Stay planted in The Word of God // Grace Space // Sharnita Gates

Blessings everyone and welcome back to The Grace Space. I am excited to be with you today. I'm, I'm actually really proud of everyone who's been tapping in and studying with us and receiving the grace here in The Grace Space, taking out the time to Lending an ear to hear, to really study, and to be approved unto God. Like we were chosen, and to be able to have this great space to multiply the word of God, to plant the seeds in the hearts of of all, and as many as many people as possible, and reach as many people as possible. So I'm excited to continue on this journey here in this gray space where it is sufficient enough to produce the harvest that is needed in our lives, and we can really grow in love. The biggest thing is to grow in love, and I want this space to really be a place where we really are growing, really putting God first, understanding and having clarity into our responsibilities, our real responsibilities, as Jesus has commanded us as we follow him as his disciples. And so there's different commands that Jesus has given to us, and we want to really handle that With obedience, staying in the protection, dwelling in the secret place of the Most High God. And that's what was in us, in our hearts, dwelling within our hearts, to make sure that we are being fruitful, as in the spirit of joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness. And I pray that this is a space that As you come in and you listen, you hear the kindness, the gentleness, the self-control, and all those fruits. Because I really want to be— continue to be patient in our growing. Um, so that is what this space is for. So let's get our Bibles. Let's get your colors and your pens and your canvases of your heart. Let's get the canvas of your heart. Let's— I'm excited about today because I think we are at Luke 8 and 10 or 11, one, one of those. I believe it's 10. Yes, it is 10. I'm— and 11. And so Luke 8 and 11. Let's open up our Bibles to Luke 8. And we'll start back at 10 just to get a, a review before we start to reflect on verse 11. And I believe we're going to go into 12 today. Um, we're gonna go, um, a little bit further. Let me see. Yeah, we're going to go to 14. So today we're going to go through Luke 11— I mean, Luke 10 through 14. So God, have your way, let your will be done, fill this space with your Spirit, with your love, with your grace, with your forgiveness, your, your mercy. And you are compassionate, you are abounding in love to all who call out to you. So we call out to you today in Jesus' name. Hey, this be a space full of those— you, full of you, Lord, your Spirit. Amen. Luke 8:10-14. We'll start at 10. And he said— This is Jesus speaking to the disciples. The disciples asked Jesus what it— what could be made of the parable that Jesus had just spoken about. Regarding the parable of the sower. And some of the takeaways that we have is that the farmer, the husbandman, is God. God is the, the, the one who plants the seed. He plants— he planted the seed of love for when he gave us Jesus, his only Son, that so whoever believes in him Shall not perish, but eternal life. So God gave us eternal life in Christ, and that was his love for us, and that was the seed that he planted. And Jesus so loved us that he died on the cross for us, for our, our sins, for the fullness, to fulfill the law so there'd be no law against The Spirit of God, the fullness thereof, of love, joy, so that the seeds of love, joy, peace, patience, all the fruits of the Spirit, which is of God the farmer, the husbandman who labors for, you know, labors for us for his eternal glory, that he gave us his Son Jesus so that we, we won't, you know, we have that everlasting life that we can believe in him and his love. And his love is the fruit of God's love. And that same seed, Jesus now becomes the, the vine, and we are the We are the branches, so we're connected to him in love, and the love of God flows all the way down to us. So those are our takeaways. So when Jesus was speaking about the parable of the sower, speaking of our Father and his love, the disciples asked him, saying, what might this parable be? And Jesus He said unto you, it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God. So there's mysteries of the kingdom of God. Let's let's write it on our our hearts. Kingdom of God. But to others in parables. So it is given to the disciples the mysteries of the kingdom of God. So that's what John 15:5 says he's divine, we are the branches. If anyone— if he— if you remain in him and he remain in us, we will bear much fruit. But Luke 9:23, we will get there, but just 9— Luke 9:23 says, if anyone will come after me. So Now you, you think about, um, becoming a disciple and following Jesus. You want the mysteries of the kingdom of God. He said, if anyone will come after me, he must first deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. And when you understand the cross that Jesus bared for us, we have to bear that same fruit. And like, he the fruit that— it was all the fruits, you see what I'm saying? Like, the cross that Jesus bore for us was to fulfill the fullness of the Spirit of God, and that was full of love, full of joy, full of peace and patience and gentleness. And think about the self-control that Jesus had and modeled for us. And so when we come after him, we have to do the same thing. We have to deny ourselves. We have to take up our cross daily. All those things where we need to cultivate the Spirit and follow Him, you know. So, and we know where He went, so we have to follow Him all the way to death. And He said so, but the others in parables that seeing they might not see and hearing they