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“Words taught by the Spirit”
(1Cor.2:13)
An Email Ministry of Spiritual Messages for the Glory of God
THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER
Introduction
The Parable of the Sower is well known by almost everyone. As is what it means.
However, even just to look at it again can have beneficial results for the soul.
It prompts us to reexamine both the position and condition of our souls.
Furthermore, it helps to decide to purify our souls to bring them into line with
God’s commandments. My purpose is to
contribute to the understanding of certain aspects of this parable which
have not been sufficiently emphasized.
The goal of this parable of Jesus Christ was to explain why the Word of God does
not produce any result in the life of certain people and why it brings fruit to
others. He also wanted to help people to understand that the only thing that God
is interested in is men’s salvation and fruitfulness. And, furthermore, to make
it clear that not being fruitful is not simply a disadvantage for the heart but
that it leads to spiritual death:
“…therefore every tree which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast
into the fire.” (Mat.3:10).
Having as His pulpit a small boat, He threw the net of His Word out in order to
catch some fish, people who had gathered around Him. He taught them in parables…
After
having finished this parable, His
disciples approached Him and asked Him to explain it to them; also, they wanted
to know why He spoke to the people in parables.
He begins, therefore, its explanation by a word of encouragement: To you it was
given to know the mysteries
of the kingdom of God, but not to them!
Words of comfort for His disciples but provocative, if not offensive, to those
who did not belong to Him! Yes, only to you who appreciated me, who loved Me and
followed Me, not to those who do not accept my words, who despise Me and who do
not obey my voice. I have to speak to them using parables. I will speak to them
in such a way that they can understand what I am talking about, but only to you
will I give the spiritual meaning of my words: “And the disciples came, and
said to him, Why speak you to them in parables? He answered and said to them,
Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but
to them it is not given. For whoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall
have more abundance: but whoever has not, from him shall be taken away even that
he has. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and
hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the
prophecy of Isaiah, which said, By hearing you shall hear, and shall not
understand; and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive: For this
people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their
eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear
with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be
converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see:
and your ears, for they hear.” (Mat.13:10-16).
These are very harsh words for those who do not want Him and do not want to
follow Him: Because to him who has, will be given more
so that he may have a surplus. And he
who does not have, from him will be taken what he has, even what he thinks he
has (Luk.8:18). These words are very serious and very severe and they are
contrary to the notion of justice according to the world standards about
equality and the support that should be offered to those who do not have:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, said the
LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than
your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
It is written: “As he loved cursing, so let it come to him: as he delighted
not in blessing, so let it be far from him.” (Ps.109:17).
What is written by God holds good forever!
God is neither joking nor is He mocked. Keep, therefore, your heart with all
diligence; for out of it are the issues of life (Prov.4:23). In certain cases,
even one choice is sufficient to determine the evolution of his life. This
declaration is extreme and provoking! Yes, but absolutely true! These
words of the Lord refer to the spiritual things but we should not think that
they are not valid, under certain circumstances, in the physical and material
sectors, too.
Continuing His explanations on this point,
He makes them understand that the main
reason for using this way of speaking to the people is to hide the truth from
the people whose heart is waxed gross and at the same time to indicate the depth
of it to those who are of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord
(Isa.11:3). Our Lord Jesus Christ used parables, i.e., similarities, comparisons
and allegories, which always
used scenarios which were real to the people in order to teach spiritual or
moral principles: To teach and reprove without offending just as Nathan
the prophet had reproved King David for the great sin he had committed; to
stimulate the interest of His listeners in order to have the occasion to explain
His parables to those who loved the truth; to hide the truth from those who were
not interested by it and to use it as a touchstone to identify and then move
away those who were inappropriate and draw near the suitable ones, those who
were sincere and painstaking, who seek
her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasure (Prov.2:3-5); and
to add truth to those who love it.
And now let us examine the four categories of the people that the Lord
describes, based on their reaction on hearing the Word of God, which He compares
with a sown seed.
The preacher of the Gospel is compared to a sower. He does not make his seed
because it is given to him by the Lord.
