COMPLETED Accelerating Your Spiritual Growth, Integrating the Word of God August 20, 2023
Accelerating Your Spiritual Growth
Integrating the Word of God
August 20, 2023
John 8:31 - Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples.” (CSB)
Luke 8:8 – “Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
HOW TO INTEGRATE GOD’S WORD INTO MY LIFE
I MUST …
1. CULTIVATE AN OPEN MIND.
Luke 8:5 - “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up.”
Luke 8:12 - Those along the footpath are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes along and takes away the word from their hearts, so they cannot believe and be saved.”
The hardened soil = A CLOSED MIND
3 Causes:
•PRIDE•FEAR•BITTERNESS
2. ALLOCATE TIME TO LISTEN.
Luke 8:6 – “Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.”
Luke 8:13 – “Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.”
The shallow soil = A SUPERFICIAL MIND
3. ELIMINATE THE DISTRACTIONS.
Luke 8:7 – “Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.”
Luke 8:14 - The seed that fell among weeds stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by life’s worries, riches, and pleasures, and they don’t mature.”
The soil with weeds = A PREOCCUPIED MIND
1 Kings 19:12 - After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”
4.
Luke 8:15 - the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”
Luke 8:15 – “…They listen to God’s words and cling to them and steadily spread them to others who also soon believe.” (TLB)
The good soil = A
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF INTEGRATING GOD’S WORD INTO MY LIFE?
• IT
John 10:27 - Jesus: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
• IT
Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
• IT
Psalm 32:8 – “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.”
Joshua 1:8 – “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”