Fears in my life and how do I deal with them

 BY Argie Simonis 

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." Gen. 1:27

We are made in the image and likeness of God. The Lord has given us the ability to experience emotions, which are essentially our response to the environment we are in, but He has not called us to walk in life based on our emotions, but based on faith:

"For we walk by faith, not by sight:

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." 2Cor. 5:7-8

One of those feelings that can sometimes paralyze a person is the feeling of fear. But do you know that fear is not just a feeling, but there is a spirit of fear, just as there are many other evil spirits behind bad feelings that we may experience? In today's message as I said, I will focus on the spirit of fear, but let's see what the word of God tells us:

"For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2Τim. 1:7

Here we see that there is a spirit of fear which is of the devil, and a spirit of power, a spirit of love and a spirit of sound mind, which is of the Lord.

See what Isaiah writes to us:

"To appoint to them that mourn in Zion, to give to them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified." Isaiah 61:3

Here we see the spirit of heaviness which is from the devil, and the spirit of praise which is from the Lord.

"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

And the spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;" Isaiah 11:1-2

Here we see a spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.

The spirit of fear is a demonic spirit that attacks a person and causes him all these feelings:

- Lack of courage,

- Insecurity,

- Hesitation,

- Doubt

 The reason I make this introduction is to expose the real root of the fear one may be experiencing:

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Eph. 6:12

Now look at a fear that the apostle Paul faced:

"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." 2Cor. 11:3

This is the first trap the devil set for man, and the reason I mention it is to see man's first reaction to sin. So what did Adam and Eve do once they sinned?

"And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

And the LORD God called to Adam, and said to him, Where are you?

And he said, I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself." Gen. 3:8-10

Man's first reaction when sin entered the world was fear. Let me make a clarification here:

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." Prov. 9:10

The fear of the Lord mentioned here has the meaning of the respect and honor we give to the Lord and not the terror or intimidation caused by the devil. So the fear felt by Adam and Eve is referred to in the second case. The most repeated command of God in the Bible is "Fear not". Whenever the Lord, or an angel of the Lord appears to someone, the first thing He says is "Fear not."

Man feared God, at a time when God had done nothing to cause this fear. I will talk about three main fears that a person can face in his life:

1. The fear of rejection.

God created us, but because His nature is love, we are actualy made by love:

"And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him." 1John 4:16

In other words, we are made to love and to be loved. That's why the greatest fear a person can have is the fear of rejection. Do you know why; Because man's greatest need is love and acceptance. But this is something that can lead us into a trap, because our battle against rejection can turn all our attention to our acceptance by others, making it our first priority. So our struggle to be accepted by people, somehow becomes an idol in our life and we devote all our energy there, reaching the point of compromising our faith and our moral values, just to be accepted by others.

"The fear of man brings a snare: but whoever puts his trust in the LORD shall be safe." Prov. 29:25

For example, we hesitate to express our opinion on something we morally disagree with, in order not to offend people or provoke their reactions.

Do you know how the devil deceived Eve? He tempted her to get something she already had. Basically all of the three main fears I'm going to talk about today are actually things that the devil is trying to convince us that we don't have and need to get, when in fact we already have them.

Do you remember what the devil said to Eve?

"For God does know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods..." Gen. 3:5

But in fact Eve was already like God:

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." Gen. 1:26

So the devil managed to trick her, and look what happened:

"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, said he to you; but his heart is not with you." Prov. 23:7

So when the devil comes and tells you that you must do certain things in order to be accepted, your answer must be

"I'm already accepted."

That should have been Eve's answer as well. The devil told her if you do this you will become like God. Eve had to answer him "I am already like God".

If someone comes and tells you that if you don't do this, for example if you don't take this drug or if you don't do this crime you can't be part of the group, your response should be:

"I'm already part of a much better group. I belong to Christ's family, I'm already accepted":

"For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:" Rom. 8:15-16

Here is an advice tip for parents and then we'll go to the second fear:

Every child that comes into the world is born with the need of acceptance, and the only way for this child to find this acceptance is to be taught Christ.

So, since our greatest need is love, our greatest fear is rejection.

