We relate growing in the Lord to the parable or story of a farmer. Jesus told this story to a large crowd that had gathered to hear. He said, "A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. This seed began to grow, but soon it withered and died for lack of moisture. Other seed fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades. Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produce a crop one hundred times as much as had been planted." After he had said this, he called out, "Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand." (Luke 8:4-8 NLT)

When we hear and listen to this story, we need to understand some things in order for it to benefit us.

Jesus’ His disciples asked what He meant, because they did not understand. He told them that they have been permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God, but those who are outsiders He tells the stories to conceal everything about it from them. He said "those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them." (Matthew 13:11-12)

He goes on to reveal "the seed that is being sown is God’s message", His Word. "The seed that fell on the hard path represents those who hear the message then the Devil comes and steals it away and prevents them from believing and being saved." (Luke 8: 12). In Matthew’s account he further reveals how and why the Devil is able to steal the Word. He writes, "The seed that fell on the hard path represents those who hear the Good News about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil once comes and snatches the seed away from their hearts." (Matthew 13:18, 19) They are hearing it, but not understanding it. So we see that it is because they don’t understand what they are hearing is the reason the devil is able to take it from them. This is why the Lord tells us, "in all thy getting get understanding". (Proverbs 4:7)

Many of God’s people are hearing the Word, but because the soil of their hearts are filled with other things so that the Word of God becomes unfruitful in them and they wonder why God is not blessing them, or answering their prayers. Many become frustrated and get angry with God because their prayers go unanswered and things in their lives don’t change. But it is because their hearts need to be changed, cultivated, whereby the weeds and stony places can be removed and good soil. The soil of their hearts needs to be cultivated and prepared. Part of that cultivation is keeping out pests, the bugs that try to keep you from being fruitful. Its people that the enemy will send to talk you out of God’s promises, His Word.

As Believers, we must seek the Lord, and ask for His wisdom and understanding, just like the disciples did when they asked Jesus what He meant. We must seek Him with our whole hearts, not allowing anything or anyone to interfere with us obtaining all that He promised and already provided, including family members.

The Devil seeks to use those closest to you, those you would least expect. But be of good cheer, because Jesus overcame this, you can too. Jesus said to His disciple when they told Him His mother and your brothers and sisters are outside asking for Him, Jesus replied, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? Then He looked at those around him and said, "These are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother." (Mark 3:33-35)

We must be mindful that although is our desire to have peace within our families, and we can. Jesus came to bring strife and division in the earth, but it will be over Him. "Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to bring strife and division! From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or the other way around. There will be a division between father and son, mother and daughter, mother-n-law and daughter-in-law" (Luke 12:49-53 NLT). He tells us this to prepare us for the time when family members rise against us for the Gospel sake. We must be prepared and be ready at all times for coming of the Lord. What can we do?

When we begin to seek the Lord for understanding and to apply the Word to our lives, He will show us areas of our lives that need tending to. There may be some weeds that need to be pulled up, some stones removed. We must be willing to allow Him to cultivate the soil of our hearts so that it can be good ground, to receive the good seed of His Word. Like any kind of growth, there may be some discomfort associated with it, but if we will endure knowing that good is coming out of it, we will reap the benefits.

We must understand the principle in order to produce the harvest. The Word of God growing in your life and producing is entirely up to you, including that of your children while they are under your care. It’s not enough just to go to church, if you don’t understand what is being taught and ministered. You must get "understanding" like Wisdom instructs us. Understanding being the point of knowing what to do; how to apply it to your life. We must get understanding of the manual, the Word of God, before we can function by it. And as parents, it is our responsibility to teach and train our children in the Word of God. They also need to be prepared and we are the ones accountable for it.

If you are not taking notes in Church and when you are studying the Word, seeking to get understanding, buy tapes and hearing it and hearing it, you will not grow any roots. The roots, their depth, and the water applied determines the health and life of those roots and the fruit it produces.

