The Golden Key to Spiritual Growth

Everybody Greg Laurie here.

You're listening to the Greg Laurie podcasting. My objective is to deliver hopefully compelling practical insights and faith culture and current events.

From a biblical perspective to find out more about our ministry. Just go to our website harvest.org so thanks for joining me for this podcast.

Everybody welcome to Harvest at Home.

I'm Greg Laurie and I have a special message for you with the title, the golden key to spiritual growth and it's based on Mark chapter 4, so turn in your Bibles with me if you would were going to read an amazing Bible story in just a few moments, and of course were in the gospel of Mark right now. There were calling the gospel for busy people. Let me begin with the question, why do some succeed while others fail in the Christian life and we all know people will walk with the Lord for many years and got his use them powerfully and then we know other people who basically crash and burn. Here is the answer. The people that do not succeed in the spiritual life end up that way because of choices they make.

Not one choice necessarily, but hundreds even thousands of choices over the course of their lifetime to not do the right thing and by default and that doing the wrong thing was that it comes down to this.

If you want to grow spiritually, you will if you don't want to grow spiritually, you won't. It's really up to you and for God gives us a choice in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 30 verse 19 the Lord says I call heaven and earth as witnesses for you today that I've said before you life and death, blessing and cursing.

Now choose life. So the Lord is saying it's up to you. You want to bless live you want to curse life that's your choice. But I give you the choice and I love how he tells us the right choice goes.

Choose life. You make the right choice. Do the right thing.

God is giving you everything you need to know in the Bible about him and he's giving you all the spiritual power to grow spiritually were told were over in first Peter 13 his divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness. Okay you look at one of my favorite stories in the Bible. It's a parable.

I know the parable is a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

Just think of it is the story we all love stories will love to watch movies. We love to read novels. We read to will will love to read fiction. We love a good story and even better if it's a true story Jesus told lots of stories.

In fact he told so many stories. The Bible says the common people of the regular folk heard him gladly. He didn't speak over people's heads.

He didn't try to impress them with theological words. He broke everything down in an understandable way so they could get it in working to look at the parable of the sort which is a parable that reveals to us the golden key to spiritual growth. Not long ago I was invited to the White House and a group of pastors were invited into the Oval Office at the request of the president to pray for him and give him some advice know some people are critical of that.

Why would you go into that will will excuse me anytime a president or a governor or an elected official would say would you come in the my office and pray for me to give me some advice.

I don't think I would say no to that we have biblical precedent. Of course we look at Daniel advising of the kings of Babylon. We see Joseph advising the Pharaoh and so forth. So of course we said just send the president was very receptive to what we had to say in and then when it came time to pray.

He was very happy to pray in ask for God's help in his life. And then he came to all of us. An unexpected gift.

There was a stack of these boxes on his desk, and we reach given one, and in this box as a key and it and to as you can see this is a commemorative key on the box it says the president of the United States and then here's the picture of the White House and then inside is this golden key and the president said. Now this key open some log somewhere here at the White House.

I don't really know what but we understand it's a commemorative key.

We were not expecting to go around of the White House next week and just are trying to put it in you know key holes and see what we can go know it's a commemorative key it's a golden key as you can see, and it's a special thing they have and am appreciative of the president from forgiving that to me and the other pastors but I have a golden key are you today, and this one is not can open up any lots at the White House we can but it can open up some logs if you will in your own life.

It's a golden key to spiritual growth. Now before we read from our chapter 4. Let's get the backdrop Jesus had had a long and emotional day. His mother and brothers showed up to where he was speaking and they wanted that to come home because in their words, they thought he lost his mind and then after that he was accused by the scribes and being inspired by Satan. Not a good day. A lot of drama. So to addressing this we come to Mark chapter 4 we read that Jesus is gone to the beach effectively know it's the Sea of Galilee, which is actually a massive freshwater lake. So he went to the water and I don't know about you but but I love to be near water. I love to walk on the beach. It's a place or you contemplate things and you're surrounded by gods creation and it's just a great place to sort of a unwind and reflect. And I think Jesus love to spend time in the water. We see a lot of his great teachings and activities right there near the Sea of Galilee. So without a mind we come to Mark chapter 4 and we read these words once again. By the way I'm reading from the new living translation Mark chapter 4 verse one. Once again, Jesus began teaching by the Lakeshore, a very large crowd soon gathered around him and he got into a boat and he sat on the boat with the people remained on the shore and they taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables such as this one. Listen, says Jesus. A farmer went out to plant some seed and he scattered it across the field. Some fell in the footpath and the birds came and needed other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock.