2. The fear of failure.

When you fear failure, success becomes the ultimate goal in your life, resulting in you constantly striving to become a successful person. In other words, you value what you fear, and success in that particular case becomes an idol in your life. Success according to the human terms is usually money, fame and glory. But look at what God's word tells us about this:

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." Μatt. 6:24

Every human is born with the potential of success. But do you know what the biblical definition of success is? 

Obedience. 

When you obey God, you will be successful in whatever you do:

"Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law does he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper." Psalm 1:1-3

So when you devote yourself to studying the word of God and doing what the Lord tells you, you will have success in your life regardless of what is happening around you. The catch here is that if you try to achieve something in your own strength and not with God's power, two things can happen:

Either this will make you so stubborn that all you care about is achieving your goal at any cost, or your inability to do so will discourage you so much that you give up without even trying. I'm sure many of you have been, or possibly already are, in one of these two situations.

The same principle applies here. The devil tempts you to seek something that the Lord has already provided for you:

"Now thanks be to God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest the aroma of his knowledge by us in every place." 2Cor. 2:14

We are already victorious in Christ and when we obey the Lord we will have success in our lives. An advice here and we'll go to the third fear:

Do not worship something that you already have and do not fear something that the Lord has already defeated. So there is no reason to fear rejection or failure.

3. With the same reasoning we go to the third fear, the fear of death.

I will say the same here:

You should not worship your life, but you have no reason to fear death either. The closer we get to the Lord, the less we fear death. I believe that the best criterion to see how far we stand in our faith, is to consider how much peace we have within us at the thought of the time when we shall depart from this life. We see the best example in the dilemma faced by the apostle Paul:

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I know not.

For I am in a strait between two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;" Phil. 1:21-25

Do you see the revelation that Paul had on this subject? Whether you live or depart from this life is gain. How is it possible to intimidate such a man? With threats? With torture? With tribulation? With death? And don't forget that the same spirit that lived in Paul that time, lives in us today. All born-again believers have the Spirit of God dwelling within us:

"What? know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?

For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1Cor. 6:19-20

"For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:" Rom. 8:15-16

The question that arises is this: What is wrong with wanting to be happy and enjoy my life?

Absolutely nothing, as long as you live the right way, and I will explain. As I said before, there is a right fear, the fear of the Lord, and a wrong fear. In the same way, there is a right life and a wrong life. One is from God and the other from the devil.

In other words: The temporary life and the eternal life.

Temporal life came forth only after man had sinned. There was no death until sin came into the world:

"Why, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed on all men, for that all have sinned:" Rom. 5:12

From the beginning of creation, God's plan for man was to have eternal life and not temporary. What I am trying to say is that when all your concern is in your temporary life here on earth and you fear death, then this life has become your idol. Remember the words of Jesus:

"For whoever will save his life shall lose it: and whoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Μatt. 16:25-26

Here, of course, the Lord does not promote suicide. He is simply setting the right priorities that we should have: Do not seek the temporary, but the eternal. Nothing temporary can give you real joy. Even in my temporary life here on earth, my real joy is in eternal life with the Lord, and actualy this eternal life begins here and now:

"He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life." 1John 5:12

That is why I will emphasize again that when I say not to worsip our life, I do not mean not to enjoy it. What I'm trying to say is that we should not idolize the temporary, because that is precisely the devil's goal, to entrap us.

I will close this message with a reminder from the words of the apostle Paul:

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Gal. 2:20

Amen?

Pitfalls in your life and in your ministry

  BY Argie Simonis

The Lord has a calling on all of us. I believe many of you watching have already recognized your calling and want to walk in it. In today's message I will expose two big pitfalls that can stand in the way of the call the Lord has on your life and I will give some useful advice.

"For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." 2Cor. 10:12

In other words, Paul is telling us that it is foolish to compare ourselves with others. There is serious danger in doing this and two things can happen:

  - If we compare ourselves to others who apparently are doing much worse than us, then there is a danger that pride will come into our hearts and the satisfaction we will feel can set us back and prevent us from becoming better.

- If we compare ourselves with those who apparently are better than us, then there is the danger of discouragement and disappointment. We lay down our arms and abandon the vision that the Lord has given us and as a result we remain unfruitful.

I underline the word apparently because it is impossible to know everything about others the way we know ourselves, nor what is really going on in their lives. Therefore, it is very possible that these people appear to be better or worse than they really are. Man tends to look at the appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Sam. 16:7)

See a typical example, Jesus' words to Peter:

"Then Peter, turning about, sees the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrays you?

