"But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." -Matthew 13:20-21
Revelation by its nature is very exciting. It may cause a man to jump off his seat in the middle of a sermon, burst into tongues and turn to his neighbour and give them a “high-five” of shared elation.
This is not a bad thing. Our theme scripture calls it receiving the word with joy.
The question you must ask yourself is, “did my excitement last for the distance between the altar and the door?”
It is the ultimate irony to find the “air punching-tongue-speaking-pastor-preach-it-deeper” Christian a few days after the sermon looking like life just hurled a fireball at them.
The explanation is simple: they received the Word with joy but had no root in themselves to sustain that revelation.
You should move past merely getting excited about revelation and “how deep” the word was, it must take root. Science reveals that during germination, the root is the first sign of life in any seed.
If you are truly honest with yourself, you will always know when the word has not sunk into your spirit.
God has given every Christian the ability to know if the word has taken root or not, if that Christian has merely received it with his mind and not his spirit.
Some claim to have understood the word by faith.
Are you sure? Is that feigned faith or unfeigned faith? Don’t lie to yourself. Be humble enough to admit if you heard the words but they did not sink in.
What should you do then?
Every time you hear the word but feel that nudge in your spirit that perhaps you did not understand the teaching like you ought, purpose to listen to it again and again; take time to meditate on it until understanding lights up your spirit. Let the next sermon find you rooted in the understanding of the previous sermon.
How do you know you have understood it?
A man who has understood the word always knows how to apply it. It becomes more than information but a tool in the hands of a workman.
Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 5:20, Ephesians 1:17-19
GOLDEN NUGGET: Every time you hear the word but feel that nudge in your spirit that perhaps you did not understand the teaching like you ought, purpose to listen again, take time to meditate on it until understanding lights up your spirit.
PRAYER: Father, I thank You for this truth. I thank You for the Spirit of revelation at work in my life, that gives me understanding and floods the eyes of my heart with light. I not only receive Your Word with joy but it sinks into my heart and takes root in my spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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