TOPIC: THE THORNY GROUND
MEMORIZE:
And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. Mark 4:7
READ: Mark 4:18-19
18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
MESSAGE
Today, I will continue my discussion on the different kinds of soils by examining thorny grounds. Thorns are dangerous, and they choke everything they come in contact with. When people lead lifestyles that drain them financially because they want to show off, they are sowing on thorny ground. For example, such people may rent apartments that their income can hardly sustain, buy expensive clothes and jewelry that they cannot afford and get into unnecessary debt just to sustain their fake lifestyles.
When you live an extravagant life, you are putting your money in thorny ground. An adage says, 'Cut your coat according to your cloth. Beloved, you must learn to live within your means and not make lifestyle decisions based on resources you do not have - some people fall into this trap because of their circle of friends. The Scripture says that blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly (Psalm 1:1). If you have friends who spend lavishly without counting the cost, you might follow suit
and end up in debt.
Thorns can also refer to things that cause pockets to have holes. When the Israelites returned from exile in Babylon, they started building the temple, and at some point, they stopped and concentrated only on building their houses and empires. Haggai rebuked them for becoming self- centered and neglecting God's house, telling them that they will never be satisfied with the things they have because of their attitude (Haggai 1:4-6).
God will not release His wisdom for financial abundance to those who will consume the wealth He gives them on their lusts. If all you care about is yourself, you are filling your ground with thorns because selfishness chokes God's blessings upon a man's life. Many people pray and fast for financial breakthroughs; however, few receive financial wisdom for such breakthroughs because God cannot trust them not to waste the wealth He gives them on their lusts.
Can God trust you to continue to put Him first after He has blessed you financially? Will you still care for His kingdom when you arrive at your desired financial destination?
Beloved, ask the Lord to remove any attitude that tends to choke His blessings in your life and promise Him that you will always put Him first so that He can pour His blessings on you.
PRAYER POINT
Father, search my heart and take away every thorny attitude that will keep me from accessing your wisdom for financial abundance, in Jesus’ name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deuteronomy 16-19
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
HYMN 23: TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE
1. Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
2. Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3. Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
4. Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.
5. Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne
It shall be Thy royal throne.
6. Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.
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