In the Word #9 — Milton Green

Folks I want to tell you something. You better tighten your safety belt. We're moving in some powerful things. This walk with the Lord I Mean he means business. We're gonna have to have a lot of grace to be able to take it.

I Believe this grace is moving us into a place where we can receive grace. It's been dark folks. Very very very dark a lot darker than you can comprehend. The enemy is so easily has deceived us. So easily deceived us about so many things.

The Word of God as the Primary Target of Spiritual Opposition

I don't want to give you an example of that. Do you know that the word love the enemy the powers of darkness come and take the word out of your heart? Now. When the words not too important, that's no big deal.

See now you think the most important thing That the powers of darkness want to do to you. I want you to hear what I'm saying is take the word Away from you if they keep the word away from you. They've got you now if they get the word out of your heart.

And I want you to know that that is the main attack of the powers of darkness. That you don't have this word in your heart. Turn to mark 4, please. Praise your name. Praise you Lord Jesus in mark 4 we're going to look at the Parable the word we're going to come to a place when we get down to verse 13.

That the Lord asked in this parable. If you do not understand this parable, how are you going to understand all the other parables? In other words, if you do not understand the parable the word. How are you going to understand him any parable which makes this parable?

Which we're reading right here the most important parable in the Word of God now Jesus Came before the law on the largest congregations never stood in front of him. He didn't try to coax him out to their flesh.

He spoke spiritual things he's spoken a mystery. You have ears to hear you don't. You don't hear if you don't come to God. If your hearts not turned to the Lord as you see these people dead now. Let's begin to look there in verse 1 and he began to teach Jesus by the sea and such a very great Multitude of multitudes almost more than you can count is it but this is a very great multitude.

That's like television in 14 states. And such a very great multitude Gathered to him that he got into a boat in the sea and he sat down. And a whole multitude was by the sea on the land now. Here's a good chance to build something right here.

He had all these numbers right there that he had to get in a boat and get out in the sea. And and and all this great multitude. I think in Matthew 13 it calls it Malta. Feuds were there on the shore. Verse 2 and he was teaching them.

Many things in parables was saying to them in his teaching. Now here begins the parable in verse 3 listen to this. Behold the sore without the soul. It came about as he was sowing. Some seed fell beside the road and the birds came and ate it up.

You have any idea who these birds are? Those are the powers that are in us. The seed is the Word of God. They come and eat the seed up. They take it away from people, of course. This is a mystery right there.

Other seed fell on the rock of it. Now later on when you get over in Luke gate. It calls it the birds of the air come and eat it up now I've told her I told you about the beast of the field. The birds of the air is a type for the powers of darkness.

And of course Luke 8 is a good example. That's the same parable right here where it calls the birds of the air come and eat up the seed. All right now Verse 4 and it came about as he was sowing. Some seed fell beside the road the birds came and ate it up.

Verse 5 other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil and immediately it sprang up. Because it had no depth of soul I have the Sun it risen it was scorching because it had no root it withered away.

Other seed fell among the thorns. The thorns came and it choked it and it yielded no crop. Other seed fell into the good soil as they grew up and increased the yield the crop produced thirty sixty and a hundred as he was saying and He was saying He who has ears to hear let him hear.

Well, everyone had ears, didn't he? Everyone that is but he was talking about Spiritual ears to hear. Now there is a Chance right there. I mean to get them joined up and the Lord Jesus Christ and all that great hundreds and hundreds of people.

Spoke to him in the total mystery. You know what they understood? You know what they understood in the mystery and the parables he shared. Nothing, not even in one of the twelve disciples either understood what he's saying.

It were twelve disciples didn't understand what he's saying. None of the rest of all those hundreds understood what he's saying, but here's what he did. He took the disciples of his side. Because cycles disciples get to know The meaning of God's word.

Now, it's important to see this Verse 10 and as soon as he was alone his followers our disciples. Along with the twelve now. I want you to know there's more than twelve disciples there. Okay? Never but anyway, the disciples began asking him what.

They asking him about the parables they didn't know what the parable meant. They want to know what the parable meant. Now here you had this great crowd. I. If you didn't have ears to hear you couldn't hear it that the Pharisees hear it.