He has, therefore, no right to replace it or to
change it. He goes ahead in the name of his Master and disperses
the invaluable seed of the truth of the Gospel. If He knew whose heart is the
“good ground” perhaps he would limit himself only sowing seed on it. However,
not knowing the hearts of men, he must scatter the seed on all the ground, to
everyone, and commit the rest to the Lord’s care.
First category
In Luke, Jesus says: “A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some
fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air
devoured it.” (Luke 8:5). And it explains it as follows: “Those by
the way side are they that hear; then comes the devil, and takes away the word
out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.” (Luc 8:12).
In Matthew, Jesus indicates: “When
any one hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it not, then comes the
wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he
which received seed by the way side.” (Mat.13:19)
In the first case, we have
a trodden ground, i.e., a heart hardened by its resistance
to the truth and to every thing which is right: A heart hardened by sin.
Satan contributed considerably to the creation of a heart hardened and which
rebels directly or indirectly: By its choices and/or by those of the members of
his family, of his friends and his enemies.
The door of his
heart is hermetically sealed, so that
nothing can pass through it. In other words, the main characteristic is their
hard-heartedness to the light of God and their indifference. With regard to
the hardness of heart, this does not inevitably refer to the hardness or the
brutality of the character. I have known people who in terms of their
character or attitude, it was so good that I could say that the only thing that
was missing is just Christ but they had their hearts hermetically sealed for
anything that had to do with God and His will. They loved and continue to love
this world and its pleasures. They were interested but in the things they want
to be interested in but not in
the things which they should interest them. I had a colleague who said to me one
day abruptly: “What you preach is correct
and true but I do not like this way of life. I want to live my life as most
people do”! They do not
think and they do not want to think of the wrath to come, nor about the future
state of their souls. What a pity! Our prayers and efforts and even our tears
cannot help somebody who does not want to be helped, who does not want to be
converted! Jesus declared: “O Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets, and stone them which are sent to you,
how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen
gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would
not!” (Mat.23:37)
The hardness of the heart of some of them becomes manifest in days of crisis or
in days of temptation; instead of accepting God’s chastisement they revolt more
and more (Isa.1:5). Others, when they are reproved, instead of admitting the
truth, they harden their neck and twist the truth: “He, that being often
reproved hardens his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without
remedy.” (Prov.28:14 and 29:1). Others, being past feeling,
have given themselves over to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness greedily
(Eph.4:19). Others have all these defects plus many others all at the same time!
Hearing they shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing they see, and not
perceive: for the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull
of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their
eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be
converted, and God should heal them (Acts 28:26-7). He, who loves the glory
of man now more than that which comes from the Lord, he, one day, will be
ridiculed by Satan when he is gained for hell…
This same category may express its trodden down ground in another way: They
listen but do not obey. They prefer to go out to their field, to their ground or
to their work and perhaps others do not obey because they do not want to
disappoint some members of their family… or because they are afraid of their
boss. For where their treasure is, there will their
heart be also (Mat.6:21). This is why even if they hear a good sermon
they forget it immediately; or they do not understand it even if they are
educated people. And this is because they do not find pleasure in true wisdom
but in what their heart imagines (Prov.18:2). They are absorbed by the
“trinity”, which they worship: Acquisition, pleasure and the pride of the life
or in other words as the Word of God describes: “…the lust of the flesh, and
the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life…” (1Joh.2:16). All their
pleasure is to be found in their daily life, the things and their everyday
occupations.
As we already said, since they do not believe the Word of God, they do not keep
it in their heart and they do not understand it, thus comes the devil and
removes it. At the end Satan removes not only the Word but he also removes them,
if they remain in the same condition and do not change.
Beware! We, who are really Christian, should not be impertinent and exclude or
judge people who react negatively to our exhortations. As long as one lives, you
can never know how God can awaken his heart from its lethargy. I know someone
who was hearing the Word of God for about forty years, who was indifferent to it
and he even reacted negatively to it. The ecclesiastical environment as well as
some members of his family did not only attract him to Christ but were in
reality moving him away. At the end, he was won to Christ, and that because of
the good conduct of his daughter; his daughter is my wife.
