11-04-07: Good Word Good Ground

Good Word; Good Ground
Bishop Jakes
Nov 4, 2007

Mark 4: 1-9
1 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. 2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, 3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: 4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. 5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: 6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. 9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Jesus chose to teach primarily through parables; understand the dimensions of the truth through symbolism
- use metaphors that we can relate to, to explain revelations that we cannot relate to
- parable requires that the reader have some degree of relevatory knowledge so that the hearer can understand the truth of the story
- to others it is just a story, but to the child of God, there is glory in the story

This is one of the few times that he follows the parable with an explanation
- he wanted to be sure that we get an understanding of the truth

Agricultural parable: power of his word
- God's seed is his word
- When he goes to create- he uses the word
- out of the invisible comes the visible, out of theintangible comes the tangible
- You cannot be a bonafied legitimate Christian and not love his word
- Christ himself is a derivative of the word
- Whenever the Word speaks - things are going to move
- If God's word is strong enough to hold up the sun, it's strong enough to hold me up

Most of us are good ground. What is growing in us is what was planted in us
- You have to be careful
- You can't sow negative words and reap positive children
- Faith cometh by teaching, and teaching by the word of God
- Just because you don't believe doesn't mean that it's lost its power
- Wether shall I go, oh Lord, for thy words are everywhere
- Jesus had to stop speaking because when he was speaking life, nothing could kill him
- What kind of ground are you?

The kingdom of God requires that you have the ear to hear and the eye to see
- How a woman can give up the man she can see for a man you can't see

The sower soweth the word
- When you get good word, you go home pregnant
- pregnant with hope and encouragement
- Some of you are one step away from the blessing that is coming into your life

15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
- The enemy comes to steal the word out of your heart
- There is nothing wrong with the word, but it fell in a shallow place. Shallow people who live on the edge
-- the highway side, and the birds ate it
- You flunk on Monday when you were trained on Sunday because you did not determine the word precious enough to preseve it

16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
- I used to be so impressed with outward expressions
- Sometimes the people who shout the loudest are the ones who live the lowest
- it's a dangerous thing to have more show than you have substance
- receive the word with gladness but have no root
- talking so loud that they can't hear
- You gotta have some roots, because life will try you by the roots
-- the trunk will bend but the roots will stand in the storm
- plant trees to tap into the spring, because it stops the ground from slipping when the roots get entangled in the dirt
-- one tree was twice as tall as the others: it was planted by the water
-- out growing your situation because you were planted by the living water
- When you get in a place where you are growing and have root, stay put- you are in good ground

17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
- if you get offended - check your roots. The roots of your soul, your spirit
-- knocked to your knees and you're still standing

18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
- You walk away with the blessing but leave the blessor
- Never allow your stuff to take you away from your God
- God doesn't mind you having things, he minds things having you
- The bible talks about the deceitfulness of riches- you start going after money instead of going after the kingdom
-- if you seek the kingdom, the money seeketh you
-- if you give it up, I'll give it to you, but if you try to hold onto it, I'll take it away
- It's a whole new level of test when God starts to bless you. You have to be careful not to worship what he gave you instead of worshiping him
- To him whom much is given, much is required
- The things God gave them, outgrew them-- the cares of the world distracted them from seeking God
- I don't care.
-- Cast all your cares on him, for he cares for you.
- One of the most horrific ways to die is to choke to death.
-- You are dying from the lack of something you are exposed to, but can't get to it, because something is in the way. Choking to death, and prospering- but choking on your own prosperity.
-- No one ministers to people who have too much: too much too fast
- Where God is taking you, you cannot afford to allow another thing to get in your windpipe and get in the way
-- I'm turning it over to God.
- If the enemy can't choke you with poverty - he'll choke you with too much success

20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
- The enemy wouldn't be trying to choke you if God wasn't getting ready to bless you
- If you hear the word of God, and receive the word of God, than all that's left is to bring forth
- The least you will bring forth is 30-fold

According to the almanac, there were certain seasons that were better for planting seed - this is your time. Do not count on tomorrow.