This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”. We have been studying the parable of the sower for months. In this parable Jesus talks about a sower who planted seed into four different types of soil. We have studied the first three types of soil, this morning we transition to the fourth: good ground. Let’s go back to Jesus’ explanation of the parable. Jesus said:
“The farmer is like someone who plants God’s teaching in people. Sometimes the teaching falls on the path. That is like some people who hear the teaching of God. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the teaching that was planted in them.
Other people are like the seed planted on rocky ground. They hear the teaching, and they quickly and gladly accept it. But they don’t allow it to go deep into their lives. They keep it only a short time. As soon as trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching they accepted, they give up.
Others are like the seed planted among the thorny weeds. They hear the teaching, but their lives become full of other things: the worries of this life, the love of money, and everything else they want. This keeps the teaching from growing, and it does not produce a crop in their lives.
And others are like the seed planted on the good ground. They hear the teaching and accept it. Then they grow and produce a good crop—sometimes 30 times more, sometimes 60 times more, and sometimes 100 times more.” (Mark 4:13-20 ERV)
So what does this mean to you today? Two things.
1. To become the good ground Jesus spoke of in the parable of the sower, one must ensure he/she is not one of the first three grounds.
a) To be good ground you cannot be like the wayside ground. These are people who receive the Word of God, but they don’t understand it. Because their understanding is unfruitful, satan is able to quickly snatch away the Word that was sown in their hearts. So when you receive a Word from God, meditate it, medicate on it, ponder it, consider it carefully, pray over it, and ask the Holy Spirit to give you understanding concerning it.
b) To be good ground you cannot be like the rocky ground. These are people who receive the Word of God, but they don’t allow the Word to go DEEP into their lives. They only accept God’s Word on the surface. They have a surface-level relationship with the Father and His Word. Don’t let this be you. Accept the Word. Allow it to go DEEP into your life. Make it the foundation for everything you do. As the Word permeates in and through you, you will find yourself living a Godly, holy and fruitful life.
c) To be good ground you cannot be like the thorny ground. These are people who receive the Word of God, but they allow their lives to become full of other things. These people give other things priority over God and His Word. Don’t let this be you. Give the Word first place. Choose God’s will over yours. Make Him the Lord of your life. If He is Lord, then He is in charge. Make sure He is on the throne, ruling, and you are on the cross, dying. This is how you get to live the life God destined you to live!
2. Being free of all the Blessing-Blockers of the first three soils, the good ground is in position to produce Godly harvest.
a) You don’t have to make the Word of God work. The power to work is already IN it. You just have to free yourself of all the things that will keep it from working in your life.
b) When you accept and apply God’s Word, you don’t have to ask God to bless it or to bless what you are doing. If you are doing the Word, it is ALREADY blessed. The key is simply ridding your life of anything that will block the blessing.
c) When you rid your life of all Blessing-Blockers, the Blessing of the Lord is able to flow freely TO you and then THROUGH you!
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus in 2016. This is my season. This is my time. I am ready to become the man/woman You called me to be. I am ready to walk in the fulness of my divine assignment. So I rid my life of every Blessing-Blocker. I heed Your warnings. I obey Your teachings. I become good ground. Your Word is sown IN me. It produces a harvest IN me first, and then THROUGH me. Your Word works in my life because I work the Word! Living this way I get to enjoy Your Blessing everyday of my life. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
