Mark 4:18-19 (NKJV) Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 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.
There are two kingdoms in this world: the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Darkness, both of which are vying for our attention daily. Though we have been transferred to the Kingdom of God where He reigns and rules in our lives, we still live in this world where the god of this age can influence us through events and messages that are communicated to us daily. We are constantly being bombarded through different media channels, which are powerful tools that form our thinking and values either directly or subtly. If we fail to guard our minds vigilantly, concerns and fear may slowly make a foothold into our thought lives, thus choking the Word and rendering it ineffective in our lives. Unless we renew our mind with the Word, we will succumb to and operate in the world’s ways, and when the ways of the world are stronger than the Word in our hearts, the seed of the Word of God will be choked.
The seed that is sown among thorns cannot grow because it is deprived of sunlight. The overwhelming influence of the deceitfulness of riches, the desire of other things and the false glamour in life will choke and suffocate the Word. There is always a choice between God’s way or the way of the world. If we choose God’s way, we will need to allow the Word of God to take root in our lives so that faith is produced enabling us to stand firm regardless of our circumstances.
Cares, anxieties, and fear are a result of doubt and unbelief of the Word. The devil will put deception in our minds, causing us to look at the circumstances. There are countless worries in our lives if we would allow our minds to run wild, and be negative and pessimistic over everything. Cares and anxieties are thoughts that meditate on the negative and the many possibilities which may not happen at all, but they will bring fear into our lives.
We will either live in fear or faith. As Christians, we should not meditate on the negative, but live by faith in God based on His character and the promises of His Word. If we succumb to anxieties and the cares of this world, we are letting the Word be stolen from our lives. Because God and His Word are one, He will make good what He has promised in His Word. Therefore, we must meditate on the Word of truth so that peace which guards our heart and mind will remain with us.
Fear steals peace from our hearts and minds by meditating on the unknown, but faith, peace, hope, and grace are multiplied when we meditate on the Word.
Sermon Series: Don’t Let It Be Stolen (Part 3)
选择相信而不是惧怕
马可福音4:18-19 还 有 那 撒 在 荆 棘 里 的 ， 就 是 人 听 了 道 ，後 来 有 世 上 的 思 虑 、 钱 财 的 迷 惑 ， 和 别 样 的 私 欲 进 来 ， 把 道 挤 住 了 ， 就 不 能 结 实 。
这个世界有两个国度：神的国度和黑暗的国度，它们每天都在吸引我们的注意力。 尽管我们已经被转移到神的国度，就是由神掌管我们生命的地方，但现今我们仍然生活在这个世界上，而这个世界的神每天可以通过不同的事件和传递给我们的信息来影响我们。我们不断受到各样媒体地轰炸，它们是直接或微妙地改变我们的思维和价值观的强大工具。如果我们没有警醒地保守我们的心思意念，那么忧虑和惧怕可能会慢慢地在我们的头脑中扎根，从而挤住神的道，使其在我们的生活中没有果效。 除非我们用神的话来更新我们的心思意念，否则我们就会屈服于世界的方式并按照它行事。当世界的方式在我们心中比神的话更强大时，神话语的种子就会被挤住。
撒在荆棘里的种子因为缺乏阳光而无法生长。 钱财的迷惑、别样的私欲以及生活中的虚假魅力所带来的压倒性影响将会挤住并窒息神的道。 在神的道路和世界的道路之间总是有一个选择。 如果我们选择神的道路，我们就需要让神的话语在我们的生活中扎根，从而产生信心，使我们无论在什么情况下都能够站立得稳。
挂虑、忧虑和惧怕是怀疑和不相信神话语的结果。 魔鬼会将谎言放我们的脑海里，使我们只看环境。 如果我们让自己胡思乱想，对一切事情都消极悲观，我们的生活中就会有无穷的烦恼。 挂虑和忧虑是专注于思考消极因素和不可能发生的事件，它们会给我们的生活带来惧怕。
我们要么活在惧怕里，要么活在信心里。 基督徒不应该专注于消极的事情，而应该在神的品格和祂话语应许的基础上因信神而活。 如果我们陷入这个世界的焦虑和忧虑，我们就会让神的道从我们的生命中被偷走。神和祂的话是一体的，祂会兑现祂所应许的。因此，我们必须默想真道，这样，保守我们心怀意念的平安就会常与我们同在。
专注于未知会使惧怕把我们心里的平安偷走，但当我们默想神的话语时，信心、平安、盼望和恩典就会倍增。
讲章系列：别让种子被偷走！(第三部分)
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