Scripture Reading – see Mark 4:1-20

This is such a powerful passage of Scripture and one can spend a lifetime here, however, I would like to only focus attention on the verse below.

‘…some fell along the path, and the BIRDS came and ate it up.’ – Mark 4 vs 4 (NIV)

In the form of an acrostic using the word ‘birds‘, God revealed 5 things to me that truly rob us of hearing the Word and allowing it to produce fruit in our lives, namely:

B – Bad Thinking & Bad Theology / I – Ignorance / R – Rebellion / D – Demons / S – Sin

  • Bad Thinking & Bad Theology
    God commands us to no longer conform to the ways or patterns of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind (see Romans 12:2). Naturally our ways and thinking are toxic. This means we are to change the way we think. Every thought leads to an action and so both needs to be governed by good theology. Theology is simply the study of the nature of God (knowing and understanding God’s character and all His attributes). This is for everyone and not an elite group of people. This cannot be done without a constant embrace of the Holy Bible. The Word of God is there for one primary reason, for us to know God. It is imperative that you and I seek to know WHO GOD IS. I believe that there is nothing more important. Knowing who He is defines us. It changes everything. As we seek to know more of who God is through Scripture the more we will be like Him in everything we think, say and do and inevitably we will end up producing much more fruit too.

    “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,” – Ephesians 1 vs 17-18 (NIV)

  • Ignorance
    God tells us that His people perish or are destroyed for a lack of knowledge (see Hosea 4:6). Ignorance to the truth of Scripture, but more so to the God who is revealed in Scripture (point 1), is causing more damage in people’s lives than most other things in today’s world. We live in a culture where people [try] define their own truth and believe with conviction that they control their own destiny. Sadly, many (even church goers) believe and follow such lies. As a people of hope and who serve the God of truth, this ought not to be. Ignorance to the life, Spirit and power of Gods word will only bring about fruitless living and eventual destruction in many areas. It is each person’s responsibility to know the truth of Gods word beyond doubt so as to know Him and bring Him glory by producing much fruit. Without a solid understanding of Gods word, how would you know what to accept as good or reject as evil?

    ‘Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.’ – 1 Thessalonians 5:19 vs 22 (NIV)

  • Rebellion
    Naturally our hearts are literally ‘dead’ set against wanting God and seeing the things of His kingdom. It’s the exact opposite of what it means to be born-again. Rebellion is the fruit of an unprepared and stony heart. When a person believes that they are not in need of God, then rebellion is manifest. A person who is living with such deception is never receptive to the life-giving Word of God.

    ‘Evildoers foster rebellion against God; the messenger of death will be sent against them.’ – Proverbs 17 vs 11 (NIV)

    We are called to foster a relationship with God. When we do a spirit of death will not be sent, instead the Spirit of God will be given. How wonderful is this? Hebrews 3:8 says, ‘do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion…”. Get into the Word and get the Word into you for how can anyone produce the fruits of the Spirit apart from the Spirit Himself?

 

  • Demons
    Satan and his demons are constantly on duty to prevent man from hearing the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and responding to it positively. There is never an instance where the devil nor his demons back down from trying to rob us of revelation. John 10:10 teaches that the devil is out to ‘steal, kill and destroy’. The Bible also tells us in the Book of Peter that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. One of the most effective ways he knows to do just that to people is to keep the Word of God from taking root and producing fruit in their lives. I suggest you devour the Word of God before you get devoured.

    ‘Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.’ – Ephesians 6:11-12 (NIV)

  • Sin
    ‘The wages of sin is death’ (Romans 6:23). The sin in our lives do not separate us from the love of God (Romans 8 vs 38-39), but most definitely does separate us from an intimate, loving communion with Him. Therefore, continued, ongoing, deliberate sin in our life is what can rob us of the word, render us ineffective for the advancement of God’s kingdom and prevent us from producing good fruit. Sin hardens our heart to God, therefore to His word as well. If we know the story of Adam and Eve, we would have to agree with this truth. I encourage you to confess your sins to God and receive His forgiveness. There is no other way to live a free and fruitful life.

    There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. – Proverbs 14 vs 12 (NKJV)

So every time you hear the Word of God, these BIRDS are active in seeking to rob you of a fully devoted, fruitful and God glorifying life. Be sure to rid your life of these birds and you will then, and only then, produce fruit for God and His kingdom 30 times, 60 times and a 100 times over!

Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?” – Mark 4 vs 13 (NIV)

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About the author : Jarrod Moore

Jarrod is a passionate follower of Jesus Christ, who is fully devoted to the Word of God. Jarrod is married to Tamzyn and together they have one awesome boy, Malachi Josiah.

2 Comments

  1. Lynette Moore April 25, 2017 at 12:10 - Reply

    That was a very fruitful read. Enjoyed the way you explained it even though I have heard a few sermons about being wary about those seeds — how and where they land to bring forth any goodness in our lives.
    The word says that we’ll be known by our fruits and if the birds eat the seeds or they land in poor or shallow soil, and we don’t nurture God’s Word in our hearts then we will not be able to stand against the evil one.
    Putting God’s word in our hearts will survive into eternity — we came with nothing but we can go in the knowledge of God and His Word.

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