Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“And other seed fell on the rock, and when it came up, it withered, because it did not have moisture . . . “And those on the rock are those who receive the word with joy when they hear it, and these do not have enough root, who believe for a time and in a time of testing fall away.“

Luke 8:6; 13

These verses are also covered in Matthew 13:5-6; Mark 4:5-6 and Matthew 13:20-21; Mark 4:16. This is the second type of lack of receiving: inadequate preparation. When we plant seeds, there is a plethora of information on the seed packages. The acidity of the soil, the depth of the planting, the spacing of the seeds, the water needs, the sunlight needs, the temperature needs, and everything that could possibly come up to affect how well that seed will grow. When we pay attention to the package and we prepare the soil properly, it goes easily and smoothly. The seed sprouts, produces roots, they dig deep and get what they need from the soil, and up the plant grows, ready and willing to produce. But inadequately prepared soil doesn’t get those results. We may have a plant that grows rapidly and seems healthy, but because of a lack of depth or soil quality it will quickly deteriorate and die off. This is the lack of reception shown here. Soil that was not PREPARED properly so that it couldn’t RECEIVE properly.

We need to build a root system if we want our Word-based growths to survive long enough to bear fruit. This takes time. Which takes patience. If you plant a seed in shallow soil, it will germinate and almost immediately a plant will grow. It might even be impressive growth. The reason for that is there is nowhere for the roots to grow. Nowhere for them to develop. The plant has no choice but to make everything happen above ground. The trouble with that is there is no root system to support the plant. The sun punishes the plant without the plant being able to drink deeply to counteract the drying process. What happens is the plant dies. Not enough nutrients, not enough hydration, and no structural support. The Word works the same way. We not only need to seize it with excitement, but we need to let it ROOT. Rooting, though, is invisible.

People like visible things. It was true in Jesus’ day and it remains true today. The people loved His teaching, but they got to love the miracles more. Then the miracles, signs, and wonders were the draw and the people were always eager to see them. But you can’t live on an experience. It won’t sustain us, and when there are challenges we won’t have the roots we need to survive. I’ve seen this myself. One of the churches whose services we stream regularly had a full sanctuary for almost every service. Then the pandemic hit. When things started up again, only about a quarter of the people returned. Nothing had changed. Same worship. Same teaching. Same emphasis on Jesus and the Word. Anointed services. But the people had no roots. They’d probably been coasting on experiences and feelings. When the pressures of the pandemic came, they got into the same panic as the world. They caved. And when the opportunity to go back came, well… Why bother? They probably thought that Word stuff didn’t work anyway, right? Without roots, we CANNOT manage the storms and circumstances of life. That’s why Jesus warned us about things to come: so we’d have a visible, easily understood reason to root.

Plants root automatically. It’s how they grow and how they function. They don’t need to be told. They’re on autopilot. They are physical bodied things. But human beings have free will. They are spirit beings who have a soul and live in a physical body. We must CHOOSE to root. To not only receive the Word eagerly into our hands, eyes, and ears. But to dig deep, meditate on it, and spend time with the Lord while reading and thinking about it. To get HIS opinion. To hear HIS teaching. To truly FEED and DEVELOP in the Word.

It isn’t enough to have brain knowledge of it. We need to have revelation knowledge of it and that ONLY comes from Ruach HaKodesh (John 14:26). Storms will come. Do you want to be secure and steadfast because of your roots, or do you want to be tossed in the wind? Jesus told us to root in Him (John 15:5). He wasn’t simply painting a picture of dependence. He was giving survival instructions to human beings about to be out in all kinds of spiritual and physical weather. Roots are the ONLY way to stick on the Way (John 14:6; Psalm 119;105). Lean into what Ruach HaKodesh says. Listen and then apply it. Listen and submit to it. Listen and obey it. Listen and discuss it. Get as much of it into you as you can. Because that is how you grow the roots you need so that you can properly receive from God.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: Romans 15:4

“For whatever was written beforehand was written for our instruction, in order that through patient endurance and through the encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope.”  Seedtime takes PATIENCE and we are blessed in that the Lord does NOT leave us on our own. He gives us the perfect tool to not only receive patience, but to rest it in with eager expectation for however long that it takes to see the harvest – even if that time is beyond us (Hebrews 11:13). Adonai doesn’t give us opportunity to learn patience. He knows that’s beyond us. Instead, He gives us access to HIS patience (Galatians 5:22-23). He lets us eat of it and abide in it and then plant its seeds in our heart so that our spirit can grow patience. Adonai NEVER leaves it up to our own strength, but provides HIS strength for us (Nehemiah 8:10). Like using a light switch we can choose to turn on HIS Fruit and develop OUR fruit with it. We have been given the Word to teach us patience. To grow patience in us. Through HIS Word, by HIS strength, from HIS Fruit. What a GOOD God He is!

Your Daily Confession of Elohim’s Goodness:

I taste and see that Yahweh is good; I am blessed because I take refuge in Him.

Psalm 34:8