We will be basing this devotional study on Mark 4:14-20. Many call this parable

the “parables of all parables”. It explains the struggle that all of us go through and

you may say “why does this happen to me?”. It happens to all of us! We all have an

enemy that comes to steal, kill, and destroy. We must be wise and observant to

know the tactics and schemes of the enemy. Just like a good soldier is trained to

know his enemy and to be ready and prepared.

Let’s look at Mark 4:14-20…

14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the

word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word

that was sown in their hearts. 16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony

ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17

and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward,

when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they

stumble. 18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who

hear the word, 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the

desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20

But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, [e]accept

it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

There are 3 major warnings about your faith and the Word level in your life.

Without the Word, you will have little or diminishing faith! If you have no Word,

your faith will not grow, and it will quickly get weak and be stolen away from you.

You will fall back into the old habits of the world and end the same way you

started or worse than before. These are some things that will help.

1. Find a church home that teaches you and nurtures you in the Word of God.

Teaching you how to walk by faith.

Romans 10:14

14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how

shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear

without a preacher?

I remember so many years of my life loving God and being ignorant to the

schemes of the enemy and I didn’t know I had an enemy. I needed to grow my

faith and in order to do that, I needed to have someone explain the scriptures to

me correctly. We must be led by God’s spirit to the right church to teach,

encourage and grow us up spiritually to be successful in our journey of faith in

God. Without faith in God, we will believe anything and wander everywhere. The

Word is harder to steal when it is placed deeply in our hearts. If it stays in our

heads, it can be easily stolen and overpowered by the enemy.

2. Being consistent to hear the Word and applying the Word.

How many of us are excited when we hear the Word, but when the bills come in

the mail or our marriage is challenged, or the kids get in trouble, our words and

actions change to look just like the world instead of the example of Jesus.

John 10:10

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have

come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.

Our consistency in the Word builds strength and character in the Word. It builds

our faith in the One that can do all things through us who believe. Our faith and

confidence grow as we learn and make the choice to be consistent and faithful.

3. Going deeper in your relationship with God and the call of God in your life.

We all have a call in our life. It is important to get closer to God to know what that

is. God wants to show us how to bring what He placed inside of us, out of us.

However, Satan comes to steal our faith, as the cares of this world begin to choke

the call and begin to pull us back into the direction of the world. We begin to

desire less of the kingdom and more of the world’s possessions. It’s easy to do. I

encourage you today to go deeper. There is something in you, that has yet to be

fulfilled and you know what it is. Don’t let Satan choke it out of your life.

Let’s stay focused on Kingdom assets. The greatest success you can have is to do

it in God’s way. He knows your end from your beginning and He has great success

for all of us. But only if we do it His way. Don’t be nervous about that, it’s a good

way and it’s a way paved with success. The great part is that He will be right out

front leading the way and taking us through each step. He’ll never leave you

alone!

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you

and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

He has plans for you, don’t let Satan steal your faith!

Come join me next week as we talk about:

“You’re not alone – You Too Are A Hero of Faith”