Choking the WordFitchburg Nazarene Church

May 15, 2016

by

Rev. Charles W. Pendleton, Jr.

(These are the Pastor’s notes. He may have said more which is not noted here. He could have ignored certain portions of these notes in our actual service.)

Last time we met… we looked at one tool in the enemies War Chest.

1.         Deception

We talked about how the whole world is deceived.

Titus 3:3-53At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.  4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

Remember the first example in Scripture of deceipt…

Genesis 3:13

“Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

The real tragedy is that most folks who’re being deceived don’t realize they’re being deceived.

There is however, one fact for sure –deception always betrays those who live in it.

James 1:22 22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 

The best way to avoid deception is to stay in the Word – although that alone, is not enough.    

We talked about how the enemy weakens us in the battle for the mind by using...

Stress on the job overwork family struggles (with spouse or

children) financial problems

…as open doors for a sneak deceptive attack by the enemy.

Be wise to his cunning.

Remember, we struggle to demolish strongholds.

This morning I want us to look at another passage of Scripture where Jesus tells his disciples that the enemy uses…

2.         Distractions

to attack our minds.

Let’s turn to Mark 4:10-20 and here what Jesus says:

10When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the

parables. 11He told them,“The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in

parables 12so that,

“ ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,

and ever hearing but never understanding;

otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’”13Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you

understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?14The farmer sows the word. 15Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as

they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17But since they have no root, they last only a short

time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall

away. 18Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke

the word, making it unfruitful. 20Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word,

accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was

sown.”

Our key verse from our reading this morning is Verse 19

“but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.”

What becomes fruitless? 

God’s Word working within us.

Any of you who have ever planted a garden understand this concept perfectly.

What is the arch-enemy of a healthy, vibrant plant?

Right – WEEDS!!!

I realize that this foray into flowers and vegetables is not what you came to church for this morning, but I really think that if you take in the concepts of the danger of WEEDS as DISTRACTIONS – you will easily find that they have application for our spiritual battle of the mind.

And I don’t stand alone here – our Savior thought this was a good enough application to use it to go deep with His disciples .

WEEDS!!!

Here are four reasons to hate weeds, which are a distraction for the plants who desperately want to survive.

HERE THEY ARE.

Master Gardener Newspaper Articles Volunteer Program Tulare/Kings Counties

1.

The first reason to hate weeds is that they take up space and discourage desirable plants.

The defining characteristic of a weed is that it grows where it is not wanted.

Most weeds are taller, and seem to grow faster than more pleasing plants.

Weeds make the whole garden less attractive and appear untended.

Many weeds, like annual bluegrass and dandelions, are prolific seed producers. Their seeds can remain dormant in the soil for years and germinate under

favorable conditions. They want to move in and take over more space.

2.

The second reason to hate weeds is that they steal water and nutrients from the plants you deliberately cultivate in the garden.

While the weeds seem vigorous and healthy, the other plants appear puny and starved for water and fertilizer.

While you need to keep your plants and vegetables well-watered, weeds appear to flourish without irrigation.

3.

A third reason to hate weeds is that many of them harbor harmful insect pests like whiteflies and spider mites.

Some weeds have stickers, thorns, or other noxious characteristics as well. Goatheads, stinging nettle, and poison oak are a few plants to avoid removing or touching unless

you are protected by gloves and long sleeves.

4.

The fourth reason to hate weeds is that they have greedy root systems.

Not only do they take up space above the soil and steal water and nutrients intended for other plants, but many weeds, like Persian speedwell and annual bluegrass, have large fibrous root systems that create dense mats under the soil.

Mechanically removing these weeds with hoes or shovels creates large divots and removes valuable topsoil that should be replaced.

Other weeds, like dandelions, have long fleshy tap roots that require excavation to insure they do not show up for a repeat performance.

Master Gardener Newspaper Articles Volunteer Program Tulare/Kings Counties, where I found this information, went on to explain some effective steps that a gardener can take to prevent weed infestations.

But that is definitely not why we are here today!

So let me outline some of the distractions of this age that can wreak havoc in the life of a believer – whether they are new Christians, or have been believers in our Lord Jesus for many years.

In my opinion, it’s anything that separates us from what should be our first love, the Word of God and our relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Let’s go a little further. 

Mark 4:19 also warns us about

“the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful”

I like how the Amplified Version of the Bible states this…

. “…the pleasure and delight and false glamour…the craving and passionate desire for other things…”

I find “false glamour” to be an interesting phrase.

Have you ever seen advertisers use anyone ugly in television commercials?

Have you ever wondered why?

It’s simple, advertising executives know they’re selling an illusion of what you think your life would be like if you buy their product .

The advertisers desire is to paint a pleasing picture in your mind. . . one beyond a reality that you’re currently experiencing. . .and they know that ugly won’t do it.

They want you to believe that somehow their product will magically draw the right

spouse or

job or lifestyle…. in.

What is the consequence of yielding to the allure of the advertisers?

The last few words of Mark 4:19 gives us a real warning when it says:  

“. . . the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Our desire. . .our lust for things. . .will choke and suffocate the Word. 

Pay particular attention to the scripture when it says that the Word will become “fruitless.”

Sadly, that means that the Word of God is not first in your life. . . it means that

the promises of the Word. . . the benefits of Sonship that He promised

you. . . will not be reproducing fruit in your life.

In fact, you will experience crop failure in epic proportions.

The lost of this world are searching for what is missing in their lives . . . Jesus!

They look to the world because they know no other place to go.  But as Christians we not only have the answer for self-fulfillment, it is our duty to share it with others and rescue them from this demonic deception

and not fall into it ourselves.

God has made amazing promises to us in His Word . . . but if we let…

fleshly desire for other things and people

…take precedence over Him. . .then we’re going to live an unfulfilled and disappointing life and be no better off than those who have no God.

The Message Bible translation of Mark 4:18-19 sums it up pretty good when it says:

“The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it.”

Being consumed by the things you

want to get. . .the things you want to do and the people you want to spend time with. .

...other than God . . .

means you’re committing mental suicide by choking the very life out of yourself and your dreams.

It doesn’t matter how many sermons you’ve heard. . .how many seminars you’ve attended or how much Christian TV you’ve watch…

. . .misplaced spiritual priorities permits financial and personal stress to take root in your life.

As the verse in The Message said it:

“The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it.”

Now that’s what I call a distraction

Romans 12:1-21Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be

able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Be Transformed – If you go back to our garden picture this morning, we can see that transformation comes with a lot of work.

It is an ACTIVE picture.

Let’s pray.