Healthy Things Grow

Fighting in a relationship The “problem” usually isn’t the “problem” Is a symptom of a Deeper issue Deeper Issue: Selfish Hurt Bitterness Anger In order for the relationship to FLOURISH, you have to get to the ROOT CAUSE This makes the relationship healthy Something we all know… Healthy Things grow Fruit trees produce fruit Also… When we are healthy, the important things in our lives grow fruit Relationships People/Kids Ideas Actions Etc… It is the time of year when we all take stock of where we are Health Finances Friendships What is important to us Do more of Do less of As Christians, we ask different questions What does God’s Word say about being healthy? Takes clues from Paul… Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. To be spiritually healthy, we must grow by the “Making New” of our minds The important question is… HOW How is our Mind renewed?   What is our MIND? The way we… Think Feel Act React WHY behind the WHAT The reason this is important is because our culture has answers for this… Manifesting/Visualizing what you want Manifestation is the idea that you can bring a positive outcome into your life by simply “claiming” it as your own and believing it will happen   Scripture has another answer Let’s look at a parable Jesus told What is a parable? Parable = A short moral story that tells of a spiritual and theological truth   Also found in: Mark 4 & Matthew 18 Luke 8 4 As a large crowd was gathering, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he said in a parable, 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky devoured it. 6 Other seed fell on the rock; when it grew up, it withered away, since it lacked moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 Still other seed fell on good ground; when it grew up, it produced fruit: a hundred times what was sown.” As he said this, he called out, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”   Find there are 3 possible outcomes/responses: 1: NO GROWTH (Unhealthy) 2: SOME GROWTH – NO FRUIT (Sick/Diseased) 3: HEALTHY GROWTH WITH FRUIT   Jesus tells the meaning of His parable… Luke 8 11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. The learned truth and revelation of God to us, His people This Truth is Spoken, read, heard, learned 2 Timothy 3 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, 15 and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. Back to Jesus’ Parable… Luke 8 12 The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.   1: NO GROWTH (Unhealthy) Not those that “have believed and lost their salvation” These are those who have HEARD TRUTH — and REJECTED IT Our culture They are “HARDENED” by sin/disbelief Hard Heart Rather believe the lie than receive truth OUR RESPONSE: Pray for the hard hearts to soften to God’s truth and salvation Luke 8 13 And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and fall away in a time of testing. 14 As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit.   2: SOME GROWTH – NO FRUIT (Sick/Diseased) Both show a different side of… SHALLOW FAITH Seed on the rock – Shallow when Hard time Come There is no strength to stand strong Wise and foolish man Seed in the thorns – Shallow when Temptation comes The Child who chooses the easy things NOW over better things to come Prodigal son Pay close attention here… This is the category of MANY CHRISTIANS Don’t see any fruit in their life because their faith is SICK/DISEASED OUR RESPONSE: What’s your fruit? Are you? Jealous or Content Complainer or Thankful Bitter or Forgiving Impatient or Steadfast Proud or Humble Finally… Luke 8 15 But the seed in the good ground—these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, produce fruit. 3: HEALTHY GROWTH WITH FRUIT Healthy things grow… We established that… To be spiritually healthy, we must grow by the “Making New” of our minds   Our minds are made new through… Faith – Trusting (Hearing the word with an honest and good heart) Faithfulness – Persevering (Enduring to produce fruit) Final Challenge: Determine the Atmosphere of your heart/mind The Atmosphere is the… Patterns Processes Environments That you live in regularly   What you: See Hear Consume   Who you are: Surrounded by Influenced by Lead by   Jesus’ Warning Luke 8 16 “No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see its light. 17 For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and brought to light. 18 Therefore take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.” Start Strong! Make church attendance a PRIORITY Make reading your Bible a PRIORITY Make regular prayer a PRIORITY