Faith Comes from Hearing the Word
ICS Daily Devotions
Mark 4:14-20 (NKJV) The sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
Faith comes by hearing the unadulterated Word of God. We need to allow the seed, which is the Word of God, to grow in our hearts so that it can take root in our lives and develop into a conviction.
In our fast-paced society, many people lack patience and are more interested in the miraculous manifestation, or a personal word from the prophet rather than the teaching of the Word and spending quality time with the Lord. However, we will not last without the Word of God as the foundation of our Christian lives because the Word of God is what anchors our faith in God.
Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith must be established on the Word of God because it is what gives substance to our faith. If God has said it, it is a done deal even though we may not see the manifestation of the promise yet. It is always a fight of faith regarding what we believe and what we are seeing or experiencing. The devil can easily steal the Word of God in our lives unless the seed has grown, germinated, taken root, and grown into a tree. He will use tribulation, cares, and anxieties to cause us to give up the Word of God, and cause us to doubt and disbelieve God’s love and His Word.
Mark 4:38 records that when the disciples saw the wind and the waves and water was entering the boat, they doubted the love of Jesus even though Jesus had given them the Word that they were going across to the other side. Moreover, we will behave based on the thoughts in our hearts. If we are full of worries, anxieties, and cares, we will be driven by fear and react accordingly. However, if we have the Word of God built up in us, we will walk in faith and peace.
The choice is ours as to whether we are open, receptive and will accept the Word, and whether we will allow the seed to be stolen or to germinate, take root and grow into a tree.
Sermon Series: Don’t Let it Be Stolen