Second group
Mat.13:5-6: “Some fell on stony places, where they had not much earth: and
immediately they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the
sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered
away.” The explanation which he gives is as follows: “But he that
received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and
immediately with joy receives it; Yet has he not root in himself, but endures
for a while: for when tribulation or persecution rises because of the word, by
and by he is offended.” (Mat.13:20-21)
One of the main characteristics of these people is their enthusiasm when they
hear the Word of God. They take pleasure in it. And they are not only filled
with enthusiasm but they also have tears in their eyes. Under the influence of
the Holy Spirit, the seed seems to have sprouted. Such people grow and show the
external characteristics of regeneration. In certain cases, it is expressed in
an even more intensive way if compared to true and genuine Christians. They join
the church and give their testimony how they were converted to Christ. Their
quick response is due to their superficiality. The love they show for the Word
of God and for the Church and for the brethren does not come from the depths of
their heart.
Another characteristic of such people is that they do not have the capacity to
understand deeper truths. They are satisfied with superficial things. They lack
deep spiritual conviction and because of that they are like children, tossed to
and fro, and carried this way and that with every wind of doctrine, by the
sleight of men, and their cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to
deceive (Eph.4:14; Gal.1:6 and 2:12). Small and everyday trifling things satisfy
them and they find pleasure in imitating or participating in external spiritual
activities (prayer meetings, conventions, distribution of tracts and of NTs in
the context of mass events). When they face ridicule and resistance or threats,
they withdraw. They sprout out but do not arrive at maturity. Their instability
is due to their superficiality, which is their principal characteristic. Such
people can be offended even because of a word, which they cannot understand.
Their prompt desire to follow Christ does not hinder them from withdrawing when
they encounter their first difficulties (Mat.8:19). We must, however, admit that
there are also cases of seeming instability like that of Peter or of John Mark.
Therefore, let us judge anything before the time,
until the Lord comes, who both will bring to light the hidden things of
darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall
every man have praise of God (1Cor.4:5).
Third group
Luc 8:14: “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have
heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this
life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”
Mark
4:18-19: “And these are they which
are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and
the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke
the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”
The basic difficulty with this parable is:
What is going to happen to the third group? Will they be saved? Are they saved
but lose their fruit? Will they be lost because they bring no fruit?
Their characteristics are:
1.
Their ground is good and fertile.
The seed sprouts normally. There are, however, some other small
weeds,
which sprout at the same time. It is assumed that the wheat plants will not let
them grow and will choke them. Unfortunately, the weeds prove to be stronger and
choke the good crop, either by stealing the nutrients of the ground and its
moisture or even because they
twist around them and choke the wheat plants.
2.
Their effort to worship God and Mammon.
They try to combine light with darkness. They fear God but they worship their
idols which are but their goods, their work and the members of their family:
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
(Mat.6:21). That means that they have never
really given their heart to God!
3.
The cares of this world
devour them like gangrene. They sin against God, because the cares of this world
is sin in the form of idolatry,
of lack of trust in God as
well as a useless mental activity
and foolishness (Mark 7:22).
The deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things (Mark
4:19) make men fall into temptation and snare them into many foolish and hurtful
lusts, which drown men through
destruction and perdition
(1Tim.6:9). For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while
some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves
through with many sorrows (1Tim.6:10). When they become rich or they are not
anymore financed they put God aside (De.8:13). In conclusion, they become
sterile and “naked” and are hindered from entering the kingdom of God.
The result of all these things is that
the Word of God that gives life is choked. If what gives the life is blocked,
then where is life? In other words: They start
but never finish…
As I was preparing this message, I was reminded of a sermon given by an
American Theologian, Professor of University and responsible of one the Greatest
Bible Colleges in Europe, who, speaking on the same parable, said that those
plants, that is, the people who do not bring fruit are not condemned perishing
but simply to suffer damage! I was perplexed by his interpretation. Encouraging
interpretation, but was it correct? Was it compatible with some other statements
of the Lord Himself that came to my mind at that moment as well with the spirit
of the whole Bible? That sermon was the spark that ignited my spirit and pushed
me to begin searching everything that had to do with that interpretation… Later,
another preacher said that the truly born again believer must become a
“disciple” of Christ. I used all my good will to examine this question but the
conclusion was quite the opposite. Let me explain:
For the first two categories there is no question about their non-salvation. For
the fourth category of people there is no doubt about their salvation,
but what about the people of
the third group who can be compared with those who have received the seed among
the thorns (in Mt.13:22): They hear the Word but the cares of this world, and
the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and they become unfruitful.
