There are those who say that FAITH is enough, and yet, there is ample instruction to accompany our FAITH, for the purpose of FIDELITY, and FAITHFULNESS! HE teaches that those who HEAR HIS WORDS, THEN ACTS upon them, ARE the ones whom are secure, and are anchored; as long as they so REMAIN IN HIM!!!
CHRIST, our LORD sowed THE WORD FOR the sake of our TRUTH, that we are brought into partnership in the COVENANT OF RECONCILIATION, and that we, being so easily distracted, and tossed about by the human condition, might attach to the ROOT of HIS TRUTH, in order that we REFLECT HIM which INSPIRES others to take note of HIS PRESENCE!!!
It IS HIS WILL THAT we bear fruit accordingly; FOR HIS GLORY, and for the good of others! Doing so bears witness to FATHER, SON, and HOLY SPIRIT; REVEALING HIM TO the world, and urging others to TURN to HIM...
ONLY THROUGH HIM can we understand, and act accordingly, but it IS our place to RECEIVE HIM in every possible way, then by example, rouse others to do the same! Because we have been reared in negativity, and exist in a negative world, UNLESS we HAVE learned via HIS WORD, and HAVE taken it to the very depths of the being, we are not able to exemplify HIM! Thus, those who HEAR HIS WORD, then ACT upon HIS WILL, ARE enabled to withstand and produce!!!
43+++“For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit.
44+++“For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush.
45+++“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.
46+++“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
47+++“Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like:
48+++he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.
49+++“But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”
11+++“Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.
12+++“Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.
13+++“Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.
14+++“The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
15+++“But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.
There are many very needful and excellent rules and cautions for hearing the word, in the parable of the sower, and the application of it. Happy are we, and for ever indebted to free grace, if the same thing that is a parable to others, with which they are only amused, is a plain truth to us, by which we are taught and governed.
We ought to take heed of the things that will hinder our profiting by the word we hear; to take heed lest we hear carelessly and slightly, lest we entertain prejudices against the word we hear; and to take heed to our spirits after we have heard the word, lest we lose what we have gained. The gifts we have, will be continued to us or not, as we use them for the glory of God, and the good of our brethren. Nor is it enough not to hold the truth in unrighteousness; we should desire to hold forth the word of life, and to shine, giving light to all around. Great encouragement is given to those who prove themselves faithful hearers of the word, by being doers of the work. Christ owns them as his relations.
In the great field of the church, the word of God is dispensed to all. Of the many that hear the word of the gospel, but few receive it, so as to bring forth fruit. Many are much affected with the word for the present, who yet receive no abiding benefit. The word does not leave abiding impressions upon the minds of men, because their hearts are not duly disposed to receive it. The devil is very busy about careless hearers, as the fowls of the air go about the seed that lies above ground. Many continue in a barren, false profession, and go down to hell. Impressions that are not deep, will not last.
Many do not mind heart-work, without which religion is nothing. Others are hindered from profiting by the word of God, by abundance of the world. And those who have but little of the world, may yet be ruined by indulging the body.
God expects and requires fruit from those who enjoy the gospel, a temper of mind and Christian graces daily exercised, Christian duties duly performed. Let us look to the Lord, that by his new-creating grace our hearts may become good ground, and that the good seed of the word may produce in our lives those good words and works which are through Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God the Father.
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