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HopeUC Secunderabad
Tune in each week to the HopeUC Secunderabad podcast for insightful teachings from our pastors and guest speakers featured in our weekend services. Delve into practical and relevant biblical insights on topics that resonate with your daily life. New audio sermons are released every Tuesday, helping you stay connected and grow in your faith.
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HopeUC Secunderabad
Parable of the Sower
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How do you truly listen to God's word in a world filled with distractions? By delving into the Parable of the Sower, we illuminate the various ways the word of God interacts with our hearts, helping you recognize the soil of your own spiritual life. Explore how to transform mere hearing into a deep comprehension and implementation of biblical wisdom.
We tackle the challenges that come with engaging deeply with God's word, like distractions and shallow commitments. Hear stories of rocky soils and thorny paths that often lead us astray, and learn how to navigate these obstacles to maintain a resilient faith. We'll share six essential practices to strengthen your spiritual roots, from hearing and reading scripture to studying and memorizing verses. Discover how Psalm 119 can serve as your guide in internalizing scripture to naturally resist temptation, ensuring that faith becomes a steadfast part of your daily life.
Through the transformative power of the Bible, find strength in stories of Jesus and David as they faced life's trials. Reflect on your own faithfulness and consider the condition of your heart when you engage with scripture. We encourage you to set aside time amidst life's distractions for family devotions and personal reflection, ultimately inviting you to experience the profound joy and transformative power found in God's word.
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I want to talk to you about something which is very essential, which is part of our Christian faith, and that is where I'm going to title that on the screen as what we call our lifeline. Our lifeline, and I just want us to spend some time trying to understand the importance of the same Reverend, dr Billy Graham. When he was visiting South Carolina to do a revival meeting, he wanted to post a letter. And when he wanted to post this letter, he goes out onto the streets. He does not know where the post office is. So he catches hold of a small boy and asks this boy hey, listen, can you tell me how to get to the post office? Tell me how to get to the post office. The small boy guides Dr Billy Graham and tells him how to get to the post office. Then, billy Graham being Billy Graham, he tells the small boy if you come to the Central Baptist Church tonight, I will tell you how to go to heaven. So this boy asks you will tell me how to go to heaven. Dr billigram says yes, no thanks. You don't even know how to go to a post office. How can you tell me to go to heaven now? The pun in that is is basically today.
Speaker 1We are all saying things, but sometimes what is important is it does not come from deep down within. Okay, so I want you to turn your Bibles to Matthew, chapter 13, and I'm going to spend some time looking at Matthew chapter 13. Matthew, chapter 13, is what we call is a parable of the sower, or in other words, it is a parable of the soils, depending on which Bible version you are trying to use. But the important thing here is we need to understand that Bible is God's word and reading the Bible is not a ritual. All right, reading Bible is not a ritual, like some people make it a ritual, saying that you need to do it every day morning, every day evening. That's true, but there is something more significant. It means it helps us to understand who God is and we read it to understand God's mind. Now we are all seeking for something, seeking for some solutions, some answers, but God has said you want to know what I want to do in your life. I've already revealed it to you in the word. So this morning I'm going to spend some time on Jesus, emphasizing the importance of how we deal with God's word in our lives. All right, one of the things that we don't do well in any culture is what we call I want to use the word listening. Now, when I'm saying listening, I'm not just talking about listening and hearing, but I'm talking about listening to do something, listening to act. So now, one of the things that we struggle with is listening, not.
Speaker 1Reverend President Theodore Roosevelt, one of the presidents of the US, had figured out that people come and meet him but they never listen to what he's saying. So he decided to do this exercise. The president decides to do this exercise. One day during a reception, he told everybody who comes and greets the president he says good evening president. He turns around and tells them I murdered my grandmother today. That's what he started doing. Good evening president. He says I murdered my grandmother today. So nobody was listening, but he got very interesting feedback. So what he said is that he heard people saying marvelous president, marvelous president, wonderful, keep up the good work. And whenever he got those responses, it was very clear that people are not listening to what he's saying. They only wanted to say what they wanted to say. And now here was the thing, until the ambassador from Bolivia, who comes up and says to the president when the president says good evening, president. And he turns back and says I murdered my grandmother. The president of Bolivia, the ambassador of Bolivia, hears him and he says I'm sure she had it coming. I'm sure she knew that she had it coming. Now we live in a world where we don't listen to what we are supposed to be doing.
