Four Principles of Your Seed

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

Mark 4:26 And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 27 and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. 28 For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.

Four Principles from Mark 4:26-28:

1. The kingdom of God, and your life, operates on the principle of Seedtime and harvest. 
  • Gen. 8:22 “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night shall not cease.”
  • “..as if a man should scatter [sow] seed...”
  • Gal. 6:7, Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
  • The harvest, or results, we get from life come from the seeds of action that we plant, or of what others have planted into us.
2. A seed, once planted, gains the power to produce and increase. 
  • We don’t know how seeds grow even after many years on a shelf. It is not necessary to understand how seeds and the seed principle works. Just know that God designed seeds to produce after it is planted.
  • One thing is certain: If you do not sow a seed, you will never have a harvest.
3. Increase comes in stages. “For the earth yields crops by itself, first the blade, then...” Expect a harvest and look for signs of increase. When you see the “blade,“ or first evidence God's blessing, make your plans for continued growth and increase. Start sowing for the next harvest while reaping the current harvest.
  • Don't fret over the process or the timing of the harvest stages. Be thankful that God is honoring your obedience and keep sowing!
4. Our goal for reaping a harvest is not just to have success and more stuff, but to have “good success” (success God's way) and to establish God’s covenant in the earth
  • Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
  • We want to use our blessings to help establish God's work and the New Covenant for which Jesus gave His life.
  • Deuteronomy 8:17 then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ 18 “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 

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How to Remove Barriers: "Be Being Filled with the Spirit."

Tuesday, February 15, 2011 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

Eph 5:17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.

One of the biggest barriers to a fruitful life is emptiness in the heart and mind. Have you heard the saying, "Nature abhors a vacuum?" When there is emptiness, nature wants to fill that space. Your vacuum cleaner works on that principle. By removing air from the cleaner bag, the device then draws in particles. When the bag gets full, the vacuum effect weakens.

Notice this text in Matthew 12:43-45, “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first."

When people are "delivered," but afterwards do not fill the void with the Spirit and word of God, they become subject to the return of the same bad attitudes, habits, or demonic influences that formerly went out. Sometimes for a lack of wisdom and understanding the will of God, people constantly seek "deliverance" and "getting set free."

The best plan for removing barriers and living in lasting victory is this: "Be filled with the Spirit." 

Some commentators highlight that the verb used here is better understood as, "Be being filled with the Spirit." Staying full is not a one time event, but a daily pursuit.

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The Culture of the Righteous

Thursday, February 10, 2011 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

Matthew 25:37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Read verses 31-46 for context)

The Scriptures remind us that God's priorities are often different from our priorities. It seems that popular Christian culture is bent more in the direction of "me" than in the direction of "others."

One definition of culture is: "The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization."

The culture of "me" that permeates a lot of Christian activity and ministry doesn't square with the teachings of Jesus. Matthew 25 is a troubling read because it seems to make doing good deeds the basis of entrance into God's eternal kingdom. We must remember that this story is told to emphasize the importance of serving others, not a lesson in salvation.

The culture of the righteous is serving and giving, not receiving. Jesus identifies with people in trouble because he wants them to discover God's grace and power.

Those of us who are blessed and favored must cultivate a culture of service in others so that we do not turn inward and lose sight of Christ's priorities.

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Ready or Not, He Will Come!

Tuesday, February 08, 2011 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

Matthew 24:44, "So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

Today, we don't hear a lot about the return of Christ. As a matter of fact, I've heard people say that Jesus could not return today because the church is not ready for His return. "Could not" sounds like "not expecting" to me.

Readiness is a matter of perspective. The church in America does not necessarily look like the church in the whole earth. God always has people who love him, serve him, and are expecting his return.

The bottomline is what Jesus said, "Be ready!" The real issue is: What does "ready" look like?

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Finish Your work. Expect the Presence of God.

Monday, February 07, 2011 Bryan Hudson 1 Comments


Exodus 40:32 So all the work on the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, was completed. The Israelites did everything just as the LORD commanded Moses. 33 Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work.  34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

I have often read this text and I never ceased to be blessed. Millions of dollars (by today's value) of offerings and donations of items, untold man-hours of craftsmanship by artisans, attention to instruction, and devotion to God's presence, raised a portable "facility" in the wilderness. All of the work that went into building the tabernacle resulted from God's vision that was given to Moses.

Verse 32 says, "The Israelites did everything just as the LORD commanded Moses." Verse 33 says, "….So Moses finished the work." The people supported the God-given vision and the visionary. They helped Moses finish the work.

Verses 34-35 reveal the best part of the whole project! "…The glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle."

Until they finished the work, God's glory did not come. When they finished it, God's glorious presence invaded the space they created!

This is a simple and powerful message: Understand your assignment; Follow instructions; Finish the work; Expect the glory of God to come!

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Bezalel: The Great Servant No One Knows

Thursday, February 03, 2011 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

Exodus 31:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.

The Bible is full of well known people like Moses, who did great things for God in his generation. We say, "Moses built the tabernacle in the wilderness." Technically, Moses was RESPONSIBLE for the tabernacle and its articles. However, the man who actually built the tabernacle and crafted items such as the altar and Ark of the Covenant was Bezalel and a team of artisans.

God uses people of diverse gifts and skills to fulfill His purpose and bring substance to dreams and visions. The church is the Body of Christ. Senior leaders carry vision and great responsibility, but they are not alone. The church needs people like Bezalel who bring their gifts and skills to God's work. More important is the wisdom that God gives for that work.

Ask God to empower you to serve. Open your heart to GRACE to serve. Through Christ, let these words become true for you: "I have filled (your name______________) with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills.

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Change Your Mindset, Change Your Life

Wednesday, February 02, 2011 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

"Renewing the Mind" is a foundational reality in the Word of God. The New Birth changed your nature, bringing new life within through the redemption and power of Christ. What remains is the same mind, personality, and physical body as before.

Bascially a "carnal" (flesh-ruled) Christian is one who claims Christ in the heart, but lives according to the desires of the flesh, not according to the purposes and holiness of God. Romans 8:5 (NIV), says, "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires."

What is a mindset? 1) It is a belief that affect somebody’s attitude. 2) A habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how you will interpret and respond to situations

What is an attitude? 1) A personal view of something 2) A manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc., with regard to a person or thing; tendency or orientation of the mind.

The only way to consistently live "in accordance with the Spirit" is to allow the Word and Spirit of God to change your thinking, habits, and behavior. Refusing this change and growth is both foolish and dangerous. More importantly, there is no good reason not the change for the better since grace has been given to us for that purpose.

Read the following passages of Scripture from three Bible versions. While reading, ask yourself, "According to God's word, how should I think and order my everyday life?"


Rom 12:1 (NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Rom 12:1 (NLT) And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Rom 12:1-2 (Message) So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.


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