Pharisees are not hearing it today Verse 11 and he was saying to them. Here are the ads of disciples. Now the multitudes are gone. The Sunday morning crowds gone and he was saying to them to you. It has been given the mystery the disciples being given the mystery of the kingdom of God.

But those who are outside get everything in the mystery. This Bible's been made to understood disciples understand what the Word of God means Verse 12 in order that while seeing they may see and they do not perceive now.

That's exactly the way Jesus intended to be he speaks this word in the mystery that while seeing you will Not perceive if your heart is not a disciples heart and while hearing they may hear and they'll not understand.

They'll be ever learned and ever able to come to knowledge of the truth lest they repent return and be forgiven and He said to them. Do you not understand this parable out here the parable of word? How will you understand all the parables?

The Sower, the Stolen Word, and the Need to Bear Fruit

All right, then he begins to the disciples. He tells them what this mystery is as he is today. The sower sows the word. Now I want you to begin to see Brother and sister that attack against you, but the powers of darkness is to steal the word out of your heart.

And so that the word cannot work through you and if this word does not work in you. You will not bear fruit for God. And when you're not bearing fruit for God God is not doing a bunch through you. When you bear fruit, you know, yes, what anything you ask and it be given to you.

I mean you rule and reign brother. I mean God is working to you. But if he steals the word, you're not walking in covenant. You're not walking in covenant. You don't bear any fruit. Are you saying this?

Now you're fixing to see right here in this parable the attacks Against you. To take the word out of your heart. This is one of the most important things I'll share with you these three days. But you're fixing to see in a word.

You'll see how the powers of darkness. Their motives and their goal. The main thing is keep the Word of God out of your heart. Steal it from you. Now. Let's see it verse 14. The source owes the word the word is that's what I'm doing right now.

Isn't it? I'm a so in the Word of God. All right now watch here verse 15 and these are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown is that you and When they hear when they hear the Word of God just as quick as they hear the Word of God immediately bang.

Satan comes and what? He takes away the word. Will you underline that he takes away the word which has been sown in them? Or in their heart now. Let me tell you something. When it says Satan takes a Satan and only be in one place at one time.

Do you see that? I don't imagine Satan's gonna get too tied up with one of you. So when you're talking about Satan, you're talking about the powers of darkness. It's synonymous. And I will look at something about that later.

You're talking about one. You're taking up he comes and takes the word out of your heart the powers of darkness. And we're going to see why the words not in your heart. Hey takes the Word of God out of your heart.

Verse 16 a similar way. These are one whom the seed was sown on the rocky places. Do when they hear the word immediately they receive it with joy joy joy. And they have no firm root in himself, but are only what?

They're temporary and then here comes the first of attacked affliction. Affliction of come to take that word are what's the next thing? Persecution let me ask you something. I'll tell you something folks.

If I kept my mind On all the things that's being said about me. I've had it. What I want to be eating off the tree of knowledge of good and evil for her. When there's a good tree to eat out out I Like to eat out the tree of life not death.

They don't matter what it matters for folks what they're saying, but it doesn't what really matters. It matter what God said or what folks think? Huh. Absolutely, thank you brother. Now. What's the difference in you and me?

There's no difference God's God is he whether it's you me. I've got a part. You've got a part. Important things you say what God says and do what he says walk in it. Amen. The first attack on you is affliction to attack your body.

And that doesn't it kind of destroy a lot of your faith, won't it? Do you ever notice Pastor I'm sure some of you heard ups never got in mob and healing. Let me tell you what's going to happen your church.

If you never practice healing you start in it the powers of darkness Are going to set up someone Who they know they have so much ground in them and they have such a right to be there That you haven't gone to a place to know how to get that ground back.

And they'll begin talking and moving to set this man up as an example right away and So instead of just playing this man and knowing him and you don't know what's in somebody's heart I I wasn't somebody but I can't save them.

I don't stop witnessing. I'm not the Savior. I Pray for people to heal. I don't I don't I can't him. I believe everyone. I'm brave words gonna be healed. I Don't know what's in their heart. You think everybody you baptize are safe, but then they'll set up a person and then you'll make this a focal point and as powers of darkness set you up and Then the powers of darkness know they've got that place and put person close to death right then.

