The Power in a Seed

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To watch the video of this message click here.

Introduction
Genesis 8:22
"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."

Isaiah 61:11
For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

Mark 4:1-20
The Parable of the Sower
1Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. 2He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times." 9Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." 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—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."

The farmer is a person who sows the Word of God into the minds and hearts of others.

A farmer must know the Word in order to sow it.
2 Timothy 2:15
15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

Wisdom is helpful to being a productive kingdom person.
Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

Wisdom comes from God
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Wisdom says the right thing at the right time
Proverbs 25:11
A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

The Parable
There are 4 types of people described in this parable. I’d like you to try and find yourself in one or more of these four categories.

• 1st type of person – They Lack Understanding

Seed along the path

As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
Matthew 13:19
When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

Get Understanding
Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
The Word of God
Study the word of God, meditate and memorize scripture.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

The Word gives power against sin
Psalm 119:11
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Know the Word to prosper

Joshua 1:8
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

The word makes wise the simple
Psalm 19:7
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

• 2nd type of person – Joyful at first but lacks stick-to-itivness.

Seed sown along rocky places

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.

The reason trouble and persecution come to the believer is because they are advocating a total take down of existing authority structures. The believer does this by placing new people into the kingdom of God and abolishing the kingdoms of darkness.
Corruption always has and always will fight righteousness.

Trouble will come because of the word.
2 Timothy 3:12
12In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
A lack of persecution would probably indicate a lack of relevance to the established principalities in a region.

Right Living, Right Standing, Right Emotions
Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
When Jesus has control of our living and emotions he has control of us and we in effect will influence others around us with a Kingdom effect.

The Kingdom of God forces people to make a decision.
1. come into the kingdom
2. persecute people in the kingdom
3. Ignore the kingdom

Paul’s attitude toward persecution
2 Corinthians 12:10
That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

• 3rd Type of Person – worries, deceitfulness of wealth and other desires choke out the word.

Seed Sown Among Thorns

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.
Don’t Worry
Worry is a mis-directed prayer
Philippians 4:6-7
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


Matthew 6:31-34
31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Deceitfulness of Wealth
Wealth promises something but it can’t deliver. When we buy the lie that the core being of who we are will change as our net worth increases we’ve bought into the lie.
Wealth can be a false God if it establishes identity in the believer.

1 Timothy 6:6-10
6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Desires for other Things
1 John 2:15
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Other Things
Luke 14:18-20
18"But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.' 19"Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' 20"Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'

• 4th Type of Person – Good hearted people.

Sown on Good Soil

20Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.“

Most wild wheat has between 10-18 grains per stalk.

An ear of corn averages around 800 kernels set in 16 rows.

Matthew 21:43-44
43"Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.“
We must be broken if we’re to become productive in our relationship with the Lord Jesus.

Where are you? Which type of soil do you have. Is God going to have to apologize to the Jewish people for entrusting you to bear His fruit? I'd encourage you to go before God, sit in his presence and receive grace from his throne so you can be fruitful for Him.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:00 AM
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501
or via the internet on Jubilee T.V.

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

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To listen to this message from Pastor Tony CLICK HERE




Luke 10:27
Am I my Brother’s Keeper?
Genesis 4:9
9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?“

People who ask this question or questions like it my have a personality of hatred or a spirit of murder on their lives.
Not considering others only considering themselves.

1 John 3:15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.

I believe Cain is trying to avoid taking responsibility for what he’s already done by not taking any responsibility for his brother Abel in any way.

We must, indeed, all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately. ..Statement at the signing of the Declaration of Independence
~Benjamin Franklin

Bitterness-
Ephesians 4:31,32
31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Everyone has an effect on everyone else. Either for good or bad. The concept or idea of just leaving a sinful situation alone so it can exist and be isolated is a fantasy. Sinful people and sin’s nature is aggressive and will recruit new “converts” to it’s way of thinking and living.

Mark 8:15 "Be careful," Jesus warned them. "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod."

The yeast of the Pharisees other places in the Bible is further defined as hypocrisy.

Hypocrisy is the false assumption of an appearance of virtue.
The problem with hypocrisy is it prevents a person from admitting their need for a savior. This pride will bring about their destruction.

Consequences of Hypocrisy Illustrated
Luke 18:9-14
9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Brotherly Love
The Greek word agapao is used to convey God the Father’s will to His children concerning their attitude toward one another.

