In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus helped his disciples understand the different categories of people they'd encounter over the course of their ministry.
The parable, as shared in Luke 8, shows that there are four types of people who will receive the word of God - the call to turn to the Lord and live a new life through Jesus Christ. Some will be like the type of soil you find on a path - compact and hard. When the seed falls on this soil, it gets crushed by people walking on the path, and whatever remains gets picked up by birds.
Then there are those who represent rocky ground. Their soil is filled with stones, which, combined with a lack of water for the seeds, means germination doesn't happen. There are also those who are like thorny ground. The seed starts growing but the thorns eventually choke out the resulting plant.
Finally, there are those described as good soil. The seed falls on them and eventually grows to produce a profitable harvest for the sower. Luke 8:8 - Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown. Jesus further described these 'good soil' types of people in Luke 8:15 - But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. What a glowing assessment! But did you notice something? He said these types must persevere to produce a crop.
We all want to think of ourselves as the good soil types and as we aspire to be just that, let us remember that we will have to persevere to be profitable to God. Sure, we might be noble and good-hearted, retaining the word we receive and putting it into practice. These are good and acceptable to the Lord but He also expects His word in us to yield a harvest, where we bring others to Him and His kingdom.
Dear 'Good Soil', are you a fruitful vineyard for the Lord? Is the word of God transforming your life whereby it is transforming others? Or are you allowing the devil to choke God's word out of you like the rocky ground types? Please endeavor to be regularly watered by studying the word of God and fellowshipping with believers so you don't experience what happens to the rocky ground types. Do not allow God's word to grow in you but then be killed as is the case for the thorny ground types. Finally, do not be like the pathway types where every ungodly concept such as New Age-occult practices and other false religious structures can crush God’s word out of your life.
If you seek God with all your heart, you will find Him (Proverbs 8:17). Make Him a priority and watch how your good soil produces a good harvest for the sower - the Lord God Almighty.
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CLOSING PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for another opportunity to gather in Your name and in Your presence. Hallowed be Your name. Thank You for bringing us together from different countries so we could worship You and stand in the gap for people.
Lord, as we go our separate ways, please remember us for our obedience in giving You due praise as well as praying for others. Meet each person who participated at their point of need. Wipe away their own tears and answer their personal petitions with speed and power whereby it is clear it could only have been You!
Thank You in advance for being the Prayer-Answering God. Thank You for being the Steadfast God. Thank You for being He who loves us all completely.
IJN, Amen.
From M22 - Grateful I made it here today even though I was a bit weak. I bless God for bringing me here today to pray. It's by his grace I can type all of my prayers. Thank you Abba amen.
LAST 10 MINUTES
Today, we learned that we need to be good soil for God's word. That we need to persevere as that seed grows in us so we can produce a large harvest for the Lord.
Why don't we pray to become and remain 'good soil'?
Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your word and the fact that You chose to plant it in me. Today, I state that I want to be good soil that profits Your kingdom here on earth as in heaven. Help me Father to produce the fruits that not only transform me but bring others to You. Help me to do what You will have me do and take all the glory for it all, IJMN, I pray, Amen.
Oh, Heavenly Father. Thank You for being Jehovah Rapha. You are the God who heals and I worship You for this greatness. Glory be to Your Holy Name!
Lord, Your word states in Jeremiah 30:17 - But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the LORD, ‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.’ Your word also states in Isaiah 38:16 - Your words and your deeds bring life to everyone, including me. Please make me healthy and strong again (CEV).
Good God, we know that the enemy wants Your children to fear but Your grace is sufficient to cast down such imaginations and thoughts. And when armed with Your word, we are armed with Your promise, a covenant You cannot break for You are He who cannot lie.
I speak Your word over those looking to You for healing. Lord, You have promised to restore Your people to health and to heal their wounds. As Your people call on You to make them healthy and strong again, I say thank You in advance for Your healing grace upon their lives. Good Lord, You alone shall get the glory for what You have done for them, IJMN, Amen.
From AC - Abba, Bless those who lifted me in prayer and comforted me this past week. My family and friends, my church family, my Pepper sisters, acquaintances, strangers.... Lord, You know each one of their names. Please remember them and every sacrifice they have made for You and Your kingdom. Bless them with every desire of their heart, and make all their plans succeed. May the lack no good thing. In Jesus' precious name, pray. Amen.