might not understand. Now we're on 11, verse 11. Now the parable is this. Now the— he's— he— now he began to explain the parable. Okay, so the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. So that's why it's like in the beginning, we— God is the farmer. So the seed was planted long in the beginning. We touched on the scripture in Genesis on yesterday, how the Tree of Life and the seed that was, uh, the, the seed that was planted Let me go back to the canvas because we discovered that, you know, the faith was in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. So the Word was the seed that God planted from the very beginning. And we said that Jesus in Genesis 2:8 When the word, the seed was planted for the word of God, the fruit and the tree of life. That's why he said he is the life. So that tree has matured and it's producing much fruit as far as the disciples, um, believers in us. When we love, we're producing that same fruit. And we're eating from the Tree of Life. So the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are they that hear. So there's a wayside. That it— so the wayside of the seed, you know, I like to get a little bit of an understanding of like vision, um, for like a wayside. Like, you know, really what would a wayside look like? Compared to a seed, I kind of just think on that like oh a wayside. What first? What is a wayside? The edge of a road. So the wayside is the edge of a road. So just thinking about the path that the farmer is going on. So. The parable is this: the seed is the word of God, and then we have a road that the seed is going, and the edge of the— of a road Is— he said, now by the wayside are they that hear. So you have the seed that's on the road. Remember the parable of the sower? The farmer is going and planting seeds, and you have some on That along the path are devoured. And you have some that are dry. You have some that are choked or damaged, and you have the wayside. You have the people that here He said, are they that hear. So those by the wayside, those that hear. Then cometh the devil. And taketh away the word out of their hearts. Lest they should believe and be saved. Amen. They on the rock are they which they hear. So at the wayside The edge, that's like at the beginning. So they're devoured by the devil who comes and takes away the word out of the hearts. Now they on the rocky, on the rocks, on the rocky soil. So the path is the soil. When they hear They receive the word with joy. So at first they hear, they hear, and then when you get here, you have joy, and they have no root. For which— why? For, for which— for a while Believe, and in time of temptation fall away. So you get to here, fall away, and now this still intersects with believing. They still believe, but the temptation They, they fall away even though they receive it. They receive joy with the word, um, and but they— these have no root. So at this time of cultivation The seed, it has not yet rooted. There's no root. And what we was discussing on yesterday was the root. It's with the farmer. It's the— it's where God starts. So, and that's the term. So might not have the terms just yet. And that which fell among thorns are they which, when they have heard— so they heard, they went through the steps of hearing, they received it with joy— when they heard, go forth, And are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life. Cares, riches, And pleasures. Um, this life and bring no fruit to perfection. So they're still going forth, you know, they heard go forth, but note at that point they're, they're stuck at the, the cares, riches, and pleasures of this life, and they fall away. And bring no fruit to perfection. So these are these are stops where people may, and although they hear, they may stop. So these are stops and along the journey. And so we're walking with with the word of God. We're walking. This is the walk with. God, um, the walk with Christ, who is the word of God. So that seed, like, you have that seed and you're hearing this seed, but on the ground, the good ground, they are— are— okay, but that on the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart. So So the hearts are still being cultivated. So, so hold on one second. I want to look at My side. Okay, I just wanted to update. Okay, so we identified the the wayside, the rock, and the good soil. So. Okay, now we're on verse 15. We supposed to stop at 14. Let me see if we gotta keep going. Okay, and so we're gonna do We're gonna keep going. So let's— this is— let's go through because now we got to Luke 8, verse 15. But on that ground, on the good ground, they are which in an honest and good heart So honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it. And keep it and bring forth fruit with patience. Okay, so I'll leave from there because I really want to— that will stop at 16 on today. Okay, so I'm gonna update that 16. Okay, so the mysteries of the kingdom of God is is given to the disciples, but it spoke to parables to the ones who have an ear to hear. And if they hear, if the seed that is being planted. Is the word of God. And it's describing this, the process that the seed, the word of God, as they're hearing and they're receiving the word of God, how it begins at the wayside. And although that they hear and they're at the wayside, it's the beginning phases of hearing the word of God. And so their hearts, um, although that they're hearing, their hearts is still going on the journey with them. And as they hear, they understand at different levels. The first level is the wayside. Now, by the wayside is the devil. And as they hear and they believe in their hearts, the things are being devoured. The word is being devoured. The seed, the