The Parable of Spiritual Growth, Part 2

Harvest podcasts between Pastor Greg Laurie are brought to you by harvest partners to receive Pastor Greg free online daily devotions or to become a harvest partner, please visit us online@harvest.org distorted our Bibles to Matthew 13. The title of my message is the parable of spiritual growth. Part two.

How many of you ever lost something of great value and searched and searched for and then you never found it. I member years ago I had a little parakeet's name was popcorn.

I have no idea why me and them that this was the smartest parakeet I've ever seen anywhere.

He was so teen he would just sit my children wherever I went he would give happily for third trip away and when I would go to his cage and opened the door and stand across the room and call his name in the flyover. You know Alanna my torts that that invites only wings that was a little homework and that's on the fact that solidly okay so I did fly Linda my shoulder and and I just love this little bird popcorn will one day I was down at Balboa Island in Newport Beach and I saw this guy look like a sailor just trust the old dude you know and he had a big parent on his shoulder and I noticed that parent. What would Tim would just sat there in the shoulder and he didn't have a leash on it. He heat the wings were clipped actually talk to him about it and I was told Pres., I want to do that with my parakeet popcorn so I went all put popcorn my shoulder. Walking to the house. It was just happy never flew away, opened the door, walked outside this flew off. I never saw him again. So I was walking on the street for days yelling out popcorn popcorn.

People are looking at me like a piece of bread video go away. What's wrong with that kid never did find him, we lose things we wonder where they got will guess what God is searching for people that want to worship him. Jesus said God is searching for receptive soil to the word of God. God is searching for people that want to grow spiritually quick poll.

How many of you want to grow spiritually in this coming year. Good.

How many of you do not want to grow spiritually and that no one is raising their head. No one at all okay will this is why we want to look at this great parable before us, often called the parable of the sower, but I'm calling it the parable of spiritual growth. Here's the bottom line. This is a story that Jesus told to illustrate how people respond to the word of God. It's it's illustrated by a man sowing seed and some seed falls on receptive soil and some seed falls on soil that is resistant. We've already read it, but allow me to paraphrase of the sower went out to sow seed and as he so some seed fell on the roadside and the birds came down and needed immediately. Some seed fell on ground that was embedded with rocks and stone so it shot up quickly, but because it could not get routing in the soil. It withered in the blazing sun, some seed fell on soil that was embedded with weeds and thorns that impaired the growth of the seed. And finally, some seed fell on good ground and brought forth fruit. Here's the interesting thing about this story we decide what kind of soil, our heart will be by the way we hear the word of God. Okay so were here right now were all listening summer listening carefully so my listening casually summer actually tuning this out, but we determine if our soil will be responsible if our heart will be responsible or not. So it's all how we hear the word of God. If you want to grow spiritually, you will if you don't want to grow spiritually, you won't. It's a simple as that. GK Chesterton said my quote.

Christianity is not been tried and found wanting. It's been found difficult and not try." If someone says they tried crying it didn't work for them. It's because they never had a true encounter with the living God because I believe any person who is really met.

The Lord will continue to grow spiritually and sometimes I wonder about those people that seem to respond to the gospel and then fall away. And we asked the question, did they lose their salvation will I would suggest you that if they were saved they would have never left, and if they leave and never return.

They were never safe to begin with, but I fully abase them. First John 219 says these people left our churches because they never really belong with otherwise it would've stayed with when they left.

Does it prove they did not belong with the now having said that, it is possible to be a true believer and go astray. There are prodigal sons and daughters out there but if you're a believer you will always come home again. If you are prodigal. You will always return it if you never were a believer you won't. So I guess the question to ask yourself is, are you are prodigal or are you a PA and don't take offense by that phrase. As noted evaluation of your weights or your locks. It's actually a word that's used in the Bible. The Bible says. Returns to its law and a dog returns to its own vomit. By the way, that's one of the reasons I know the Bible is true. I've actually watched the dog do that.

They throw up in there like Holland meal nights and then it's doing well that's really sick but the Bible does say that doesn't know, she thought. Goes back to its element and never changes, but if you are prodigal. You will always return home again.

And here's another thing to consider. Sometimes people start off with great enthusiasm and don't finish what they have begun so it's really not how you start out, it's how you end up illustration. Nicodemus will remember him.