Our Lord Jesus Christ declared:
·
“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut
down and thrown into the fire.”
(Mt.7:19; Mt.3:10 and Lu.3:9). Also that “every
branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes
away; and every branch
that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
(Joh.15:2).
·
“He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that
loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
And he that takes not his cross, and follows after me,
is not worthy of me.”
(Mat.10:37-38)
·
“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and
children, and brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my
disciple. And whoever does not
bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my
disciple.”
(Lu.14:26-27)
·
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,
they are the sons of God.”
(Rom.8:14)
·
“And they that are Christ's have crucified the
flesh with the affections and lusts.”
(Gal.5:24). And many other similar verses…
What is finally going to happen to them? Can we call them born again
Christians who have not yet become disciples, worthy of Christ, if they have not
responded to the requirements that Jesus Christ Himself has established?
And something else: What is the true meaning of the Bible verse:
“If anyone’s work which he has built on
it endures, he will receive a reward.
If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be
saved, yet so as through fire.”? (1Cor.3:14-15). Let us make clear, right
from the beginning, one thing: This passage speaks about the work of ministers
and their activities and not about the worker’s spiritual fruit, which is the
fruit of the Holy Spirit, manifested by his Christian virtues, by the holiness
of the Christians’ character!
IT DOES
NOT MEAN THAT IF A MAN SINS, HIS SINS WILL BE BURNED (that is forgiven)
BUT HE WILL BE SAVED, YET SO AS THROUGH FIRE.
If a Christian and much more a Christian minister leads a life, which is not
worthy to his high Christian calling, worthy of the Gospel but he sins,
his sins
cannot be burned – that is forgiven – unless confessed and rejected.
If a Christian tells lies (Rev.21:8) and makes doubtful compromises; if
he makes promises privately or publicly and does not keep them; if he acts like
a diplomat rather than as a Christian; if he always finds or invents ways to
excuse or justify himself; if he thinks one think, says another thing and does
another thing; if he is not a man of principle and values but is a man of
opportunities; if he does not resist against sin to blood (Heb.12:4); if he is
after dishonest gains, escapes paying his taxes and if he lords over those
entrusted to him (1Pe.5:2-3); if he preaches Christ even from envy and strife
and not in purity (Php.1:15-16); if his faith and his love are with
dissimulation (Rom.12:9 and 2Tim.1:5); if he is an evil worker … enemy of the
cross of Christ whose end is destruction, whose God is his belly, and whose
glory is in his shame, who minds earthly things (Php.3:2 and 18-19); if
he does not serve our Lord Jesus Christ,
but his own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceives
the hearts of the simple
(Rom.16:18); if, as many people, he corrupts
(waters down) the word of God (2Cor.2:17); if he is a false apostle, a
deceitful worker, transforming himself into an apostle of Christ and as a
minister of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works
(2Cor.11:13-15); and he has a tendency to accuse and to judge;
are perhaps his sins going to be
burned unless he repents in due course?
No, No, No!
Christ will “…cut him asunder,
and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and
gnashing of teeth”
(Mat.24:51). On the contrary, if that
person confesses his sins and rejects them, then he is IN ORDER.
But, what is going to happen if he is
possessed by an unrepentant spirit? Let us stop and think! Do you remember what
Paul said to the Corinthians?
“For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall
not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found to you such as you would
not: lest there be debates, contentions, wraths, strifes, backbitings,
whisperings, arrogance, tumults: And lest, when I come again, my God will humble
me among you, and that I shall
mourn
many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and
fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.”
(2Cor.12:21-22).
Who do you
mourn for?
For the living or for the dead?
On the contrary, “What man is he
that fears the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. His
soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. The secret of
the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.”
(Ps.25:12-14).
