A Heart For God

 In the last part of the "Parable of the Soils" we see the results of those when the Word of God is sown, "But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirty-fold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” (Mark 4:20) The good ground represents ground (a heart) that is useful, suitable for the seed to take root. A heart that submits itself to the full influence of truth, not the influences of the world or self. A heart spread open allowing God's Word to take deep root so it can produce a harvest, fruit.

Jesus uses another parable to show us the results of not only what it means to receive the Word when sown, but also the fruit of believers sowing (speaking, confessing) the Word. "And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” (Mark 4:26-29)

First, as we see in this parable, it is not necessary that one completely understands everything about God's method, but you must understand how to apply it. To put this principle of God to work in our life, we must be obedient to God's Word and do what it says to do. We will never produce a crop (build our faith and receive the promises of God) if we do not sow (confess) His Word. The more we confess God's Word, the more our faith will grow. (Romans 10:17) The more our faith grows the greater understanding (revelation knowledge) we will have of the Word and subsequently, the less chance Satan has to steal it. Next, we must understand that in this parable, God does not sow the seed, man does it. God furnishes the seed, (His Word) but believers must sow it. 

So, what one confesses is of vital importance. If God said it, it is an established truth. But that truth will not necessarily be manifest in our life unless we sow it in our heart. Notice what the Apostle Paul tells us, "...The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart..." (Romans 10:8) The Word is sown from our mouth first and is then received in our heart. This is why God told Joshua, "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8) Again, God's Word is to be spoken first and foremost. 

Another important key in sowing God's Word is, we must agree with it, we must believe it, we must add our faith to it. Then it becomes a seed that is sown in your heart, because faith works in the heart, not in your head. Our mind is not born again. The Apostle Paul tells us, "the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be." (Romans 8:7) The "law of God" is referring to is the law of faith. "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith." (Romans 3:27) Our minds will not operate in the law of faith, because it was not designed to do so. We think with it and we must also keep in mind that our speech is a product of our thoughts and meditations. This is why Paul tells us, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2) and "be renewed in the spirit of your mind." (Ephesians 4:23) 
 
As God's Word renews our mind through hearing it, our faith will grow (Romans 10:17) to the place where we will see more and more of God's promises manifesting. However, we must "confess with our mouth and believe in our heart" God's Word constantly, because the scripture does not say faith comes by having heard the Word of God, but faith comes by hearing, and hearing, and hearing, etc., the Word of God. We sow seed (the Word) by speaking the desired promise, (John 16:23) we then add our faith to the word sown and God makes good on His Word. "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says." (Mark 11:23)

Notice, it is not the saying alone that causes the manifestation in your life. The saying is not an end in itself. However, saying is involved in causing the manifestation. Think abut it. How could we have what we say if we do not say it first? God will honor His promises. But it is up to the believer to first set the goal (the desired promise),  plant the seed (God's Word), which then causes faith to grow. There are two other things to keep in mind. First, you must be in agreement with God's Word. You must believe that what God said is what He means and what He will do. "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19) "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)

The second thing to keep in mind is not to have a double confession, that is, confessing God's Word, His promise that we desire and then if the promise does not manifest as fast as we want it to, make a second confession, that being one of doubt. Doubt. This is a scheme of the devil which will neutralize faith. The interesting thing is, as faith comes by hearing, and hearing the Word of God, so doubt comes by hearing the words of the devil, that is, believing what the devil says more than what God said. If we are confessing doubt, we are confessing the words of the devil. This may be why the promises of God are not manifesting in our life. The way to prevent this from happening is to work at standing on God's Word regardless of what the circumstances may dictate. Of course for most, this is easier said then done, because most have been trained to trust in what their five senses can comprehend, not what the Word of God says.   

So, if the promises of God are not manifesting in our life, do not give up; do not become discouraged, but confess and meditate on scriptures like these, "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6:12) "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32) "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!" (Matthew 7:11) "Let us hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 11:23) May the grace and peace of Jesus Christ our Lord keep you strong...