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SCRIPTURE: Matt. 13:20-21 (AMP) -  "The one on whom seed was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and at once welcomes it with joy; 21 yet he has no [substantial] root in himself, but is only temporary, and when pressure or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles and falls away [abandoning the One who is the source of salvation]."

PK's PA: While reading "Gospel: Rediscovering the Power of Christianity", pastor and writer of this series, JD Greear, mentions something about this passage I hadn't heard before and I think really describes the state of the church today.  He says, "The second enemy of The Gospel is the failure to count the cost of following Christ.  When tribulation occurs because of The Word, this person falls away", which is explicitly mentioned by Jesus.  However, and catch this, he says, "Following Christ for a while is convenient in many cases, yet, when 'functional saviors' come into conflict with The Gospel, many people drop Jesus for something else they think will solve their problem."  If we're honest with ourselves, we've probably done this a time or two, and I would say that I thought at times I would be my "functional savior".  The problem is, which Paul later reasoned, that there is ONLY ONE (Ro. 7:25), and it is ONLY THE CHRIST who can save us; yet our hearts remain displaced for something bigger, better, faster or can offer us more.  The church has a HEART issue, and we really need to realign our hearts back to Christ, because ultimately that's what He wants anyway!