I'm sure the Lord was probably gesturing as he was teaching in the sermon on the money since look at the bird say don't worry where you worry look at the flowers are beautiful. They are, maybe he gestured and there was a farmer in the distance throwing seed out left and right so he talks about this seed that goes in the footpath and the birds come and needed another seed falls. Falls on shallow soil with underlying rock and it sprouted up quickly, but it withered under the hot sun. He continues on other seed fell among thorns, or weeds that grew up and choked out the tender plants in a produce no fruit. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil and they sprouted brew and produced a crop that was 36. Even 100 times more than they been planet. Listen to this. Then he said he was ears to hear, let him listen. That's the parable of the sower say Wally, that's nice. What is it me that's exactly what the disciples said to will that what is this mean and now Jesus explains or interprets the story here in Mark chapter 4 verse 13 then Jesus said to them if you can understand the meaning of this parable. How will you understand all the other parables. Here it is the former plant seed by taking God's word to others.

This seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message but Satan comes at once.

You might underline that phrase Satan comes at once and takes it away. Now the seed that fell on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message I receive it with joy, but they don't have deep roots and they don't last long, and they fall away as soon as they are problems or persecuted for believing God's work of verse 18 of our chapter 4, but the seed that fell among the thorns of the weeds represents those who hear the word of God. But all too quickly. The message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth and the desire for other things and no fruit is produced of the final category in this seed that fell on the good soil represents those who share and accept God's word and produce a harvest of 3060 for even 100 times as much, as has been planet arrived.

So what does this mean to us today. Answer I have no idea. God bless you and thanks for watching gnosis. I have a few thoughts about this am a preacher of course I do actually have a whole message about these things. These are four reactions to God's work and you fit into one of these four categories and I want to the note that only one category was really legitimate what we might call people who were actually converted.

You know we mentioned earlier that we've seen over 100,000 people make a profession of faith to follow Christ in this year 2020 from watching Harvest at Home and other outreaches that we've done know some would say Wally I do really think all of those people are converted. Of course not. That's why we call them professions of faith and not convergence. Time will tell if there were actual conversions pub� Take the odds of the parable of the sower, one out of four made it if we apply that to this hundred thousand number that would mean that 25,000 people maybe really committed their life to Christ, maybe more, maybe less, but still that's a lot of people is not but here's my point. Back in biblical times. The objective of the sower was to just take the seat and throw it out, throw it out and let the wind pick it up. It's not like the plan of the little Cropsey had a time and carefully put the seed in an ad modern farming equipment to work with. Though it was pretty primitive.

You have walked out had his seed in his big bag reached in through the wind would pick it up in this seed we go here. There and everywhere. And so the objective was, you did the plowing later to see where the seed went. That's our job. Our job is to go to all the world and preach the gospel are so the sea notes. Interesting that the word broadcast actually comes from the root word of sowing seed.

So right now you're watching a broadcast into broadcasting of seed and and we hear such amazing stories from people who've come to the Lord for watching the Harvest at Home or listening to our radio program or through one of our live events that we do that we call harvest crusades and so forth. But we just throw this seed out to as many people as we can and time will tell who the real converts are the sender that the only way to tell if someone is really a Christian is to the test of time. I'll say that again. The only way to tell if someone is really a Christian is to the test of time because sometimes people come on strong in the beginning and then they walk away, never to return. Other times, people of sort of a weak start, but then they get stronger with the passing of time so we just have to wait to see who the real believers are sometimes a person will make a profession of faith will fall away, but then the return that's up front to hear so you know the difference between a prodigal and a person is not really converted. If a person is a really converted and walks away and never comes back.