The Word of God says in an irrevocable way:
“…therefore every tree which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast
into the fire.” (Mat.3:10). The believer who does not bring forth
fruit can be compared to the fig tree to which Christ comes to find fruit and
does not find any and for that reason He makes it wither (Lu.13:6). He can also
be compared to that lukewarm man that Christ will spew out of His mouth…
(Rev.3:16). The end for such people who bear thorns and briers is to be
rejected; they are near to cursing, whose end is to be burned (Heb.6:8),
unless they repent in due course.
Our sins are not burned!
They are forgiven if we sincerely admit them, repent and reject them.
What is burned down are the useless
activities of the believer!
Activities, which will perish as worthless!
That man will forfeit his reward. He will suffer loss, but he himself,
notwithstanding the imperfections of his ministry, will be saved for an
everlasting salvation, thanks to Christ’s blood in which he had put his trust
for the remission of his sins! If
his doctrines of minor importance have not been true (Example: That Christ hears
our prayers by means of the prayers of our holy fathers or that the resurrection
has already taken place); if he has had mistaken views of piety (example: I have
met married Christians who believed that they should not bear their wedding
ring, because this constitutes a sin); if he has nourished feelings, which he
thought were those of religion, and inculcated practices which, however well
meant, are not according to the Bible (If, for example, one believes that are
filled with the Holy Spirit and baptized by the Holy Spirit only those who have
spoken in tongues; if he has fallen into error of opinion, feeling, practice,
however conscientious, yet he shall suffer loss. Yes, he will be saved, yet so
as through fire with much difficulty, with great danger, loss, and shame, as a
man that is burnt out of house and home, who escapes with his own life, but
loses all about him. The idea is, therefore, also of a man who had been spending
his time and strength to little purpose, for his personal publicity, etc. There
are people who are responsible for Church who they “kill themselves” in order to
build big beautiful churches or to write wonderful books but who, in reality,
have a character full of pride, full of
‘thorns and briers’! How are these going to be judged? On the basis of the
churches they have erected or the books they have written or on the basis of
their Christian virtues they lack?
His whole character and faith of man will be investigated; and that which
is good will be approved; and that which is false and erroneous will be removed
or destroyed. The idea is simple, that that which is genuine and valuable in his
doctrines and works and activities will be rewarded. This is the reason why the
apostle John says:
“Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but
that we may receive a full reward”
(2Jo.1:8). And elsewhere it is written:
“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have
heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.”
(Heb.2:1)
Let me also refer to an example, which has nothing to do with work in the
ministry but it has to do with loss of our efforts and which constitutes a good
example, which can help us understand the passage in question: But
“after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said,
"Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and
incurred this disaster and loss.” (Ac.27:21). You see the Centurion was more
persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by
Paul (Ac.27:11). Everything was
lost, the ship and its cargo, but their lives were saved!
How often, do we pay attention to other peoples’ opinions, to our soul’s
spurring, to activism mentalities,
to pressures or opportunities, etc., and do not stand on the principles and
promises of God?
Concluding comparison:
And now we come to examine the second and the third groups together, because
they have many common characteristics:
·
They grow under the influence of the Holy Spirit;
·
They show the characteristics of men that have been born again. They remain in
Christ for a certain period of time. In the first case the duration is shorter
as compared with the latter; and who can exclude that their lukewarm and
unfruitful situation – irrespective of their multiple ecclesiastical activities
– may last until the end of their earthly life?
Then wonderful words are pronounced during their funeral, especially
about their faithfulness to the end!
·
They both were illuminated by and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were
made partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good Word of God and the
powers of the world to come, but bear thorns and briers. They are rejected, and
are near to cursing; whose end is to be burned.
(Heb.6:8).
·
It is not possible to discern them right from the beginning. God reveals them in
due course through their works. Did you notice what the Word of God says?
“Then…” That is, after how much time? As a rule and according to our
experience, we know that the weeds choke the wheat plants when they are fully
grown. Can we exclude the case of believers who have left worries, etc. to have
choked God’s good seed in them? However, they pretend to be zealous Christians,
either because they are ashamed that other people might see their nakedness or
because they have certain financial, social or professional relations with the
brethren and the Church? Or even,
because they have become so spiritually dead and are unable to discern their
true spiritual condition? In both cases, the spiritual life in that person was
choked and bore no fruit…
·
It is worth trying to find the relationship of these two groups with the carnal
Christians (Rom.8:13), those who are saved, yet so as by fire, with those who
went out of Egypt and/or the five foolish virgins (Mat.25:1-12) who remained
outside the wedding hall …
Fourth group
Receptive or true Christians
The only group in which Word of God brought forth fruit (we will see later what
the fruit is),
this
is the fourth group!
