There Is A Battle For Your Seed, Pastor Wendell Williams

Sunday, May 20, 2012                    Pastor Wendell Williams               There Is A Battle For Your Seed

Seed Time & Harvest

Matthew 13:1-2

On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. (NKJV)

Jesus needed his personal space…

Matthew 13:3-9

Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (NKJV)

Matthew 13:18-19

"Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. (NKJV)

The imagery of the sower who is casting [planting and scattering] seed; broadcasting his seed which has fallen into various different places.

• The ‘seed’ is a picture of the Word of God
• The ‘ground’ is the condition of the person hearing it!

Matthew 13:20

But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; (NKJV)

• Those who hear go out…

Matthew 13:21

…yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. (NKJV)

• Just because you have been ‘born again’ you are not guaranteed a bed of roses.
• When we became Christians we signed up for an army.
• Conflicts [and wars] are fought by soldiers
• There is a war for the quality of your life
• There is a battle for your seed
• You have to fight for your seed
• We must arm you [make you aware] for this war!

Innocence is not protection from the adversary

• Ignorance is not protection from the adversary
• Anybody in the army is a potential victim for the adversary
• This is a fight for you and I [Pastor] am fighting for you!

The enemy wants to sift you [just like he tried to sift Peter]; he wants to abuse you. The enemy is not gentle; he is not gentile. He is aggressive and he means to take you down. He will mess up your parade if you let him.

Matthew 13:22-23

Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." (NKJV)

Pastor Wendell reads the preamble to the Gideon’s Bible

The Bible contains the mind of God….

• The Word of God; the Bible [and its importance]
• The Bible is life; a travelers map… the pilgrim’s staff…
• The Bible is our compass…

The ‘Book’ is about you…

• Christ is the grand subject of the Bible…
• It is a mine of wealth….

Matthew 13 tells us that there is a fight for our seed.

Matthew 13:3-4

Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. (NKJV)

Matthew 13:19

When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. (NKJV)

Word of the Kingdom → Bible

• You need this Word!
• We live in a time where we pick and choose BUT
• This is THE Book; get life from it!

One → Me

Hearing the Word → Bible

Wicked one → Steal, kill and destroy

Bascilius → strong place

You need more than a little bit of hearing…

When you hear the Word of God it gives you God stuff; you need more God stuff! Your life has a wheel falling off [this is the evidence]. Hearing the Word of God tightens down the bolts. Connect to the Word of God!

Hearing → Give audience to…

• Give your ears to God
• Put them in your heart
• Whatever comes out of your mouth should reflect what is in your heart

Your mouth will lie to you if you don’t have enough truth in your heart!

• There is a fight for your hearing
• There is a fight for your word
• There is a fight for your heart

Matthew 13:19

While anyone is hearing the Word of the kingdom and does not grasp and comprehend it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the roadside. (AMP)

Hear → Give audience; this is what you need to do to God

• Don’t say, “I’ll catch you later!”
• God is trying to catch a moving target!

Give God your attention! He sent Jesus to die for you!

• If this doesn’t get to you [then] check your heart to see if you are saved!
• Is God in there or is He not?

Stop running [from God]. He wants to hear from you!

Stand still and hear the salvation of the Lord!

‘Put it all together’ → Understanding

• You must come and connect
• He will show you how the recipe works and put it together

Wisdom is the application of knowledge!

• The wise apply the word; the word was given to you to make you wise! Don’t be a fool!

Matthew 13:19

When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. (NKJV)

‘Understands not’ → didn’t put it together

Then…

The enemy will come to steal it from you.

Wicked → Evil [influence and in character]

God: ‘I love you!” Devil: ‘That would be true if you weren’t so unlovely!’

That [above statement] would be wicked!

The devil will beat you up until you buy into [all the word has for you].

The opposite of a lie is the truth. When a lie comes… speak the truth. “I am worth it; I am valuable.”

You cannot answer a thought with a thought. SPEAK it so that you can use the power given to you. Don’t buy into what the enemy says to you or you will be a ‘goner’!

You have to fight for your seed because you are being fought against for your seed!

We are going against the culture; you can make it because the ‘Greater One’ lives inside of you!

We are ‘rowing’ up against a tough current.

The wicked one brings calamity, is vicious, grievous, bad, malicious…

There is an enemy who is fighting for the Word that is coming to you!

…the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.

Harpazo → seizes, taken by forth

Satan means adversary; he is not kind or gentle. He is an opponent to the Word of God going into you!

1 Peter 5:8-9

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. (NKJV)

Sober →watch

Vigilant → watch and stay awake

1 Peter 5:8-9

Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset--rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. (AMP)

You are fighting an ‘old’ devil who fought Eve; you are not up to it! You need ALL of God, His word, the confidence that His word brings!

God wants you to make it more than you want to make it! God knows your stuff… “I got you if you will be got…”

The army that you are in is hated by the enemy of our Kingdom!

• You have company in the battle!
• Be encouraged [as] you are not alone.

1 Peter 5:10-11

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (NKJV)