word of God, will be devoured at the beginning, at the wayside of hearing the word of God. And as they believe, you know, to be saved, the devil is there. The things that have— it is not able to really, really plant itself in the hearts. So that as it continue and they continue and, you know, you start to receive the word of God more, you start to receive more of the seed. And you're, you're planting more of the word of God in your heart, and you receive it with joy. And although that you're receiving it with joy, you're at the second stage. You're facing the, the rocks where things are going to get a little rocky, because mind you, you have the devil who is, is, is devouring the word of God. So therefore, you might— other seeds might be being planted as, as well. And that's where we kind of read— what was it? What's the scripture? The wheat and the tares. And it's like the, the barn of a man who sown good seed in his, in his field, in his body. You sown the word in your body, but There was, um, at night while everyone was sleeping, the, the devil comes and plants the seed of weeds. So that's the, the parable of the weeds, and we're kind of going into that one as well. The parable of the weeds. So now you're, you're, you have no root. I— you have no root and you're going through, um, you're still going through the soil on the path to— well, yeah, you're still on the path, you're still walking with Christ. This is the walk with Christ, with Jesus, with the word. And you get to that place where it's rocky, it's dry, um, and you were— you also, you have joy, but there's also temptation that's just You're you're dealing with you're dealing with temptation, so you start to fall away. And then you hear go forth. You hear saying continue, continue to receive the word with gladness. And at that point, if you stop, you still you you bring no fruit to perfection. So you have this is he said what was that scripture to Perfection. I don't want to get it. See, he's the perfect one. So now you're receiving the word of God. I really want to get that that scripture, and I'm gonna write it down. That's not the scripture, but I'll use— I, I'll take this one and then I'll go get the other one, um, because I do like this one. It's as well, because— so this one is Ephesians 4: for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ. So there's no fruit to perfection in trying to get to the place of where you're perfecting the saints, or you're for the work of the ministry and for edifying the body of Christ. So at this point, the temptation— it, it, you're falling away. So you're falling away from the edification of the body of Christ, which is the word of God. So that's why I wanted to kind of put this scripture there, Ephesians 4:12. And you can continue to even go to 14 because we're talking about, um, when things have no root and you also have joy and you're facing temptation and it's causing you to fall away because you're on some rocky soil and it's dry. There's no water, there's no watering, there's no covering, and you're hearing go forth and you're trying to flow and there's— you're not able to flow because there's no fruit to perfection. So you don't know that you is in the process of being for perfecting the saints. And this is why you have the word of God, which the word of God is for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ. Until we all come into unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a man, a perfect man, unto The measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. So this is the, the fullness of Christ is, is waiting for you. And that's when we— he's, he's speaking, uh, in this parable is that the, the fullness of Christ is waiting for you, but you have to be able to bring the fruit to perfection. So now we're able to go so that when we henceforth be no longer children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and their cunning and craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive. So although that you believe, you're still the— you're still being carried away from the word of God, the seed that is over here, because you have the cares and the riches and the pleasures of this life. You have the temptation, you have the devil. And so, and you're, you're hearing the word and say, go forth. And so this is, this is just the reality. This is the reality of this life and the life. Jesus is the life. And then the realities of this life that we choose is with the devil, the cares and riches and pleasures of this life and temptation. So, but we get to— we— this is all the, I would say, evil, because we— he says Flee all that evil that is so prevalent. So over here, this evil is just so prevalent. You could believe and still be caught up in all the evil, in the— within the devil, the way that, you know, in this life we've lived. But we have over here the fullness of the life, the way, and the truth. So we want to hear, continue to hear, go forth. And now we're at the place of As we continue to go forth, our hearts are still hearing, we're still believing, and continuing to do the work to reach the fullness. And because at the same time it says be saved, and, and that was at the beginning. At the beginning, lest they should believe and be saved. So what gets us to the, the fullness is to be saved. We can, you know, just believe, continue to believe, believe God. If in what you hear God is speaking, every scripture is God's breath and is useful for Teaching us, correcting us, training us, and rebuking us so that we'd be thoroughly equipped for the good work. So, because this is the good work, but if you believe in your heart and that you'll be saved and that you, you are saved, that you are a