Worthy of our attention is the description which is given to us for this group
by Matthew, Mark and Luc: Matthew indicates us “But he that received seed
into the good ground is he that hears the word, and
understands it; which also bears fruit, and brings forth, some an hundred
times, some sixty, some thirty” (13:23) Mark tells us
“and with those they are what are sown on the good ground; as
hear the word, and receive it, and produce
the fruit of it, approximately thirty times, approximately sixty, and hundred.”
(4:20). And Luke says “but with that on the good ground they are, which in an
honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep
it, and produce the fruit with patience.”
(8:15)
Their characteristics are, in general, the following:
1.
God – as those people love what is true and right and respect God – He opens
their heart or their spiritual eyes so that can understand his Word – just as
happened in the case of Lydia (Ac.16:14) and the “honest” criminal on the cross
(Lu.23:40-43) in order to be saved and be built up. When we see a man not having
light and being unable to discern and prove things are different, we should do
well to put a question mark about his inner spiritual state… When I say “light”,
I do not mean if he has the knowledge of spiritual things but if he has a deep
insight into them and if he applies them, in his daily life. Otherwise, we could
say that all those who know the Bible by heart and preach it implies that they
have the true personal spiritual knowledge of them. Nowadays, there are many
theological books and many other books of Christian literature, which can make
those who preach impressive preachers, without, however, rendering them true and
strong spiritual men/workers able to lead people to salvation and build up,
really, those who hear them.
2.
God reveals His secrets to those who fear Him: “What man is he that fears the
LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose… The secret of the LORD
is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.”
(Ps.25:12-14), by words taught by the Spirit (1Cor.2:13) and which His servants
communicate to their fellowmen by words taught by the Spirit: “…comparing
spiritual things with spiritual.” This is the basic reason for which the
words of God taught by God can penetrate into the heart of those who hear them
or read them, can be understood by their heart for salvation and edification, so
that they can obey them… In other words, it has to do with men with spiritual
receptivity
and productivity.
3.
The third characteristic of such people is that they admit that they judge
“faithful who had promised”. That means that the Word of God that they have
received puts them in action as a moving force, in order to do the will of God
so that they can but speak the things which they have seen and heard
(Ac.4:19-20). Because they believe, they speak and do the will of God
(Ps.116:10), in order to please Him.
Then, God does in them that which is
agreeable in His sight by Jesus Christ (Heb.13:21) and gives them His Holy
Spirit (Ac.5:32).
4.
The fourth characteristic of such people is that they “keep the word”.
That means that since they have accepted that the Word is faithful and worthy of
all acceptation (1Tim.4:9), they keep it as the pupil of their eye,
independently of what happens around them. This is why they resist it, striving
against sin (Heb.12:4). They do not let the desires of the flesh and of the mind
as well as the attractions or the threats of Satan remove the Word and push them
into sins. On the contrary, when they feel that such a thing might occur,
they keep the Word ever more carefully
resisting through their faith. They put themselves in the front line of the
battle, they are not afraid of being persecuted and they
do not tolerate any kind of sinful
compromises. I want to emphasize the expression “by faith”. They abide
faithfully in what they have believed and they do not give up the position of
confidence in the promises of God. They are blind to the world and they have
their eyes wide open, opened towards God (Isa.42:19).
5.
Now let us pay attention to another characteristic: That they keep it “in an
honest and good heart”. What else does that mean but that their heart
walks in a transparent way before God and does not let sin stain/cloud it? It
keeps its boldness before God because it promptly admits in, defects and errors;
it lets the light of the Word reprove it. What else does it mean, it lets itself
be judged before God and before men? What else does it mean, it is a heart that
is humbled before God and depends always
on Him in all things? What else does it mean but that the heart knows how
to forgive just as it receives mercy from God?
6.
Another characteristic of this group of people is that they are fruitful. Jesus
Christ ordered us to bare fruit, much fruit, and that our fruit may remain.
