02/14/2024
One Sunday morning I was taking communion, and when the woman server handed me the body of Christ she told me to wait… that she really didn't know who I was but that God had spoken to her and told her to tell me "You are an honorable man". I thanked her and she hugged me. It was an incredibly spiritual moment and I just didn’t know what to say or think, so I went home that day and searched scripture for “honorable man”, then I asked a man named Jack Hughes, who is my spiritual mentor, what this woman’s name was, and he responded that she was Pastor Linda Clark; the wife of Pastor Forman Clark, and the mother of Pastor Jay Clark. As I studied, the scripture one verse kept presenting itself to me, it was 1 Samuel 9:6, and I prayerfully mulled it over and over in my mind.
“And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.”
1 Samuel 9:6 KJV
The evening following the service in which I was given this Word, was the night when my Intercessory Prayer team met, and I sought the wisdom of my mentor Jack Hughes once again. I told him the entire story in great detail, and I asked him what he made of the Word I was given, and what he thought I should feel or do with the scripture that the Holy Spirit had led me to. His response was quick, direct, and quite simple… “Rejoice in it”. That was it… no great detailed set of instructions, just these three simple words “Rejoice in it”. So I went back to scripture and in fervent prayer I searched until at last I was led by the Spirit to the book of Matthew, and Jesus’ explanation of the Parable of the Sower.
““So listen to the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path. And the one sown on rocky ground — this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away. Now the one sown among the thorns — this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But the one sown on the good ground — this is one who hears and understands the word, who does produce fruit and yields: some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times what was sown.””
Matthew 13:18-23 CSB
It seemed that I had now been given a choice to make. I had to decide what kind of ground I was meant to be, and this would determine how the Word I had received would grow, or not grow, into fruit within me.
So, having deciding that I wanted to be good ground, I told my Pastor what was happening and the verses I had been given (1 Samuel 9:6, and Matthew 13:18-23)… I was hoping for further guidance regarding what had occurred, but he simply said “That tells me that she is a servant of the Lord.” He didn’t give me any insight into what the Lord had told me, no, he had only reaffirmed the authenticity of the messenger who had delivered that message to me.
So when we are given a Word, and we are confident it is from the Lord, there are two things we must do… first we need to go to scripture and prayerfully study and ask the Lord for its meaning in our lives, and then we need to determine how we will receive this seed that has been given us. Will we be like the rocky ground, thorny ground, or good ground? How will we let the Father’s seed grow within us? Each of us will face a similar situation in our lives of faith, and as we walk with Jesus. It might not be so dramatic, and may come to us in a small still voice that is barely audible, but God has a will, and plan for us all. No matter how it is delivered, the questions that must be asked are the same… Is this you who is speaking to me Father?”, “What do you mean for me to do Lord? And finally we should ask ourselves, “What kind of ground will I be to this seed that God has cast?”
Have you faced something like this in your spiritual walk before? Are you facing it now? I pray that you will hear the voice when it comes, and that you will be spiritually fruitful… beyond your wildest dreams.
Prayer:
Father, we thank you for your will and the plan that you have for each of us, and we thank you for delivering them to us in so many various ways. We thank you for allowing us to hear your voice, to see you in signs, to dream dreams, or to recognize your angels when they come with your message. Lord, we thank you for reaffirming each of these Words you give us so that we can prepare the ground for you, receive your seed, and do your as you command. Help us Lord God to be good and faithful servants to your will, and to be obedient in all that you would have us do. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who calls our name, and asks us to do amazing things for you and your kingdom. Merciful, kind, and full of grace, are you who loves us, and asks us to do the hard things in faith, just like you asked Noah, Moses, and Jesus, to do. We pray that you will prepare us like fine soil to receive your seed, and that you will find us willing as you tend it within each of our lives. Rain down upon us Heavenly Father, and nourish us with your Word, as your fruit begins to blossom, and then matures into fruit. In this way, and in all we do we will praise you, worship you, and give you all the glory. See in us the garden of Christ, and walk with us in it for all eternity… our Abba, and the true love that gives us life everlasting.
Rich Forbes