Then we would just say there like the seed sown on the road side that were there that was picked up by the Berks but a prodigal will always come home. You know, as I said earlier, sometimes you can have a week beginning with a strong finish take Nicodemus remember him. John chapter 3 we read that he came to Jesus by night. In fact that's mentioned multiple times. He came to Jesus at night was an important because Nicodemus was a celebrity. He was a well-known Pharisee, sort of the teachers teacher if you will.

So for a man of his stature to go to this rabbi named Jesus and ask questions well in November there was a risk for that because he was a guy who was supposed to have all the answers, but he didn't.

Of course, so we went to Jesus at night. You remember the conversation he he open with some compliments and Jesus just cut to the chase and said a Nicodemus you must be born again. So that really impacted Nicodemus, but we don't read there in John three in the conversation of Nicodemus believing but it appears that he did become a believer because later on in the story. After Jesus was crucified and they were laying his body in the tomb, we read that amending Joseph government for a team to take the body and he was joined by Nicodemus and that little detail is added, who came to Jesus by night, so here's my point. Sometimes people look like a really strong and others look like a really weak example Judas Iscariot was an apostle in good standing, while Nicodemus was still groping his way in, but in the end Judas revealed himself to be a full-blown hypocrite and not a believer. All in Nicodemus became over that finish line with flying colors.

So you may have a week beginning but to a strong finish.

What matters is how you finish. So if you started out following the Lord you've stumbled new fallen leaves a it's too late for me notice it, it's all about how you finish because some of a great start.

They never get up again. So if you follow if you messed up, get up again.

There's still time to walk with the Lord and finish the spiritual race. Well, okay, let's look at the different categories together category number one, I'm in a call them Highway.

Here's Highway hearers and it's in verse 15 of Mark for the seed that fell in the footpath represent those who hear the message only to have Satan come at once and take it away. I want you to notice something here, Satan comes at once Jesus says he comes at once. Know this when you share the gospel with someone. The double is going to aggressively oppose it, and when someone makes a profession of faith to follow Christ, you need to be there to help them get grounded, spiritually, you know what I was a brand-new believer.

The Christian said to me in a great be careful you get to be tempted by the devil. I'd never heard of such a thing tempted by the devil and thinking that some guy with pointed ears and red skin with a pitchfork it all you know you'll be tempted by the devil. Now, either never really thought about temptation before because I because a young kid I just started did what I wanted. Maybe I saw Morris opportunity then temptation okay I'll be tempted by the devil.

Then I said, how will I know when I'm being tempted.

They said you'll know so I'm still in high school and in the class and there was a very attractive girl in that class time.

A brand-new believer in Jesus Christ.

And I've never talk to this girl before. I'd noticed her but I haven't talked to her. So hundred classes over this girl who never gave me the time of day, she didn't even acknowledge my existence after that point.

What's up to me and says hi what's your name, and I looked into her beautiful blue eyes and I momentarily forgot my name I said Greg oh hey Greg you're really cute like this.

I'm actually that never happened to me. I know and cute, but I didn't really have girls come up to me and say you're cute right you really cute something� Girl safe as a subtle but I was a little image of Jesus on a number brand-new Christian you're really cute. Something was going on here and she says, how would you like to spend the weekend with me up at our cabin that our family owns and I'm thinking this is temptation for sure because you know why that kind of thing never happening. The book me before now to know where this attractive growth comes up in this enticing offer and it was of course enticing. While I said no thank God and job but I knew okay. I think that was my first official temptation. That's what happens when you're a follower of Jesus, the devil is going to come and attack so that's category one.

So these are the people that that you know the they hear the word of God. But it doesn't really penetrate their hard hearts. Jesus, as the birds come in me that you know you've been at McDonald's or some other place in the birds are hanging out that's free food man that food hits the ground film the soup down and get it right so that's what happened. These are people that hear the word of God. But it doesn't really penetrate their hardened heart category number two I'm in a call them rocky road here. Rocky road. Here's verse 16.

The seed that one on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately notice the word immediately. Immediately they receive it with joy. But since they don't have deep roots. They don't last long, they fall away and as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's word so they start they take hold of it. But then it doesn't take root in their life now the stony ground.