Peter seeing him said to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

Jesus said to him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to you? follow you me." John 21:20-22

Jesus had told Peter to follow Him. However, Peter wanted to know what the Lord's plans were for John, and the Lord told him that what He planned for John was none of his business. The devil has led many Christians astray by being preoccupied with what others are doing for the Lord and forgetting to look at themselves first.

Paul clearly tells us what our priority should be:

"Brothers, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing you be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this to you." Phil. 3:13-15

It doesn't matter if you do more than someone else to serve the Lord. The question is, are you walking in the will of God? Are you walking in the calling He has on your own life?

When at some point we appear before the Lord, we will give account for ourselves, for what the Lord called us to do, and not for what someone else has done or not done. Our works will be evaluated based on their quality and not their quantity:

"Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is." 1Cor. 3:13

Be assured that in heaven there will be people who seemingly had built great houses (ministries) but the Lord will reject the building materials they used because their works were carnal. Likewise, there will be some others who, while they had no special recognition on earth because they did nothing great according to human standards, will receive great rewards because they faithfully completed what the Lord called them to do:

"So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen." Matt. 20:16

Do you know who the chosen ones are? God's word is simple, as long as you know where to look:

"And Samuel said, Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams." 1Sam. 15:22

"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein you have done foolishly: therefore from now on you shall have wars." 2Chr. 16:9

Who are they whose hearts are perfect toward Him? We just saw it in 1 Sam. 15:22. Those with a heart of submission and obedience to His will.

I will explain it and also give an advice:

If you believe that you are sacrificing yourself for the Lord by doing your own things, things that you believe to be right, what we have just read puts things into perspective. Submission is an attitude of the heart, and obedience is the execution of a command. In other words, I agree in my heart with the Lord's will (submission), and I do what He tells me to do (obedience). I have a whole message on the subject of submission and obedience. You can find it here:

So, in summary, the first pitfall to avoid is:

Don't compare yourself to others.

---------------------------------

Now let's go to the second trap. I will make an introduction with some statements of the apostle Paul, and then I will explain.

In Romans chapter 15, Paul spoke of the glory, or the boasting, of the things God had done through him. He begins by saying to be of the same mind:

"Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

That you may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Why receive you one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God." Rom. 15:5-7

Then in verses 17-18, Paul says:

"I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.

For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not worked by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed," Rom. 15:17-18

In 1Cor. he gives instructions of examples to avoid:

"Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted." A'Κορ. 10:6

And continues in vesre 12:

"Why let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." 1Cor. 10:12

Paul had many people who opposed his work. Here he refers to people who were his critics. These are the ones who just talk but cannot back up their claims. They talk big about what they would do, but have no fruit in their lives to back up their statements. They are only words.

Paul's opponents were just like many people who sow strife today. They are against everything, against authority, and criticize the way any kind of person in leadership handles things, either that person is a politician, a church leader, or generally a person in authority. They make big statements about what they would do if they were in power, but all they do is talk big. And they do this while they have not proven themselves successful in managing even the smallest things. Nevertheless, they want to be in charge of big things, just based on their words and promises.

See what Paul says about such people:

"But he that glories, let him glory in the Lord.

For not he that commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends." 2Cor. 10:17-18

Here I will make some important clarifications on the subject of ministry. God's kingdom operates on certain principles. Maturity and preparedness to do something has stages. Don't get impatient and pray 

"Lord why don't you use me?". 

The answer is simple. The Lord is not using you because you are not ready to be used. And I will explain it:

From the moment you enter the ministry you become a target for the devil:

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:" 1Pet. 5:8

God will never expose you to such danger if you are not mature and properly prepared and grounded in faith. He wants to protect you and also the people you will minister to.

Paul gives clear instruction to Timothy regarding persons in the ministry:

"Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless." 1Tim. 3:8-10

Remember the parable of the seed:

"For the earth brings forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." Μark 4:28

Remember also other Jesus' words:

"His lord said to him, Well done, you good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your lord." Μatt. 25:21

"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?" Luke 16:10-11

"And he said to him, Well, you good servant: because you have been faithful in a very little, have you authority over ten cities." Luke 19:17

As for people who are already in the ministry, as I said before, the moment you begin your ministry, you are entering the fields of the devil and there will definitely be resistance because the devil will raise people up against you to hinder you. The sad thing is that some of them will also be brothers in Christ. We already have an accuser, the devil

"... which accused them before our God day and night." Rev. 12:10

We don't need more accusers, so be careful not to fall into this trap and become one of those accusers.