Close to I mean a breakdown they know. Well, I'm not going to get in some of the details of how you can know but they know they know where they've got that body and then Here you are if you've died preaching the scripture and then bang right there someone dies and then the church bosses and Terrors begin jumping up and down.

And then the powers of darkness tax you Attacked your wife attacked your family and everything such pressure on you back off back off that they won't work back off. They're all intimidation and fear and everything's come on him because.

See, you just didn't know. You hadn't come to a place Where you'd know are suspected and hadn't dealt with the things how the powers of darkness would trick you and deceive you and set up a situation like that.

So the affliction comes against someone's money when this affliction comes. It steals people's faith. It steals the word. And then I began to listen about this another Jesus that Jesus can't do nothing see.

It steals a word. You know, how I steal the word in your heart. They replace it with something else a lie another gospel another Jesus so see. What we do you take what light you have if it's that much you're not gonna get all the light at one time.

You're gonna get light as you walk in the light Pharisees wanted all at one time. I wasn't going to receive it and they didn't get it. Neither would you? You're welcome. What light you have because you're gonna be tested.

You'll be tested before you get more. We'll see which where your heart really is which headquarters your heart is really on. Now the first attack is still the word out your heart is affliction. The second is persecution because see if your heart can become concerned about what people are saying about you and what's your.

Your pride or things see you understand what you mean? It's gonna sway you start eating all those words. Oh, I hope they gonna say oh, I can't god. I can't god. I can't deal with that part of your Bible.

It's hurting my ministry Ministry, it's hurting my reputation in my image. Junk deception. When a person they can never do that with the persecution everything he's got to work and you too now. So affliction and persecution, but you wanted to when affliction or persecution arises because of the what and it always come is promised.

It'll come to you if you've got an image or a reputation forget about it. You're not a walk in the word. You're in the flesh. You think I got it or not? Let's go in verse 18 and others are the ones on whom the seed was sown among the thorns wonder what the word thorns are.

These are the ones who have heard the word. Now, can I tell you what you're looking at right there? You're looking at the ministry. Do you understand that the powers of darkness have a ministry? It's hell.

You're looking at the ministry of the devil here that comes against you that's how he steals the word. That's the war against the word. That is the blood. This is the blood that comes against you. This is the blood that comes out Satan's mouth back to the church.

I'll look at it here. They are and here becomes a third thing that it's still the world word in verse 19 and the what? The worries of the world now see if your mind stays full look here of. Your mind stays full to get your heart going.

I see the lust of flesh at the words were where you living at Worldbar, that's the third thing to get your heart going. I have the worries of the world is steal the word and. Then the next thing. The fourth thing there is a deceitfulness of riches.

Get all you can. Don't get what you need. Get it all. Get that last quarter. Build you an empire. Just let all your heart. Just acquire all you can get the deceitfulness of riches where you'll be at ease and Zion in the flesh.

The deceitful riches and then the fifth thing right there is the desires for what? There are the thorns. They enter in the desires for other thing now as a desires for other things besides the Lord and now what they talk to you.

Let's look at me. They talk to you about the words of the world. That's what goes you must really don't recognize it. It's flesh. The Seafullness of riches for you carton. That's where the world is out there.

The desires for other thing less than the flesh when you got your mind. You're they talk to you there and get your heart on that you could hey that words not too important. And so when you've got your heart on those things that word can't work in you for you to produce fruit for God.

Are you hearing what I'm saying? And when you don't produce fruit for God. Honey, they just ain't a whole lot of things that God doing through you because you know what they've done they've deceived you up here and They got your heart going all of these things are the lust of the flesh and getting your heart to live for temporal things.

Instead the eternal things which is the covenant you were called to. Is that clear? Let's continue. They enter in and they choke the word and the word becomes what? See you can't bear fruit for God. Well, what are you gonna do?

What God's been and changed for said you're gonna ask you're not gonna receive. You're living in the wrong place. You're walking in the wrong place. All your motives are all messed up. He's not gonna cooperate with you.

