Effortless Change Part 4

Peter then added this in verse 19: We have also a more sure word of prophecy.

Peter had just talked about how he saw Jesus radiate light. He saw the glory cloud of G.o.d overshadow Him. He heard an audible voice out of heaven saying, "This is my beloved Son." (Matthew 17:1-9.) He had seen Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead and open up Bartimaeus' blind eyes. (John 11:43-44; Mark 10:46-52.) He had seen the power of the Lord heal the lame man and make him walk. (Acts 3:6-8.) Peter had seen all of these things. He was recounting the things he had witnessed, saying, "This proves what we've seen and heard is real." But then he came back and said, "We have something better than all of this." What could be better than seeing the visible presence and hearing the audible voice of G.o.d? What could be better than seeing Jesus perform all of these miracles?

Verses 19-21 say: We have also a more sure word of prophecy... Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of G.o.d spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Putting all of this together, Peter was saying, "We have something better than a visible representation of G.o.d, something better than an audible voice from G.o.d, something better than all of the physical, tangible miracles. The most authoritative thing that we could possibly share with you to validate the truth is the Word of G.o.d. The Word of G.o.d is greater than any other means for you to hear from G.o.d." Therefore, the Word of G.o.d is the strongest, most powerful way that we have to counter our fears and unbelief.

BACKWARDS.

This ought to be obvious. Yet in my dealings with people, most folks just want you to put your arm around them and say something encouraging. They'd like a little note with a chocolate from you. They'd like this or that. They have the Word with them, but they don't care what it says. They wouldn't say that this is true, but do they come up to me and ask, "Would you pray for me and give me a word?"

I'd have to answer, "Well, you have ten thousand words right there under your arm, on your night stand, or wherever your Bible is. Why don't you open it up and use it?"

The problem is most people don't honor the written Word of G.o.d the way that they would honor a prophecy or word of encouragement from a person, or some audible or visible sign. That's backwards, and it's precisely the reason that we have so much doubt.

The Lord will meet us where our faith is. G.o.d has spoken to many people through these different external means. I'm not against them. I know many people who have experienced these external expressions, and the testimony of what they heard, saw, and experienced lines up with the Word. I don't doubt that's G.o.d. I'm just saying that if you are more insistent, more desirous of a sign, an audible voice, a visible representation, something miraculous that will help you-that's just a temporary fix. Those things don't last very long. Circ.u.mstances change. Satan can come along and give you negative signs and such. But if you would just go to the Word of G.o.d, making it your absolute authority and viewing it as G.o.d speaking to you, then the Word will overcome any doubt you have. G.o.d's Word will confirm everything you need to know. It's the highest and best way of hearing from G.o.d.

PHYSICAL, TANGIBLE PROOF.

When one of the Lord's disciples, Thomas (often called "Doubting Thomas"), heard that Jesus was raised from the dead, He responded: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

John 20:25 In other words, "Unless it comes out of the spirit realm and manifests itself in the physical realm, I'm not going to believe. I need physical, tangible proof/That's the way most people are today.

Eight days later, Jesus showed up. Thomas was present this time. After inviting Thomas to inspect His hands and side, the Lord said to him: Be not faithless, but believing.

John 20:27 Thomas answered, "My LORD and my G.o.d" (John 20:28). Then Jesus said to him: Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

John 20:29 Jesus put the greater blessing on believing because of the Word rather than believing because of physical experience.

STEP UP.

This may not sound exciting because you look at the Word of G.o.d as being lifeless, dead, and dry. If this is your perception, it might be that you haven't gotten sincere and serious enough to have the Holy Spirit quicken the Word to you. I tell you, G.o.d's Word is alive. It's living. It's powerful. (Hebrews 4:12.) It's the most sure word of prophecy. (2 Peter 1:19.) A greater blessing and anointing would be released in your life if you could just take the truths of G.o.d's Word by faith and say, "I believe this is G.o.d speaking to me. I've had it revealed to me by the Holy Spirit, and I don't have to have three goose b.u.mps and two visions to confirm it. This is what G.o.d's Word says." If you would get that att.i.tude, and start believing and basing your life on the Word of G.o.d, you would experience a greater anointing and manifestation of faith through that than through all these other things people pursue. I've had it revealed to me by the Holy Spirit, and I don't have to have three goose b.u.mps and two visions to confirm it. This is what G.o.d's Word says." If you would get that att.i.tude, and start believing and basing your life on the Word of G.o.d, you would experience a greater anointing and manifestation of faith through that than through all these other things people pursue.

