Devotional:  How Productive Are You For God?
Presented by: Mike Fragassi

    Feb 2nd, 2008

    We have in our mission statement:  “Glorifying God by following His commands in Discipling, Developing
    and Deploying men into service of family, church, and community."  We have spent the last 2 years
    discipling and developing and now it’s time to start deploying. We are going to talk about a subject that might
    make some feel uncomfortable.  "Getting in the game" as Pastor Vince would say.  But I would call it being
    obedient to God and the Holy Spirit.

    Jesus tells the parable of the four soils:  
    Scripture-----Mark4: 3-8 Read

    1.        3)Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.4) As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path,
    and the birds came and ate it up.

    Some people say a prayer to accept Jesus Christ as their savior. They don’t go to church regularly, they don’t
    give of their time- (serve), they don’t give of their talents, and their treasures (Tithing). They are listening but
    they don’t completely buy in. They like that they feel good but they really feel they still want control. They slip
    back to where they were before coming to Church and that didn’t work for me. They question every aspect of
    Christianity.

    Were they really Christians?
    Was their any Fruit?

    Read (John 15:5-8)
    Galatians 5:22
    2Peter 1:5-8

    The bible say’s in chapter 4 verse 15 that--- some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown.
    As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.

    Read the study notes: Mark 4:14-20

    2.        5) Some fell on Rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was
    shallow. 6) But when the sun came up, and the plants were scorched and they withered because they had no
    root.

    These are like Christians that get saved jump in with both feet... getting involved... all Gung Ho.  But they have
    shallow Christian roots or no roots at all. They did not get discipled.  I ‘m not saying that it is the churches fault.  
    What I am saying is that they did not get into the word.  They did not learn.  The did not pray or listen to the Holy
    Spirit. They did not allow the word to sink in get deep and listen to what God has for them.

    We all have seen people like this. They come for a while, they get involved for a time then they fall away.

    The Bible says that 16) other, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17)
    but they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they
    quickly fall away.

    3.        7) other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and chocked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.

    I see these types of Christians as the ones who love the world more than God. Collecting all that stuff (Skittles).
    They don’t give of the time, talent and treasures because they want to hold on tight to all they have.  They don’t
    tithe... they don’t get involved... they don’t share their selves, their stories or their spiritual gifts because it might
    cost them something. These are people who are not obedient to God.

    With these three soils it shows how we can be one of these three in some areas in our Christian lives, or from
    time to time.  Listen to the study notes for this parable in the NIV study bible.
    Read Mark 4:14-20

    4.        8) Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even
    a hundred times.
    I see this person as one who gets into the word reads it and does what it says. He gets involved; he is
    concerned more about the lost or others than he is about himself. He does not just listen to the Holy Spirit he
    acts in obedience to God. He is moving into action taking the next step -- he is Crossing Thresholds. He is
    learning how to be a disciple of Jesus Christ he is leading in his Family, his Church or his Community.

    Are you a follower of Jesus Christ or a disciple?

    A disciple does what is required from God he is obedient.  God is not looking for your spare time.

    “Someone said to a professor: "Wasn’t John Doe a student of yours?"
    The professor said: "he attended my class but he wasn’t my student.”

    Read Matthew 3:10 study notes

    Recommended scripture to review:        

    Talents:                   Matthew 25:29        
                                    Matthew 25:14-30
                                    Luke 6:46
    Obedience:              Romans 1:5
                                    1Peter 1:1-2
    Producing Fruit:       Matthew 3:10