These people produce fruit even in their old age (Ps.92:14).
Conditions for the production of fruit
For a tree to be able to fruit certain conditions must be satisfied: a) the seed
must fall onto the ground and sprout; b) the ground must be fertile and the tree
must be healthy and disease free; c) it needs to be irrigated; d) and to be
pruned.
If we transfer these conditions across to case of man, we will discover that man
in order to be productive must:
·
Let the seed of God, the Word of God, enter into and sprout in the field that is
man’s heart.
·
Do not allow sin, anxiety and the desires of other things to enter into and
suffocate his spiritual life. That means that he has died for himself in order
to be fruitful in Christ (Joh.12: 24). This is the meaning of “abide in Christ”.
That also means resisting to blood, striving against sin (Heb.12:4)
·
Be fed with the means of the grace that God has placed at his disposal. The Word
of God (Ps.1:3; Eze.47:12), through prayer and true brotherly fellowship.
·
To accept being pruned by God’s chastening for his sanctification and
fruitfulness.
What is the true spiritual fruit?
Fruit is not what you do for God but what you are for Him…
Does God count your “good works” when you live in sin or you are not saved? The
fruit of the Spirit is without sin, without defects! He who really believes is
inhabited by the Holy Spirit. This is what governs his walk; he governs his walk
and does not satisfy the lust of the flesh (Gal.5:16). Being lead by the Spirit
he is not under the Law
(Gal.5:17-18).
Moreover, the power of the Spirit abiding in the man produces his character
(Gal.5:22-23). The character in the dispensation of grace and of Spirit is
produced and expressed by “…the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy,
peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the
flesh with the affections and lusts.” (Gal.5:22-24). His character is not
the product of an effort but it is the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the
Spirit is the spiritual personality that God shapes in us… Fruit is also to win
souls to Christ and edify them!
The fruit of the spirit is first pure,
then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits,
without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is
sown in peace of them that make peace.” (Jas.3:17-18). The good
works, the preaching, running to and fro and doing hard work on your own
initiative is not the work of God. The work of
God is the good works which God has before ordained that we should walk in them…
(Eph.2:10). Work is that which a holy heart produces. Amazing! “He that
receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward;
and he that receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall
receive a righteous man's reward. And whoever shall give to drink to one of
these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, truly I
say to you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.” (Mat.10: 41-42).
The fruit is but the cleansing that the Word of God describes in Isa.27:9 and
2Tim.2:21, respectively:
·
“By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and
this is all the fruit to take away his sin;
when he makes all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten
asunder, the groves and images shall not
stand up.”
·
“If a man therefore purge himself from these,
he shall be a vessel to honor, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and
prepared to every good work.”
Fruit is everything which is worthy of repentance.
The fruit is the manifestation of the Christian virtues when sins and idols do
not exist anymore… God has prepared good works in which we are called to walk
in. And if it is HE who has prepared them all, then you and me must be prepared
to carry them. Our preparation is not something which can be done
suddenly but it is the result of a
process firmly applied… God has prepared our way... Whatever is required of you,
have the courage to believe it and to carry it out. This is why you were created
by God… The only thing you have to do is to make a step each and every time WITH
HIM.
In conclusion, did you pay the attention to what Word of God says? WITH
PATIENCE… How many things does this word mean? Paul used to say: “in much
patience” (2Cor.6:4). It is the most
“productive” virtue producing good works in God’s work. “Because you have
kept the word of my patience…” (Rev.3:10). The lack of patience is what
destroys the work that God has worked in your life… A man without patience is
not appropriate for the work of God. Impatience and haste as well as anger
destroy much that has been built. “…they
waited not for his counsel:
But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the
desert. And he gave them their request; but
sent leanness into their soul.”
(Ps.106:13-15)
Which group do you belong to? If you do not belong to the fourth group,
know that you are not 'a priori' predestined to be lost but that you can become
good ground through repentance and conversion from
the sins you
know that are in your life. The Lord can change your stony heart
and make it a heart of flesh!
He who sincerely repents and commits his life in
Christ, he will not only be saved but he will also be fruitful.
John BALTATZIS
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