G.o.d wants to bring you up to this higher level. The very reason He may not have answered your pleas, cries, and begging for a dream, an angelic visitation, or someone to call out your name and prophesy directly to you is because He loves you so much. G.o.d doesn't want to keep you on the bottom rung of the ladder. He wants you to take a step up higher and begin to trust Him through His Word.

In 1978, my wife and I, and our two boys, went out to California to a West Coast Believer's Convention with Kenneth Copeland. At the time, I was pastoring a little church, so this was a major vacation for us. We pooled all the resources we had. I went there expecting to hear from G.o.d.

The Lord had been speaking to me about making a change in my ministry. I had always pastored churches up until that time, but now the Lord was speaking to me about starting to travel and minister much the way I do currently. This was a huge step of faith for me, so I went out to this conference really believing I was going to receive a prophetic word from G.o.d.

There were thousands of people at this convention. We sat way up in the balcony-in the nosebleed section. We were so far away, I'm not even sure Kenneth Copeland could have seen us from the platform. Yet, in my heart I was putting a draw on him and saying, "I'm believing for a word. Oh G.o.d, give me a prophecy."

"WHY DON'T YOU TRUST ME?"

Right in the midst of my praying and asking G.o.d for a prophecy, Kenneth Copeland started prophesying. He was standing way down there on the stage, but as he spoke, it looked like he was pointing right at me. I was shocked. I thought, "It worked! G.o.d is speaking to me!"

This prophecy basically went along the lines of, "Just do what I've told you to do. I've told you to get up and go for it. I'm going to provide for your needs. Take this step of faith. There's a change coming. You have to leave where you are, and go out into this promised land that G.o.d has given you."The prophecy also included some other powerful things.

Everything Kenneth Copeland was saying matched exactly, almost word for word, what G.o.d had spoken in my heart. I was just so excited. I thought, It worked! G.o.d is speaking directly to me! Then, at the end of the prophecy, Kenneth said, "Did you hear that Ed? That's for you." I looked down below and saw a man named Ed standing up downstairs on the main floor. Kenneth Copeland was actually prophesying to him. While I was praying and asking G.o.d for a word, I missed the first part of his comments identifying Ed as the intended recipient. So when I heard him say Ed's name, my heart just sank. I thought, Oh, G.o.d. I thought You were talking to me.

Then the Lord spoke to my heart and said, "If that prophecy had been for Andrew Wommack, would you have learned anything that I haven't already told you? Would you have received any new piece of information that I hadn't already revealed to you as you studied the Word and prayed?"

I answered, "No."

"Then why don't you trust Me instead of having to have all of these other things? Why don't you get to where My Word is sufficient?"

"FATHER, THAT'S IT!"

The Lord was lovingly rebuking me. Accepting His rebuke, I said, "Father, that's it! I'm not going to have to have three confirmations. I know what You've said to me in my heart." I made a decision. So right after that, we left the church I had been pastoring and I started traveling. It was a major change of direction in my life and ministry.

Most of us don't want to just take the Word. We're too insecure. We don't have confidence in G.o.d's Word alone and the Holy Spirit quickening it to us. We want to have everybody come and give us ten confirmations so that there is zero doubt. That's not how G.o.d usually works.

The Word of G.o.d is a more sure word of prophecy than anything else you could ever get. Take G.o.d's Word, begin to meditate on it, let the Holy Spirit make direct application to your situation, and then act on it-that's the highest form of faith you can possibly have. That's faith based entirely on G.o.d's Word alone. If you will take these wonderful truths and apply them to your life, you'll be transformed.

Chapter 10.

Read With Your Heart When I first started seeking the Lord, the parables in Mark 4 made a profound impact on me. They changed my life and set me on a course. They actually gave me a track to run on. I knew that G.o.d had some awesome plans for my life, and that there needed to be a tremendous amount of growth and change in me, but I just didn't know how to get started. I didn't know how to get from where I was to where I saw in my heart that G.o.d wanted me to go. As I was seeking Him, the Lord specifically spoke these parables to me. I still use them weekly, and very often daily. They've become woven into the very fabric of my life.

