“And some [seed] fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful” (Mark 4:7,18-19).
How could anything gain enough strength or power to choke the Word and cause God’s Word to become unfruitful? The cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches and the lusts of other things don’t have enough strength in themselves to do it. It’s what we do with those “thorns” that causes them to choke the Word in our lives.
“These are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word.” This person starts out right. He’s hearing and feeding on the Word of God, and the Word is starting to grow and bear fruit.
“And the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in….” Then suddenly the cares of this world show up, and he starts listening to them. The deceitfulness of riches and lusts of other things follow right along, and soon he’s feeding on them instead of God’s Word. The “thorns” enter in and choke out the Word, making it unfruitful in his life.
Several years ago, I was trying to share the Word and pray for a man in a hospital but having little success. The man finally said, “I guess I was just born bad ground.”
No, there’s no such thing as anyone’s being born bad ground. You decide what kind of ground you’re going to be. You can be the kind of ground that never bears fruit, or you can decide to be good ground that bears a hundredfold return!
I’m good ground for the Word. I cast my cares on the Lord.
I seek the riches of my inheritance in Christ. The Word is
planted in my heart and is bearing good fruit!
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
For over 40 years, Pastors Mark and Janet Brazee have traveled throughout the world sharing the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Together they've shared the powerful truths of faith and healing in more than 50 nations.
Today Mark and Janet pastor World Outreach Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they base their ongoing outreach to the world. The Brazees still travel as the Lord leads, and they are raising up a congregation who share their passion to reach Tulsa and the world.