We must pay attention to the process.

The Lord, His Word and instructions are His goals for us to reach. He helps us as we ask for it, believing and trusting Him to "work in us both to will and to do His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). Our part is to hear, listen, understand, and do it.

We grow as we reach toward to do His Word, His Will, following His instructions. As we successfully attain that or maintain that, there are ever-new lessons to be learned—all providing us the opportunity to grow unto the full stature of Christ.

We are to be the main sowers in our lives and in the lives of our children. We must on purpose sow the Word of God day and night, as we speak, hear, and meditate on it as instructed in Joshua 1:8. A bona fide sower is constantly sowing for a continual harvest. We are instructed to teach our children and speak of God’s Word [Law and blessings] at our rising up, during the day and on the way as we walk and at our laying down. "And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when are at home and when you are away on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up again…" (Deuteronomy 6:6, 7)

We do not have power over the seed, God took care of that. He designed it and it is designed to be fruitful. Our job is to deal with the soil [our heart, spirit]. Keep it ready to receive.

Keep it pure, filled with joy, no doubting! Good ground always produces and flourishes.

Steps for Sowing:

1. Plant the Seed – in the most fertile soil—believe! Guard against sowing on the "wayside" off from the original path, where it is going into your head, but not your heart. Head knowledge puffs up. If it’s not in your heart, it will not be fruitful. Challenges will come against that Word you are sowing, so address challenges with faith-filled words! "Thank you Lord, my children are delivered…they are the healed. Manifestation power is ours, in Jesus’ name! My husband and I are free to love each other… free to praise and worship and serve the Lord, free to be free, in Jesus’ name!" When something takes root, it becomes apart of your. His Word must take root in your life! We must endure all affliction and persecution. We must be willing to endure the pain to gain all He provided for us! The issues of life flow out of us as we speak the Word of God in faith. Distractions are the cares of the world; what is going on in the world. We are not to be worried or overcome by concern. Good ground are those who hear, receive, and bring forth fruit.
2. Cultivate the Soil – Make a commitment to the Word everyday, in every area of your life. Apply the Word, speak it day and night, observe it, and do it.
3. Feed and Nuture the Seed – Water it, fertilize it, and give it vitamins.

How?

1. Daily Devotions
2. Scripture Memorization
3. Discuss the Word with your family.
4. Water the Seed – Allow the Holy Spirit to give it meaning as you apply it to your life.
5. Prune the Tree – Remove/cutting off the dead things and all wild growth: anger, laziness, sickness, bad attitude, attacking everything that represents death with the Word. Declare war on these things! Ask God for Wisdom and declare the Word!
6. Obey God’s Commands
7. Tithe and give offerings – When you honor the Lord with the first fruit of your increase, giving the first fruit, not second or what’s left over, but the first part, you position yourself to be blessed: the windows of heaven pouring out blessing so much you cannot contain, it rebukes the devour from stealing, killing and destroying [it is your insurance with God].
8. Mature – Follow practical/Spiritual steps:

1. Be water baptized.
2. Regular Church attendance
3. Daily Prayer
4. Daily Bible reading/studying to understand
5. Receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit and praying in the Spirit (Baptism in the Holy Spirit) without ceasing [as often as possible]. As you pray in the Spirit you are speaking to God and building up your most holy faith.

Be ready! He will try to come back. Don’t be ignorant to your enemy’s devices. We must have on the whole armor of God and keep it girded up, being watchful and filled with His Spirit—be living and burning witnesses (Ephesians 6:10-18).

The enemy comes to distract so he can attach! He will try to trick and steal from you, causing you to be hurt and offended, and through these pressures to influence you to disobey God and violate God’s Will which brings a curse on you, and your whole family. Jacob and Esau are an example of this (Genesis 28:5-9).

