubt that the word is truth for their life--then steals that seed. It never produces. Joy Stolen by DOUBT.
Stony Ground--this person has set beliefs about things that came from life experiences and words. When the seed of God word comes, although excited at first that they can finally change, they don't, because the seed cannot get past the belief they already had and unbelief comes. Joy Stolen by UNBELIEF.
Thorny Ground--This person gets entangled and stuck on self. They may desire to obey God but distractions come, money troubles (wanting too much or not having enough), making everything about themself (although likely trying to spiritualize it). Joy Stolen by SELF FOCUS
All of these fail to Let the Word Become Life in their Life because of the Joy Stealer that caused the Word to be unfruitful.
God doesn't tell us the problem without giving an answer. He wants to heal the hearts of all of those with one of these heart condition that has been keeping the Word of God from becoming life in their life. We find the way to that healing in 2 Chronicles 7:14, "14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Humble yourself (realize you do not know better than God), pray (judge where you are really at and admit it as sin), turn from those things that God cannot work with because there is no faith in it--all of this is really a hearts cry of total surrender and recognition that we cannot heal our own ground and change. Only God can.
Let's Discuss...
Did you find yourself in one of the heart condition/ground examples? If so, which one?
What are you doing so God can heal your ground?
What was your aha or ouch from the message and how is it changing you?
His Servant,
Elder Christy
Stoney ground past experiences find myself like that man Lord I believe help my unbelief past experiences and distorted responses get in the way of what God wants to do today.
I have to judge it as sin so that God can cleanse me from it and heal my ground.
If I don't consider it sin then I will never be cleansed of it
What even a minister may have imperfect ground yeah for all I've sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. A great reminder that our ground can be improved and if we work on it all things are possible.
Did you find yourself in one of the heart condition/ground examples? If so, which one?
-let's just say---all 3, in different areas at different times... With self focus winning 😕
What are you doing so God can heal your ground?
-my desire is for 2nd Chronicles 7:14, to go from my head and root in my heart so that it is a daily check of---pray-what, where, and who is my focus??? Seek His face, and turn away from my self focus distractions. I'm crying out for Him to make me whole
What was your aha or ouch from the message and how is it changing you?
-an ouch 😬that more often than not I'm at one if these "bad grounds"…
The ground that I found myself in when hearing this message was thorny ground (cares of life/self focus). Are these things so often peppered with good intentions? Sure. But even the thistle that has lovely purple flowers all over it still chokes everything else out around it.
Repent, fasting, and judging myself. -nothing will ever change until you see it as a problem.
Which leads me straight into my “aha”: 2 Chronicles 7:14 the famous “if My people will humble themselves and pray” verse, that pray in that verse means to judge. How many times have I come before God and cried change me but not judged the things He can’t work with as sin. Too often have I kept…
1. Did you find yourself in one of the heart condition/ground examples? If so, which one?
There are times when I feel like I'm in a ditch with stones and thistles & thorns. I am not who I was before learning to Let the Word Become Life in my Life at BAM. So God's Word has produced in my life. Just not as much as He could have done if I let Him more over that length of time. This season-round, Wayside called me out the most. Near the Path but not on it, more head than heart. That ditch on both sides image has been speaking to me for awhile. The cry from my heart is to be made…
Did you find yourself in one of the heart condition/ground examples? If so, which one? After judging myself, I saw that there are areas of my life that fall into all 4 of the grounds. Looking at my life most of my ground isn't good ground.
What are you doing so God can heal your ground? Fasting and judging myself so that I can see exactly what is stealing my joy, so that I can confess it as sin so that God can cleanse me of it.
What was your aha or ouch from the message and how is it changing you? I must judge myself before God can cleanse me.