Jesus taught ten parables about how the kingdom of G.o.d worked, all on the same day that He ministered the parable of the sower. This is actually the most recorded information in one day of the life of Jesus that we have in all of the Word of G.o.d. You can see this by taking all the scriptures from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and putting them side by side chronologically, like they are in my Life for Today Study Bible and Commentary - Gospels Edition. It's really helpful to be able to see all of the Gospel accounts of one event right there on one page.

And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great mult.i.tude, so that he entered into a s.h.i.+p, and sat in the sea; and the whole mult.i.tude was by the sea on the land. And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine. Mark 4:1-2 At this point, Jesus began to teach what I call the parable of the sower: Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: And it came to pa.s.s, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Mark 4:3-9 FOUR TYPES OF GROUND.

Jesus spoke this parable about a man who went out and sowed seed. He didn't dig furrows and plant the seeds one by one. Back then, a person would carry some kind of a sack that would have all of the seed in it. He would just walk through the fields, throwing this seed and letting it land anywhere and everywhere. According to the parable, there were basically four different types of ground on which this seed fell.

Verse 4 reveals the first type of ground by saying: Some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

In other words, the seed never even got below the surface of the ground. The birds came and ate it before it ever took root.

The seed did begin to get beneath the surface of the second type of ground, but there was too much rock for the plants to grow. (Mark 4:5-6.) There was so much stone that there was no depth of earth, so the seed simply didn't produce properly.

The third type of ground had a good depth of earth. It began to produce, but there were weeds that choked the seed and prevented it from bearing fruit. (Mark 4:7.) The fourth type of ground brought forth fruit-up to one hundred fold return on the seed that was sown. (Mark 4:8.) SPIRITUALLY DULL.

After Jesus spoke the parable, His disciples came and asked Him for an interpretation. They thought this parable was just about someone sowing seed and how that seed germinates and produces fruit. They knew there had to be some spiritual application, but they didn't know what it was. So they asked Jesus for the interpretation of this parable. They also asked Him, "Why do you speak to these people in parables?" (Matthew 13:10.) He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Matthew 13:11-13 People have become hardened toward G.o.d. They just can't understand spiritual truth because their thinking is so inconsistent with the way G.o.d intended us to be. They're spiritually dull.

For this peoples heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Matthew 13:15 Although Jesus made this amazing statement to a group of people two thousand years ago, it's also quite descriptive of our day and age. He said "this people's heart is waxed gross." This is literally speaking of a step-by-step, incremental progression toward insensitivity. A person's heart doesn't just instantly turn against G.o.d and become insensitive and unable to hear from Him. It's a process.

SPIRITUAL CODE.

This word "waxed" literally refers to the way old-fas.h.i.+oned wax candles were made. They took a wick and dipped it into hot wax.

They kept dipping it again and again, putting on layer upon layer of wax until they had a candle.

That's the way our hearts have become. Through the process of being dominated by the things of this world, we've become spiritually insensitive. I'm not speaking simply of unG.o.dly things. Natural things can dominate our thinking, too. We're just so focused on all of the tragedy, news, entertainment, etc., that layer after layer we've insulated ourselves against spiritual thinking. We live and move in a physical world, and not many people really spend much time in the Word of G.o.d, in communion with Him, letting their heart listen and learn spiritual things. We become so consumed with physical things that after awhile, layer after layer of neglect acc.u.mulates and literally hinders the way that we think.

So one of the reasons the Lord gave as to why He taught in parables was because people's hearts have become so dull. They've "waxed gross." Their ears are hard of hearing. They have eyes, but can't see. The Lord can't speak to a lot of people today because they're so carnal. There isn't any spiritual sensitivity in them that allows them to be able to receive.

Inside of every person there's a spark. There's the potential for spiritual perception and receiving from G.o.d, but it must be developed. Since most people spend virtually no time focused on the things of the Lord, they've become spiritually dull. Since there's no way the Lord can speak to such people, He puts spiritual truths out there in parables.

Jesus went on to say that His disciples had a special anointing from G.o.d that enabled them to decipher and learn these spiritual truths. This is the second purpose of the Lord speaking in parables. Parables were like a spiritual code. The truths were hidden from people who didn't have ears to hear. To those who don't seek G.o.d and don't have a heart for Him, parables seem foolish and they reject them. But to those who have a heart for G.o.d, the Holy Spirit has been given to specifically decode and explain these truths. have ears to hear. To those who don't seek G.o.d and don't have a heart for Him, parables seem foolish and they reject them. But to those who have a heart for G.o.d, the Holy Spirit has been given to specifically decode and explain these truths.