He was that man in John three. The came to Jesus at night. Nicodemus was a religious leader and national celebrity, probably afraid he would be recognize and that's why he came at night Nick at night right and as he is conversing with Jesus.

Jesus is hate. You are the teacher. It is really you don't know these things now. It was to Nicodemus that Jesus said for God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son and whoever believes in him will not perish for that everlasting life, but Nicodemus sort of disappears from the narrative, so we don't even know if you believe that that point we just know that influential well-known man came to Jesus at night asking questions but then we get to the end of the story of Jesus and he's been crucified, we find that it's Nicodemus that is stepping forward to claim his body along with Joseph apartment. They John 1939 says Nicodemus who came to Jesus at night also came, bringing a mixture of murder in other things. And so the point is, he ended well.

Now think about this. Judas Iscariot was an apostle on Nicodemus was still finding his way in. Yet at the end of our Lord's ministry, Judas betrayed Jesus and went and hanged himself. Yet Nicodemus step forward with all the other disciples forsook him and fled. So here's the bottom line. Some of the people, beginning with a strong finish better than a strong beginning and no finish. Okay, so sometimes we will start off we went to get stronger with the passing of time. I know little bit about starting things I don't finish it. Number of years ago I tried my hand in road biking and my wife was into it and and she said I should try it so you know if I would do something I go bit okay so I got a really cool by and II got the outfit you know what I'm talking a road biking. You know the outfit I'm talking about were talking spandex okay I and and I was really reluctant to wear those clothes. I tried the first time.

Just wear my regular clothes but the wind would sorta catch everything in all the road bikers that they have to get the outfit so I got the outfit and when you put the pants on. It feels like you need your diaper change.

That's what it considers extra padding there. Not that I know about this, but the so you have the pants and you have the tight little shirt and any of the little shoes black because when you get on the bike you click in to the pebbles impact you don't want to lose your balance does you will literally fall over because you can't get your feet out of the pebbles which I did and it wasn't fun but anyway I got out there. I got my outfit. I got the matching sunglasses. I've got the weird pants I'm ready. So were riding along and I passing everyone passing in the season people.

I think Greg slowdown pages about all this is easy and then as we turned around and came back.

I was so worn out I couldn't even move anymore. One of the guys had to push me back my life. There was a my little outfit been pushed back humiliating didn't finish well I don't know I told you that story is just a test. Some people are the spiritual rainfall they start off of the bay within they just went out that's what I was doing so, we want to be the receptive sort of quick review of the others also looked at double dig into the last two categories we look at category number one we call them the highway. Here's identified in verse 19 of Matthew 13 and that's a person who hears the word of the kingdom, but does not understand it, the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart they receive the word by the wayside. These are the people that you share the gospel with limited just doesn't connect them even come to our church is inherent, but they choose to not believe it's like water off a ducks back like their heart is encased in tough law. Satan blinds them that he finds them when he grinds them. Then there are the rocky road. Here's identified in verse 20 to 21 he that received the seed on stony places, this is the one that hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. Yet he has no root in himself and adores only for a while. When tribulation or persecution comes because of the wording stumble.

These people literally receive the word with excitement when mockery comes from friends or gets a bit hard. They walk away. Problem is the foundation was not built on Christ. Maybe it was built on a motion. Maybe it was built on another person. Maybe it was built on a church, but it wasn't built on Christ. Does it does it does not pass the test of time another's two more categories. Let's look at the third one verse 22 now he who received the seed among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word and the shares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But here the receives even the good ground. This is the one that hears the word, understands it bears fruit and produces some a hundredfold, some 60, in some 30.

I'm calling category number three thorny cures. This is a person that receives the word of God. But in time it is choked out by other things. So this is very different.

Different from the person who blows it off initially like category number one.

It's even different from the person who seems to get it – initially and then walked away. This is more subtle and perhaps more surprising. It doesn't happen overnight but in a gradual way. And if you've ever planted some flowers and you been caring for them.

You probably noticed that when weeds come it happens over.

Time you don't watch a little flower going all the sudden the soil starts moving around and a weed comes up, you know, the grantor lowers starts shaking that that that would not be a weed that would be scary is what I would be know it's it's more gradual and this is the idea that Jesus is giving it illustrated that the so-called frog in the cattle. I I've heard this illustration used many times over the years and the ideas if you take a frog in and put him into a pot of cold water will be happy he won't jump out, but if you slowly begin to heat the water. The problem not jump out because it's such a gradual process and then when it's actually boiling it will be too late, known her for this illustrated that.

