Getting results

Well Joe, how do I get results? I am glad you asked. It is not easy getting results in some areas of our life. Especially when it seems everything in your life is going wrong. However, I am so grateful that Jesus took the time to give us the answer. In fact, God was so focused on us having the answer to this question, He had Mathew, Mark and Luke all record it in their Gospel.

Let’s start by opening your bible to the book of Luke, chapter 8, verses 1-15. Now, I would like you to hold your place there while I point out one thing that Mark shares about this conversation (parable) that Mathew and Luke left out. In Mark 4:13, according to Jesus, in His own words, this parable (The parable of the sower) is the key to understanding all parables. When He (Jesus) was alone with His 12 disciples and a small handful of others, He said to them when they asked about that parable, “Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?” Jesus was saying to them, if you can’t get this one right, how are you ever going to get the others right? So, let’s take a dive into understanding what this parable is saying to us. It say’s, starting in Luke 8, verse 1:

“And it came to pass afterward, that He (Jesus) went throughout every city and village, preaching and proclaiming the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve [were] with Him, and certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, and Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto Him of their substance.

And when much people were gathered together, and were come to Him out of every city, He spake by a parable: A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

And his disciples asked Him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

They on the rock [are they], which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep [it], and bring forth fruit with patience.”

First off, He (Jesus) was bringing glad tidings, not doom and gloom. Good news. News of the kingdom of God. And not only good news, but success stories. Live, breathing success stories. People that were delivered from evil spirits and infirmities. Great advertising and obvious results. If Jesus and the Holy Spirit did it for them, He will do it for you.

2nd, the sower went out to sow the seed. The seed is the word of God. The sower can be you, the preacher, a neighbor, a friend, anyone who brings forth the word of God. Don’t forget, I said, that can be YOU. You have a mouth and you can proclaim good tidings over yourself. In fact, it is your responsibility to do so. Act like your Father and speak those things you desire to come forth. The soil is your heart. You control that. No one else. Now, Jesus say’s you have 4 options available to you. But, they are only options, and you choose the option you want. It is not forced upon you. It is your choice. Here they are:

Option 1, YOU let the devil take the word away from your heart by being casual about what you hear. You like it, but you have a passive attitude towards the things of God. You let him take it, and he will gladly do so.

Option 2, YOU let the word die because you did not plant it in soil that can produce. It was put on a crusty old hard heart that would not allow for growth. Sometimes you just need to buckle down and till the soil. Read, study and pray.

Option 3, YOU had pretty good soil, you planted the seed, but YOU got distracted with the cares of this life and failed to nurture it, fertilize it, and water that seed until you and God completed the process to the end. You need to stick with the program. Keep at it until you and God get the desired results.

Option 4, the winner. YOU prepared your soil to receive seed. YOU nurtured that seed. YOU fertilized that seed, YOU watered that seed, and YOU protected it until the crop came in. That takes energy, effort and sometimes hard work. Doesn’t the bible say, “If you don’t work, you shouldn’t eat?” You need to work at this Christian life to make it work for you. It doesn’t just happen just because you gave your life to God one day. You need to work at it, as you do any relationship. As it say’s in Heb 4:11, “Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest”. KJV

God told Joshua to meditate on my word DAY AND NIGHT, and THEN you will have success. It is the word of God that grows to maturity in your heart and brings your success. It is the word of God that brings faith forth, and it is through faith and patience that you and I inherit the promises of God (Heb 6:12). Every seed takes a different amount of time, energy and care. It is up to you to protect it, water it and fertilize it until it becomes full grown and mature. The Apostle Paul told the Philippians how you and I need to think, in order to bring forth our desires. Paul wrote in Phil 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”. It is up to you to do your part to proclaim (speak) it into existence the results you desire. After all, like Father, like son/daughter.

There is much more to say about this subject, but, take this and chew on it, meditate on it, and put it into your heart. I encourage you to stop and think about your results. If they are not what you want, change something. Change your thinking, or your actions, and you will change your future for the good.

My friends, may the Grace of God be yours.

With love, your brother in Christ,

Dr. Joe