Luke 11:24 reveals what happens after an evil [unclean] spirit has been cast out and looks to return, "When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert place [dry places], searching [seeking] for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from’. So it returns and finds that its former home is swept and clean. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before." Why?

1. Because the house was not occupied with the fullness of God’s spirit, His Word. There was an open door in that person’s life. Offense and hurt feelings are door openers, as well as disobedience or rebellion to God’s Word and instructions. Keep the doors shut to the devil, to hurt feelings and offenses, by choosing not to be hurt and to be offended with people. We must forgive, to be forgiven. We must choose to give our hurts to God and ask Him to heal us. If we don’t, those spirits will return and it will be seven times worse! We have the choice, and we have the ability to forgive and release it, or to be hurt and offended. Choose to forgive, choose to release, and to speak the blessings of God, so that you can be forgiven and blessed by God!
2. If Jesus [the Word of God] abides there [you walking and living in Him and He in you by His Word and His Spirit] then the house is filled and occupied with the knowledge and understanding of Whose and who we are in Christ, and the authority that is yours in His name. When the devil comes knocking at the door, Jesus [the Word of God] through you will answer, as you declare the Word of the Lord. They will not have any entrance, but at your command, they must fall and be removed, as it is written in Isaiah 54, "The Lord, through Isaiah the prophet, warned us that weapons would be formed… "In righteousness shalt thou be established; thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord." (Isaiah 54: 14-14)

The Lord reveals that the devil will try to come and will try to sow tares "bad seed" in your field and in your family (Matthew 13:24-26). You must deal with them according to the Word, with prayer and intercession. You must celebrate your children louder when they do good, than scolding them when something is done wrong. You must praise and lift up your husband and children, and when correcting them do it in love. Train them to desire positive praise!

Turn off and limit the television. This is being used as a tool of darkness to sow bad seed. You must guard what your children and family watch, and what is coming into your home. The television as an invention whose purpose was to be used to spread the Gospel to "tell the vision" to tell the Good News. The devil is using it to tell his vision and that what he wants for your family [sowing his bad seed]. Guard against what is being sown in your field! It’s in your control!

Be aware of behaviors that are out of the ordinary. When you see them, get into prayer quickly and fast. Find out what God wants you to do. Find out the "why", the "open door". Don’t take a failure position when something arises, take the winner position and find out why and be encouraged by the Word of God and in what Christ did for you and your family. "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

It’s the Word [faith in the Word] that heals, delivers, and liberates.

Dealing with the weeds in your family. It only takes one person to do right [God’s Will].

1. Pray - Ask the Lord for Spiritual insight so you will know what is happening, and how to handle it.
2. Deal with your family members in love. Deal with them in Wisdom. Be real, honest, and get Wisdom. "Familiar spirits" are angelic powers of darkness, spirits that hang around and look for an opportunity to enter the lives of your family members to manifest the attitudes, behaviors, and curses from generations past. Stand against these Generational Curses by knowing how they operate. Be prepared! In advance, decree "It will not crop up here, in Jesus’ name! Understand that disobedience, hurt feelings [offense] are door openers to these evil spirit beings.

• Be honest with your children when dealing with this area.
• Wait for the right time to warn them that this has happened in the past.

• Declare and inform them that it has been broken off, but the enemy may try to come and visit them with it, but we are free from it, because of what Jesus did for us.
• No one can curse what God has blessed! "Do not go with hem", God told Balaam. You are not to curse these people, for I have blessed them." (Numbers 22:12 NLT)
• Be prepared to win!
• Tell your children that thing [the work of darkness] was cursed and God has blessed us and we cannot be cursed! The victory is ours!!

At the Cross Jesus paid the price, at the resurrection He rose with all power in His hand, and gave it to us. What He did was more powerful than the sin Adam and Eve committed.

In Matthew 12:29, Jesus illustrates that a house, a city, a home, a kingdom that is divided cannot stand and is subject to destruction and devastation. The people of that time attributed His power to the power of the devil. But Jesus told them that it is not possible for Him to use the power of the devil to cast out the devil. He said a strong man could only be taken by a stronger force.