Did anyone ever actually do this with the problem. The poor for all. I may just lay in life is good. Got my Jacuzzi here is all of a sudden getting a little more feeling faint read that you know that's how it works. So this is a gradual process. I want you to notice something Jesus did not say sinful things choked it out with the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, the fact is, good things can occupy a person's time as well.

As the bad they may not be bad things to start with, but they become bad things because they get in the way of spiritual role. It's been said more of been killed by food then by poison the second best is often the worst enemy of the best. This is not the person who deliberately says I won't prayer I will read the Bible or I'll never go to church but don't think you are good thing though God and actually buy a Bible and the have every intention of going to church unless of course something more interesting comes along and then maybe they won't go less. There's a swelling that will decide the serpents that are abutting calls not going to give a golf in her symptoms on TV. They really wanted to see her. Maybe we'll go to the mall.

Whatever it is, is not a bad thing gets it. Evil things are doing, but something else becomes more important than the spiritual things that they hate the Bible are there against the Bible.

My goodness they respect the Bible they would be the first to say the Bible is the word of God to the ever read it. Know what they believe it supported God no talk about it the whole will never open it up there too so busy there so many things going on in every given day there. You know your thing, get the kids to school and and then you have to go pick up the dry cleaning and and then you have to go over.

You gotta get to work and then you have. And then there's all these things are not bad thing but it's just that those things become more important to them than God.

Gradually the physical becomes more important than the spiritual TV computer games etc. become more important than the Bible. Movies are more appealing than shirts talking about people to other people is far more appealing than talking to God things on earth become more important than treasures in heaven. Some people are drawn to the world like a mob is drawn to align different watch models with lights to get drunk on like you know the crazy people are just drawn to these things. Sometimes you know the apostle Paul would often mention other people in his epistle. Can you imagine how cool it would be to be mentioned by name in an epistle of Paul. There's one guy that was mentioned two times his name was Dimas, the person was in Philemon 123 Paul mentions the progress Michael a prisoner send you greetings, as do Aristarchus mark in Dimas. I don't know about you, but if I was mentioned in one of Paul's epistles. I probably bring it up in every conversation. Hey, my name is Dimas about the way I was in the epistle Philemon you may have heard of me before. I am in TMS mentioned by the great apostle Paul and he was mentioned all right is mention of Paul's final epistle to second Timothy 41. He said Dimas is deserted me because he loves the things of this life is gone to Thessalonica. Yeah the good news is he was mentioned in two epistles of Paul. The bad news is in the second mention he was identified as an apostate. But why did Dimas leave Paul again Dimas has love this present world really loves the things of this life. The Bible says love not the world.

These are the things that are in the world for all that is not in the world, the lust of the flash, the lust of the eyes and pride of life is not of the father, but of the world. When the Bible speaks of the world. It doesn't mean the your it doesn't mean that you can enjoy the things that you experience on earth world speaks of a culture mentality. A system if you will, that is hostile to God. Another translation of that verse, I just quoted for first John 215 puts it this way don't love the world's way total of the world's goods, love of the world squeezes out love for the father practically everything that goes on in the world wanting your own way wanting everything for yourself wanting to appear important, has nothing to do with the father just isolate you from him the world and all of its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out. Whoever does what God wants to set for eternity. Go back to our verse again verse seven. The seed fell among thorns and the thorns came and showed them what is that mean verse 22 says it's the cares of this world. So what is up for Nora weaned listener. This form are we as anything the crowd.

Jesus out of your life.

Then repeat that again for Orlean is anything the crowds Jesus out of your line. Another gospel says it was the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. By the way, the word that is used here for care means anxiety or worry so it's a person that's choked up by the anxieties and worries about.

There's a lot of things in life that we worry about our you know we we think about our future.

We think about hard jobs. We think about our family. We think about their safety. We think about our health. There's a lot of things that can cause anxiety that can keep us up at nights. In fact, in the sermon on the Mount, Jesus says which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life know we live in a time where people are our obsessed with wanting to extend the length of their life and this billions of dollars worth of various remedies. If you want to call them that are prescribed are offered and people will get in line to get the latest thing that supposedly getting help them live longer.