sinner, you're, you're still susceptible to the, this life. And confess. And so now, if you are at a place where things are thorny, where things are being damaged, um, or choked. So you're at the place where cares and riches and the pleasures of this life is now choking out the word. Like all the things that in this life that comes from temptation, the death, you know, that you have those 3 different things. You— we're not again— Um, he said do not be Um, deceived by Satan's devices. Like, do not be unaware, he uses temptation, the cares and pleasures of this world, and the riches thereof to take away from the, the word of God and being able to hear the word of God. So some things are, you know, damaged, and we don't want our hearts to— that's where our hearts become damaged. Um, because our hearts have went through some different things. So, you know, that's why it's the scripture, the word of God is useful for that, rebuking some of those things that have been damaged along the, the path. And in— but then there's some honest and good hearts, and the honest and good hearts bring Keep it. Keep the word of God and bring with patience it to the fullness of good fruit. So the goodness of God and the good, the goodness, the fruit of God, spirit of God. So all those seeds of love, joy, peace. This is this is all love. Because even the command that Jesus says, go forth and make disciples— like, even, you know, think about, um, when Peter got to the road, the end of the road, and he denied Jesus. And we were talking about, you know, as far as, uh, God approved. He said, you deny, uh, you with him, he denies us. You— so he— and so then it was— I think it was not believe. You believe not. You believe not, then you cannot. He cannot deny himself. So although that you believe not, he still cannot deny himself. So we'll we'll in there to be saved, the fullness. Keep the word with and bring it with patience. Patience in knowing that others that may be walking along with you with the word of God, it— there's different things that are along the path. And so you have to bring the word with patience for it to get to its fullness. And identify if the— if it is the devil. He's at the beginning, you know, people at the beginning. So we have to, you know, can stay, dwell in the secret place of the Most High God and abide in the shadow of the Almighty God. That's staying in the, the word. Stay in the word. Um, and I think it's Matthew. I want to go back and read it. And I— Matthew 5. And this is when you're at the wayside. When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets. That they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter in thy closet, and when thou hast shut that door, pray to thy Father which is in secret. So the secret place— pray to your Father in secret. And thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. So I would say read at the beginning. Pray, believe, and be saved in the fullness of having a mind of Christ. And oh, there it is. The scripture that I was looking for, 5:48. Be therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. So, and I'm gonna put that on So there's, there's a, there's no necessarily have to go through the, the path of being devoured. You don't have to go through the path of the rocks and the thorns. You can hear the word, believe, be saved, and come into the fullness of producing fruit. And that's the power of prayer, fasting, staying with the word, with him. And stay— I would say stay with— this would be the title of this: stay with it. Stay with the word of God. Stay with the word of God. Stay with the seed. Stay with the seed and continue to receive so that you can stand against the wiles of the devil. Thank you guys. So that's our reflection, our devotion. Our, our reflection is reflecting on the path, um, of cultivating a seed in this life. And we're reflecting on cultivating the seed in this life, and we also have the cultivating of the seed in the life. So we reflected on that, and we are devoting ourselves to, um, on our— the reflection of cultivating the seed in the life, in Jesus, in the word, and believing. That is the strategy and approach, is to believe, continue to go forth, and continue to cultivate the seed to bring and be And be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. That's the approach. So if for me, if you say you can't be perfect, it said therefore be ye perfect. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. So if you notice, the the the cultivation of the seed that Jesus had—I mean, I'm sorry—the cultivation of the seed that Jesus experienced was the life. He experienced the word of God, the word of God, and that's the beginning. The Old Testament because it was the word of God until it came to the fullness of where Christ was able to fulfill the word of God. So he was— he believed, he was saved, he was in the fullness thereof. So that's the— you hear the word of God, how Jesus did it in the love and being the life. We get to choose the life and continue to hear more of the life and of Christ, of Jesus, and understand that we can continue to abide in him and he abide in us. And so we can get to the fullness of bearing much fruit. But apart from him, we fall away through temptation. The strategies and principalities of the devil and the cares and riches of, and of this life. So we can get carried away from that. Um, so just as we can get carried away with this life, we can get carried away with that life. And that's our approach, uh, today is to get carried away. From this life with the life. Thank you guys for joining the Gray Space. Be fruitful, be blessed. We are blessed to be a blessing, and I thank you guys for joining. Have a blessed day. Till next time.