But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

Matthew 13:16-18 "WHAT DOES IT MEAN?".

Jesus was explaining that these disciples had a special anointing. First John 2:20 says that you: Have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

The Holy Spirit is sent to us specifically to teach and explain to us things that we can't know with just our natural mind. (John 14:26; 16:13-15.) The Lord used parables as physical, natural examples that people could understand. This was an agricultural society in which He lived, so the people were used to seeing people sow seed. In a sense, they lived close to the ground. Yet, there were spiritual truths hidden behind and embedded within each parable that the Holy Spirit was given to reveal.

The same is true today. Some people ask, "Why was the Word written this way? Why didn't the Lord just record everything He wanted to say to us in a straightforward manner?"The truth is, we don't have the ability in just our physical minds to understand the spiritual truths that G.o.d is trying to communicate to us, so He had to put them in this form. However, the Holy Spirit has been given to every one of us to explain the Word of G.o.d.

Many people come against the Word, criticizing and saying, "The Bible is so hard to understand."That's because you're reading it with your mind. If you are trying to figure things out with just your natural brain, then yes, the Word of G.o.d would be difficult to understand. However, the Bible wasn't written to your head. Now, that doesn't mean it's not logical. It doesn't mean it's incorrect or senseless. G.o.d's Word is different than the natural things this world teaches us. It wasn't written to our carnal, natural mind. The Lord wrote the Word of G.o.d to our heart.

You can read G.o.d's Word with your heart. As you begin to read the Word, you may not understand with your natural brain everything you're reading. But as you come across something you don't understand, you can stop and pray, "Father, I don't understand this. What does it mean?" You then start meditating on that scripture, opening up your heart to listen to G.o.d and saying from your heart, "I want to know You. I want to know what Your Word has to say." G.o.d-through His Word-will begin speaking to you.

THE ROSETTA STONE.

Perhaps you've already experienced this before, so you know what I'm talking about. You may not be able to verbalize this experience any better than I have, but you recognize that there are things that you now know that are beyond just the words that you read on a page. It's what G.o.d spoke to you in your heart. Or perhaps you haven't experienced this before, so you're struggling to understand.

One of the greatest things in my Christian life is the ability to take the Word of G.o.d and read it with my mind, yet at the same time that I'm looking at the pages, I go beyond just my mind and I let my heart listen. G.o.d speaks to me. His Word comes alive. Life is literally pumped into me through the Bible. If you haven't experienced that, you're missing one of the greatest experiences of all.

This parable of the sower sowing the seed transformed my life. These truths that I'll be sharing with you for the rest of this book are some of the most foundational truths G.o.d has ever shown me. If the sower sowing the seed isn't one of your favorite scriptures-if it has not just transformed your life-then you're missing out on one of the most important keys to the Christian life.

After Jesus gave this parable, His disciples asked, "Why are You speaking to these people in parables?"The Lord answered: Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? Mark 4:13 Jesus was saying, "If you don't understand this parable, then you can't understand any of My parables. If you can't understand the interpretation and application to your personal life of this parable, then you can't understand My teaching." In other words, this is critical. I call this parable the Rosetta Stone of the Bible.

THE KEY.

For a long time, archaeologists had been excavating in Egypt. They found all kinds of Egyptian hieroglyphics, but they didn't have a key to unlock what those writings meant. n.o.body knew the language. There was a tremendous amount of information recorded by the ancient Egyptians, but it was all in these hieroglyphics that no one knew how to read.

Then one day they found this stone, which later became known as the Rosetta Stone. It had the exact same text written in three different languages, including the Egyptian hieroglyphics. Using the two known languages recorded on this stone enabled them to begin to understand the previously unknown hieroglyphics. This Rosetta Stone became the key that unlocked the entire language. Since then, they've been able to read and understand all of these records that the ancient Egyptians left us in hieroglyphics.

This parable of the sower sowing the seed is the Rosetta Stone of the Bible. Our Lord was saying, "Don't you understand this parable? If you don't comprehend this parable, how will you understand any of them?" This is the key to understanding all of the parables-all of the teachings-that Jesus gave. Christ Himself declared, "This is the key. If you understand this parable, you can understand any of them. If you don't understand this parable, you won't understand any of them." That's powerful!