It is observed that most of the time, the criticism against those who do some things that bring change, comes from those who do nothing. The best example is Jesus Himself, who despite of all His good works, miracles and healings, He was criticized and rejected by unfruitful people who had nothing to show for their own lives.

He who has done nothing yet in his life should not criticize the one who has done some things. Similarly, the one who claims that something cannot be done should not become an obstacle to the one who is already doing it.

So this is the second trap:

--- Do not critisize. ---

It is therefore important to avoid these two traps of the devil if we want to bear fruit and walk in the will of the Lord. Two things are very important that we must recognize as children of God and members of the body of Christ:

- First, we are made in a special and unique way,

- and second, we are not all called to do the same thing.

We must work together and not fight each other. We belong to the same family with the Lord as our leader and we strive for the same cause, each one of us with the gifts and abilities that the Lord has given us. Therefore, avoiding comparison and criticism among ourselves, grounded in faith, we will be able to walk in our calling and become the trees that David speaks of in the first psalm:

"And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper." Psalm 1:3

Amen!

How can I earn eternal life?

 BY Argie Simonis

Today I will answer a question that concerns many people:

"How can I gain eternal life?"

This is actualy the question that the rich young ruler asked  Jesus:

"And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

And Jesus said to him, Why call you me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor your father and mother.

And he answered and said to him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said to him, One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions." Mark 10:17-22

We see someone running to Jesus and publicly kneeling before Him. He did something very bold for the society of the time. Today such a person with such behavior would be welcome in any church. But Jesus, knowing the heart of every man, saw beyond the actions of this man:

"But the LORD said to Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." 1Samuel 16:7

Historically, Jesus has been the most central figure in the world, and even secular historians recognize this. Muslims recognize Jesus simply as a prophet. From other religions Jesus is recognized as a great teacher. Even by the New Age and atheists Jesus is recognized as a good man, who through his teaching and his way of life, showed us love and how to treat others the same way we want them to treat us. But none of these people were willing to elevate Him to His rightful place as God.

This is what we see here in the story with the rich young ruler. Jesus used this young man's love of money to expose his unbelief. Not only was his heart in the wrong place, but so was his question. And I will explain it.

"And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" Mark 10:17

Here is his first mistake.

It is not what we do for God that produces eternal life, but what He has done for us. This man was trying to earn his way to God by his works. But it doesn't work that way. We just need to humble ourselves and receive what Jesus did for us with His sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection as a gift:

"For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph. 2:8-9

Remember the parable of the publican and the Pharisee (Luke 18:10-14) who went to pray in the temple. Which of the 2 walked away justified? The Pharisee who put his trust on his good works, or the publican who recognized his sinfulness and asked God for mercy?

That is why Paul writes to the Galatians using harsh language:

"O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

This only would I learn of you, Received you the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Are you so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?

Have you suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

He therefore that ministers to you the Spirit, and works miracles among you, does he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" Gal. 3:1-5

Let's go back to the rich young ruler. This young man had a wrong conception of eternal life. Many believe that eternal life is to live forever. But God's word teaches us that everyone lives forever. When someone dies, they do not cease to exist. The spirit and soul return to God and the body ends up in the grave.

Jesus Himself gives us the definition of eternal life:

"And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." John 17:3

He tells us that eternal life is to know the true God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent. The word know here does not simply mean brain knowledge, but has the meaning of awareness, of a deep and familiar relationship with someone. The same word is used in the book of Genesis, when Adam "knew" Eve and bore him Cain:

"And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bore Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD." Gen. 4:1

All who have passed from the face of the earth will continue to live in spirit form, some eternally with God, and some eternally away from Him. This verse clearly shows us that eternal life with God is not automatically given to everyone. The real purpose of salvation is not to live forever in heaven, as good as that sounds, but to have a personal and indimate relationship with God.

