The weekly podcast from Grace Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Oceanside,CA. gracevcf.org
Episodes
Saturday Aug 27, 2016
Saturday Aug 27, 2016
How to Live a Fruitful Life
The Parable of the Soils
Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, Luke 8:1-15
God gives us what we need for fruitful living in seed form
Matthew 13:3-9
3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop — a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 He who has ears, let him hear."
Parables are fictional stories drawn from everyday experiences which communicate spiritual truths.
Matthew 13:18-23
18 "Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When any one hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries oft his life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
2 Peter 1:3-4
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises,so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Fruitfulness is determined by the condition of the soil
The sower sowed the same seed on all the soils. The only difference between the fruitful life and the unfruitful life is the condition of the heart in which the seed of the God’s Word is sown.
Everybody has the potential for fruitful living, no matter their circumstances. The crucial issue is the condition of the heart.
Fruitful living is descriptive of a life transformed to be like Jesus
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast,it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes,always perseveres.
8 Love never fails.
Galatians 5:22-23
the fruit of the Spirit is love,joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness andself-control.
Ephesians 5:8-11
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness,righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness
The Four Soils
Matthew 8:19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
· The soil of a hard heart – completely closed to receiving God’s Word. God does not grant understanding to those with hearts hardened to His Word.
Matthew 8:20-21 20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away
· The soil of a shallow heart – superficial reception of God’s Word. When the testing and persecution come, they wither quickly.
Matthew 8:22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.
· The soil of a divided heart – the heart receives the Word, but competition from the world eventually chokes it out.
Worries of this life – not placing the Kingdom above all else, this person tries to manage with their own resources. This is about trying to control rather than trusting God.
Deceitfulness of wealth –trying to manage their life apart from God, trusting in worldly resources.
Psalms 1:1-3
1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Matthew 8:23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
· The soil of a receptive heart – the heart receives the Word, is giving understanding, and allows it to take root when testing comes, experiencing fruitful living.
How to Live A Fruitful Life
2 things needed: God’s seed and good soil
God’s seed is His Word, the message of His Kingdom; expose yourself to generous portions of the seed
Prepare the soil of your heart:
Don’t let your heart harden against receiving God’s message, no matter how challenging. Understanding comes after receptivity. Note well: If we reject His Word until we fully understand it, we will neve runderstand it.
Don’t let your heart be like rocky soil. If we receive God’s message when we hear it, but turn away when difficulty comes to test the word, we have rocky soil. Persevere when the Word is tested.
Don’t let your heart be like thorny soil – divided. A divided hear is enticed by the illusion of control (worry) and the deception of wealth and world resources to meet our challenges.
Do have faith that there is life in the seed of God’s Word. It will begin to germinate when planted in good soil. Like natural seed, the growth is invisible at first, but persevere;fruitfulness is coming!
Sunday Aug 21, 2016
Sunday Aug 21, 2016
Increase – The Parable of the Measure
Mark 4:24-25
24 "Consider carefully what you hear," he continued."With the measure you use, it will be measured to you — and even more. 25Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will betaken from him."
· There is nothing greater in life than to experience the revelation ofGod
John 17:3 (The Message)
3 And this is the real and eternal life: That they know you, The oneand only true God, And Jesus Christ, whom you sent.
· “Consider carefully what you hear”-
God has made His Word – therevelation of Himself – available to us
Hebrews 1:1-3
1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at manytimes and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by hisSon, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made theuniverse. 3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representationof his being
· “with the measure you use,it will be measured to you – and even more.”
God has given us authorityand responsibility to determine the measure of revelation we will receive
How to listen for maximum increase
o Prioritize the place ofGod’s Word in your life
Acts 2:42-43
42 They devoted themselves tothe apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of breadand to prayer.
Note – The “apostles’teaching” is written down for us; it is the New Testament
o Approach the Word withexpectant faith –
Hebrews 11:6 (The Message)
6 It'simpossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants toapproach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough torespond to those who seek him.
Proverbs 8:17
17 I lovethose who love me, and those who seek me find me.
Jeremiah 29:13-14
13 You willseek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found byyou," declares the Lord
o Let the Word judge youinstead of you judging the Word
Hebrews 4:12-13
12 For theword of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, itpenetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges thethoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden fromGod's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him towhom we must give account.
o Put the Word into practice
Informationwithout application leads to deformation
Butinformation with application leads to transformation
James 1:22-25 New LivingTranslation
22 But don'tjust listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are onlyfooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is likeglancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forgetwhat you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that setsyou free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then Godwill bless you for doing it.
The ”Law” of Increase
“Whoever has will be givenmore; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."
· This principle is true with natural strength – the more we exercise thestrength we have, the stronger we become. If we don’t use the strength we have, we become weaker, and we lose thestrength we once had.
· This principle is true with knowledge – the more knowledge we have, themore we can acquire. But when we stoplearning, even the knowledge we once had begins to be forgotten.
· This principle is true of any skill
· This principle is true of shouldering responsibility. When we are faithful with what God entruststo us, He entrusts more to us.
Matthew 25:21
21 "His master replied,'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a fewthings; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master'shappiness!'
Jesus came to reveal the Father, and He has entrusted to His Church thecontinuation of revealing God to our entire world. Let us be those who choose a large measurefor receiving the revelation of God, that we may in turn reveal Him to ourworld by who we are, what we say, and what we do.
Isaiah 60:1-3
1 "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of theLord rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over thepeoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kingsto the brightness of your dawn.