Welcome to Calvary Chapel in Roswell, New Mexico!

2901 W. 4th St.
Roswell, New Mexico 88201
(505) 623-8072

Sunday Worship
8:30 &
10:30 a.m.

Prayer Meeting
Sunday at
6:00 p.m.

Bible Study
Wed. at 6:30 p.m.

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Msg #536 Wednesday, December 10, 2008

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""Now these are the ones sown among thorns;

they are the ones who hear the word,

and the cares of this world,

the deceitfulness of riches,

and the desires for other things

entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful."

(Mark 4:18-19)

CHRISTmas is a spiritually difficult time for many…most. In one sense, the reality of that thought is filled with irony. In this season, the name of Jesus is spoken more of than any other time of the year. The secular world itself will be singing His songs, speaking His name, even quoting the Bible.

Will the Bible be fruitful this season in your heart? Will it be effective? Honestly, the outcome is in doubt. Let me explain. In the Parable of the Sower, quoted above, Jesus pictures God’s Word like seed that is planted and sown for the purpose of bearing a crop. Easy enough to understand so far, correct? The Bible is like a seed and your heart like a garden plot that the seed is sown into.

One of the issues Jesus helps us to see in the Parable of the Sower is why some seed that is sown never bears fruit. In this section of that parable – Jesus shows us one reason that God’s Word does not bear the fruit is because that seed…His Word – is choked out.

The Word is choked out! Picture a field, or a garden. You plant the seed – but the ground is full of weeds. Those weeds steal the water and the nutrition from the soil and thus making a harvest impossible. That is what Jesus says happens in many hearts with His Word. I suggest that this season of the year – this happens in huge ways.

What are the things that choke out the Word? Consider the list of three things that can keep His Word from impacting your heart as it should:

The Word is choked out by the cares of this world. The word “cares” has the idea of worry and anxiety. For most people the Christmas season is one of worry and stress. This worry and stress can so easily occupy so much of your heart… that very little is left for God and His word to make impact in.

The Word is chocked out by the deceitfulness of riches. Money is an allurement that draws many away from looking to and trusting in Christ. Christmas is a time where more money is spent and given than any other time in the year. Yet, riches are deceitful, they promise but don’t satisfy. Yet, sadly – many hearts will and are focused on money in consuming ways…missing the far greater riches of God and His Word.

The Word is chocked out by the desires for other things. Other things grabbing your attention and the focus of your life. Simply put – this is the time of year where most struggle with selfishness and covetousness more than they do at any other time.

Therefore the problem is that your heart might be cluttered! The passions, the time and the thoughts are clogged up with so many things This clutter keeps the Word of the Lord from making impact in your life.

The challenge then for this season and beyond is to purify your heart of these distractions and focus on the Lord and what He is saying to you. You may not be able to escape the business of the season and actually being busy is not necessarily bad. The issue is your heart! The issue is making sure that what you are focused on, living for is not the glitz and glamour that this season promises…and leaves people empty. The need is that you make sure You have time and focus for the Word of the Lord, the Bible, to make impact in your life.

Don’t let this day, this week, this season – be in vain. I challenge you to make sure that the Word of the Lord is not choked out in your heart by lesser things.