This parable is a foundational teaching of Jesus. It's something that everyone who wants to prosper in the kingdom of G.o.d must learn. These are fundamental, foundational truths that we must operate in and base our daily life upon.

If the scriptures containing the parable of the sower sowing the seed (Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8) aren't some of the most important scriptures in your life-aren't scriptures that G.o.d has personally spoken to you -then that's one reason you don't have a clear understanding of the Bible. That's one reason you don't know how the kingdom of G.o.d works, and you're dependent on going to someone else to ask them for help. It's because you have no ability on your own to understand. You're dependent on other people who have developed themselves spiritually and learned how to relate to the Lord.

If you will embrace these scriptures, they'll change your life. You may be saying, "Enough already, you've sold me. Get on with it and tell me these truths!" It's not hard to understand the things of G.o.d. The hardest thing is getting people to listen with their hearts.

Chapter 11.

The Seed Jesus interpreted the parable of the sower for His disciples, saying: The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the l.u.s.ts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

Mark 4:14-20 Jesus was talking about a man who took seed and started throwing it everywhere. (That's the way they sowed seed in those days.) As he threw this seed, it landed on four different types of ground. He continued talking about how these four different types of ground responded, whether they allowed this seed to germinate or not. That's what the parable is about.

SIMPLE.

The real purpose of this parable isn't to teach you how to sow seed or be a farmer. Jesus simply took something natural that we could relate to and used it to ill.u.s.trate a spiritual truth. Mark 4:14 is the key to this entire parable: The sower soweth the word.

Luke 8:11 communicates it this way: Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of G.o.d.

The seed being sown is the Word of G.o.d. So this whole parable isn't really about how to be a farmer and get a crop. This parable is about how the kingdom of G.o.d works, and it works off of the Word of G.o.d.

People are always looking for something deeper and more complex, but this is so simple that you're going to have to have somebody help you to misunderstand it. The whole kingdom of G.o.d-the Christian life, your victory, your success as a believer-is as simple as taking the Word of G.o.d and sowing it in your heart. If you will just cooperate and let the Word of G.o.d germinate, you will change effortlessly.

DISAPPOINTED AND SURPRISED.

There are very specific reasons why Jesus chose to use a seed to ill.u.s.trate the way the Word of G.o.d works. That's because there is a great comparison between the way a physical seed operates in the natural realm and the way G.o.d's Word works in our life.

In the natural realm, we'd call anyone "crazy" who expects a garden to grow without tilling the ground, planting the seeds, or watering the seeds. If you didn't do any of these necessary things to grow a garden, you wouldn't be surprised when a garden doesn't grow up your life. Yet in the spiritual realm, this happens constantly.

People who never planted any seeds are disappointed and surprised that they don't have a garden. They wonder, Why am I not healed? Why haven't I been prospered? Why hasn't G.o.d answered this prayer? Why are my relations.h.i.+ps falling apart? Why can't I hold down a job? Why is it nothing in my life ever seems to work?They've been praying and asking G.o.d for all of these things, but they haven't taken His Word and the promises therein and sown those truths in their life.

Many of these people have come to me and said, "I prayed and asked G.o.d to heal me." I've asked them, "What scriptures are you standing on for being healed? What promise or promises-seed from G.o.d's Word-have you sown into your life to produce that hearing?"

They've answered, "I don't know what the Word says. I just know that it's G.o.d's will. I believe that G.o.d wants to heal me." But they don't have a scripture to stand on.

They don't have a promise. They haven't sown His Word into their heart.

PHYSICAL HEALING PROMISED.

There's benefit in knowing the addresses of promises in the Word of G.o.d. For instance, Isaiah 53:4-5 says: Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of G.o.d, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastis.e.m.e.nt of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Then in Matthew 8:16-17, this pa.s.sage is interpreted.

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias [Isaiah] the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

(brackets mine) This interpretation in Matthew reveals that Isaiah wasn't just talking about a spiritual, emotional type of healing. Since what Jesus did here in Matthew 8 fulfilled what Isaiah 53 prophesied, it's clear that we've also been promised physical healing through His atonement.

For more scriptures concerning healing, please refer to my audio recording ent.i.tled "Healing Scriptures," or to the section ent.i.tled "Is It Always G.o.d's Will to Heal?" located in the back of my book G.o.d Wants You Well.

NUMBER ONE REASON.