OMBS7/ Don’t Be Stony Ground

beloved in the sight of my mother.  Proverbs 4:3 

Celebrate 

PRAYER - "I Pray To God That Ye Do No Evil"

We suppose that ministers of the Gospel should be consumed with converting sinners unto salvation. But there is another aspect of ministry just as important as making converts - namely, KEEPING them. Paul spent a huge portion of his ministry making intercession for those who seemed to be in trouble. He wrote, "Being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, ...Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith..."

2 Corinthians 13:7 - "Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest."

PRINCIPAL - "Members Of The Body Of Christ"

We are baptized by the Holy Ghost into the body of Christ. Whether we are Jews, Gentiles, bond or free, we are all partakers of one Spirit. As the natural body has many and various members with different functions (foot, hand, ear, eye, etc.), the body of Christ also has many members with different abilities. In every nation and every language, the Holy Ghost is the common denominator. 

1 Corinthians 12:18,20 - "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. ...they [are] many members, yet but one body."

PRINCIPLE - "We Have No Custom In The Church To Allow Contention"

Most people dismiss ALL of Paul's teaching about hair length on men and women, excusing themselves with this line: "But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom." Does this mean that if you are contentious, you may contradict Paul's teaching? NO!! "It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a CONTENTIOUS and an angry woman," Proverbs 21:19. "Unto them that are CONTENTIOUS, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath," Romans 2:8. Contention evokes the wrath of God.

1 Corinthians 11:17-18 - "I praise you not, ...I hear that there be divisions among you."

PROPHECY - "The Gift Of The Word Of Wisdom"

Wisdom is the ability to discern or judge what is true, right or lasting. Unfortunately, we often face situations in which wisdom cannot be found. Our carnal mind possesses only the limited knowledge and wisdom of man, which often fails our needs. Miraculously, God sometimes uses a saint to communicate divine wisdom to us that could not have come from a natural mind. "The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." The gift of the word of wisdom is supernatural.

1 Corinthians 12:8 - "For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom."

Don't Be Stony Ground

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. - Mark 4:16-17

There seems to be an abundance of "stony ground" Christians these days. Initially, they get excited about the Word of God. They'll hear a message on prosperity, for instance, and they'll go home saying, "Hallelujah! I'm going to prosper in the Name of Jesus!" But then, somehow, things don't work out like they thought they should. Their bank balance doesn't double overnight. They go through some disappointments. They suffer some criticism. Then, before you know it, their faith has withered away. If you don't want that to happen to you, make up your mind right now that you're not going to let the rough times defeat you. Decide now that you're going to hang onto the Word even when the persecutions and afflictions come—because, I can guarantee you, they will come. When you decide to walk by faith, you don't get rid of trials. You learn to overcome them. When you let the Word of God get down into your heart, you're going to learn more about the devil than you ever wanted to know because he's going to do his best to see to it that the Word is unfruitful in you. He's going to be trying to mess you up every time you turn around. You'll have problems, but the difference is now you have the answer—the Word of God. Thank God, however, through Christ Jesus you have the power to defeat Satan. When he brings problems and disappointments your way, you don't have to lie down and let them steam roll over you. Just keep fighting the good fight of faith until you win. Sure you'll get knocked down sometimes. But when you do, get back up and say, "Look here, Devil, I'm not going to let you steal the Word out of my heart. It's in there and I'm meditating on it. I'm saying it with my mouth, and I'm acting on it until God's blessings overtake me. If you don't believe me, just hide and watch!" If you'll take that attitude, no matter what that devil does, he'll never make a "stony ground" Christian out of you!

Plan of Salvation read acts 2:38