Thorny Ground

[Mk 4:18-19; 1Pet 5:5-8; Phil 4:8]

We have been using the parable of the sower (see, Mt 13, Mk 4, and Lk 8) to help expose the enemy’s tactics. We know that it is easy for him to pick the Word of God from a hardened heart. And we learned that stony ground doesn’t allow for a good root system. We must have deep roots of truth in order to survive tribulation or persecution when it comes because of the word.

The devil knows the Word is alive and will produce — he is terrified of the power of the Word in the good ground of our hearts.

He will attempt to remove the Word at any cost. He knows the longer the Word of God remains on the inside of us, the greater chance there is of it taking root. He knows the Word has the power to expose his lies. He knows that if we ever get into an operating knowledge of the Word of God, a two-edged sword will slice him to pieces!

If we base our life on our carnal senses, the cares of the world can overtake us before we realize it. We must understand thorny ground, and realize its place in spiritual war! I want to help you to understand how God has equipped us to fight, and take back ground for His kingdom.

Mk 4:18-19 (AMP) –[18] And the ones sown among the thorns are others who hear the Word; [19] Then the cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless.

Now some may think the everyday cares, worries, and distractions to be easy to roll over onto the Lord. But what about the pleasure, delight, glamour, deceitfulness of riches, and the craving desire for other things? Now we’re talking about thorny ground! These things (silently) creep in and suffocate the Word, so we become fruitless for the kingdom of God.

The cares creep in. We have been taught by the world that it is our responsibility to worry about life. But while we are “concerned” about things, the enemy tempts us to forget God’s promises, and who is Lord.

Many believers assume spiritual battle to be a once-done, one-time action. NO! The devil doesn’t stop his schemes and tactics to take a vacation. You might have a battle victory here and there, but the war is full scale until the redemption of our bodies (see, Lk 21:27-28; Rom 8:23).

If we are well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), vigilant and cautious at all times (see, 1Pet 5:8), we will recognize these thorns and chop them out with more of the Word (see, Heb 4:12).

To deal with thorny ground, let’s look at First Peter 5:5-8.

1Pet 5:5-8 (ESV) …Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” [6] Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, [7] casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. [8] Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

“Clothe yourselves” Putting on and taking off clothing is a biblical idiom for believers’ ethical lifestyles (cf. Job 29:14; Ps 109:29; Isa 61:10; Eph 4:22,24,25,31).

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” This is a quote from Pr 3:34. The term “grace” is used in its OT sense of “favor.” This verse also reflects what Jesus said in Matthew 23:12.

“Casting all your anxieties on him” This is an idiom of mentally placing one’s concerns on Christ (cf. Mt 6:25). Believers can do this because we know He cares for us. We know this from His death (cf. 1Pet 2:22-24; 3:18), His intercession (cf. 1Jn 2:1-2), and His shepherding (cf. 1Pet 2:25; 5:4).

“Be sober-minded; be watchful” Believers are to make a decisive choice to be mentally alert. Ready for battle, and watchful for the return of Jesus (cf. Mt 24:42; 25:13; 26:41; Mk 13:35,37; 14:38; Acts 20:31; 1Cor 16:13; Col 4:2; 1Thes 5:6,10; Rev 3:2-3; 16:15).

Verses 5-8 are the ingredients to a recipe for resisting the devil and standing firm in our faith, down in verse 9.

Clothe yourselves with humility toward others. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God (v.5,6).

It takes humility to talk to our Lord Jesus about casting our cares on Him, and we worship Him because He cares for us (v.7).

This enables Him to exalt us at the proper time. Which is to empower us to be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), vigilant and cautious at all times (v.8). In order to resist the devil and stand firm in our faith (v.9).

The enemy roars at us with loud confusion, and amplifies the cares of this world. The commotion is like barbed thorns, which are not easily extracted. He can only devour us if we allow the mental confusion and cares of the world to distract us from the Truth, the seed of God’s Word.

If you are not watchful – when the devil roars, it paralyzes and sends feelings of fear and helplessness shooting through your mind. You are distracted! All you can see is the bottom of the wrong side of a mountain in your life. At that time you feel there is no hope. After the initial roar, then reminders of past tragedy, or fear of future troubles grip you. The enemy shows no mercy, using the cares of life to choke the very Word of God that will set you free.

Always be watchful for when the roar of worries come. Fear cannot over-power activated faith-filled words of prayers, meditations, and proclamations. It is true, we must use the Word of God to have a victorious life.

The body of Christ must be relentless. Keep fighting the good fight! Pray continuously (see, 1Thes 5:16-17). You cast cares with words. Talk to the Lord and listen to Holy Spirit as you cast all your anxieties on Him. Always remind yourself of God’s promises. Be thankful and worship God for who He is. Keep your mind on the Truth!

Phil 4:8 (NLT) –…Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

I call this a fixed-thought lifestyle! It develops into words of praise!

Keep yourself in the love of God (Jude 21). Feed your faith, and starve your doubts to death. Keep your heart ready with the Word of God, to receive more of the Word of God. Remember the battle is for your eternal soul.

Prayer:

Lord, we thank you that we can have victory in these days. Help us to take back territory in this spiritual war. We want to roll ALL of our cares onto you, because you care for us. Holy Spirit work with us. With your plow, and our words of faith, we can pull out thorns, and prepare the soil to bring forth fruit. Lord, we trust in you. Amen.

Proclamation:

In the name of Jesus, I declare that Jesus is Lord over all my thoughts, concerns, and distractions. I roll those cares over onto Jesus, because he cares for me. I give Him my all. My pleasures and riches are His, for His kingdom. If I have desires for other things, I will use spiritual discernment to determine how those things apply to my Lord’s purpose and plan. With my chosen thoughts and spoken words, I have the victory, now!

In Christ Jesus, we have the victory! Amen.

God bless you my friend,

— Dwight Hammond