From FJ - Dear God,
I praise You for my family members and the people You use to bless us. God, I pray that You, who knows the good plans You have for them (Jer 29:11), would continue to lead them into Your perfect will. Be merciful to them, Lord, and do not abandon them. It is written, concerning those who belong to You, "I will never leave You nor forsaken You". So Abba please rescue them from all darkness, blindness, and affliction, and set their feet upon the rock. Amen, In Jesus name I pray.
From M22 - Abba, I pray for people stuck in abusive situations, it's not your will for anyone to be in such situations. I pray that you touch the heart and minds of organizations, churches, individuals, governments to rescue people from abusive situations and position them in communities where they are embraced, nurtured, provided for and elevated IJMN amen.
From M22 - Abba, you said in your word in Peter that we should be vigilant because of the enemy. Abba in some regions, their vigilance is being disrupted because the enemy had infiltrated their defenses. Abba I pray for every region experiencing war in this period I pray that you put an end to it, I pray that destroy the plans of the enemy over Israel and Palestine. I pray that you restore peace to both regions and help them come to a peace agreement that gives glory to you and you alone IJMN amen.
From M22 - Abba I pray for people struggling mentally, that you will conquer the battlefield in their mind. You will grant them your peace in Phillipians 4:7. I pray that you restore their self confidence and help them rest in their identity as your children IJMN amen.
From M22 - Abba, you said through your son Jesus that Children have a first class Access to your kingdom in heaven and so I pray for children across the world that you Abba will continue to nurture, nourish, protect them and shield them from evil. I pray that you Abba will help your seeds take root int them and they will continue to grow abundant harvests in every season of their lives IJMN amen.
Great and Mighty God. You are the everlasting God. The Beginning and the End. You are the great Judge and Vindicator.
Praise the Lord.
Father, I lift up this gathering and call on You for Your kind mercy to rest upon us. Lord, the devil wants us to think that we cannot access the mercy of our God. However, You are He who will have mercy upon whom You choose (Exodus 33).
And so I plead with You to consider us as recipients of Your blessed mercy. It is not because we are righteous. It is not because we pray enough or do good works. I call on You to be seated on Your mercy seat regarding the members of this fellowship based on Your holiness and Your kindness. You are the perfect Lord, and have instructed us to pray in accordance with Your word.
Thus, I lift up the words of Your servant David in Psalm 57:1 - Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.
Please pour out Your mercy and forgiveness upon us for the sins we have committed against You. In Your loving kindness, overlook our iniquities as we seek Your forgiveness and mercy. IJMN, Amen.
From M22 - Abba I pray over everyone that is ill and recovering @AC , @B2 I pray that your healing power radiates every inch of their body from their cells to their organs and systems. I pray Abba that you guard the hearts and minds of the medical staffs as they carry out surgeries, administer drugs and everything neccesary for your healing to take place IJMN amen.
fROM BI - Lord, I lift up my sister @AC to You in prayer. I pray that she receives divine visitation right now. Lord, bring healing, peace and comfort to her body, mind and spirit. Let her experience the healing power of Your love. I pray that my sister’s health will not bow to affliction, but rather fall under the authority of Christ. By the stripes of Jesus, she is completely healed. I pray that she moves from yokes to miracles, from pain to joy and from sadness to celebrations IJMN Amen.
From sis FJ - From sis FJ - Dear God, I thank You for making Your children as lights in this world. It is written, " The light shines and the darkness cannot comprehend it ". Abba, in the name of Jesus, I pray that everywhere they put their feet is claimed for Your kingdom. I bless their campuses, workplaces, organizations, and everywhere they frequent. I decree Your word that " by the blessing of the righteous a city is upheld ". I will eat well from these fruits of my mouth . Let your servants be " as flames of fire " and let Your kingdom come and Your will be done, on earth as in heaven. So shall it be, amen
From sis FJ - Dear Lord, I praise You for helping me to focus and get work done this morning. I also praise You specifically for all the good news You brought yesterday. The good works You have started will be completed IJN amen
From M22 - Abba, I want to thank you for Peppers. Thank you for bringing us together again today to fellowship. Thank you for everyone of us online and offline. I pray that every seed you have planted in our lives will take root and produce bountiful harvests IJMN amen.
From ND22 - Thank you Heavenly Father for always protecting me. I am going through depression right now but I know I will see the light....
PRAYER TIME
Pray for the people you know.
Pray for people you've never met.
Pray for your nation, your community.
Pray for other nations and communities.
Pray for others and not yourself.
Isaiah 25 - LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.
Yes, Lord. Hallelujah!
From AC - Your name is the highest
Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
All thrones and dominions, all powers and positions
Your name stands above them all