Mark 4:18-20 (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. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
The devil wants the Word of God to be unfruitful in our lives. Therefore, his tactic to steal the seed from our lives through tribulation, of which He is the source. Like the seed that is sown among thorns is deprived of sunlight and thus cannot grow, the overwhelming influence of the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things will “choke and suffocate” the Word in our lives. Thankfully, Jesus has already told us that the remedy for our worries is to seek him wholeheartedly and He will provide for all our needs.
Matthew 7:11 (NKJV) If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Psalms 75:6-7 (NKJV) For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another.
Deuteronomy 8:18 (NKJV) “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
Philippians 4:19 (NKJV) And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
In order to guard the seed, water it and trust that it will grow in our hearts, after we have heard, received, and accepted the truth, we need to pray and make known to God whatever we are going through in life. Thereafter, the key to experiencing the thirty, sixty and a hundredfold of God’s peace in our lives is to meditate on His Word. Choose to meditate on the four scriptures above, on His character that He is faithful and good, and has no favouritism. If He has journeyed with the Israelites when they cried out to Him during their time of oppression, delivered and redeemed them, God will do the same for you. Mediate on the truth that nothing will separate you from God’s love and His eyes are on the righteous. These are good reports, true, pure, lovely, and just that we are asked to meditate on in Philippians 4:8. If God is with you, you have everything you need at all times.
If we meditate and keep the Word that has been sown into our hearts, the devil cannot steal anything from us through tribulation and persecution, because the Word of God is no longer in the form of a seed in our heart— it has taken root and grown into a tree, and we will rest in God’s love, peace, and joy!
Sermon Series: The Seed Can be Stolen but It Is Difficult to Uproot the Tree! (Part 3)
通过默想神的话来守护种子
马可福音 4:18-20还有那撒在荆棘里的，就是人听了道，后来有世上的思虑、钱财的迷惑，和别样的私欲进来，把道挤住了，就不能结实。那撒在好地上的，就是人听道，又领受，并且结实，有三十倍的，有六十倍的，有一百倍的。”
魔鬼希望神的话不能结实在我们的生命里。所以，牠从我们的生命中偷走种子的策略是通过苦难，而牠正是苦难的源头。就像那播在荆棘中的种子缺乏阳光，以致无法生长。钱财的迷惑和别样的私欲那无法扼制的影响会在我们的生命中“挤住并窒息”了神的话语。感恩的是，耶稣已经告诉我们，解决我们忧虑的方法是全心全意地寻求祂，祂会供应我们所有的需要。
马太福音 7:11你们虽然不好，尚且知道拿好东西给儿女，何况你们在天上的父，岂不更把好东西给求他的人吗？
诗篇75:6-7因为高举非从东，非从西，也非从南而来。惟有神断定。他使这人降卑，使那人升高。
申命记 8:18 你要记念耶和华你的神，因为得货财的力量是他给你的，为要坚定他向你列祖起誓所立的约，像今日一样。
腓力比书 4:19我的神必照他荣耀的丰富，在基督耶稣里，使你们一切所需用的都充足。
为了守护种子，需要浇灌它，相信它在我们听到、领受和接受真理后会在我们心中生长，我们需要祷告，并让神知道我们在生活中所经历的一切。因此,在我们的生活中经历到神30倍、60倍和100倍的平安的关键是默想祂的话语。选择默想上面提到的四段经文和神的品格，祂是信实又良善，不偏袒人的神。如果当以色列人在受压迫的时候向祂呼喊时神与他们同行，并拯救和救赎了他们，神也会为你做同样的事。默想这个真理-没有什么能使你与神的爱隔离，祂的眼目看顾义人。这些是腓4:8要我们思念的事，就是真实的、清洁的、可爱的、公义的，都是好的。如果神与你同在，你随时都有你需要的一切。
当我们开始默想并守护播在我们心中的话语时，魔鬼就不能用苦难和迫害从我们身上偷走任何东西，因为神的话在我们的心中不再是一颗种子- 它已经扎根并长成一棵树，我们将安歇在神的爱、平安和喜乐中！
讲章系列：种子会被偷走，但很难把树连根拔起！(第三部分)