So your worries of the world distinct from the riches and desires for other things for your flesh. He's gonna provide your needs. I Don't mean you have to go out here and Live in a sage field or something.

Are you hearing me? All right. Now those things come and steal the word and those are the one whom the seed was sown on the good soil. They hear the word they accept it. Which means they do it and it bear fruit 30 60 100 fold and he was saying to them now watch it's a lamp.

I believe the lamps of word now. It's not brought to be put under a peck measure. Is it or under bed? You don't hide it if you got it, let it shine. Is it not but put to be put on a lampstand now? You put it on a lampstand by acting on the Word of God, don't you right?

The light shines when you act on it when you walk in it, you're letting your light shine. Is that right? Now for nothing 22 is hidden except to be revealed. No, no, we're still in the parable the word.

For nothing's hidden except to be revealed nor is anything been secret that it should not come to light now. Who is this talks to you and say when you start to do something? They're just not ready for that.

Ezekiel 34 talks about a shepherd feeds his seven doesn't feed the block. If they're not ready for the word, they're ready for hell because nothing's hidden. Except to be revealed if you know something.

You start down here and put it in there. Planet if you go ahead and hold that back. You can't get rid of your church bosses. There's a man that got rid of some with the Word of God 23, you know how demons.

I don't ask you something. I'll show you how church boss works. Let me ask you ever get around a wreck. There be around a wreck and for you can even get where you can see what's going on. Do you ever notice how fears packed in you you're fearful and you don't even hey, you hadn't even got where you can see.

You don't even see what's going on. But for some reason you're fearful, aren't you? Let me tell you a little secret. When there's a wreck the powers of darkness converge on that kind of the thing. You'd be amazed in a wrecked situation that things that enter into peace of people's bodies through fear.

All the works of shock and paralysis and all these things like this we want to make so oh Dear me. Let me tell you something, you know, that's kind of what a church boss reminds me of a wreck. Let me show you how this how the powers of darkness.

Me every have seen church boss. Sure, yeah. Every time you get around him you start they start putting fear on you. And that correct? Huh? Do you ever notice that you get around church? But something fears getting on you intimidation something say it's better just to leave a thing long and get involved with all that mess.

And that's exactly what they want you to do. Not and get involved in the mass. Just let the devil run it. You know, I just looked over right here pastor. I was up there in Tulsa, I'm gonna just share one quick story.

Spiritual Intimidation and the Control of Congregations

Huh? This plan a pastor up there told us I went up there to be with. The visit with James there and this this man on a Saturday night I thought was gonna be through on Saturday and he asked me to come over.

He's the interim pastor in the church as he to visit with Him in the church and he just said you're a godly man and boy I'll tell you what and I told him I would come over there and Sonny Moore never met him before and I come over in.

Share with them because they would they decide to extend in another night. And I went over there and just quick as I walked in say See, that's my part. I saw my heart broke. Because when I was a little boy.

And different times see I recognized when I walked in and the powers of darkness had to place and I heard for those people. Absolutely just broke my heart and you want to go up somebody and say hey listen, I know the answer.

Boy, I know how this place can be different if you just listen and do it right here. If you just have you can't do it like that if God don't do it, they don't get done. Now that's the thing about it. I want to tell you what it's all up to God but as I sit there and I hurt my my heart just broke and Jeannie who sings with James.

She had asked me, you know where I was going that's one I told him I've been invited this church and asked her she didn't you know, she wanted to go and so I said well Jeannie Why don't you bring? Two or three tapes and just sing when we go over there and everything and she said she would and so Jeannie and And I we went over there to this brothers where he was interim pastor we went over to the.

And so I sat down up front and here Jeannie came up and she you know Jeannie just want to kind of get things just a little out of there because you know I just kind of help everybody to hear the Word of God.

It'd be just a little life, you know, and so Jeannie there was bouncing around and and see I just seen enough of this that I knew exactly what the powers I knew what they were telling on you how they broke them.

They program folks with labels and to see I can get you anything can't make you and fearful if you get labels and then they Get you afraid of labels. They intimidate with labels, you know. Excuse me charismatic folks gone charismatic or whatever so forth, but deep in.