But here's the thing that you need to know there's nothing that you are going to do to extend your life. One minute longer than God want to live okay now that doesn't mean we should be a fool and eat everything in sight and never exercise that could certainly increase the quality of your life, but the quantity of your life is entirely in the hands of God. Job 14 boxes men's days are numbered. He has decreed the number of our months and set limits that we cannot exceed so that simply means don't worry about it because by worrying about it. You're not going to extend it. Anyway, leave it in the hands of God. Jesus said don't be like the nonbelievers who spent all their time thinking about what we can eat what were going to drink, what were you aware what he says but instead seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. Jesus also mentions the deceitfulness of riches. First, he mentions the cares of this life legitimate things, and the deceitfulness of riches, verse 22 show the work. Again, going back to the sermon on the Mount Jesus said in Matthew 619 totally up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy of these break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven were neither moth and rust corrupt Nordic. These break in and steal.

For where your treasure is that we are hardly also this phrase lay up treasures is not simply speak of having possession rather than speaking of your possessions. Having you when he says lay out the could better be translated don't hoard or stockpile okay so he's not saying it's wrong they have things but don't hoard things don't stockpile things you know you can think about these things. It's not wrong to do that. But don't be obsessed with them.

Don't become a materialistic person. What is a materialistic person. It is a person that lets things become more important than God. God created us to love people and use things but a materialist loves things and uses people then repeat that God created us to love people and use things materialist loves things and uses people there's nothing wrong with having possession and even a successful career to the point. God is even promised to bless us in such a way for Timothy 617 says tell those who are rich.

Do not be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone, but their pride instruction be in the living God, who gives us everything we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good and be rich in good works and give happily to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God is given to them notice it doesn't say tell those who are rich to get rid of all their money though because God can bless a person even says tell them to enjoy what God is given. There were rich people in the Bible, Abraham, Joe, David, Joseph apartment they have that I mentioned Barnabas Mary all had well, Jesus did not extol poverty at some great virtue.

In fact, all of his instructions. Only one time did he tell someone to sell his possessions and give to the poor people often cite the story of the rich young ruler, but that was one case with one guy and I think it's because that man was possessed by his possessions, as evidenced by his reaction when Jesus said if you want eternal life so much you have give the money to the poor, and follow me and the Bible says the men went away sorrowful because he wouldn't do this, you see, it was a test to see if God was more important gimmick then just stop. Sometimes we might look at someone was a lot. I will say they are materialistic, but we don't know if there materialistic and only God knows that only they know that will say, well, money is the root of all evil. The Bible teaches that actually, the Bible doesn't teach that because money is not the root of all evil. What the Bible says it tells us in first Timothy 610, the love of money is the root of all evil, which all some of covenant after they have erred from the date and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Money is not the root of evil, the love of it in money is neutral. It's not moral or immoral. It's a moral there's no evil and money and there's no good in money. The problem with wealth is not in having it. It's how we get it. It's always guarded. That's how we given the repeat that again. The problem was well. This wealth is not in having it.

It's how you get it how you guarded and how you give it. It's the use of it which is good or evil. You can use money for the glory of God can ship you can invest in the work of the kingdom. So lives are impacted and you can use money for evil.

Obviously, some might say whoa is it wrong to save money. Absolutely not within Jesus.

They go live for yourself treasures under guy.

He said don't hoard in stockpile. He didn't say don't plan for the future. It's good to save money back. The Scripture commends the end for storing in the summer, foot, it will need in the winter. In Proverbs 6 it says go to the edge you lazy man consider her ways and be why in the Bible also commands us to provide for her family for first Timothy 58 says if you don't provide for your own family and especially those of your own household denied the faith in your worse than the nonbeliever so carries the idea of putting it all together. It's good to save and invest wisely. But remember, it's been given to you by God, you are not the older you are there still were going back to first Timothy 618, tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and give happily to those who are in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God is sometimes said that we should give until it hurts, but Jesus church teaches that it should hurt only cease to get God will bless a generous person so this category is a person who is choked out by perhaps the legitimate cares of this life become illegitimate because they become more important than the things of God, and it can even be the love of money, where that is what they live for.

If you want to really see how quickly you can get your life in perspective. All it takes is a phone call from a doctor telling you we got the results in your test and I need you to come in immediately and have them see you of one month: well you see everything a little differently when you those things that were so important you yesterday wouldn't even be on the radar screen today and things that you have been given a thought to in a long time would suddenly become the most important things to you of all that brings us to the last category this is the category we want to end up in. I call them fruitful peers. Look at verse 23 he that received seed on the good ground.