Jesus is speaking of is just speaking of the terrain of Israel member years ago I was on a tour of Israel and I had my granddaughter Stella.

She's very little. At that point, and afterwards they said Stella. What do you remember most about your trip to Israel that she would remember some biblical side. We went to. She said rocks what rocks there were rocks everywhere. That's true is a lot of rocks in the soil to the idea here is that the seed goes in the ground and there's a shelf of rock underneath, so it shoots up, but because it can get rude, it withers in the blazing sun so this is a description of a person who hears the word of God into their response any jet they respond so quickly. You know you talk to some people in conversations going for weeks, sometimes months, even years. If you like you're making a little progress other people. The first time you tell them they say I want Jesus in my life really yeah I wanted in my life. So you say let's break and they pray and immediately there like a mega convert right there like to go to buy a Bible, not just any Bible to get a giant Bible beef start turning around and and they there a church every day of the weekend and their quoting verses and and when worship is happening there lifting their hands harder than anybody else there singing louder and there even critical of others were drawing is quickly as they're growing and you see the people that is the most dramatic conversion I've ever seen. It was a glib ruling night and day, so maybe a month passes by their God noticing the church anymore. They don't respond to your phone calls your tax what's going on.

They just walked away. They fall away. This is the category were looking at here. So, we wonder what happened to these people will obviously they're having an emotional experience, but it didn't take root. See, this is actually not a true conversion, though it looks like one.

Sometimes people in this category.

Rocky road hearers will say something along the lines of all why I tried the whole Christianity thing and they didn't work for me only as a Christian I went to church.

I read the Bible.

I did all that stuff but it didn't work for me at will know actually you never were converted. I'm sorry to tell you that you had an emotional experience. Maybe you had some sense of who Jesus was, but if it was a real conversion, you would still be walking with the Lord look Christianity isn't like a product that works for some and doesn't work for others. Christianity simplified is a relationship with Christ himself.

It was GK Chesterton who said and I quote Christianity is not been tried and found wanting. It's been found difficult and not try." "So the problem with this person. Is there heart is shallow soil for some people to just get excited about a lot of things yielded. They have the fad that the ring to the knew this and knew that maybe is new technology and all they want to talk about is a new technology or maybe it's a band they follow, and they're just really enamored with that. Or maybe at some of the finger into the get in the fitness fitness fitness running and doing all the things and they abandon it. And these are people that are fickle by nature, you know, when you're at the market and there's all that stuff for sale. As you're checking out and you owe me a bill by that by that thing you would normally buy impulse purchases. They know exactly what they're doing. They done research to know what kind of items to put in front of you because there is always the impulse of person. If you want to have an illustration of this is walk down your block may be on some Saturday when people's garage doors are open and you see all these treadmills and workout machines.

And do you see people usually in their home gym working out another usually a hangar for stuff out of the washing machine and and people got excited.

Spent a bunch of money on it but didn't follow through. This can happen in the can happen in people's relationship with God. Maybe one of the reasons a person like this would fall away is because they built their faith on the wrong foundation.

Listen, there's only one foundation to build your faith on its Christ, its Christ and Christ alone. Don't build your spiritual life on a church in and of itself. Don't build your spiritual life on another person, or even on a pastor or a spiritual leader because people will let you down.

Build your life on Christ. He will sustain you and be there for you but it could be persecution about the mark for verse 17 and since they don't have deep roots. They don't last very long.

They fall away. Listen as soon as they have problems or are persecuted I will know about this when we decide to follow Jesus and you announce it to your family that doesn't always go over all that well doesn't, and I I came from a family of a lot of people to drink and smoke and smoked and the you know live that lifestyle and I used to do it myself and suddenly I'm the Christian and red Thanksgiving and I think we ought to have a prayer before we either think Luke what open to Greg Edwards the old Greg well I was changed in and that's why was mocked and made fun of. Then harassed in the and we all are were all persecuted in some way shape or form.

In fact, the mark of a true Christian is they will be persecuted as a barometer of where your rat spiritually.

Second Timothy 312 says if you desire to live a godly life.