Going off the deep end. That's the deep end you start. Well, if you start following God you have sure enough going off the deep end and so anyway She was up there and I'm telling you bless her heart. I saw her up there I just saw her just know she just was trying and I couldn't I knew and I could just thought I could just see What they were how they do know they start talking to you sit there you come in do you think talk to you please?

So when he Jeannie got through I walked up there and You know, I said She's a little charismatic isn't she and these little grins begin to break out. He understands He knows this is the same way I used to be that's how I know.

So as he's just a little Pentecostal too and I was really getting in good. Well, I tell you what was in my heart. I really knew that my part I had truth for them. Because when I was a little boy this is a kind of a situation I grew up with and it's such a jungle and such a broken life that I live because I never could really I related that church to Jesus and I I knew boy if There's nothing that Anything I saw when I grew up and that thing to do it in the province that I ever had and so I never did turn To Jesus for the 40-something until 40-something years 43 years old.

But anyway, I knew that I knew some truth and now I want I don't I knew I might not come that way again and I wanted to To impart it and live it there. I knew that some could hear and some couldn't hear and it was up to God I was just going to see what God had.

So I I began sharing here. I'm I began sharing Some things there and I you always know when you're you're getting to a place there and it's kind of smacking a little bit and So forth and and then when I'd get to these places where it just smack a little bit.

I noticed all the rise. Would would they would be cutting to? This man over here on the front row. Here I'm talking they all looking at him. You know, isn't that something. Yeah here I'm the one doing the talking and when I say things like this they look to this man.

And you know what? I'm talking about. Don't you pastor? He was living in it and I kept on and you know, this this was a Terrible distraction to try to share the Word of God you share something. Everybody look and see what he thinks.

And you know, I just finally figured it out. He's a church boss. And that's up so. Is this right brother? I just took my Bible and I just thought well, you know in order to get them to look at me I'll just stand here and hear what the church ball says.

Is that right brother? So I stood right in front of the man and Boy, he he wasn't happy. And he he just turned his head down. He's red and he's something like shoot. Let me tell you something, do you know something?

That God used that situation that did some people come up after us over and God use that now see it. They've won my cleverness anything but God God watch over it boy I could shout and some poor little people it was in bonnie jar got free and tears came in her eyes.

And they just don't think well, you know, right brother. They came up there because it was something I couldn't do but the Spirit of God. His word, let me tell you something church bosses aren't Lord.

Are they brother? I love you, brother verse 23 if any man has ears to hear. Let him hear and here's what it's saying verse 24. And he was saying to them, please put this verse on the doorpost of your home.

Are you ready? Take care what you listen to folks I don't Recommend eating off the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Is this the power of the word has to wait take care what you listen to? Have you got that circle?

It'll over and locate another parable the word there the same private says take care of what you listen to. Take what you listen to and how you listen to his Luke gates what I'm saying take care what you listen to by your standard of measure and.

And the weather you give it out and and and and it shall be measured you in other words as you walk over there and walk In the light and more shall be given you beside In that beautiful the more you have the more you get if you walk in it for whoever has whoever has what the word?

He acts on it to him shall more be given and Whoever does not have or act on the word even what he has going to be what? Who's going to take it away from him the doctors that's who you just read there.

And you already know how they're going to take it away. They replace it with something else. Amen well quickly in Matthew 13 just back up. I just want to show you a little bit about what God says to a people like this Matthew 13.

This is 1 through 15 18 through 23, but I'm not going to Look at all of it that this is so important. It's been parable the word. That's the reason I'll look at it in two different places. It is important in it.

The Parable of the Word and the Condition of the Heart

Okay. We see in verse 2 that we got the same setting the same thing verse 2 and great multitudes. See there's more than one multitude. They're great multitudes came to hear Jesus. We see in the next several verses.

He speaks the parable to them and then verse 10 10 and the parables came and said to them. Why do you speak to them in the mystery parables? And here's what Jesus said to the disciples and this is what he's saying to you right now.

Are you listening? Here's what he says. Is this is this is this whole book of mystery. Let me ask you again. Is this whole book of mystery? All right. Now, this is why it's spoken in a ministry mystery.