This is the one that hears the word and understands it might underline that and bears fruit and produces some a hundredfold, some 60, some 30 notes interesting because the three gospel accounts explain the meaning of the good ground the parable of the sower spotted three gospel in each one of those accounts gives us a little bit more understanding of what this final category is all about Brinson's and Mark 420 be good here is described as the one who receives the word so it means he takes it in, it becomes a part of what in Luke 415 the good.

Here is said to be the one who keeps the word. In other words, he holds onto it. Any practices it in his life and Luke also adds that the good here brings forth fruit with patients do not expect a harvest overnight it takes time to grow spiritually. There are no shortcuts. This vertebra my granddaughters that I have a little game I play with her and I call it taking her this secret way.

Sometimes they were out together and will go to a restaurant noticing the that's the normal way people going but then there's this secret way wants to go this secret like I do Bob. Okay, let's go. So go run a walk in the side door and is walking and I think we really to let anyone see this because it's the secret way she loves so will be in the car driving along in the city thinking the regular way home. I think we can go the regular way home we could go this secret way will probably want to see your way and I'll just turn up in some random street and pull off again and now were on the secret way she gets all excited sometimes are looking for that in the spiritual equips a secret way. Once a shortcut to spirituality to break this to you. There is no secret way. There are no cliff notes on spirituality. It takes time and lots of it means that you see your seed into the soil and bring forth fruit with patients conversion happens instantaneously. But transformation takes a life, knowing that his version of it. He understands the word says verse 23 he hears it he follows it through from beginning to way he thinks about it. It's like chewing your food which is a good thing to do and you know I think it's really important that we absorb as much scripture as we can. But I also think that we need to understand Marine know some people will boast of the fact that their bread 10 chapters and one that written chapters of the Bible today over those chapters about I have no idea what did you learn I learned nothing, but I read 10 chapters and you didn't so many that either that you'd be better off to read 10 verses with comprehension not you can read 10 chapters with comprehension. Bless you that's great, do that. But the idea is is that we are to think about the word we are to ponder the word we are to meditate on the word day and night someone says blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly are stands in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the word of the Lord.

It ended does he meditate day and night and he's going to be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that will bring forth fruit in his season, and whatever he does will prosper.

That's exactly the picture we had here exactly the picture.

Jesus is giving us here in the final category of the parable of the sort you got a cold so I'm on the verge of coughing, but you get that you get a cough but you know, there I did it so the ideas that we let the words sink in. CH Spurgeon said, quote, nobody ever outgrows Scripture. The book widens and deepens with our years, and the result is you will bring forth spiritual fruit. Listen Jesus said in John 15, you did not choose me, but I chose you and ordain you that you should go for them.

You should go bring forth spiritual fruit and here it is. My father glorified, that you bring forth much fruit, and that your fruit should remain in the funny thing people endlessly debate the whole issue of election whose chosen, who's not chosen how their chosen and so often no one will ever ask the question, but why we chose Jesus said you did not choose me I chose you and ordain you. You should go and bring forth fruit. Why was I chosen by God, I was chosen to bring forth fruit.

Romans 829 says, whom he predestined he also called to be conformed into the image of his own dear son. Here's what my objective is as a Christian in this life on earth. I am to be conformed into the image of Jesus and I am to bring forth spiritual fruit.

As I glorify God with my life.

That's what I should be focusing on glorifying God being made into the image of Jesus and bringing forth spiritual principles and that's it, bring forth fruit. That's my commitment spiritual fruit while away.

What exactly is spiritual for the question. Here's a few answers might jot down these references what we say is a kind of fruit in our lives. What we say. Hebrews 1315 says, let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God that is the fruit of our lives, giving thanks to his name only offer praises to God, like we did a few moments ago. We are using. Our tongues are Malabar vocal cords for the primary purpose that they were created for. Which is to glorify God. And guess what God likes to hear you verbally sing his praise. He likes you to proclaim his name and sometimes we don't say it was I feel in my heart but I feel and comfortable scene as I got into my love my wife but I don't really like to see. I love you and I could talk work really get over you need to save your wife I love you wife you need to see the same to your husband you need to verbalize your love one to another, and God says I want to hear the fruit of your lips glorifying my name. Another way we bring forth fruit is winning others to Christ and helping them to grow spiritually again winning others to Christ and helping them to grow spiritually.