Notice Jesus' response in verse 18:

"And Jesus said to him, Why call you me good? there is none good but one, that is, God." Mark 10:18

Some have used what Jesus says here to support the view that Jesus humbles himself and admits that he is not equal to God. But what He actually does here is the exact opposite. What he is really telling the rich young ruler is to either call Him God or stop calling Him good. Thomas made the right decision, even if he had to feel Jesus' wounds to be convinced:

"And Thomas answered and said to him, My LORD and my God.

Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." John 20:28-29

Jesus answered this man's question according to the way he asked it. Notice that he did not ask how he might receive eternal life, but what he must do to earn it. If we rely on our works, then we must keep all the commandments perfectly, which is impossible, and that is exactly why God gave us the Law. It was to show us firstly that we cannot earn our salvation, and secondly to lead us to faith:

"But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up to the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Why the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith." Gal. 3:23-24

Therefore, because the rich young man sought to gain eternal life, the Lord referred him to the Law:

"You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor your father and mother." Mark 10:19

Now notice the young man's answer:

Earlier I explained that what Jesus is really saying to the rich young man is to either call Him God or stop calling Him good. Here the young man leaves out the good, and refers to Jesus only as a teacher. This clearly shows that he was not willing to worship Jesus as God, because apparently just as Nicodemus visited Jesus at night, it was because he was afraid:

"These words spoke his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue." John 9:22

And of course by recognizing Jesus as the Son of God, it means recognizing His equality with God:

"Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God." John 5:18

"The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone you not; but for blasphemy; and because that you, being a man, make yourself God." John 10:33

Here comes the question:

Why would a person who was unwilling to accept Jesus as God come to Him to be taught? It is the same reason why people come to God for help, but they will not commit their lives to Him. This man recognized his need for more, but was not willing to give himself completely to Jesus.

He saw Jesus as the icing on the cake of his good and successful life and just wanted a little boost. But it doesn't work like that:

"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matt. 16:26

Check out what else this young man is missing:

"And he answered and said to him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth." Mark 10:20

He believed that he had kept all the commandments since he was a child. This was not true. No one has kept all the commandments of God, it is impossible to do so. He may have done it to a better degree than others, but who wants to be the best sinner who ever went to hell?

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:" Rom. 3:23-24

Paul also tells us that it is foolish to compare ourselves with others:

"For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." 2Cor. 10:12

Even if he honestly believed that he had not broken any of God's commandments, he was honestly wrong. That was why Jesus told him to sell everything he had and give it to the poor. Jesus in other words was showing him that he had broken the first commandment, 

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3),

as well as the tenth commandment, 

"Thou shalt not covet" (Exodus 20:17). 

This man's money had become his god, and this is shown by the fact that he chose to reject Jesus' instructions if it was going to cost him his possessions.

Let me explain something here:

Jesus did not ask Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10) or other rich people to sell all their possessions before they could become His disciples. Indeed, one of the Lord's blessings to godly people was wealth (Abraham - Genesis 13:2 and 24:35; Isaac - Genesis 26:12-16; Jacob - Genesis 36:7; Joseph - Genesis 49:26 · David - 1 Chronicles 22:14-16 and Solomon - 1 Kings 3:13, 2 Chronicles 1:12 and 9:27). Jesus told this man to sell all his possessions and give to the poor, because he trusted in his riches (Mark 10:24).

It's not bad to have money. But the love of money is:

"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." 1Tim. 6:10

The only thing this young man lacked was faith in Jesus as his Savior. He saw eternal life as a reward for his good works and not as a gift that Jesus offers and is received by faith.

Some may think that Jesus spoke harshly to this young man, but it must be noted that Jesus loved him. True love will tell a person the truth. So Jesus spoke the truth to him not to turn him away, but to turn this young man to Him, who is the way, the truth and the life.

Eternal life has already been made available to us by God, by grace, and is received through faith, when we accept Jesus Christ as Lord into our hearts (Rom. 10:9) Jesus loves you and wants to know you personally :

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Rev. 3:20

When we present eternal life and the salvation of our souls as something only to do with spiritual things that will benefit us in the future, we are not helping people. There are many who live a real hell everyday. Fear, depression, poverty, strife, rejection, pain, broken marriages. They try to survive in a daily torture. By making salvation something future, to come sometime later, many people put off making that decision because daily survival is their priority.

