Discussion - Huh?

I completely forgot to post this discussion yesterday. I also completely lost track of the days, and I actually just realized that today was Thursday. Ironically, the topic that I planned for this week also ties along with the fact that I have been forgetting to do things.

If you recall a previous post entitled What stage am I in?, we discussed the different stages that we go through as Christians. There are many "relationship" stages that we have with God, but after a while we find out that it is actually just us going through different emotions -- whereas God remains the same throughout it all.

Regardless of what stage you are in, there should always be movement. There should never be a time where you are not trying to get close to God or trying to do His will. Everyday is indeed another battle, but it is also another chance to win. The only problem we have with maintaining this perpetual movement (especially with this generation) is distractions. We get so caught up in what's going on around us and what other people are doing, that we forget what it is that WE need to be doing. Distractions are indeed a trick of the devil, and you'd be surprised at what he can use as a distraction. One of his particularly famous devices to distract God's children is temptations. The bible says in Matthew Chapter 4 that the devil even tried to tempt JESUS HIMSELF while he was in the wilderness fasting.

Pay close attention to these three different temptations that the devil made, and the three responses that Jesus gave him...

1. The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread." But he answered, "It is written, 'Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" - Matthew 4:3-4

2. Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the highest point of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you' and 'with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus said to him, "Once again it is written: 'You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.'" - Matthew 4:5-7

3. Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur. And he said to him, "I will give you all these things if you throw yourself to the ground and worship me." Then Jesus said to him "Go away Satan! For it is written: 'You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.'" Then the devil left him, and angels came and began ministering to his needs." - Matthew 4:8-11

The first two times the devil questioned Jesus by saying "if you are the Son of God" in what seems like an attempt to get Jesus to question himself and who he really is. He also tried to tempt him into listening to his flesh instead of his spirit by turning the stone into bread. Remember - Jesus had not eaten in forty days and forty nights and was famished. (Matthew 4:2) That's how the devil will do -- he will try to get you to question yourself, prove yourself, and try make you live according to your flesh -- all while you are at your weakest point. By the third time, the devil had probably realized that this was indeed the Son of God and didn't question who he was. Instead, he tried to offer him something that seemed amazing but with a major price. We have to be careful when we are presented  with certain things that seem extra amazing because it could be the devil tempting you, and you could pay a major price for accepting his offer. All three times Jesus responded with scripture, even after the devil tried to quote scripture also. By the third time Jesus straight told the devil "go away!" and the devil left him.

This just proves that knowing scripture is key to fighting your temptations, and if you understand The Word fully and it is in you, you will be able to defend yourself accordingly.

Ephesians 6:10-17

"Finally, be strong in The Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

With this in mind, I lead into my main point - which comes in Matthew chapter 13.

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But 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 seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 13:18-23

(Sorry for the font change, I copied and pasted it.)

If you are familiar with Jesus in the new testament, he constantly spoke in parables -- but this time he explained what this particular parable meant.

I constantly ask myself what type of seed (Christian) that I am out of the four.

1. The Christian that doesn't understand the word and allows the enemy to steal what was sown in his heart?
2. The Christian that receives the word with joy but has no root and the word only lasts for a short time? When trouble or persecution comes do I quickly fall away?
3. The Christian that hears the word but is more worried about the world and the worries of life causing what I do to become unfruitful?
4. The Christian that hears the word, understands it, and produces something out of it?

Number three is a common type of Christian. We hear the word, but we become distracted with the worries of the world, and we forget what we have the ability to do. We can all be the fourth type of seed. At some point I believe we all go through all the stages of the seeds and if we remain focused we can become the fourth type.

DON'T LET THE DEVIL DISTRACT YOU. STAY IN YOUR WORD. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING. KEEP MOVING.

What "seed" are you? Lately - I'll admit I've been the third. Let's discuss.