THE STONE OF TRIBULATION
Matthew 13:20–21 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and anon with joy receives it; yet has no root in himself, but endures for a while: for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, by and by he is offended.
Jesus talks about four kinds of soil in the parable of the sower. This parable is found in all the Gospels except John. This parable is so important to understanding how to receive from the Lord. The four soils represent four different kinds of people or four different conditions of someone’s heart. We can’t ignore this. Why is it when people sit in the same room, hear the same message, and the same anointing is present for them to receive, that we get different kinds of results? The reason is the condition of people’s hearts, their kardia, the center of them. The heart, or kardia, is where you believe from. You believed in your heart to get born again.
Jesus said that one of the types of soil is called stony ground. In this type of soil, the people hear the anointed Word of God ministered, and they receive it with joy, but nothing ever produces. You can see the start of a plant, but there is no root system and, therefore, there is no fruit, no answered prayer. The reason for that is there are stones in the soil. These stones prevent a root system from forming, which keeps this person from receiving what the Word of God promises, even though they know it’s true and possible and that they received the promise with joy.
One of the stones is tribulation. Tribulation is distress or suffering resulting from oppression or persecution; it is a trying experience, a grievous trouble, or adversity. Tribulation comes to every born-again believer. It’s not if it comes; it is whether you let it in your heart and keep it there. It is a choice whether you let the tribulation in you or you overcome it. Jesus made a way for us to overcome tribulation. John 16:33 says, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Jesus said you are going to have tribulation, you are going to have trying experiences, grievous troubles, but cheer up because Jesus overcame them so you can overcome them. Do not let these tribulations in your heart, or if you have the effects of them in your heart, get them out! Remember Romans 8:35 says that nothing shall separate us from the love of God, and one of the things mentioned is tribulation. Don’t let anything the devil brought, including tribulation, move you away from the love of God, the Word of God, and even the people of God.
Remove the stone of tribulation!