HOW TO ACTIVATE THE WORD IN YOUR LIFE

Luke 8:15
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep [it], and bring forth fruit with patience.

Luke 8 goes into deep details about how a seed is planted. It can fall on bad ground and good ground. Read Luke 8 if you don't know the story of the seed and then come back here. Let's break down the verse above to see exactly how to cultivate the Word in our lives.

What is required of us?

1) Have an honest and good heart

Greek word for heart, "kardia" denotes the centre of all physical and spiritual life, the vigour and sense of physical life, the centre and seat of spiritual life, the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavours, of the understanding, the faculty and seat of the intelligence, of the will and character, of the soul so far as it is affected and stirred in a bad way or good, or of the soul as the seat of the sensibilities, affections, emotions, desires, appetites, passions, of the middle or central or inmost part of anything, even though inanimate.

My life coaching for sclerosis is spiritual and it deals with the kardia (heart). The "Central Nervous System" of the spirit.

Your heart must be honest. Greek word for honest is "kalos". It means:

1) genuine, approved
2) precious
3) praiseworthy, noble
4) beautiful by reason of purity of heart and life, and hence praiseworthy
5) morally good, noble
6) honourable, conferring honour
7) affecting the mind agreeably, comforting and confirming

Is your heart all of the above?
It also must be good... what did the author mean by good?
Good in the Greek is "agathos". The agathos definitions are similar to the kalos or honest definitions. They are:

1) of good constitution or nature
2) useful, salutary
3) good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy
4) excellent, distinguished
5) upright, honourable

Make sure these things pertain to your heart first. You can't go any further until you have met the previous criteria.

2) Hear the Word
Greek word for hear: "akouô"
Hearing in this sense means to attend to, consider what is or has been said,
to understand, perceive the sense of what is said. Are you even considering what God has said to you? Are you understanding that He cannot lie?

3) Keep the Word
Greek: "katechô"
Which means to get possession of, take. Possess the promises of God and what he has for you. Take it. Take it everywhere you go... don't be ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

4) Bring forth fruit with patience
Greek word for patience is "hypomonç"
Means:

1) steadfastness, constancy, endurance
a) in the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings
b) patiently, and steadfastly
2) a patient, steadfast waiting for
3) a patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance

Are you that New Testament man/woman? Are you not swerved from your deliberate purpose, which is to glorify God with your life. Are you loyal to your faith and piety no matter how big the trial and suffering? If you are... you are properly activating the Word in your life.

What's the good in having patience?
Hebrews 10:36
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

You will receive the promise! Continue to activate the Word.