And here's what he says to disciples if you're disciple. He's what he's saying and he answered and said to them to you. Please circle to you to you disciples. It has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven now.

Disciples get to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it's not being granted. They'll be ever learning never able to come the truth. What was their problem. Because their hearts lack loaves and fishes.

Their hearts lack signs and wonders their hearts lack large numbers. But Their hearts really didn't love the Lord. But to them it's not been granted for whoever has to him shall more be given and he shall have abundance.

Just what we read while ago, but whoever does not have even what he has he'll be taken away from him. We know who takes it away the powers of darkness 13. Therefore I speak to them in a parable because while seeing.

Here's what he intend from not do and this is the way it is today right now. While seeing they do not see put a little one there. He does not intend from the sea and then while hearing number two. They do not hear and number three nor do they what?

Understand he doesn't intend for people whose hearts not turn to him to hear to see or understand and in their case I want you to mark their case. We're gonna look at their case. The prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled.

You're a New Testament now, aren't you? That sure did get over here didn't it. You'll keep on hearing but you'll not understand now that is ever learning and never able to Come to the knowledge of the truth.

That is that Church a depraved man. It has a form of godliness denies the power of God and opposes the truth of God right there. They'll not understand. They ever learn and never able to come to knowledge truth.

You're going to keep on seeing but you'll not perceive for the heart of this people has become what dog. And the powers of darkness have made it that way and with their ears. They scarcely hear they have what close her eyes.

You know what close the eyes mean? They're gonna sleep asleep. Alert people aren't asleep. Ain't a lot of sleeping folks. They've closed her eyes going to sleep. That's what he said. Lest they should see with their eyes and they would hear with their ears and it Understand with their heart and then they return repent and then I should heal them in that order you see hear understand repent and get healed he said but the disciples blessed your eyes because you see and your ears because they hear and.

Let's just look up there a little bit verse 18. Explain here then the parable the word verse 19 when anyone hears the parable the word of the kingdom. And before he's hearing the word now, we've talked about people that could hear the word, right?

He hears the word and he does not Understand it. Amen. He doesn't understand the word. Well, isn't that interesting? The word's made to be understood right but he understands it and then the devil the demons come and what?

They come and snatch the word out of his heart. Now look at me right here. You've got a man that hears the word of god. He can't understand the word of god and the demons come and snatch it out of his heart.

I want you to show you one other man right there. I'm not going to go through these same things. It's saying here's all the attacks against the to get the word out of your heart right there. But let's go down to verse 23.

And the one whom the seed was sown on the good soul, this is man. Now look at he he hears a word. He understands it. And he bears fruit. Well, isn't that amazing? Here you have got One man that hears the word of god.

He can't understand it and the demons come and take it out of his heart. You've got another man. Here's the word of god. He understands it and he bears fruit. Now what's the difference in those two men?

One understands. The other doesn't understand. One bears fruit and the other doesn't bear fruit. Let me tell you the difference is. Good soul. A man in verse 23 Has good soul. You know what that is? He's got a repentant heart.

Which is plowed up foul of ground. To where he can receive his heart is turned to the lord where he can receive. He's not got hard soul. A hardened heart. Now did we look over in james 4 6 through 10 if you want to write that out there and you see what good soul is.

That is good soul. Now the man up at 19 does not have good soul. He hears the word of god. He can't understand it. Now, you know what i'm saying in all this. If you want the word of god here to jump all of you have good soul.

Go to james 4 6 through 10. And get your and obey that and get your good soul and i'm going to tell you what you'll want to quit your job. Because you become so interested in the word of god. That nothing else will matter when you understand it.

Because let me tell you something folks. I want you to understand it when you're driving down the road. Are you reading everything. You don't figure out anything about god on your own? You don't figure out any spiritual things.

May I just go ahead and tell you when you're driving down the road something comes to you. That's god. That's spirit of god. He'll just show it to you. Everything in this word is revelation. It's not you it's all grace all him.

It's all him now. I've only told to you about adding jesus to one of the idols. He's you're you're lost. But he's trying to add him to one of the idols. So what the devil devil comes and takes the word out of the heart.