The Strongman is the devil is this story. But Jesus overcame, overpowered him, and stripped him of his weapons and everything that belonged to him. Jesus is the stronger force (Luke 11:20-25). He gave us His power and authority to exercise over all the powers of the devil "I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy…Nothing will injure you" (Luke 10:19, 20). But we must exercise that power if we want to see the victory in our family’s lives.

When Jesus was resurrected, He arose with ALL power in His hand, and gave to His disciples [and to everyone who would believe] the Keys to the Kingdom [dominion and authority in the earth], that "in the name of Jesus", utilizing His name, that whatever we bind [or forbid] on earth, would be bound [or forbidden] in heaven, and whatsoever we loosed [or permitted] on earth, would be loosed [or permitted] in heaven (Matthew 18:18, 19). The Lord promised that He would confirm His Word that we speak, with signs following (Mark 16:20). So you see, our adversary the devil no longer has authority and dominion over us, nor in the earth, as we exercise the dominion, authority and power given to us by using the name of Jesus!

You must bind the behavior, the attitude, in Jesus’ name! Command it to go. Example: "I bind this behavior of__________, this _____________attitude, in Jesus’ Name! You have to go. We are delivered from anger, isolation, non-communication, (whatever may be manifesting), etc. in Jesus’ name!" Whatever it is that Lord reveals and you identify, you exercise the authority He gave to you and bind it. You then begin to loose the Word of God and His anointing to fill "your house", your family, also in Jesus’ name! You must do it. If you don’t, it won’t get done. And sin always brings the curse!

If you will be willing and obedient to repent of your families past sins and iniquities receive what Jesus did for you, and stay in the Word and in faith, walking in a right relationship with and man, you will be healed and restored, empowered of the Lord to overcome—being free and blessed to enjoy all God’s blessings and the benefits of His salvation.

God is faithful to those who love Him and keep His commandments. His blessings are for the obedient.

"So what commands are we to keep?" you might ask. Deuteronomy 5 outlines what we know as the Ten Commandments God gave to Moses for His people:

1. "Do not worship any other gods besides me.
2. Do not make idols of any kind, whether in the shape of birds or animals or fish. You must never worship or bow down to them, for I the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god! I do not leave unpunished the sins of those who hate me, but I punish the children for the sins of their parents to the third and fourth generations. But I lavish my love on those who love me and obey my commands, even for a thousand generations.
3. Do no misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
4. Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. Six days a week are set apart for your daily duties and regular work, but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any kind of work. This includes you, your sons, and daughters, your male and female servants, your oxen and donkeys and other livestock, and any foreigners living among you. All your male and female servants must rest as you do. Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out with amazing power and mighty deeds. That is why the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. Honor your father and mother, as the Lord your God commanded you. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God will give you.
5. Do not murder.
6. Do not commit adultery.
7. Do not steal.
8. Do not testify falsely against your neighbor.
9. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife.
10. Do not covet your neighbor’s house or land, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else your neighbor owns." (Deuteronomy 5:6-21 NTL)

Some believe that the Commandments of God were for the Children of Israel only and not applicable to us, who believe today. But Jesus said when He was teaching, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets, I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:17-19)

When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, His response was this: "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: "Love your neighbor as yourself." All other commands and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments. (Matthew 22:36-40 NLT)

So we find that God still requires obedience to His Word, His commands, not as under the old covenant [agreement], but under the new, which is based on better promises. He has given unto us the promise of His Spirit to live with in and to dwell in us, to be our Helper, to empower us to live for Him and carry out His Will. Therefore, any person who does not receive Christ and the gift of His indwelling Spirit, will not be able to live for Him as He called us to. It is His Word and His Spirit at work in us and through us that enables us to do it. Therefore, it is God Who is doing this work, not us! We are only called to yield and submit to Him and His Will.