John 13:34
34"A new command I give you: Love (agapao) one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

1 Thessalonians 3:12
12May the Lord make your love (agapao) increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

1 Corinthians 16:14
14Do everything in love (agapao).

2 Peter 1:7
7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love (agapao).

Galatians_5:22.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love (agapao)…
Christian Love
"Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered. Love seeks the welfare of all, and works no ill to any; love seeks opportunity to do good to 'all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith’.

Romans 15:2
2Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

Romans 13:8-10
8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

One component to the previous verse that I want to re-emphasize is that you can’t love your neighbor unless you love yourself. Do you love yourself? Wives having trouble with your husband?

Ephesians 5:28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Galatians 6:10
10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Jubilee Family Church

Who's Praying for You?

A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea
and only two of the men on it were able
to swim to a small, desert like island.
The two survivors, not knowing what else to do,
agree that they had no other recourse
but to pray to God.
However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful,
they agreed to divide the territory between them
and stay on opposite sides of the island.

The first thing the first man prayed for was food.
The next morning, the first man saw
a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land,
and he was able to eat its fruit..

The other man's parcel of land remained barren.

After a week, the first man was lonely
and he decided to pray for a wife.
The next day, another ship was wrecked,
and the only survivor was a woman
who swam to his side of the land.

On the other side of the island,
there was nothing.

Soon the first man prayed for a house,
clothes, more food.
The next day, like magic,
all of these were given to him.

However,
the second man still had not a thing.

Finally, the first man prayed for a ship,
so that his wife and he could leave the island.
In the morning, he found a ship docked
at his side of the island.

The first man boarded the ship with his wife
and decided to leave the second man on the island.
He considered the other man unworthy
to receive God's blessings,
since none of his prayers had been answered.

As the ship Was about to leave,
the first man heard a voice from Heaven booming,

'Why are you leaving your companion on the island?'

'My blessings are mine alone,
since I was the one who prayed for them,'
the first man answered.
'His prayers were all unanswered,
and so he does not deserve anything.'

'You are mistaken!'
the voice rebuked him.
'He had only one prayer,
which I answered.
If not for that, you would not have
received any of my blessings.'

'Tell me,' the first man asked the voice,
'what did he pray for that I
should owe him anything?'

'He prayed that all your prayers be answered.'

For all we know, our blessings are not
The fruits of our prayers alone,
but those of another praying for us.

Jubilee Family Church

Why Have Spiritual Authority?

Brother Kenny Crafton shared a powerful message on spiritual authority. Watch the video of his message by clicking here.

Listen to the Podcast by clicking here.

Below are some notes from Brother Kenny's message.

The Subject of Spiritual Authority is hard to teach and preach. Why?
What did Kenny say was holding back revival?
Romans 13:1 People in Authority are ordained by God.

Before we’ll ever see the Glory of God we must understand there has to be Divine order. We’ll never see God’s glory fall the way we want it to fall. We’re not going to get what God really wants to give us.

We cannot disrespect holy things and expect God to move the way God wants to move.

Why have spiritual Authority? It goes all the way back to Genesis 1 where Spiritual authority is being set up before the fall of man.
All things are created by God’s authority Heb 1:3

God’s authority represents God himself. Satan rebelled against God’s authority. Is 14:12-15 Ez 28:13-17 Lucifer was the great worship leader around the throne of God.
The devil would love us to come week after week and not worship. When it’s done and done right the presence of God comes.
Sinning is more easily forgiven than rebellion. Satan wasn’t pleased where God had placed him. Pride causes us to want to exalt ourselves. We all like atta' boys. I can get you into trouble. Rebellion is what caused Satan to fall.

To violate authority is a principle of Satan.

You can stand with Christ in doctrine while at the same time stand with Satan in principle. You may agree with the word of God and at the same time be walking in rebellion. The Devil fears when we are subject to the authority of Christ. When there is divine order there are no demons in hell that can keep a marriage from being put back together. The Devil doesn’t like authority

Matthew 6:13
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. We see Satan’s work here. What sets us free from Satan is the truth. The kingdom is God’s not the Devil’s. Even though Satan has a free reign and is a God of this age this is NOT his kingdom. The universe is under God’s Dominion. We have to subject ourselves to God’s authority. God doesn’t like it when anyone or anything tries to steal his glory.

Maybe the mountains on eagle mountain were crying out because some wouldn’t worship.

