"Pulling Weeds"

<p class="default">&#160;Christian Encouragement August 18, 2001 Hi Everyone! Many of us in the Missionary Baptist Churches had the opportunity to study the parable of the "seeds" this morning. I realize some of you go to different churches and so I'll just briefly go over this parable in Matthew. ...."A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has an ear, let him hear." Matthew 13:3-9 "Listen 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 his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understand it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." Matthew 13:18-23 Okay, first thing I thought when I read this passage was, "Well Deb, which one are you"? While studying these passages and the ones farther along in this chapter, I understand that I'm not the first seed that was sown along the path. However, there were times as a teenager when I was teased or harassed for my faith, and far too quickly shut my mouth! Thus, I suppose, I may have fallen into the second category. But as I've grown in God's Word and He's given me more understanding, my faith, resolve and determination have become stronger. My roots are deeper and, according the God's Word, I am producing fruit. So if your roots are planted deeply in good rich soil and you are being fertilized regularly through God's Word and prayer, can a dirty old weed still spring up and choke you? You bet. I'll give you an example from my own experiences. Everytime I send out an encouragement with scriptures, a weed springs up. Where does this weed come from? Read Matthew 13:27,28. It says the weed comes from the "enemy". And who is the "enemy". Satan. If you'll read on further, the owner of the field tells his servants not to pull up the weeds until later when they will be bundled together and burned. This is speaking of the "end of the ages". In this encouragement, I am speaking of us as individuals and how we can identify the "weeds" in our life, and so in turn, learn how to remove them and understand why they need to be removed. Since I was a child, because of circumstances far from my ability or reach to control, I have had many fears. Through the years of learning God's Word, going to church, and praying...the Lord and I have plucked out many of those fears (weeds) and He has burned them up for me. However, I still have a few that spring up on occasion, and if I don't spray them with God's Word and yank them out, they will start to choke me and keep me from producing fruit. Such was the case the day after I sent out the encouragement on "Raymond". A lost man told me an outrageous lie and even though I knew it was impossible to be true, because of a deep fear of such a thing, I froze up with fear. And when I say 'I froze up with fear'......I mean I felt paralyzed! I kept telling myself, "Now think straight, Deb. You know where this is coming from, so calm down and talk to the Lord about it!" Oh I talked to the Lord alright....constantly for about a week! He kept whispering to me, "Satan has told you a lie. That's what he does. He lies, so don't believe it. Trust ME." It eventually affected my husband and kids as well. Then I decided to remove that "weed" through faith in Christ. Satan's attacks are also referred to as "fiery darts" in Ephesians 6:16 which says, "Take up the shield of FAITH with which you can extinguish all the fiery darts of the evil one." I am referring to these "fiery darts" today as "weeds". Those of us who have worked in the yard know that you can have beautiful flowers and rotten weeds growing in the same small patch. So what happens when the weeds begin to grow because you haven't taken measures to get rid of them? The weeds begin to suck the water and nutrients out of the flowers and the flower begins to shrivel. If left untreated, the flower will eventually die. But, yank out the weeds and the "good stuff" begins to flourish once again. What a lesson for all of us!! So, what kind of weeds can sprout up in us? Fear is a big one for me. Jealousy, gossip, lust, pride, lying, doubt...and how about that big "root of bitterness"! We know there are many more mentioned in the Bible. And who's the one hoppin' around planting "weed seeds" to try and choke our witness? The evil one, himself. I'm ashamed to say I allowed myself to be "choked" for a few days. I listened to a lie from a lost man. I know better than that. It kept me from sending out an encouragement earlier. But, God always comes through! When I lay my burden down, He comforts me....clears my head, reminds me of "who's doing the choking" and then He strengthens me in my spirit as I commune with His. Let's not let the weeds spoil our garden. Through faith in Christ Jesus, let's pull out those weeds as soon as we see them pop up. And for those of us who have some insecurities left over from childhood (which are also weeds) know that God knows all about them. Let's ask Him to help us remove and burn those pesty things. He can make us stronger and sturdier in the faith if we'll only ask Him. Now be warned: Whenever we step out to tell others of God's wonderful Word, Satan will attack where we are the weakest. So put on the full armor of God and keep the weeds yanked out! Sharing God's Word isn't for the "gutless". Satan will attack those whom are working hard to get The Word out to a lost and dying world. And so today, as I send this out, I will make sure the armor is on, and I will again proclaim out loud, "God is STILL my God"! I am slowly, but surely learning from my experiences. May the "Rose of Sharon" who is Jesus Christ always be living and thriving in the center of your own garden (the heart), and may your weeds be few and quickly plucked out! :) With much love in Christ, Debbie Reed-Parman &#160;

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