God has blessed us with four (4) things:

1. Free Will (Genesis 2:16, 17).
2. Marriage – (Proverbs 5:15-19; 19:14; Hebrews 13:4)
3. Children – Children are our reward (Psalms 127:5)
4. Nations – God choose to scatter the people that were one, into many nations, with many languages (Genesis 11:1-9). We are all from one! He is reconciling man to Himself through Christ.

God gave us an opportunity to obey Him; to fully choose to seek and serve Him. Our choice(s) determines our destiny. Our free will affects not just ourselves, but also our marriages, our children and our nation—there is a rippling affect.

His has given us the power [the ability] to choose life or death, blessings or curses (Deuteronomy 30:19-21) "Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live! Choose to love the Lord your God and to obey him and commit yourself to him, for he is your life. Then you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."

He has given unto us, by His Word and His Spirit, the ability to obey when we receive Jesus and the gift of His Holy Spirit. His Spirit and His Word are at work in us both to will and to do His good pleasure (as we submit ourselves to meditate in His Word day and night and to study God’s Word, become a student of it. We are instructed to study God’s Word to show ourselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15). "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." (Joshua 1:8 KJV) God’s Word, Whom Jesus is (John 1:1), must flow out from us as breath is breathed, and as the blood flows through our veins. The Word is life and spirit, health and medication to all our flesh and strength to our bones. When the Word of God is flowing out of our mouths in meditation and confession, we are sowing the life giving Word into our own hearts. That life giving seed produces life in our lives and the life of Christ in the earth through us. As we hear and listen to His Word, His Word is at work in us. As we observe to do His Word, His Word is at work in our lives and the circumstances of our lives. His Word, His Wisdom causing our thoughts to become agreeable to His Will and therefore His plans for our lives succeed, and we prosper.

It is really Him doing it all, we only have to yield to and submit to Him [His Word, His Spirit], allowing Him to have His way as we deny ourselves, crucifying our desires daily and allowing His Will to be done in and through us.

A Continual sowing of God’s Word [speaking, hearing, receiving, choosing to believe it, His Promises] and a continual of watering of that Word [praising and thanking God for His faithfulness to His Word, declaring that it is here, it is now] will cause the seed of God’s Word to take deep root in your heart.

You will know when the seed of God’s Word is planted and taking deep root in your heart—for it is there when His Word is burning in your heart when assurance, conviction and expectation have taken hold of you. Your heart, your mind, your mouth [your words] all agree according to that Word, no doubting, only faith, assurance, conviction, and expectation.

God’s people were warned not to put their trust in man [flesh], their possessions and riches, but in Him alone. "This is what the Lord says, ‘Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future…" (Jeremiah 15:5-6 NLT)

We must guard against putting our trust and confidence in others, and ourselves. Our trust must be in God alone. Don’t put your trust in man, a system, a job, but in God who is our Source!

So we see that by refusing God, His Will, His Word and Spirit [and walking in His Word] will cause the curse to operate against you [where your enemies will have permission to conquer you]. Sin, refusing God, His Will, His Word always brings the curse!

A word to those searching for a mate or something that you have desired all your life: What are you going to do when God blesses you with the man or woman you desire or that thing you have been believing for? Will your love and affection change toward God? Will you serve the Lord, continue going to church? Will God still be God, or will your new spouse or possession become your God? The Lord knows right where you are—do you? God must No. 1—or we will bring a curse on our lives.

Remember, His blessings are reserved for those who trust in Him and have made Him their Lord, but receiving Him as Lord [Master, Ruler, King, Everything], not just Savior, Redeemer, and Deliverer! "But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit" (Jeremiah 15:7-8 NLT)

Stay in the Word, in love and in faith [your absolute trust and confidence in Him to bring to pass all He promised], and rest and walk in provision of "all things that pertain to life and godliness…" (2 Peter 1:3).