You will be persecuted so maybe this new believer. Or at least we thought they were new believers is going strong and someone makes fun of the someone gives him a hard time. They said that said, I'm out okay. They were never converted or it could be something else that pulls them away, but they never built their life on Christ were almost to the golden key of spiritual growth. We have one more category before I'll call them thorny here. Thorny hearers let's look in verse 18 of Mark for together the seed that fell among the thorns and weeds represent those who hear the word of God, but all too quickly. The message is crowded out. Listen, you might want to underline the things by what the worries of this life. The lure of well and the desire for other things and no fruit is produced is not interesting. These are not evil things out right but there other things so there's a lot of weeds in Israel. In addition, the rocks all kinds weeds to choke out the growth of the sea, so the scene goes in the ground and immediately the weeds are there to hinder the growth of the seed.

So this category.

The thorny here is not like the person that shoots up of lots of excitement and enthusiasm. This is a person who seems to be growing spiritually but gradually they just walk away because other things become more important of them listen, not bad things necessarily. Notice it says the worries of this lot. The concerns of this life. I mean there's nothing wrong with being concerned about are you going to put food on the table is nothing wrong with having the concern about roof over your head something wrong with thinking about the needs and necessities of life. But this is a person that allows those things to become more important than God. I mean, they believe it's good to read the Bible.

They believe it's a great thing to pray. They're all for going to church is to say, don't do it why welders just doesn't think there's other things were doing. Instead, you know, other things that are more important to us than than reading the Bible would rather spend more time in social media and we like to spend more time watching movies or you know, we just don't have time for God will that that's a choice that you're making. It's been said, quote more is been killed by food than poison." And another quote. The second best is often the worst enemy of the best inches. The worries of this life. So basically of thorn or a weed if you will, is anything that crowds Jesus out of our lives begin. Verse 19 is crowded out for the worries of this life and the lure of wealth is not interesting. The lure of well for signing and saying wealth itself.

It's the lure of well it is an interesting passage in first Timothy 610 that says the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows that we further burst misquoted heavily people will say you know the Bible says money is the root of all evil. Actually, the Bible doesn't say that money is neutral. It's it's amoral, not immoral in and of itself, you decide what money will be in your life. It's the love of money. It says the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil which while some have King James coveted after that they've aired they've left the faith and pierced their hearts through with many sorrows.

This is the personages obsessed with material things obsessed with getting a head financially obsessed with money money money at solving think about it's all they talk about and that can be something that distracts you spiritually because it becomes more important to you than God, and you miss out on the true riches someone of these days when you die. And yes, you will die.

We all will leave everything behind zip said before, you've never seen our hearse pulling a U-Haul trailer so don't make your life about all those things not having said that there's nothing wrong with being successful. The Bible even says Jesus speaking appeal. Seek first the kingdom of God will provide all the things that you need, but just don't make that your primary focus. May Christ your primary focus, and now we come as promised to the golden key of spiritual growth ready for it. Go to verse 20 of Mark for in the seed that fell in good soil represents those who hear and accept God's word and Bruce produce a harvest of 3016 and 100 times as much as been planted here. It is the golden key this spiritual growth is how you hear the word of God me say that again the golden key this spiritual growth is how you hear the word of God to give verse 20 they hear and accept God's word. Now we all know that we can hear something and yet not here a little right and your mom is lecturing you and teasing you need to remember to make your band and take out the trash and do your homework and in your mind you just here blah blah blah blah blah. And so you're not really paying attention your hearing audibly.

But you're really not listening and so you been listening to a message from God's word. Have you been paying attention you been checking your phone constantly or having a side conversation.

I mean, you need to listen to what God's word has since say see every category in the parable of the sower herded" that they didn't receive it.

They didn't hear it in the right way the story is told of a Pres. Franklin Roosevelt, who often endured long receiving lines at the White House and then he complained that no one ever listen to what he said so we tried a little experiment out on one occasion there was a long line of people to meet him and he decided he was going to say to every single person that he met I murdered my grandmother this morning so person comes in. Pres. says I murdered my grandmother this morning and there was funny all the good to meet you, Mr. Pres., that's fantastic. You're doing a great job. Another person comes I murdered my grandmother this morning. People kept coming by think it's saying that I murdered my grandmother this morning. Obviously nobody was listing because nobody responded to it until the ambassador from Bolivia came along and he actually heard what the president said I murdered my grandmother this morning and the ambassador from Bolivia said well sir I'm I'm sure she had it coming. Well listen.

