How to Properly Receive the Word of God

We know that we need to receive the Word, and we need to receive it properly.

But I wanna show you through scripture today how to receive the Word.

Practical things that you can do in your everyday life that will cause the Word to become more than just information, but turn it into revelation that brings transformation.

So go to Matthew 13, we're gonna read several portions of scripture here, and then we'll examine the text.

Matthew 13, beginning at verse number one, I'm gonna read verses one through nine, and then we'll go down to verse 18.

"Later that same day, Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake.

A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat.

Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore.

He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: 'Listen.

A farmer went out to plant some seeds.

As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.

Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock.

The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.

But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn't have deep roots, they died.

Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.

Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was 30, 60, and even 100 times as much as had been planted.' Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand." So there, Jesus gives us the parable of the sowers.

Seeds sown in various different places, resulting in various different, uh, pr- productions.

Some did not produce, and of course, the good soil did.

So now let's go down to verse 18, and Jesus gives us the explanation here.

"Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds.

The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the kingdom and don't understand it.

Then the evil one comes and snatches away that seed was planted in their hearts.

The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.

But since they don't have deep roots, they don't last long.

They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's Word.