Receiving the Word

 

 Satan does not want a person to be saved.If a person has made it into the kingdom of God by being born again of water and of the Spirit (Acts 2:38), satan does not want that person to grow up in Christ to become fruitful and used by the Lord in ministry. 

One way to keep a believer from growing in the Lord, is to keep them from the acknowledgment of sin in their life. 

 Sin is revealed by the Holy Ghost working in a person’s life and directing them in paths of righteousness and holiness. 

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." - John 14:26 KJV

Sin is also revealed by the preaching of the word. 

"For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." - 1 Corinthians 1:21

Both of these ways make it clear to a person what things in their life are sin, allowing them to repent, turn away from these things, and to remove sin from their lifelif.Receiving the Word

If a person refuses to recognize something in their life as sin that has been revealed to them as sin, that sin is not repented of; it remains in their life. That person’s growth in the Lord is stifled. Their use in the kingdom is limited. They risk shutting the door for entrance into ministry and even on their  salvation. 

 According to the Bible, it is satan that takes away the preached word sown in a person’s heart. 

"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." - Mark 4:15 KJV

How does satan take the word that was sown in their heart? By tempting and lying to a person, which can result in that person's rebellion, disobedience, lack of submission, pride, arrogance, being contentious, being offended at the word…

In the garden of Eden, the word of God was sown in Eve's heart. Satan came and said to her, "...hath God said...?"questioning God's Word. (Genesis 3:1). 

Jesus said the devil was a murderer and a liar from the beginning, which we see in the case of Adam and Eve. (John 8:44). The devil lied to Eve, resulting in her disobedience to God's word, which resulted in Adam's disobedience to God's word, which resulted in death coming upon man. (Romans 5:12).

 God calls the ministry His gifts to men. (Ephesians 4:8). 

Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.

The ministry is for the perfecting (maturing) of the saints (believers). The ministry is for the purpose of helping believers to grow up spiritually. The ministry is for equipping believers so they will be able to stand against the wiles of the devil and not be deceived by false doctrines. The ministry is to teach believers to operate in love as one body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-16).