The Power of God’s Word, Pt. 6
As I’ve shared over the past few weeks, God’s Word directs, guides, instructs, and empowers us on our journey with Him. His Word is eternal, and He watches over it to ensure its fulfillment. His Word is alive and active!
Embrace the power of His Word to bring about His intentions for your life, family, and church. Have faith that this year will be one of growth and expansion for you and your family!
I’ve been studying the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4 to gain a deeper understanding of the power of God’s Word.
Let’s continue in Mark 4, specifically verses 18-19:
“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.” (NKJV)
Those sown among thorns are those who let the word take root but allow other distractions to crowd in and compete for priority. The deceitfulness of riches and the desire for other things lure us into a materialistic mindset, weakening our worship of Jesus. Simply stated, we can’t serve both God and wealth.
Jesus identifies three distractions that weaken the effectiveness of His Word in our lives:
1) The cares of this world,
2) The deceitfulness of riches, and
3) The desire for other things.
Let’s start with the last two first.
The Deceitfulness of Riches
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Tim. 6:6-10 NIV)
We must be good stewards of our time, treasure, and talents. However, striving to accumulate wealth outside of God’s kingdom values deprives us of the true riches He offers. Simply put, we cannot serve both God and money. Money should not master us but serve God’s purposes.
Over the years, I have seen marriages and families disintegrate because one or both spouses become obsessed with making money at the expense of their relationships with each other, their family, God, and the community of faith. Do not sacrifice your family for greed or for overachieving that contradicts God’s Word and nature. Many have strayed from the faith as a consequence of greed.
Desires for Other Things
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15 NKJV)
In the Ten Commandments, God states, “You shall have no other gods before Me!” Be wary of lust and idolatry in the world system (culture, ideology) and the desire for material possessions and pleasures.
When I was a new Christian, my pastor, a Vietnam veteran, developed a passion for surfing while he was stationed in Hawaii before his discharge. He came to faith during that time as well. Soon after, the Lord spoke to Jim one day and told him to “get rid of your surfboard!”
God does not oppose our exercising or enjoying recreational activities. However, Jim became fixated on surfing, which negatively impacted his spiritual growth and prevented him from fulfilling his intended role as a pastor.
Jim became an exceptional worship leader and pastor, profoundly impacting many lives before passing away. One day, he faced a choice: surfing or Jesus! Don’t be surprised if God nudges you to let go of anything that might hinder your growth in life.
Cares of this World
The cares of this world refer to genuine day-to-day concerns experienced throughout life and within families. The danger lies in allowing these legitimate concerns to overwhelm and stifle one’s devotion to Jesus.
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. (Matt. 6:31-33 NLT)
Don’t worry about what you will eat, drink, or wear. Unbelievers strive for such things, but your Father already knows what you need. Seek Him first, and all these things will be provided to you.
Paul informs us to…
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6-7 NKJV)
Many worry because they lack confidence in God. Worry generates fear of the future based on present circumstances. Effective prayer starts with trusting God and His Word. Understanding what God has promised equips us to pray and trust.
Since I began walking with Jesus 45 years ago, God has often led me to step out in faith, which frequently involves finances and risk. Worry tries to creep in, but I remind myself of what God has done in the past, dismiss the worry and fear, and confidently move forward as He guides me.
The Lord gave me strength last week with this verse:
“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22 NIV)
His Word comforts, strengthens, and guides! Like you, I also face cares and concerns that confront me each week. I’ve learned that I can “cast my cares” upon the Lord and trust that He will strengthen and sustain me through the challenges of life and ministry.
Have you ever had a burden that you could no longer carry? I imagine you have; most of us have. What do you do?
You cry out to Him and cast your burdens on Him! “Lord, my heart is heavy today; please sustain me! I trust in You and Your Word!”
Reflect on how God has helped you in the past. “Thank you, God, for the ways you have provided (healed, etc.) for us … I thank you that you remain the same today!” God’s Word is true; He is not a man that He should lie (Num. 23:19).
He loves you and cares for you! 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) states, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” He is a good Father who understands your needs. You can trust Him.
Here are a few practical steps for casting your cares on the Lord:
Call on Him
16 As for me, I will call upon God, And the Lord shall save me. 17 Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice. (Psalm 55:16-17 NKJV)
Throughout God’s Word, He promises to be close to you, to hear your prayers, and to deliver you in times of distress. He will listen to your voice!
“…call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” (Psalm 50:15 NIV)
What a promise! Equally astounding is that, through our deliverance, God is honored!
Trust in God to answer your prayers and grant you understanding in times of need. His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are higher than ours. Romans 8:28 states that God will work all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called by His name!
Trust in Him
Commit (or roll off onto) your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:5 NKJV)
We can trust God because His Word and nature are constant. “God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change…” (Psalm 55:19 NIV)
What God did in the past, He will do again. His mighty acts and miracles invite us to believe and expect that He will act once more. Trust Him—He has this!
Give God your Cares
Jesus invites us to come to Him.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt. 11:28-29 NIV)
It’s an invitation, yet it’s truly a command: “Come to Me!” He wishes to carry our heavy burdens and bear them alongside us.
Rest in Him
We find rest in Him by releasing our heavy burdens and allowing Jesus to bear them. When we let go, we find peace in Him.
We crave control, so we often rationalize human reasoning and effort to solve our problems. However, in the kingdom of God, the situation is reversed! The more we cast our cares onto God and allow Him to bear the burden, the more abundant life we experience!
David declared with confidence,
“1 Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. 2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress; I will never be shaken.” (Psalm 62:1-2 NIV)
Don’t allow the worries of this life to weigh you down. You are more than a conqueror in Christ! (Rom. 8:37)
You are a child of God, loved and valued by the Father. You possess the authority of His name and the power of His Word, and the Holy Spirit is with you. You can trust Him, rest in faith, and know that God is in control. You are here for such a time as this!
Esther showed courage against Haman because she understood her purpose in her generation. Consider Daniel in the lion’s den; you can trust God even when surrounded by enemies. Or look at David confronting Goliath, who declared, “Who is this giant that dares defy the armies of God?!” Peter, Paul, and the early church stood boldly against the powers of darkness to make an impact in their generation.
Don’t be discouraged or fearful during this moment in human history. This is our opportunity to impact the world, and we aim to raise our children, grandchildren, and a new generation of disciples who will stand fearless in this hour, proclaiming that our God reigns!
I will continue next week by exploring how God’s Word can yield thirty, sixty, or even a hundredfold!