Speaker 1So this morning I want to look at this particular passage taken from Matthew, chapter 13. Now, matthew chapter 13 is the parable of the sower, which I'm going to read it to you first, and after that we're going to look at that a bit in detail. But here, when we talk about the sower, we are talking about Jesus Christ, god, the Holy Spirit, however you want to use the word when we look at the seed here the seed we are talking about being the word of God or being the gospel. And if you look at the soil, soil is talking about our hearts, our hearts and our response to what is happening here. So this is what happens in Matthew, chapter 13. And I'm going to read to you from verse 3.
Speaker 1Jesus told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one Listen, a farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field. Some seeds fell on a footpath and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow, but the plant soon wilted under the hot sun and since they didn't have deep roots, they died. Deep roots they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil and they produced crop that has 60, 30 and even hundred times as much as had been planted.
Speaker 1Anyone who has ears to hear should listen and understand. Now, this is the parable that Jesus tells his disciples, and you will see that suddenly disciples are in this place, that they don't understand this parable. Now, later on, if you see these verses, they come and ask Jesus. Later on, he says Father, what does this mean? And in fact, when they go ask Jesus this question, jesus comes down heavily on them and says Can't you understand this simple passage? And he gives them an explanation later on. We will now see, one by one, what that explanation is.
Speaker 1Now, here is this word that has been sown, and Jesus is saying that the word is sown, that when a sermon happens, when a message is given, when God's word is sown. It's sown on different kinds of hearts. Now, these four hearts can be present in this church as well, all right. So these are four different kinds of hearts, or four different kinds of hearts. Now, these four hearts can be present in this church as well, all right. So these are four different kinds of hearts or four different kinds of soils that Jesus is talking about, all right. So what is the first one that he talks about?
Speaker 1We look at the seed being sown. And when the seed being sown, the first thing that Jesus says is the seed falls on the pathway. Thing that Jesus says is the seed falls on the pathway. Now Jesus explains that in verse 19. If you look at Matthew, chapter 13, verse 19, it says first, the path represents hard hearts. Jesus said in verse 19, the seed that fell on footpath represents those who hear the message about the kingdom and don't understand it. The evil one, which is Satan, comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. So here, talking about the seed, jesus is saying it's like falling on a pathway. What happens on a pathway? When you're walking on a pathway, when a seed is planted because you walk on it, it does not grow, but the evil one, it says, comes and takes away the message. So the first heart, jesus, is calling what we call hard hearts. Now, these hard hearts don't listen to the message, but they don't pay much attention to it.
Speaker 1Now let me give you some examples. All right, so now we all generally know, just for FYI, who is sleeping when we are preaching. We're okay with that, right, we know. How do we know? We know various tricks. People wear dark glasses. Some people have the skill of opening their eyes and sleeping. Some people are suddenly tuned off to what is happening in a cricket match or what is happening elsewhere. We all know all that. Now, how do I know? I know because I also did it. It's not like a big deal, so we all know.
Speaker 1Now, one of the things that happens is this that whenever we come to listen to God's word, there are different challenges that we all face. Like, say, for example, we are tired, you would have done a late night shift. You come to church and you're sleeping. Now, a valid reason to sleep in the church. But here is the thing I want you to understand Satan plays a very important role in trying to snatch away when the word is being sown in us what Jesus is saying listen, if you have a shallow heart, you will have distractions that will come in your way and whenever the word is spoken, or when you read the word, or when you're sitting to do your daily devotions, when you open it, you read it, but it has no impact on you, satan comes and takes it away. Satan becomes very active when you start engaging with the word and that is why, in this passage, jesus is saying listen, satan comes and snatches away the seed that is planted in their hearts.
