Holy Spirit, Persecution, The Seed

Godly Living

All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

2 Timothy 3:12

Is it possible to live a godly life? Some may question the possibility of living a godly life. I can remember people saying that it is impossible to live a godly life in the world we live in today. This was back in the 70’s when the question was raised about godly living. Yet, when the power of God moved upon people it brought change and some knew the importance of godly living and discipleship. Weekly groups were the outcome for discipleship teaching in learning to live a godly life. I remember the Navigators for Christ, which is an interdenominational Christian ministry. Navigators for Christ went into colleges across the U.S. to help young Christians in discipleship. I attended a weekly group that met at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington. A godly life is pursuing a life of holiness and obedience to the Lord. Is it hard to live a godly life? Some would say yes. The truth is, it is hard if you are trying to live a godly life in the flesh instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to come and do the change within your heart. And what about suffering persecution for Christ. Have we witnessed persecution in the world we live in today? The answer is yes.

Dicipleship must allow time for meditation on the word as well as prayer time for the Holy Spirit to enlighten those who are seeking that closer walk with God. We must seek God through the Spirit since God is a Spirit [John 4:24]. Revelation is through the Spirit of God, and this is knowing and understanding what the will of God is.

God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. “

1 Corinthians 2:10

The apostle Paul goes on to explain in 1st Corinthians chapter two that we receive the Spirit of God through the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that teaches us the truth of God through spiritual revelation to where we are able to compare spiritual things with spiritual [1 Corinthians 2:13]. The more you take time to read the word and pray for wisdom in understanding it, the more you will gain knowledge and know what the will of God is. The Spirit of God will reveal where your own heart stands. Will you be ready to submit your will to God and allow His Spirit to change your heart? Godly living is surrendering your will to the will of God. Have you read Andrew Murray’s book titled “Absolute Surrender” written in 1897? I have the audio book and I listen to it often to remind me that this is a requirement to daily living in His Love. Click the link to the site to download and read. Daily surrendering is the key to living a godly life.

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world

Titus 2:11-12

The godly life is one who denies worldly lust and one who lives soberly in this present world. That is moderation or self-restraint living allowing the Spirit of God to light our path as we walk in the Spirit of Christ.

Let not sin, therefore, reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in its lusts, neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin, but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”

Romans 6:12-13.

We must not yield to unrighteousness and sin. Paul tells us in Romans chapter six that we do not serve sin and that we are no longer slaves to sin. If we are dead with Christ, we are free from the power of sin. As Christ lived unto God, so do we. The Spirit delivers us from the old nature of sin. Thus, we have Paul statement in Romans, “for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death,” [Romans 8:2]. We must be grounded and rooted in the word of God in order to be free from the law of sin and death. Our life is in Christ who is the author and finisher of our faith. It is those who are led by the Spirit of God that has become heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. We are now the people of God who has obtained mercy. Our behavior should reveal Christ character in doing good works to the glory of God.

One of the signs of evil is when evil men and seducers become worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived [see 2 Timothy 3:13]. These are men who abuse their authority to gain their own reality of rulership. They take no thought about the welfare of others, and they themselves are being deceived. They are not subject to the law of God since they are carnal minded. They are offended and accurse those who do not follow their pacific will. This is the reason that those who follow Christ will have persecution from those who do not follow Christ. Persecution can also come from those who are professing Christians but are not grounded or rooted in the word of God.

And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.

Mark 4:16-17

Are you grounded and rooted in the doctrine of Christ where faith is based upon Christ sacrifice for your sins? Do not allow other things to choke out the word of God. Do not become offended by the word of God which is able to perfect us into the love of God. The word of God is the incorruptible seed that bears fruit as long as we do not choke it out. Remember that Jesus said that it is Satan that comes to take the word away after it was sown in the heart [Mark 4:15]. Yet, Jesus tells us to have ears to hear and to take heed how we hear.

Take heed what ye hear; with what measure ye measure, it shall be measured to you; and unto you; and unto to you that hear shall more be given.”

Mark 4:24

Hearing the word is how you personally will measure it. It is what you will choose to believe in how it will be measured to you. How much of the light of God’s word will you allow into your life? Will you stay the course? For some it is a great sacrifice because being a follower for Christ means losing ties from their own natural families. That loss is real, and many do not understand the pain that an individual suffers from separation of family, but Christ can identify with your pain. You may be detached from your own mother, father, brother, or sister but you have been grafted into the family of God. Sometimes you may find yourself isolated from those who do not follow Christ. This is a form of persecution. Any hostile feelings, attitudes, words and actions against an individual because they believe in Christ is a form of persecution. I personally went through this myself and it was Christ love for me that won me over to becoming a Christian. I was ignorant about who Jesus was, but I found the reality of that love and made the choice to follow Jesus. I have no regrets where Christ is concerned. I pray that you too, will choose to live a godly life in Christ Jesus despite the persecution you may receive. We can say along with Paul, ” I endured: but out of all the persecutions, the Lord delivered me,” [2 Timothy 3:11]. He will deliver you too. . .so, stay the course to live a godly life.

