06/11/2026
Another reason it is so important to keep our soil good is this: it is not if offenses will come, but when they come. And without good soil, it is impossible to overcome a spirit of offense.
When the condition of our soil is not right, offense easily takes root. People can begin to build mindsets and sometimes even doctrines around their wounds. Yet in reality, offense is nothing more than an attempt by Satan to derail individuals spiritually and keep them from their eternal destination. If we neglect the condition of our soil, we place our souls in danger. It is that serious.
Our ability to endure reveals what kind of ground we truly are. Jesus teaches this clearly in the Gospel of Mark. In Mark 4:17, He explains that stony ground receives the Word with gladness, yet has no root in itself. When affliction or persecution arises for the Word’s sake, immediately it is offended.
If offense, persecution, and affliction cannot stop you from serving God, then you are good ground. But if every offense causes you to withdraw, to quit, or to abandon your walk with God, that may reveal stony ground. Endurance brings forth fruit; quitting only brings forth rocks.
If our soil is truly where it needs to be, then when offense comes and it will it will not take residence. It will not pe*****te deeply into our spirit. However, if we continue to dwell on an offense, rehearse it, and nurture it, that is a sign we may not be where we think we are spiritually.
Scripture warns us not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought (Romans 12:3). And again, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12,
But here is the key: falling is not the same as failing. “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again” (Proverbs 24:16, KJV). The difference between stony ground and good ground is not that one never falls it is that one refuses to stay down. A righteous person may stumble, may face discouragement, may even feel the weight of offense but they rise again. They repent. They realign. They rebuild. They refuse to let offense define their future.
Jesus also taught us to count the cost (Luke 14:28). Living for God requires commitment, endurance, sacrifice, and perseverance. If we are going to stand in these last days, we must determine in advance that we are willing to pay the price through prayer, fasting, faithfulness, humility, and unity.
At Statesboro United Pentecostal Church, we are experiencing a Nehemiah moment right now. Just as Nehemiah rebuilt the walls amid opposition, distraction, and resistance, we are building, praying, and pressing forward. And whenever there is building, there will also be opposition. Whenever there is progress, there will be pressure. But we must not allow offense to stop the work God is doing among us.
Brothers and sisters, we are closer than ever to the fulfillment of God’s promises. The shaking happening across the world is not new it has occurred since the beginning of mankind. But we must keep our eyes on Jesus. Anyone who neglects prayer, fasting, reading the Word, faithful fellowship, and refraining from discord is vulnerable to falling no matter who they are or what their name may be.
If we have abandoned early morning prayer, withdrawn from seasons of fasting, neglected Bible reading, or become inconsistent in faithful church attendance, we deceive ourselves if we believe we are fully prepared for the Lord’s return. The condition is not merely belief it is the condition of our soil and how we maintain it.
Let us look in the mirror today and honestly reevaluate where we stand. Our words and our responses to pressure will reveal the true condition of our hearts. Let us love one another, pray for one another, and remember: by the grace of God, any of us could fall. But the righteous rise again.
Therefore, let us guard our soil diligently, count the cost carefully, rise when we fall, endure faithfully, keep building, and remain deeply rooted so that we may bring forth lasting fruit.
YES WE CAN, STATESBORO.
YES WE CAN.
Bro. Watts