Eternal life begins here and now:

"And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life." 1John 5:11-12

Amen?

The parable of the sower - Part 1

 BY Argie Simonis

"And he said to them, Know you not this parable? and how then will you know all parables?" Mark 4:13

This parable is similar to the Rosetta stone. The Rosetta stone is a stone slab dating to the 2nd century BC and it bears a carved inscription in two languages (Egyptian and Greek) and three writing systems (hieroglyphic, normal Egyptian and Greek). The discovery of this trilingual stone proved to be of fundamental importance because it was the key to deciphering the Egyptian hieroglyphics, which for many years had been unknown to science.

The parable of the sower is the Rosetta stone of all the Lord's teaching. Therefore he said to them:

"And he said to them, Know you not this parable? and how then will you know all parables?" Mark 4:13

So the sower came out and as he sowed by hand, the seed fell into 4 different types of soil. The first soil was hard, and the seed did not penetrate but remained on the surface and the birds came and ate it.

"And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up." Mark 4:4

Other seeds fell on stony ground,

"... where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away." Mark 4:5-6

Other seeds fell among thorns,

"And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit." Mark 4:7

"And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred." Mark 4:8

In verse 14 the Lord begins to explain the parable. The reason Jesus chose a seed to give this illustration is because you cannot steal from the harvest because it follows certain laws that God has set. See the previous message on the parable of the seed, where I explain this in detail.

"The sower sows the word.

And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan comes immediately, and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts." Mark 4:14-15

---------- 1. The road ------------------

The birds of the air that came and ate the seed that fell by the wayside is the devil that came and stole the word before it could germinate.

There are 4 different stages in a man's heart and the only one the devil had direct access to was the first. He just came and stole it because the seed never got into the heart.

Let's look at the description of the same parable by Matthew in chapter 13 and verse. 19:

"When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side." Matt. 13:19

Our mind is the determining factor in whether the word will be able to reach our heart. That is, if you do not understand the word of God, the devil has direct access to come and steal it from you. So in order to see the seed, that is, the word of God bearing fruit in your life, you must first understand it. This is the first step. That is why it is very important that the word of God is presented in an understandable way so that everyone can understand.

I have again explained the difference between preaching and teaching. The preacher proclaims the word of God, while the teacher explains it. Both are very important. The preaching will draw a man to God and the teaching will help him understand and put into practice what he heard from the preaching. The Lord has called me to teach and I really love what I do. If one does not understand the word of God, the devil immediately comes and steals it away:

"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you from now on walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:" Eph. 4:17-18

From the time we go to school, we have to work hard to learn. Knowledge does not come by itself. We have to spend time and study. And yet there are many Christians that have their Bibles gather dust on a library shelf. They have no idea what the word of God says and they just sit and wait for the Lord to come and touch them to change their lives.

God has given us our minds so that we can understand what He tells us. This, in fact, is the work of the Holy Spirit:

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you." John 14:26

"However, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of himself; but whatever He shall hear, that shall he speak: and He will show you things to come.

He shall glorify me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall show it to you.

All things that the Father has are mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of mine, and shall show it to you." John 16:13-15

The Holly Spirit has been appointed as your teacher in your spiritual school, but you must be present in class. Unfortunately, many miss the lesson and then fail because everything goes wrong. One of the devil's greatest weapons is to steal the word from those who do not understand it. And in order to understand it, they must first listen to it and study it:

"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting get understanding." Prov. 4:7

Understanding gives you the ability to think and decide correctly.

Knowledge is simply information. Put as much information as you want into a computer. It won't be able to understand them. It simply executes commands based on the information you give it. The Lord has made us human and not computers. That is why He gives us wisdom to understand how to manage the information we receive. This is very important, especially when we are called to judge the actions of other people.

Let me give an example:

Many times we observe some people behaving strangely, or harshly . This is a fact, a piece of information. But before we rush to criticize them, we should understand why they behave like this. You don't know what pain and suffering this man can carry. Once we understand the reason (discernment), the Lord also gives us wisdom, that  shows us how to respond practically to it.

So this is why understanding is so important. God's word will not magically produce fruit in your life. You have to understand it first, let it pass through your mind before it reaches your heart.

Let me make a clarification here. These 4 

types of soil are stages we all go through. We all go through the stage where at first we don't understand and we have to work hard to learn and start to understand.

