Falling Away Series 3 12/8/17

08 December 2017 - The Falling Away Series 3 – Manna Feb. 2009 Dorothy

Matthew 13:3, 5, 6
“… Behold, a sower went forth to sow… Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
Mark 4:16,17
“And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
Luke 8:13
They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

Dorothy: Reading few verses shows me the key of what causes the “Falling Away”?  Have you notice three places that say: “they had no root,” “have no root in themselves,” and “these have no root?” So where do we get to the topic about having no root?

First, the Sower went forth to sow… Jesus Himself is the ‘Sower’ and He sows His Words. Matthew, Mark, and Luke heard the words of Jesus and wrote them down for the generation to read and to study His Word. Paul studied God’s Word and he said in Ephesians 3:17 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love…”  So it is very important to have a deep root in Christ.

Song collection, author unknown:
My heart is filled with singing Lord to Thee,
Oh mighty God, great is Thy love.
My heart is filled with singing Lord to Thee,
Oh mighty God, great is Thy love.

Dec. 8, 2017 Dorothy:  I just noticed something from Mark 4:17 “. . . so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution arise for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.”  The word, affliction means something that causes pain or unhappiness. And another word, offended means to cause to be angry or annoyed or irritated, not happy about it or not able to accept things. Then the person could “fall away.”  For a while a person keeps believing for something, but in time of temptation or testing like long waiting for something, finally gave up and began to “fall away.”

Now I began to see something about the long wait that develop the fruit of patience in God’s time.  Christ encourage us: “… blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” The key words: keep it.  Luke 8:15 “… having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”  Notice again “bring forth fruit with patience.” Bible Study is one way to keep the Word of God in our hearts and let it grow deep inside of us. It is important to labor in keeping God’s Word because if we don’t, next thing happened . . .

Luke 8:11 tells us that the devil comes to take away the word out of their hearts. And Mark 4:15 tells us that where the Word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan comes immediately, and takes away the Word that was sown in their hearts.  So what happen when there is no Word of God in a person’s heart? (Continued to Series 4]

May God bless you,

Dorothy