That is, fruits Paul wrote in Romans 113.

I've often plan to come to in order that I might obtain some fruit among you, even as among the rest of the Gentile. So when you have the privilege of leading someone to Christ and helping them grow.

That's fruit. When you have the opportunity to help a person who's already come to faith grow spiritually that to is fruit and thirdly and I think this is probably the most important thing the focus on are changing conduct in character as a kind of fruit as well are changing conduct in character as a kind of fruit as well. Romans choosing Galatians 522, the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patients, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. By the way that says the fruit of the spirit and doesn't see the fruits of the spirit. There are not fruits of the spirit. There is fruit singular.

Not multiple in the fruit of the spirit is what love and what is that word love. It's a Greek word agape. The word that is used for love more than any other in the New Testament so the fruit of the spirit. There's a cop can await your ammo, okay, the fruit of the Spirit is love, and how do you define love. It's joy and patience and kindness and goodness support so this first deals with a Christian's attitude toward God, toward himself and toward other people first answered their attitude toward guidance love God gives them enjoy empty love, joy and peace. Is it even possible to know, love and joy and peace in this cynical lately almost unlikely say something.

According to Scripture, they should be the present experience of every believer's joy a joy unspeakable regardless of circumstances. I peace that passes all human understanding. This all comes as a result of our walk with God and that we have patients kindness and goodness these attributes. Verge is that we show toward other patient speaks of long-suffering with others that aggravate or even persecute you know anybody that aggravate you maybe are sitting next to them right now.

Maybe you're married to maybe hearing neighbor. Maybe there a coworker. Maybe their apparent maybe they're a child I don't know, but there's someone that drives you crazy Garcia never stop and think that you might be the person that aggravate someone else in our narrative. We are always the same person than everyone else's not try but in someone else's narrative were the crazy person where the aggravating person where the irritating person, but God allows us in our life and it is here that we show patients and kindness and thinks of your disposition goodness of your words indeed. Finally, there's faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. This is who you are as a people. Are you a faithful person. I think of being reliable.

Can people depend upon you when you make a commitment. You keep it.

Gentleness speaks of humility and meekness. Meekness is not weakness but power under constraint, and finally self-control speaks of a person who controls their actions.

In other words, some evil so I can't believe I just said that I you know I did… I can't control myself. If you get I'll show you how shut your mouth now. All I can to drive is given at least 10 days either. You can if you're a Christian know people talk about the power of the spirit we need more the power of the spirit we need the gifts of the spirit. Yeah, I agree. You know what else we need fruit of the spirit. I'm more impressed than the man who stands for the valves he made to his wife for a lifetime that I am up with some person who maybe is an ability that preacher do something.

Also, they don't back it up with our lifestyle.

The fruit of the spirit. This is what Jesus is looking for and how do I produce this fruit.

The answer is found in John 15.

I just quoted to you. John 15 for Jesus and abide in me and I and you as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me here folks.

Now is the secret of spiritual growth. What is it to buy what is that mean the word abide means to stay in a given place, thus producing lasting fruit. It is to maintain unbroken fellowship with God. It's regularity and consistency identify the betraying planted in my front yard to JUST perfect. The love that I don't know that my backyard be better there so I ripped the tree of roots are getting out. Back to my backyard planted there that that's a place I knew the backyard.

I don't know you know really was better in the front yard so I rip it up again to get to the front yard to get the backyard again, this is about 10 times just what my my tree. It's like I traumatize my tree.

Okay my tree is not to live any longer and some people are like that with God. You know I would go to church tonight I'm in a read the Bible and I'm in a praying they do that for a month that they uproot themselves and disappear and we don't see them from humans and they come back in the rounded again on just serving the Lord again and I walked with her then they uproot themselves in the back of the old life again and come it here to begin to grow spiritually.

That way if you want to produce lasting fruit you need to have the daily discipline of walking with God and speaking of walking. That's another way of abide because that word is used interchangeably with abiding first John 26 says he that says he abides in him ought to want to see what you know, walking speaks of just consistent motion. You're just walking walk with God. David said created me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. But that right spirit could be better translated a constant spirit that means every day we get up in the morning listening. Now you make time for the word of God. Don't tell me you're too busy get up early and go to better eliminate something that's taking the place of it whatever you have to do, you'll find time for what is important. Make time for the word of God. Make time for prayer and take advantage of this virtual resource that are upcoming.