Let no one steal God’s glory. How can you and I establish authority on the earth if we haven’t established it in our personal lives. The greatest demand on man is to submit and obey. Obedience.

1 Samuel Chapter 15 Saul was commanded to destroy his enemy. Samuel told him’ Obedience is better than sacrifice.’ Even in sacrifice there can be an element of self will. Saul didn’t do exactly what God told him to do. His reasoning was. I want to keep the best to sacrifice to the Lord. Self will was there. Obedience takes God’s will as it’s center. God is pleased with an obedient church. God left the pattern back in the garden of Gethsemane. He obeyed God’s authority first before he went to the cross.

Jesus could’ve called down 1000’s of angels to stop the cross. Jesus was obedient and it pleased him to do the will of God for you and I. Obedience is better than sacrifice.

Jesus wanted to know the will of God. He (Jesus) insisted on obeying. To know God’s will and to obey it is to be subject to authority. When we work and serve Satan will enjoy glory even through your sacrifices.

To overthrow God’s authority is to try and overthrow God himself. 1 Sam 15:22-23 Rebellion like witchcraft and stubbornness like iniquity and adultery. Witchcraft means to mess with the occult, using Satan’s power. God compares rebellion to that.

All servants, the first thing we should meet is authority.

We must be overturned by his authority. If we have done this we will encounter authority everywhere. As a servant we have to look at this and realize. Let’s not work under the rebellious principle like Saul did.

Jubilee Family Church

"Do I know You?" ~God

To Listen to this Podcast please CLICK HERE.

The Narrow Door
Luke 13:22-27
22Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them, 24"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.' 26"Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' 27"But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!'

1. The Door is Narrow
2. It takes every effort to enter through it
3. Many will try but will be unable to enter
4. The Door will close
5. People on the outside will plead for the owner of the house to open the door
6. He Will Reply, I Don’t know you or where you come from
7. They will reply we ate and drank with you and you taught in our streets (see #6 again)

1. The Door is Narrow
Jesus is the Door
John 10:7-9
7Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.

John 14:5-7
5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well.


Matthew 7:13
13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

2. It Takes Every Effort to Enter
Matthew 11:12
From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.


Matthew 13:44
44"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

3. Many Will try but will be unable to Enter
Do God’s Will, be Obedient
Matthew 7:21-23
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

4. The Door will close
When the door closes there is no more opportunity to get into heaven.
The Door on this life can close two different ways.
At physical death you will discover if you have an open or a closed door into God’s presence
At the end of the age. When the wheat and Tares are brought into the barn
Matthew 13:24-30

5. People on the outside will plead for the owner of the house to open the door
Matthew 25:10-12
10"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!‘ 12"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'

6. He Will Reply, I Don’t know you or where you come from
In order to be with God in eternity we must be known by Him. It’s an absolute necessity.

Relationship Relationship Relationship.

7. They will reply we ate and drank with you and you taught in our streets

Unfortunately for those people, Jesus doesn’t have the same association to the memory of these events.
Either they didn’t happen and the people lied or they did happen but the people didn’t have the right heart condition while they were happening.
Maybe they were there in body but not in heart.
Jesus wants your Heart
One Christian Comedian used to say, going into McDonalds doesn’t make you a hamburger any more than going to a church makes you a Christian.
We must do more than be in the proximity of Jesus. We must make him our Savior and Lord giving him our hearts.

• 
  
  
  Much in the same way you may go to a dinner with the governor but the two of you may never have a conversation that’s meaningful enough for the governor to remember you.
  

Are you Known in the Spiritual Realms?
Acts 19:13-16
13Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." 14Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15(One day) the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" 16Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

Works w/o Communion = Stress
Luke 10:38-42
38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Obedience vs. Ritualistic Practice
1 Samuel 15:22
But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

John 6:29 (Amplified)
29Jesus replied, This is the work (service) that God asks of you: that you believe in the One Whom He has sent [that you cleave to, trust, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger].

By their Fruit
Matthew 7:18-20
18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

I don’t know how to get God to know me in any other way other than to attempt to know Him. To pursue him in his Word, in prayer, in Worship, in communion, by being obedient to his word.
I believe and trust that like any relationship as I get to know God he will get to know me in a personal and deeper way. My heart will open up to him and His to mine. From this relationship all other facets of life will flow.

James 4:8
8Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Please take the time to watch the following videos in order. Listen to S.M. Lockridge describe the God he knows.

Watch this video and pray that you would know God more.








Jubilee Family Church