We now come to the second type of ground (stage):

--------- 2. The stones --------

"And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:" Mark 4:5

"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 rises for the word's sake, immediately they are offended." Mark 4:16-17

I'm sure many of you already are or have been in this position. You hear anointed sermons, you receive revelations, you begin to see with fresh eyes what you once read and did not understand, and you begin to share them with others. That's where the devil stirs up religious people who come against you and you begin to feel that what you say no longer has power and just falls to the ground as soon as you say it. You move away from these people for a while to reorganize. You keep listening to anointed sermons, but as soon as you come face to face with these people again, you fall back into the same situation, that what you say has no power.

Do you know what your problem is? You were sharing revelations of others and not yours. The seed had not taken deep root in you. It is good to hear other people's revelations, but you should personally sit down and study God's word until these revelations become yours. You should get to the point of saying

"The Lord spoke this to me"

and no

"So-and-so said that person."

There is a type of bamboo that when you sow it, the first year there are no visible signs of activity or growth. The second year, again, no growth above ground. And the third and fourth, still no sign. Your patience is tested and you begin to wonder if your efforts will ever be rewarded.

Finally, in the fifth year the plant begins to sprout and reaches almost 30 meters within six weeks!

And today's quiz:

How long did it take to reach 30 meters high?

Write down your opinion down in the comments section.

"when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy;

but they have no root in them,"

These people live by the revelations of others, they see the blessing of God in the lives of others, but if it does not take root in them, persecution and tribulation comes because of the word and they are offended.

We live in a fallen world. Persecution and tribulations do not come from God to help you mature, but from the devil, to steal the word from your heart.

"Yes, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2Tim. 3:12

The devil immediately steals the word from those who do not understand it, but once it begins to take root in you, satan will come with persecution and afflictions to prevent it from taking root. Do you know what the key features of this condition are? You start having self pitty and hesitate to speak up because of the criticism you will receive. Persecutions and tribulations try to distract you from the word of God. This is the thief's strategy.

Nobody likes rejection. God created us to be accepted and to have a relationship with Him. But rejection will come, and when it comes it causes pain, so we must know how to deal with it.

Imagine this picture:

You're running a marathon. Spectators who see you run start shouting and telling you that you are running wrong. If you stop and go to the stands to explain to them that you are not wrong, you may win the debate, but you will lose the race. In other words, you were trying to justify yourself instead of continuing your calling and thus the devil won. Don't waste your energy and time where you don't need it.

"Yes, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2Tim. 3:12

If you do not experience persecution, it is because you are not living in a godly way. Persecution does not necessarily mean going to jail, being beaten or tortured. It can take the form of rejection, criticism, being called dumb, bigoted and crazy. This persecution is more dangerous because it comes in a subtle way. If someone forces you at gunpoint into denying your faith, this is an obvious persecution, but if someone says to you:

"Are you okay with leaving your good old life behind and going fanatic with religion?"

This you know, it can be more dangerous. You have to be determined to keep your course. And the better you understand the Word, the more you understand that persecution is a sign that you are walking right.

"Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." Μatt. 5:11-12

"If you be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are you; for the spirit of glory and of God rests on you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified." 1Pet. 4:14

As you mature in the Lord, you get to the point where you can stand being persecuted but not being ignored. When the Lord taught, no one remained indifferent. His word would either cause a revival, or a riot against Him. If you throw a stone at a pack of dogs, the one that will yelp the most is the one that got hit. When they persecute you for Christ's sake, it means that what you said hit a nerve and be assured that God is already convicting them.

One of the devil's basic strategies that hurts the most is this: He will stir up people in your family, whom you love and expect their acceptance, to come against you. And this is because the Lord showed you what He showed you to do and not them.

You must come to the point where Paul writes:

"God forbid: yes, let God be true, but every man a liar; " Rom. 3:4

That means, be so focused on what the Lord says in His word that you will not allow any man to influence you, change your mind or distract you from it. If you don't do that, that's where the devil comes in and prevents the word of God sown in your heart from bearing fruit.

"And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution rises for the word's sake, immediately they are offended." Mark 4:17

Notice the word "offended" here. This does not mean that they completely reject the word of God, but that they have been hurt. They don't have the same zeal and enthusiasm.