Speaker 1Now, I don't know about you. We hear sermons. So when we preach, I hear people telling me Pastor, you preached a great sermon today, brother, the message was good, but nobody will come and tell me Brother, you asked me to do this today, no, from now on I will do it. I want you to understand it is not appreciating the word, it is taking what God has spoken to you and making a commitment to go and do what is being shared. That becomes taking root and that root of the seed will bear fruit. Now, in appreciation, in awe, sometimes what you learn dies down. I want you to understand this. So every time you listen to a sermon, every time you open God's word, every time you read it. Remember this it is not doing it as a ritual, it is not doing it because you come to a church, but it is to make a commitment. As a Lord, you spoke to me today. I will walk out and I will start doing this from day on, or else you will be like a seed that's fallen on the pathway where you hear it and then stays and comes and snatches away One of the things I advise people when you're looking at reading the Bible.
Understanding the Importance of God's Word
Speaker 1A lot of people keep debating this whether you should read a physical Bible or a digital Bible. I mean, I don't care which Bible you read, as long as you're reading the Bible, but if you're using a digital Bible, here is a trap. If you're using a mobile Bible on your phone, turn off your data. Why should you turn off your data? It is because when you start reading the Bible, your best friend sends a message on WhatsApp saying hey, what's up? What are you doing Now? You're tempted to reply to. The best friend sends a message on WhatsApp saying hey, whatsapp, what are you doing Now? You are tempted to reply to the best friend or your husband who messaged you, or else Satan will make sure your boss sends a message. Now, when your boss sends a message, when you are reading the Bible on WhatsApp and when you see it, what do you do? You prefer to answer to the boss that pays salary, not the heavenly boss Distractions.
Speaker 1Distractions come in many forms, so I want you to understand. When you are committing to read God's word, spend time on God's word, ensure you do it at a time when there are no distractions. You're reading a distilled Bible, praise the Lord, turn off the data so nobody can reach to you because you're spending time with the heavenly father. It's a huge trap that today we all fall into and Satan uses that. So I want you to understand. Do you know that? This is why it's important for us to recognize that Satan is very active when we start engaging in God's word.
Speaker 1The second thing Jesus says that when the seed is sown, or when you start engaging God's word, when the message is given, it falls on what he calls the rocky soil. In verse 2021 of John, he says the seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy, but since they don't have deep roots, they don't last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing in God's word. Now here is the scene when the seed is being sown, it falls among rocks. It tries to take fruit, but it doesn't happen because the rocks are there and the fruit does not come out. Now it tries to grow quickly, but because of the roots not being there, it falls away quickly as well. This is what Jesus calls a shallow hearts. Now, what happens in this shallow hearts? Now, here this group represents those who hear the word of God and respond by making a profession of their faith. Now what Jesus is saying here people respond to it, they accept it, they respond to the word as well, but something dangerous happens. Jesus is saying here people respond to it, they accept it, they respond to the word as well, but something dangerous happens. Jesus is saying he's saying they seem to be filled with joy, but it does not last long because they are not rooted, they are not grounded in the truth of God's word and as soon as they encounter the heat of testing, they fall away.
Speaker 1How many times I have seen people who have served, when I was young, with me in youth fellowships, youth camps, who were part of the worship team who were part of the prayer groups. Today their lives have totally gone, disarrayed. If I ask you those, you will also tell. Oh, so many people whom you know were in the Lord, but now their life is something else. They no longer follow Christianity or they might move away from church. They would have moved away from fellowship. They might be following other faiths. Now why? Because whenever it was happening, they did not engage with the word in such a way that it takes deep root in their life. It was all shallow, it was all superficial, because they wanted to belong, they wanted to be part of a society. Now Jesus is saying be careful, what kind of heart you're having. Do you have a shallow heart where you are falling into this kind of a trap?
Speaker 1The third thing that Jesus says is the seed falling on what we call among the thorns. Now here is a beautiful thing that when the seed falls among the thorns, two things happen. It says in Matthew, chapter 13, verse 22,. The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God's word, but all quickly, the message is crowded out by the worries of life, the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. Now here, interestingly, you will find that the seed is growing. Sorry, the plant is growing also. The thorns are growing. That means because it's fertile soil, because it's fertile soil, plant is growing and the thorns also are growing.
