Mark 4:15-20 (NKJV) And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. 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.”
Did you know we are the ones who determine how much this parable is going to influence our lives? If we want to witness what the Word of God promises, our hearts must be willing and receptive to the teaching of the Word of God. To be ready to receive and accept the Word is a choice that can only be made by us.
Jesus, through this parable, gives us an early warning regarding the different conditions of men’s hearts that will determine the outcome of the Word of God in their lives. He also pre-empts the enemy’s schemes to try and steal the seed from us by telling us his strategies. Therefore, we need to be wise and vigilant, and always be on the lookout for the devil’s schemes. Jesus wants us to allow the Word to take root in our lives so that we can stand firm during times of tribulation and persecution, and not fall away because we have been shallow in our faith or have no rock-solid conviction.
The first step of faith is to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, but thereafter, we have the responsibility to develop and build up our faith by listening to the teaching and preaching of the Word. The opposites of faith are fear, doubt, and unbelief. They are developed on reports, facts, circumstances and lies of the devil to derail our faith in God. The way to counter them is to replace them with the Word of God.
The devil knows the power of the seed and the ability to develop faith when we listen to the Word of God. He will make several attempts to steal the seed that has been sown into our hearts even before it is developed into a conviction or faith in God. Our job is to make sure that our hearts are always ready to receive and accept the Word, and thereafter to meditate on it so the Word can take root and produce up to a hundredfold in our lives.
Sermon Series: Don’t Let It Be Stolen (Part 2)
关键在于栽种之地
马可福音4:15-20 那撒在路旁的，就是人听了道，撒但立刻来，把撒在他心里的道夺了去。那撒在石头地上的，就是人听了道，立刻欢喜领受。但他心里没有根，不过是暂时的，及至为道遭了患难，或是受了逼迫，立刻就跌倒了。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。
你可知道，这个寓言能够对我们的生命产生多大的影响取决于我们自己吗？ 如果我们想见证圣经中的应许，我们的心就必须愿意并接受圣经的教导。这是个唯有我们自己才能作出的选择 — 预备好领受并接受圣言。
耶稣通过这个比喻，就人心的不同光景给了我们一个预警，这些光景将决定上帝圣言在他们生命中的结果。 祂还面授机宜，先发制人地阻止敌人企图从我们这里偷种子的计划。 所以，我们要有智慧，要警醒，时刻提防魔鬼的诡计。 耶稣希望我们让圣言在我们的生命中生根，这样我们就能在患难和迫害中站稳脚跟，而不是因为我们的信仰肤浅或没有坚如磐石的信念而跌倒。
信心的第一步是接受耶稣基督为我们的主和救主，但此后，我们有责任通过聆听圣经的教导和宣讲来培养和建立我们的信心。 信仰的对立面是恐惧、怀疑和不信。 它们是根据报告、事实、情况和魔鬼的谎言发展起来的，目的是破坏我们对上帝的信仰。 对付它们的方法就是用神的话取代它们。
魔鬼知道种子的力量，也知道当我们听取圣言时培养信心的能力。 牠会一再尝试偷走那已经撒在我们心中的种子，甚至在它发展成为对上帝的信念或信仰之前。 我们的工作是确保我们的心随时准备好领受并接受圣言，然后默想它，如此圣言就能在我们生命中生根，并结实百倍。
讲章系列： 别让种子被偷走（第二部分）
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