The ideas we don't listen. That's why Jesus says he that has ears to hear, let them hear listen to this success or failure in the Christian life depends on how you hear the word of God is not a light thing to hear Bible studies. I know many of you are Bible students and you Lucinda podcasting great biblical teaching on the radio and urine is small group and you read devotions and God bless you. That's amazing your fantastic but it's important now that you hear is that you apply it, and that you obey it as I see a dangerous thing to hear the word of God not apply it in your old life.

So what is the golden key of spiritual growth. Listen. It's hearing it's receiving and it's obeying the word of God. Now in Luke's version of the parable of the sower which we been looking at as a little detail that's very important, he says, having heard the word they keep it and they bring forth fruit with patience patients.

Now that's a word of patients from a root word in the Greek that means endurance, endurance okay so the way you get this endurance from other Greek is through trials.

The trying of your faith produces endurance. And so if you been tried in your faith. If you been tested as a Christian that's making you stronger in the way you bring forth fruit is through endurance and getting through hard times getting through challenging circumstances and so this is very important for us and how do we bring for spiritual fruit. Jesus gives the answer in John 15. He says if you abide in me, you will bring forth much fruit. Then he goes on to say this is how you glorify the father by bringing forth fruit what is fruit its results, its actions, it's, it's evident so you're a true follower of Jesus and how does that happen. Jesus is by abiding in me. What is it mean to abide in him means is sink your roots deeply into him and walk with him and cultivate your relationship with him.

Each and every day. Let me close by asking, are you abiding in Christ of you build your foundation on Kim. Which of these categories. Do you fall are you like the highway here that hears it and blows it off of this are really interested in it. You're not interested in spiritual things are you like the rocky road here who cares said, but the other things happen in your life and and you build it on the wrong foundation and wither in the sun. You don't stay with it. Are you like the person was their heart choked up with the cares of this life and the lure of wealth and other things. I hope not, you can be the person on good soil, you can bring for spiritual fruit. The golden key to spiritual growth is simply that, and I hope you have that relationship with God. Listen to this. There are some people listening to me right now that are hearing this message of the gospel for the first time I'm, like the farmer thrown out the sea and maybe for the first time you've heard this simple message. There is a God in heaven who loves you a God in heaven. He wants a relationship with you. But the problem is your separated from him by your sin, but the good news is 2000 years ago God sent his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for your sin.

He paid the price for all the wrongs you've ever done in Christ rose again from the dead three days later and now Jesus who died and rose stands at the door of your life, and he knocks and he says if you hear his voice and open the door to commit, listen, you can of Christ come in your life right now so I'm just throwing the seed out what you gonna do with it.

Are you going to say I want dad and I want Jesus in my life and I want my sin forgiven, it can happen for you right here right now. How would you would we do you pray, pray, a simple prayer and God will hear your prayer and even more, God will answer this prayer. Only you can say yes to Jesus Christ that's a choice you have when you open the door of your life right now and asked Jesus to come in if you want your sin forgiven, if you want to know that when you die you will go to heaven if you want to be ready for the Lord's return.

If you want to fill that big old keeping hole in your life and get rid of your guilt.

If you want this relationship with God have been talking about them. Pray this prayer with me right now, you might bow your head.

You could even pray it out loud, but just pray this prayer with me and this is a prayer warrior asking Jesus to come in your life. Pray these words Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead. I'm sorry for my sin and I turn from it now and I choose to follow you from this moment forward as my Savior and my Lord is my God, my friend in Jesus name I pray in men everybody Greg Laurie here.

Thanks for listening to our podcast and the learn more about harvest ministries.

Please subscribe and consider supporting this show. Just go to harvest.org and by the way, if you want to find out how to come into a personal relationship with God. Go to know God.org that's key NOW GLD.org