Loading

The Seed

The Parable of the Sower

Blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.

Matthew 13:16

Have you ever considered who the Sower of the seed is in Matthew chapter 13? In the Gospel of Matthew chapter 13, Jesus spoke this parable about the Sower that went forth to sow seeds. This parable although simplistic in nature, is one of the most important messages, yet misunderstood as to its meaning. Have you ever sowed seeds and took part in the labor of maturing a plant to its full growth? It can be labor intensive compared to the amount of work it takes in relation to its output. So many things can go wrong when planting a seed in the ground. There are weeds to pull, there is root rot to consider when it gets too much water, and you must consider the weather patterns and unforeseen or unusual weather patterns that causes destruction of crops. Yet, Jesus speaks and says, “who hath ears to hear, let him hear,” [Matthew 13:9]. Of course, you must consider the soil where the seed is planted. It must be good soil in order to bare a great crop of fruits. There is a preparation time for the soil before a person can sow the seed. There is a time for everything, and we must hear and know the season of time.

Just read the beginning of the song by the Byrd’s. . .Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)

To everything turn, turn, turn
There is a season turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

To everything turn, turn, turn
There is a season turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven

This song is taken from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. In verse 9, it states, “what profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he labored?” Right now, there are many people questioning their own profit. The truth is that it is a gift of God [see verse 13 of Ecclesiastes 3]. A gift of God that one can work and have a profit. Take time to read the whole chapter three of Ecclesiastes.

Let us think about the word Christendom. The meaning of Christendom is the worldwide body or society of Christians. The body of Christ, the children of the kingdom that belongs to Christ. We forget that it is Jesus the Son of man who holds the key to the Kingdom of Heaven. It is the Son of Man that sows the good seed. This seed that He sows is the word of God, for He said that my word is spirit and life [see John 6:63]. The church is not meant to be a political entity. The church does not belong to man but to God. Jesus as the Son of man is master and Lord over all things. This word produces the children of the kingdom who are scattered in the field of the world. These are those who have ears to hear and eyes to see the truth through the Spirit. They are born of the incorruptible word of God. they are the living stones being built up a spiritual house that is acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

The children of the kingdom are those who will endure troubles, misfortunes, and hardship for they know where their help comes from. They have received the good seed in the ground and understand it. This is a time to check the seed we are hearing, for God is moving in a new way. This is a time to check and see if we are hearing and seeing with our eyes the truth of God’s word. Every individual is important to God and especially those who belong to His kingdom. The reality is that it does not matter who plants or waters the field because it is God who gives the increase [see 1 Corinthians 3:6-9]. We are all laborer’s together with God. We are God’s building. There is no new template, method, strategy, actions, or policies to follow but Jesus and His word. Our profit comes from God who gives us the blessing of fruit for our survival. He knows that you need all these things (food, clothing, and shelter).

Every purpose is under Heaven, and we must move with God towards that purpose. This is a time of building you up into a spiritual house towards a holy priesthood in offering up spiritual sacrifices that is acceptable to God through Jesus Christ [see 1 Peter 2:5]. This is a time of consecration. Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service. This is not for just the few who are educated, this is for all those who are children of the kingdom of God. Each child of God has a special purpose or service to perform in the kingdom of God. Ask the Lord what that service is. Ask the Lord how you can serve him best. Place your talents and gifts in His hand and ask Him to use you. Most of all ask the Lord to get understanding.

Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore, I hate every false way

Psalms 119:104

Get into the word and pray for God to speak to you through the word. I am amazed how he reveals to me the message for the weekly post. How one scripture leads to another as I remember certain words in the scripture. He can do the same for you through the Spirit. I sometimes cannot remember where a specific scripture is but thank God for the internet. I use the official King James version online to search for words at https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/. Check out this non-profit site that has been online since November 2007. The truth is that the method is Jesus for He is the way. Watchman Nee exclaimed this is his book titled “Christ the Sum of all Things Spiritual.” Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me ” [see John 14:6]. We all start with Jesus by believing, now we must walk in that believe in Jesus. Jesus is way. Do you know him? Spend time in reading his words and pray for understanding. You will be blessed with eyes to see, and ears to hear.

Loading