Speaker 1Now Jesus says there are three kinds of plants that will choke your life. What is the first one? The first one, he says, are the cares of your life. So you are growing in God's word. Suddenly you start dealing with the cares of your world problems Riches of life is another huge temptation and pleasures of life. He gives three examples. These thorns come in three forms and these three forms what Jesus is saying are going to ensure that your life becomes a total mess. You think you're growing, but you'll start having an attitude where you stop trusting God.
Speaker 1How many times I have seen people broken when their US visa is rejected? How many times I've seen people saying God, you said that you will take me there, but it was your personal desire. A few weeks ago I read a prayer request in Banjara Hill Church. Somebody wrote a prayer request saying praise the Lord, my US visa is rejected. Praise the Lord, my US visa is rejected.
Speaker 1Here is the truth. We all seek after greener pastures, but we serve a God who makes sure that you lie down among green pastures. That's what Psalm 23 says. He knows he has a plan. So one of the things that happens is we have cares of life, we have think, thoughts of the society which tell us that this is the only way. God you've done a blessing only if you do this. No, no, no. My friends, god has a beautiful plan and his word being planted in his word is important. That is why these things choke you. These things make sure that you are completely away from what you need to do. Matthew, chapter 6, verse 24,. It says no one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon, so these three kinds of thorns you need to be careful about Cares and riches and pleasures of life, and these are the something. These are some things that we need to always remember, because we all live in a world of choices, the choices that we make, the choices that we are worried about.
Speaker 1I was telling yesterday, and I'm getting prepared to preach this next Sunday, but let me tell it to you. You know, in US a lot of people move states in order to save taxes. In order to save taxes, people move states because in some places I was listening to a beautiful conversation you should listen to it by Trevor Noah and Simon Sinek, and Simon Sinek was talking about friendships and community and I found it coming out so strongly talking about Christian community. He says listen, I rather move to a place where I have friends, because I'm not going to be under stress, under pressure, because I always have friends that will take me through when tough time comes, when trouble comes. Your job is friends that will take me through when tough time comes. When trouble comes, your job is not going to take you through. Your family and friends will take you through. They are the ones you're going to stay with. So when you make moves, just make sure that you have a Christ-centered community, christ-centered family around you to take care of you, or else you'll fall into this trap of being alone. When your job lets you down and when your career lets you down, because that's not going to carry you through, you need to be ensured that you are among God-centered people.
Speaker 1The fourth category that Jesus talks about is what is called good soil. Now, in this good soil. There are some beautiful things that talks about how we deal with God's word. Now, this good crop that produces good crop here people cling on to God's word and it says that it produces fruit 30 times, 60 times and 100 times, and this is what we call fruitful hearts. The earlier one was divided hearts, because when choices we have to make, we divide ourselves. That means we start serving two masters One is mammon and one is God. But here it says these are fruitful hearts. Their foundation is the word, their basis is the word, and there is no deviation.
Speaker 1Now, what is it that Jesus is trying to communicate here? Jesus is saying listen, when he is telling his disciples about God's word. What he is saying is the word that you read, the word that you meditate on is absolutely important. It is not for you to hear, it's not for you to get entertained, it's not for you to get excited about, but it is for you to do all the above but also follow it, but also follow it, but also follow it.
Speaker 1Now let me show you one more passage where we are all falling into different kinds of traps. One more passage is 2nd Timothy, chapter 4, verses 3. For a time is coming, says Timothy, for a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. People will not listen to sound and wholesome teaching, but whom will they listen to? They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and will chase after myths. He's saying we need to avoid a situation where we are chasing after people who are preaching something that we like.
Engaging With God's Word Practically
Speaker 1Now it is good to have your favorite preacher, but don't get carried away by what he's saying, because your foundation is not based on what a preacher is saying or not a pastor is saying, but based on your understanding and your reading of God's word. He's saying when it comes to accountability, our spiritual growth depends on how we respond to God's word. So this morning, what kind of hearts do we have? How am I responding to God's word? Do I have a hard heart? Do I have a shallow heart? Do I have a divided heart, or do I have a heart that bears fruit? Do I have a heart that bears fruit? That's why Jesus says in Matthew, chapter 13,. He says let him who has ears hear this. I mean, everybody has ears. Then why does he specify let him who has ears? Because it's important that when we are talking about God's word, we not only listen to it but act on it. We take action on it.
Speaker 1The Bible talks about six things that we got to do regularly when it comes to God's word, six things that the Bible encourages us to do. What are those six things? The first one, the Bible says, is hear God's word. Now, probably it was a little bit prophetic, because now we have headphones, right, we can hear God's word using our mobile phones, using our headset and things like that. All right, so it says we can hear God's word. Then the second thing it says is read God's word. Now, these are not like pick and choose one and two. There's something you've got to be doing on a regular basis Hear God's word. What does it say?
Speaker 1Faith comes from hearing and hearing the word of God. It says in Romans, chapter 10, verse 17. That means the simple principle you want to grow closer to the Lord, you want to see your faith growing. You got to hear God's word. There's no other way about it, because what happens is when we fall into this trap, when we want to hear God's word, we think it is hearing a sermon. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Hearing a sermon is not hearing God's word. That is a modern day terminology where it says, when I'm coming here I'll say I'm preaching God's word. Listen, I'm interpreting God's word, I'm explaining God's word. But God's word, my friends, is this this is God's word. So we need, when it says, hear God's word, you got to hear what the word is saying, not what your favorite preacher is saying. Do you get me Read? Read is basically read this.
Speaker 1I'm not against daily devotionals and all that I mean all that is good, but don't get too much of reading daily devotions and less of reading God's word. It's a trap. A lot of people also fall into this trap of calendar Christianity. We have this habit of a calendar has Bible verses. I don't know if you've seen, but I've seen like it's. Like every day morning. Get up before you go to work, read that one verse God will bless you and keep you and then run to work. I've done my Bible reading part. No, no, no, no, no. Don't fall into that trap. That is ritualistic Indian Christianity. Like every day morning, we do this. No, that's exactly what we've done. All right, I want you to understand. Don't fall into those traps, because here, when you talk about reading, it is spending time in order to understand what is it that the word is saying?
Speaker 1The third thing it talks about is study. There's a huge difference. Study, okay. Let me just ask you this question how many of you love studying in school? You can't lie in church, okay. Okay, let me ask you a simpler question how many of you hated mathematics? Thank you.
Speaker 1Now we are talking, how many of you hated to study languages in school? My life got messed up by learning studying Telugu language only. I failed. Maths took me a toll on my education, career and stuff like that. But here is the thing we don't. Some of us have aversion towards maths. I know a lot of people have. All those of you did not raise your hand, but I'm sure you are either an engineer or whatever software field or whatever you are in. But here is the thing. Let me ask you a question Two, twos are Three, threes are Four, fours are Twenty. Into five, hundred, okay Now, multiplication table.
Speaker 1I hated Because they tell you in school there's no other way to learn. Even in America there's no other way to learn. You got to mug it up Correct. So when you look at a bundle of 500 rupee notes, what is the value of that Bundle of 100, 500 rupee notes? What is the value of that 50,000. Simple, alright. Here is the thing. How did you calculate it? When you didn't like it in your childhood, you forced yourself to memorize to pass an exam. And because you passed the exam, today, when you look at a bundle of 100, 500 rupee notes, you will know what it is.
Speaker 1I want you to understand this. Whenever Bible is saying memorize God's word with other things, what Bible is saying is you invest in that studying. You invest in that memorizing because it becomes part of your life when temptations come, because it automatically comes to your head that you need to basically say no to a temptation. Because it's become a natural process for you. Now, just like the tables, you know three, threes are nine, but when you are learning three, threes are nine. You probably fail, but now it becomes natural for you because it's imbibed into your head. So I know that a lot of people say memorizing is bad. I feel memorizing is good as well. All right, because it teaches you a lot of life skills and it's important for us to understand that studying is something that says study God's word and be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Speaker 1We are supposed to study God's word. We are supposed to memorize God's word. Psalm 119,. It says that you know your word. I have hidden in my heart, lord, so that I do not sin against you. Psalm 119, verse 11.
Speaker 1You know a lot of people ask me what is a good time to study God's word. I don't know if morning or evening. How many of you like to okay, forget Bible? How many of you like to okay, forget Bible? How many of you got scolded for not studying during the day when you told your parents I like to study only at night? Okay, very few. Okay, rest all day people Okay, very good. I like to study only at night. During the day, I like to sleep. That was how my college life was. But here is the thing when it comes to understanding, meditating and spending time with God's word, it's important to do it when you are fresh. There is no, I mean, a lot of people encourage you to do it in the morning, but if you're not a morning person, you figure out a time that suits you best. So there's no ideal time, but every day, meditating on God's word.
Speaker 1It says the sixth thing, that's meditate on God's word. That was what was told to Joshua. Joshua, he was told that this book of law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe, to do according to all that is written. Listen to this, for then you will make your way prosperous and then you will find good success in whatever you do. Now we know this passage is talking about career that Joshua is choosing. So in Joshua's career it is told you want to be successful as a king. You want to be successful as a politician. You want to be successful in your career. God is telling Joshua to meditate on God's word. Don't let it depart from you. Meditate on it day and night, because that will tell you how to lead, how to guide, how to conquer other people.
Speaker 1We live in a world where we are influenced by social media quite a bit. You can put you experiment this, all right, experiment this, a nice word statement and give a title to it and put a verse there. Post it. You will find people liking it, even if it's not from God's word, lot of people will say amen to it. Lot of people believe anything that comes on social media is the word of God. One thing I want you to understand half the Christian posts coming from the West are not biblical or not from the Bible. We need to understand that we don't fall into this trap of people interpreting the word whatever way they feel and we get carried away by reading it and confusing ourselves. So it's important, my friends, I want you to understand this. When we look at this situation, we need to know what our word says.
Speaker 1The sixth thing that we are supposed to do with God's word is do God's word. James, chapter 122, is very clear that we need to be doing God's word. So when we read, engage ourselves with God's word, we are trying to understand God's mind. Now there are three simple steps you all would have known. Some of you would have seen this. Three simple steps. What do I do with God's word? Every day, morning or evening, when you open God's word, you pick a chapter, pick a passage, pick a verse. There are three things you're supposed to do. Which makes your Bible study very interesting All right. When you're supposed to do which makes your Bible study very interesting, all right, when you're spending time with your family and when you're having family devotions.
Speaker 1Ask these three questions. The first thing is what we call observe. What's in the Bible? What's the passage is saying? Observation technique is what we call. The second technique is interpret. Now, this is what the Bible says. What does it mean for me today? The third thing is application. Now, this is what the Bible says. What does it mean for me today? The third thing is application. Now, what does this mean?
Speaker 1Now, when we look at observe, we need to look at what are the kind of terms that are there. There are sometimes. There's a structure to it, there's an emphasis on it. There you'll find repetition of words. There's a cause and effect. What do I mean by cause and effect? Well done, good and faithful servant. You are faithful over few things. I will make you ruler over many things. That means there is a cause. That means you have done well and God is going to make.
Speaker 1And then there are if and thens. If you know, if you're somebody who teaches grammar, you'll know there are if and thens. That means it's like this If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven If and then. That means only if happens, the then will happen. Don't take the then and run away, because most of the then you'll find on social media. Nobody will tell you the if, but they'll always say the then because then is popular, then can be sensationalized. But people say if Nobody talks you the if, but they'll always say the then because then is popular, then can be sensationalized. But people say if nobody talks about the if so. But the word is very clear. There are if and thens.
Speaker 1So you need to understand and ask these questions what does the passage say? What does the passage say? Interpretation is what does the passage actually mean. Interpretation is discovering the meaning of the passage. The author's main thought of the idea. Answering the questions that arise during observation will help you in the process of interpretation. Interpret what the word is saying. Ask this question. The third question is what am I going to do about what the passage says and means? Simple? You heard my sermon today. Question for you is what am I going to do about what the passage says and means? Simple? You heard my sermon today. Question for you is what am I going to do with what I'm hearing now and what I'm going to do about it? You can walk out of this place having a hard heart, a shallow heart, or divided heart or a fruitful heart. It's how you respond to it matters All. So he says what do I? What am I going to do with what I mean? Now?
Speaker 1Many of us have questions about what is the whole big deal if I skip reading god's word. What is the thing about? Oh, I it's. I don't want to spend time meditating on god's word.
Speaker 1There are reasons that are given in the bible why we should study God's word, and if you look at Psalm 119, it's a beautiful passage, especially talking about how we deal with God's word, and I want to pick a few verses and show it to you when you have time. You can go back and read it. The first one it says Is that the reasons why we should study God's word. The first one is the Bible is the source of blessings. The Bible is the source of blessings. The Bible is the source of blessing. Now, whenever we look at God's word, whenever we are seeking something, whenever we are asking for something, whenever you are pursuing something, we always say Lord, reveal your will to me. Lord, show me what I should do. Lord, open the doors. Lord, what kind of decision I should take. God is already saying you read the word. You will know. Why do you keep asking me? You read the word. My answer is there. Now you will say how do I know that, lord? Because when you read the word, you understand the mind of God. Now, what do I mean by that?
Power and Guidance of God's Word
Speaker 1How many of you bought greeting cards ever for your loved ones? I know today is a distal day, but earlier Now, what do you do? When you go for a greeting card? You go to a greeting card shop, you look at, open the card and you read the contents of the card, am I right? And you try to pick a card that pleases the person whom you love. Correct, but how do you know that that person will love that card? Because you know that person, you know the mind of that person, you understand the attitude of that person, you understand the heart of that person and you know that when you go to pick that card, this card, this wording will make that person feel loved or feel cared.
Speaker 1God is saying I've given my word, which is so open. And when you read your word, you will understand the mind of God, you will understand what God wants you to do. So, when you read the word, it's a source of blessings. Psalm 119, 1 to 9, psalm 1, 1 to 3 says it's a source of blessing. The second thing is the Bible is the source of our defense. Now, it's a source of actually offense and defense. All right, it's a source of offense and defense. Now, what do I mean by that?
Speaker 1There are some situations. Sometimes. We live in a world where we always want to have a pity party. I had such a miserable time. Every time you walk in you'll start having this feeling that, oh, I have such a bad situation. My husband did this to me, my wife did this to me. I have no money. And you'll come and ask, praying, praying, come. You'll come to the pastors and say Lord, pastor, please pray me, ask God to help me, and all that Listen, half of those who do this pity parties. Your problems will get resolved if you read God's word, because the answers are already given.
Speaker 1Bible talks about what happens to a person who's raped. Bible talks about what happened to a person who's lost. Jesus tells so much of stories about things that are lost. Jesus talks about why we should not worry. Jesus talks about so many things. Why does he do all that? Why do we have these sad stories, depressing stories, murder stories, cheating stories in the Bible? It's because you and I can relate to it.
Speaker 1When we go through that pain, know very well that God is going to take us through that painful situation. Children being murdered, children being killed why is it there? So that parents who lost their children know that God is close to the brokenhearted. God is close to the people. That's why he says he's very close to the brokenhearted. Today is close to the people. That's why he says he's very close to the brokenhearted.
Speaker 1Today you are crying. If you read the word Psalm, it says he's very close to the brokenhearted. That means if you are crying, god is sitting beside you. That's my word and I know that word. When I go down, god will sit with me and I don't have to feel discouraged. I don't need anybody else, because he's going to be my source of strength and he's going to be source of offense, all right. So I want you to understand this and it's important that we understand that we don't fall into this trap of staying away and listening and asking people to keep praying. Nothing wrong with asking people to pray. When you come to church as a prayer team, you're wanting to pray Nothing wrong with that. But I want you to understand this as soon as you get prayed, for your answer is found when you open the word, because word is alive. Third thing that is not. Bible is a source of encouragement. Bible is a source of encouragement. And the last thing is Bible is the source of guidance. Bible will guide us what to do and what not to do. Let me give you two more examples.
Speaker 1In the Bible you know the story about Jesus being tempted, right, and one of the stories I mean we all talk about how Jesus said no to temptation and all that. But I saw one more interesting thing in that. One of the things that I learned is Satan knows the Bible better than you and me. How do I know that? Because every time he goes to tempt Jesus, he takes the word exactly as it is and tempts Jesus. Imagine his audacity. He's taking the word to Jesus Christ and saying listen, if you are hungry, turn this into bread. If you are this thing, throw yourself down and God will raise. All these are true, but Jesus knows that it is not coming out of a right spirit. My friends, I want you to understand this. When you read the word, you'll understand the heart of God and you'll understand God's spirit. So, and you know, your behavior and lifestyle will not get distracted. I'll give you one more example.
Speaker 1You remember the whole story about David and Saul, when Saul was chasing David right and David hides himself in a cave and Saul comes to relieve him and David cuts the garment. You remember the story. Very interesting lesson I have learned from that story is this you know, when Saul comes to relieve himself, david and all his men are hiding and his men tell David's men who are men of God, by the way okay, they tell David this. They tell David in 1 Samuel 24, 4,. It says this is the day that the Lord spoke of when he said to you I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish. Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off the corner of Saul's garment. What were they saying? They're telling David. David, listen, here is your opportunity. God has given you an opportunity to kill Saul.
Speaker 1But David knew God's spirit. David knew what his father's heart was. That is why, when they were quoting the scripture in the name of God, he was able to say that is not my God. My God is a God who honors. That is why he cuts off the name of God. He was able to say that is not my God. My God is a God who honors. That is why he cuts off the hem of the garment and he says when Saul goes away, he shouts out my Lord, my King, he gives him the honor that is due. That is the heart of God.
Speaker 1How do I know when people are saying this is God's word for you. How do I discern God's spirit? People are saying this is God's word for you. How do I discern God's spirit? They're not saying anything wrong. It's not that they're not concerned. But here is the thing when I spend time with my word, when I spend time meditating on God's word, it will help me understand. It will help me understand what God's word is. You know, the Bible is the source of encouragement. There is hope in God's word Psalm 119, 49. There is comfort, there is joy in God's word. There's peace in God's word Psalm 119, 165. And that is why it's important for us to understand. That is the source of our guidance.
Speaker 1Now here is the thing. Let me give you one more interpretation and close. We all talk about joy. We all sang the song. Martin Smith was here in this lawn saying I got joy.
Speaker 1All right, here is the thing. What is joy? It's a fruit of a spirit, am I right? It's joy, fruit of spirit? Right, that means those who are not in the spirit won't have joy. Just checking James, chapter 2, chapter 1, it says count it all joy, my friends, when you go through various trials of different kinds, because when you go through tough times, it produces patience, perseverance and makes you perfect. Now, what joy, according to James? What he's saying is listen when you are going through pain, hold on, count it as a joy. How can I count my pain as joy? Because that pain will develop patience, will make you persevere and will make you perfect, so that next time, when the same pain comes, you can take it up front and you will not have the same impact that pain can cause you. That's why James says count it all joy, my friends. Here is the thing.
Speaker 1Joy sometimes is not to have a happy face and keep jumping around. Joy is knowing that the God, who's spoken his word is with you when you're going through pain, when you're going through tough times. That is how you can be joyful. And James is saying the fruit of the spirit is for us to understand that sad times, depressing times, difficult times, lonely times, god is going to be there. That is why we are joyful. We might not be smiling, we might not be jumping, but joy is having an assurance that God is with you. That is when you can be joyful. So joy in chaos, joy in pain, is true only if you believe in the word. If you are away from the word, it is going to be a huge, huge, huge challenge.
Speaker 1Saying all that, I just want to conclude this morning. The Bible is our lifeline. Bible is our lifeline. If you want to hear God, god is speaking through his word. If you are praying, you need to pray according to God's word. Your worship comes out of understanding who God is through's word. Your worship comes out of understanding who God is through his word. But today, my challenge to you is how faithful are you to his voice? How faithful are you to listen to him? How faithful are you to engage with what he's saying, asking you to do in your life?
Speaker 1Are you a person who reads God's word every day. Even if you read, what kind of heart do you have? Do you have a hard heart? Do you have a shallow heart? Do you have a divided heart or do you have a fruitful heart? This morning, I want you to take time there are scheduled times to read God's word. There are many distractions today. We all want to be on our gadgets because they are very engaging, but I want you to understand this Unless you are willing to turn them off, we won't get the time to be in God's word as a family devotions. You can't do it until you turn things off. And this morning I want you to understand. God wants to speak to you. My question is where do you stand?