We offer a lot of them with you about our iPhone and iPad app at all. This of you can read the Bible in a year and we send our devotions freed anybody that wants them over 100,000 people receive our devotions every day all around the world will send it directly to your email address and you can start the day with the devotion. There's a link there to our radio show a link to a through the Bible reading program and then there's podcasting. That's a great way to listen to good Bible teaching because maybe you're not in your car or at home around radio when your favorite Bible teaching program is on but you can download it in a pot doesn't take it with you wherever you go. And speaking of podcasts ever see the movie email just a couple of days ago from a man whose father was shot and killed and you probably know the story because it's been in the news. The man was shot and killed was Judge John roll and he was killed in these recent shootings in Arizona and as you know Congressman Congresswoman Giffords was giving a talk in and judge's role just stopped by to say hi and the ended up dying that day so his son wrote me this email and I'm quoting from it now.

I wanted to take a moment to send you an email to tell you and thank you that my dad, Judge John roll was one of the victims of passed away in the shooting in Tucson Arizona on January 8. My dad would download your podcasts daily and listen to them on his way to work. Not sure if you ever sent you a letter in the probably always enjoyed your preaching. He told me about your podcasts and started to download them and listen to them and we would talk weekly and discuss your podcasts. You've given me strength in the past to your preaching and help me guide my family. I wanted to say thank you for the work of the spiritual strength you given my dad in the inspiration and strength you've given me. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Very sad, sad ending for this judge, who was commended by so many. One person said that he liked to mentor young Christian attorneys because they believe their fate. Give them a better moral foundation for the vocation of law.

It was described as a father figure more than a boss. He knew people's families always wanted to hear more about them Judge John roll walk with God's heart was fertile soil and when the good judge gets to heaven to hear their heavenly judge say well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord, you know, we never know what life will lead judge's role started that they, like any other day started off right with God.

But then that was the day he was called to heaven, but thankfully he was writing my closing statement you is are you know we talked about these various types of responses. It maybe you've always thought of yourself as a Christian, but there's really no fruit to confirm that it's not about what you say it's about what you do ultimately the true test of conversion is a test of time and road salt in your life fruit are you printing bringing forth fruit as a Christian. Some of the things we talked about already, or you find that you're just the person that's up and down them. You know when you're here one day and are gone for a week in your back and your gone again. He made a real commitment to Jesus Christ right now and decide today that you are going to be the person was a receptive part to the word of God. Every one of us is hearing but we determine what kind of soil heart will be this week. Your last day on earth would you be ready to meet the Lord like the judge was if not I'm to give you an opportunity to get right with God. As we close down prayer. Let's all bow our heads you would father thank you for your word to us today and now I prefer any that have joined the Sioux may not yet know you, Lord, help them to see their need for Jesus, help them to come to you now and receive your forgiveness and that her life would be transformed. We ask this in your name. I will answer God and her eyes are closing up frame.

How many of you would say today.

Greg pray for me. I want Jesus Christ to come in my life. I want to know that when I die I will go to heaven. I want to be prepared for eternity, like the judge was I ready to say yes to Jesus Christ.

Pray for me that your desire whatever you're sitting. Would you just lift her hand up if you want Christ to come in your life you want him to forgive you of your sin and I'll pray for you.

God bless you done your toward the front here in the side of her in the back of the balcony look Treanda. We pray for you today. Bless you now are you that are in one of our overflow sites.

Right now I can see you as you watch a video screen but God sees you, would you raise your again. Sue is a step of facing you to want Christ. Wherever you are.

You can hear my voice, you want to make this commitment did Jesus raise your handle.

Pray for you publish anybody else raise your hand. Now publish this. I mention prodigal my message today and maybe that describes you your prodigal, you walk away from the Lord, but you want to come back to him again today affect your desire. If you want to return the Christ.

Would you lift your hand up and let me pray for you now want to come back to the Lord publish, publish, wherever you're sitting lift her head. Bless all of you father thank you note for these is taking this little step of faith. Help them to take the next want to receive all that you have for them, for we ask this in Jesus name met