Christians need to have a fertile and receptive heart

There are many who read the Bible and many take note of all the miracles which it mentions as well as the hundreds of promises which it contains and then they wonder whether those things are applicable to Christians today. The parable of the sower related below provides people with some insight into how the power of God’s Word is released into people’s lives. Keeping these principles in mind will go a long way in order to ensure that people will be able to receive everything which God has promised.

Mat 13:18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

Mat 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Mat 13:20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

Mat 13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Mat 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Mat 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

This portion of Scripture mentions four categories of people. In the first place we have those we hear the word of God and does not understand it. The wicked one then comes and steals the word which was sown in that heart. The second category is the seed which was sown among stony places. This is the person which hears the word and actually receives that word with joy. However, he has no root in himself and therefore he only holds onto the word for little while but when all kinds of difficulties are encountered his faith fails. The third category is the seed which was sown among thorns. Once again this person hears the word but the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches chokes that word and it ceases to have any impact in that person’s life. The fourth category is the seed which is sown in good ground. This is the person which not only hears the word of God, he also understands it and therefore he bears fruit in some cases hundredfold in other 60 fold and in other cases thirty fold.

The obvious question is how does one prepare his heart so that it is able to receive God’s word and to provide an environment where in that word can grow and bear fruit?

Hosea 10:11 And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods.

Hos 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

Hos 10:13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.

Judah shall plow! What does this mean? Judah means praise. The Strong’s Lexicon say that Judah also means “to cause to draw (plough, etc)”. This seems to be confirmed by the following verse which says “break up your fallow ground”. What is praise? It is a statement where someone expresses approval or admiration for someone also respect and gratitude and this is often done by singing songs of praise. When you praise God and when you show gratitude you are preparing your heart to receive even more from God. Those who are constantly thankful and who continue the express how grateful they are for all of the good things which they enjoy in life will always have a heart which is well prepared and which is the perfect soil where in God’s word can grow and multiply.

1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

1Pe 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

1Pe 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

1Jo 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

1Jo 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

(The Amplified Bible says that Jesus keeps the Believer and the wicked one cannot touch him). The exact words are the One that was begotten of God carefully watches over and protects him [Christ’s Divine presence within him preserves him against the evil] and the wicked one does not lay hold (get a grip) on him or touch [him].

However, the secret to ongoing success as a Christian is to keep on praising God and acknowledging his omnipotence even when things seems to be going wrong. A perfect example is found in Abraham. This name simply means father of a multitude. It must have been funny to introduce yourself as the father of a multitude when you have only one son. However, since the time that God changed his name until the time that Isaac was born was only three months. When you trust God and belief in his word and continue to speak about God’s promises even when your circumstances seem to be a contradiction is one of the most powerful acts of faith where in a Christian can indulge.

Many people today go for medical checkups and a substantial portion of those people receive a terrifying diagnosis. Many are told that they have some form of incurable disease and that their time is running out very quickly. You are now faced with two choices; you can choose to believe the diagnosis of your doctor or you can choose to believe God’s word. Psalms 103 say that He heals all your diseases. Isa 53 say by His stripes you are healed. Exodus 15 verse 26 say I am the Lord that healeth thee. Psalms 107:20 say He sent His word and healed them.

They are also many promises in God’s word regarding prosperity and financial well-being. And yet many people find themselves in very difficult positions financially. Very often there seems to be no way out and yet there are many promises in the Bible which promises people that God is interested in the well-being of his creation. Ps 23:1 say that the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Jesus has said that whatever we ask for when we pray if we believe we shall have it.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Mat 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Mat 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Mat 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Mat 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Mat 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Mat 6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

Mat 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

Mat 6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Mat 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Phi 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

The work has been done, God has already sent His Son but we cannot benefit from that sacrifice unless we believe. The Heavenly Father has loved us so much that He has sent His son to die in our place. There is only one condition and that is that we should believe and that we should continue to believe.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Jam 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Jam 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

Jam 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

It is impossible to receive any of God’s promises if you do not believe. Go and read about all the people whom Jesus has healed. In the majority of cases, Jesus has asked them, do you believe that I can do this? And when they were healed Jesus said your faith has made you well. Only in a handful of cases has people been healed without first expressing their faith in God or admitting their complete dependence on God. When we read Hebrews chapter 3&4 we see why God’s chosen people had to remain in the wilderness for 40 years. God’s plan was to move them into the promised land but because of their stubbornness and unbelief this could not happen. Faith is required if we want to receive anything from God. Without Faith it is impossible to please God or to receive anything from Him. However, for those who believe absolutely nothing shall be impossible.

Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Mar 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

There are thousands of promises in the Bible and they cover every area of human existence. They provide in every need which people might have. However, those promises are received through faith. When a person decides to unconditionally trust in God absolutely nothing will be impossible to that person.

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