One of the ways we make ourselves qualified is to learn to listen to people, listen to their hearts and feelings; only then we can really help them.
Besides, we must be ready to show the problem from a different perspective. It is not satisfactory to point out person’s problem or his or her mistakes; we must be able to highlight how his or her present lifestyle or approach to life has caused the problem.
Today I would like us to look at another passage of Scripture.
Every one of us tries to help people by giving advice or recommendations. There are moments in life when we want to reveal certain truths to people so that they could make right choices. Every one of us needs counsel and guidance. It says in the Bible: «Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counsellors they are established» (Proverbs, 15:22).
I would like to start talking about how to not give up in the midst of problems and trials. It is not a secret that our whole life is filled with problems and tests, but we have to learn to overcome them, if we want to move forward in this life.
If we have seed and sow it in good ground, then we will definitely see a harvest. Seed will grow.
Sown seed first gives blade, then head and then grain in the head. Multiplication and growth always imply process. It is unavoidable if we want to receive harvest. We just have to do our part.
First, that we have to understand in order to receive harvest is that we need some seed. The truth is that we already have seed. If you want to see multiplication in some area of your life you should know that you already have seed from God.
What does fruitfulness depend on? On the level of understanding of the mysteries of God’s Kingdom. As we mentioned, if a person listens to the Word of God but does not understand it, then Satan comes and steals the Word. Those who understand the Word bring forth fruit – thirtyfold, sixtyfold and hundredfold.
That is why the first requirement for being fruitful in His kingdom is an understanding of the mysteries of God’s Kingdom. Today I would like you to see to whom God reveals the mysteries of His Kingdom.
I want you to notice that it is required of us to accept the Word if we want it to bear fruit. People with stony hearts also accept the Word, but there is a difference between them and those whose heart is identified as being good ground. People with stone hearts receive the Word on the emotional level, on the surface; besides, they are not consistent, and as a result the Word cannot take root in their hearts.
«…and they have no root in themselves…» (Мark 4:17)
«Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.» (Mark 4:3-8)
As a base we will use a passage from Mark chapter 4, where Jesus Himself was speaking in parables.
In this chapter there are three parables, through which Jesus explains the power and the potential hidden in a small seed.
First I would like to simply recount these parables, but later we will look at each of them in more detail.
The first parable that Jesus talked about is the parable of the sower. This parable shows that there is a whole list of obstacles that make it difficult for seeds to grow and bear fruit. In this parable, Jesus went ahead to show us three types of obstacles which can impede the growth of the seeds that we sow. (Mark 4:3-20)
David talks about the obvious advantages that are available to a person after he has confessed his sins.
1. Supernatural freedom from guilt and condemnation.
« I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, „I will confess my transgression to the Lord,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin» (Psalm 32:5).
Right after we confess our sins God takes away from us the burden of guilt. When our own hearts condemn us, when we experience the guilt caused by our sins, it is extremely hard to boldly go before Godi n prayer. Feelings of guilt destroy our confidence. So, in order for us to get rid of the guilt we need to repent of our sins.
We do not confess our sins to the Lord it affects our blessings. In the Scripture above it says that „for day and night Your hand was heavy upon me…” Heaviness of the Lord’s hand – it is not a sign of blessing; it is a sign of curse. An unrepentant life takes away an opportunity to move forward in any area of our lives. When we refuse to repent we lose vitality and power and drought comes instead. Vitality is a sign of a blessing, prosperity, but drought is a sign of curse. According to the Bible, in order for us to flourish and prosper and to gain riches we must have vitality or power (Deuteronomy, 8:18). The lack of repentance in a person’s life deprives him of this power.