Let's see an example. Let's take healing. You may believe that God wants you to be healthy and you believe well. That's where they'll come and tell you

"If God wants you to be well, then why did that person got sick and die?"

or

"Because I'm not healed, does that mean I'm problematic and against God?"

This type of offense, that is, doubting, not having the courage to speak the Word, being afraid to speak your mind lest you be criticized, is the most dangerous and subtle way the devil attacks you to hinder the seed of the word of God from bearing fruit.

The same can happen to your finances. You may believe that God can make you prosperous, but you are afraid that if you share your faith with other people, they will criticize you, saying that you are one of those who preach the prosperity gospel. The Lord promised us an abundant life, but not an easy one:

"And Jesus answered and said, Truly I say to you, There is no man that has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,

But he shall receive an hundred times now in this time, houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life." Mark 10:29-30

Those who preach the prosperity gospel leave out the last part of the verse that talks about persecution. So once you are offended by the persecution and condemnation you will suffer, it is enough to prevent the seed from sprouting and bearing fruit. The seed must first have root in you to bear fruit.

If the Lord speaks a word to you, gives you a direction to leave for example the place you live and go somewhere else and you start receiving all the negative comments and criticisms from others, be sure that this seed is not going to germinate. (What will my family think if I leave, my parents, my church, etc.)

You must be determined that if you know the Lord is showing you something, you just do it and leave aside any kind of negative influence. This does not mean insensitivity, but I would say immunity to criticism. You don't need to be mean or rude to those who cannot understand you, but you must be aware that the word which the Lord has spoken to you is your first concern. It's purely a matter of priorities and protecting your heart as best you can from any kind of negative influence.

- This is what it means that the Word has a root in you. -

If you try to pull out a weed that has just started to grow in your garden it is quite easy. But if you let it grow 30-40 cm, you'll probably need a shovel to get it out. What I'm trying to say is that most of a plant's growth is underground, in the roots.

"And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:

But when it is sown, it grows up, and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it." Mark 4:30-32

How many times have you imagined yourself and prayed to the Lord to make you like that big tree that will touch many people and bring them into the Kingdom of God? Do you know that if the Lord immediately fulfills this desire of yours, your roots are so small that with the first bird that comes to sit on the branches, it will bring down the whole tree? Don't let the above-ground growth fool you. The whole foundation lies in the roots that are underground and cannot be seen. So when you give priority to the roots, be sure that all the growth that will come will be the result of good and deep roots.

You don't need to worry and stress about your ministry or the fulfillment of God's will in your life. Take the seed from His word, keep it in your heart and give it proper care.

And yet, most people do not give time to the Lord and they do not study His word. They become impatient and seek the outward appearance rather than the substance. The root is what will determine how much increase you get.

Everyone wants to see the dead raised, the eyes of the blind opened, and the sick healed. But what seed are you planting in your heart? Do you allow the words of the world or the word of God to direct you? This is a procedure that will change your life. All the visible signs and the fruit of people who you admire and have great ministries, are precisely the result of this process.

If you study the properties of electricity, you don't have to put your hand in the socket to see that electricity can kill you. It's the same with life. You don't have to be hit by any kind of evil to learn. The problems and suffering that comes as a consequence of the wrong choices you make in life may teach you things that can later become a testimony to your life, but there is a better way to avoid the traps of the devil. You have the Bible, the manual of life:

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" 2Tim. 3:16

As long as we walk with the Lord, tribulation will follow us. But don't forget that it is not us who are persecuted, but the Lord who lives within us. It is the words we speak that stir up reactions, and just as in a court of law the accuser tries to discredit every defense witness, so it is in the world, where some try to discredit your testimony, because the Spirit of God brings conviction in their hearts. Actually, they are not coming against you, but against the One you represent.

That is why Paul writes:

"That I may know him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death;" Phil. 3:10

Jesus is the One who is persecuted and continues to suffer. Do you remember what He said to Paul when He met him on the road to Damascus?

"... Saul, Saul, why persecute you me?" Acts 9:4

The Lord takes the persecution you suffer for His sake very personally. That is why the Lord will supernaturally comfort you in the midst of persecution. No one likes persecution, but what a delight it is when the comfort of the Lord comes!

Amen!

Watch the video on our YouTube channel with English subtitles: