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Religion See other Religion Articles Title: The Seed The Seed When reading the Bible, it is often difficult to understand what is being said. There is a reason for this; it takes time and effort to learn enough of the Bible to begin to understand what is intended. That is not an accident, as this Scripture will illustrate. Luke 8:4-16; Now when a great crowd had collected together with those that went to him from city after city, he spoke by means of an illustration; 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. Well, as he was sowing, some of it fell alongside the road and was trampled down, and the birds of heaven ate it up. 6 Some other landed upon the rock-mass, and after sprouting, it dried up because of not having moisture. 7 Some other fell among the thorns, and the thorns that grew up with it choked it off. 8 Some other fell upon the good soil, and, after sprouting, it produced fruit a hundredfold.” As he told these things, he proceeded to call out: “Let him that has ears to listen, listen.” Do you get it? Do you understand what is being said? Even if you think so, I doubt it, unless you have help ... from the holy spirit. A very important part of understanding the Bible is the process of putting on the new personality, and humbly asking for help in understanding. He does listen, He does hear, and He does respond when it is warranted. 9 But his disciples began to ask him what this illustration might mean. 10 He said: “To you it is granted to understand the sacred secrets of the kingdom of God, but for the rest it is in illustrations, in order that, though looking, they may look in vain and, though hearing, they may not get the meaning. 11 Now the illustration means this: the seed is the word of God. 12 Those alongside the road are the ones that have heard, then the Devil comes and takes the word away from their hearts in order that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those upon the rock-mass are the ones who, when they hear it, receive the word with joy, but these have no root; they believe for a season, but in a season of testing they fall away. 14 As for that which fell among the thorns, these are the ones that have heard, but, by being carried away by anxieties and riches and pleasures of this life, they are completely choked and bring nothing to perfection. 15 As for that on the fine soil, these are the ones that, after hearing the word with a fine and good heart, retain it and bear fruit with endurance. Pretty clear after he explains it, is it not? But is that all of the story? 16 “No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it underneath a bed, but he puts it on a lamp-stand, that those stepping in may behold the light. … Christians are to be seen and heard: Some other fell upon the good soil, and, after sprouting, it produced fruit a hundredfold. And if you are not seen and heard, then you are luke warm, and not obeying the command of Christ Jesus for all men to be disciples; Matthew 28:19; Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son. Everything in the Bible is witnessed to. You simply need to do the (assisted) work to understand. Luke 8:17, 18 ; For there is nothing hidden that will not become manifest, neither anything carefully concealed that will never become known and never come into the open. 18 Therefore, pay attention to how you listen; for whoever has, more will be given him, but whoever does not have, even what he images he has will be taken away from him. Perhaps understanding grows with some, and perhaps not. If not, the problem may be that you do not know how to ask for help, from Him. Jesus told us how; Matthew 6:1-15; “Also, when you pray, you must not be as the hypocrites; because they like to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the broad ways to be visible to men. Truly I say to you, They are having their reward in full. 6 You, however, when you pray, go into your private room and, after shutting your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; then your Father who looks on in secret will repay you. 7 But when praying, do not say the same things over and over again, just as the people of the nations do, for they imagine they will get a hearing for their use of many words. 8 So, do not make ourselves like them, for your Father knows what things you are needing before ever you ask him. 9 “You must pray, then, this way: ‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. … I have a lot of problems with people who have said this prayer over the years, and still will argue that ‘God does not really have a name.’ Or, ‘If He does have a name, it is not really important.’ There are other places in the Bible where we are told, in no uncertain terms, of the importance of the name, Jehovah. 10 Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth. 11 Give us today our bread for this day; 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the wicked one.’ Pretty comprehensive prayer. This does not mean that you should not ask for guidance; you simply should know enough to begin your prayer properly; “Our Father in the heavens, let your name (Jehovah) be sanctified. If you would see fit, please help me to learn and grow in your word. Help me to understand what you wish of me, and once I understand, help me to choose to do what you wish. Also, please help me to cleanse my life of the errors and sins that I am so fond of. I ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.” The above is not exactly how I word my prayers to Jehovah, but it is close. I am generally more specific about the errors and sins; after all, I know my weaknesses better than I wish to! I also generally will ask for help for those closest to me. What I do not ask for, is money or other such non-sense. And this I will witness to you; He does answer prayers! When, you are serious about what you ask for. Finally, to finish; Matthew 6:14, 15; “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15 whereas if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” That last part is extremely important. If you do not understand it, and accept it, then you have no future beyond this life, no matter if you call on the name of Jesus Christ or not! Why? Because if you are a true Believer, you do as He commands. If you are a liar, then you do not, and your salvation is forfeit. You may want to remember that as you lay in more and more guns and make plans to begin killing, in the name of your god, of course, whomever that may be.
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#1. To: richard9151 (#0)
Good post richard.
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