This morning, we continue our series on “The Parables of Jesus.” We will seek to glean “Pearls from the Parables.”
Before we get to the parable, let’s look at a scripture we have been looking at all year. This is something I believe the Lord wants us to meditate on.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us.
We have been looking at “The Mother of All Parables.” Let’s get back to it today. Jesus said:
(Mark 4:13-20 ERV)
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.
We have covered the first three types of ground (the ones that did not produce). Today we begin to discuss the good ground.
So what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. Why God wants me to become good ground.
The Word of God contains God’s character, attributes, and nature. One central point of this parable is that God is likening Himself to a sower who goes forth to sow seed. We know that the goal of sowing and reaping is for the seed to go into the ground and reproduce after its kind.
Everything reproduces after its kind. That’s a principle that we find in Genesis. You can never get oranges from apple seeds. Watermelon seeds can never produce pomegranates. Everything reproduces after its kind. So when the sower sows seed into the ground, he does it with an expectation that what is inside of the seed will reproduce after its kind. It will cause a harvest.
Now let’s apply this to our lives. The Word of God contains the character, attributes, and nature of God. God is the sower in the parable. His Word is the seed. Our heart is the soil. So when God sows his Word down into our hearts, he expects His Word to reproduce after its kind. God and his Word are one. He sows his character, attributes, and nature down into our hearts because that is precisely what he expects it to reproduce in our lives.
When you become good ground and you avoid the mistakes that the first three types of soil, the Word of God will produce the character of God, the attributes of God, and the nature of God, in your life. When people come in contact with you, they will come in contact with God.
2. God wants you to be good ground!
God’s desire for us is to become good ground, so His Word can take root and manifest in our lives. As we embrace His teaching and receive it with understanding, we begin to mirror His character, attributes, and nature. Just like a sower expects his seed to reproduce after its kind, God sows His Word into our hearts, fully anticipating that His likeness will bear fruit in us. When people encounter us, they are coming face-to-face with God’s divine essence radiating through our lives. So, don’t miss the revelation here! Embrace becoming good ground, and watch as the beauty of God’s nature shines forth in everything you do!
3. Avoid being like the wayside soil!
One of the soils Jesus mentioned is the wayside ground, where the Word of God falls, but understanding is lacking. If we want to be good ground, we must not overlook the importance of gaining understanding. Meditation is the key! Take the time to ponder God’s Word, meditate on its principles, and pray for revelation. As we dig deep into the truths of Scripture, the Holy Spirit will illuminate our minds, granting us understanding that will revolutionize our lives. Don’t let the enemy steal away the seeds of truth. Embrace meditation, and watch as God’s Word flourishes within you!
4. Avoid being like the rocky ground.
God wants us to be firmly rooted in His Word, just like the seed sown on good ground. The rocky ground represents those who receive the Word with joy but lack depth in their relationship with God. To be good ground, we must allow God’s Word to penetrate every aspect of our lives. We are not to be surface-level believers but individuals who allow the Word to establish deep roots in our hearts. As we build our lives on the foundation of God’s promises, we become unshakeable, and even in the face of challenges, our faith stands strong, and His Word produces an unwavering harvest in us!
5. Avoid being like the thorny ground.
The thorny ground represents those who allow the worries of life and the love of money to choke the Word’s growth. As good ground, we must prioritize God and His Word above all else. Don’t let the cares of this world steal your focus from the goodness of God. Instead, choose to make Him the Lord of your life, ruling and reigning over every situation. Align your desires with His, and let His Word be your ultimate guide. In doing so, you’ll see the distractions fade away, and God’s Word will flourish within you, producing a harvest of blessings beyond measure!
6. Powerful things happen when you remove all blessing blockers!
You are destined for an abundant harvest! But to experience the fullness of God’s blessings, we must address the Blessing-Blockers that hinder His Word from bearing fruit in our lives. When we embrace the Word and allow it to permeate every area, the power to work is already within it. We don’t have to struggle or beg for God’s blessings; they are already available. By eliminating distractions, doubts, and conflicting beliefs, we open the floodgates of heaven’s blessings to flow freely to us and through us. Get ready to witness God’s Word produce supernatural results as you become good ground, and the Blessing-Blockers are removed from your path!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me! I boldly declare:
I am good ground for Your Word to take root and manifest in my life. Your Word contains Your character, attributes, and nature, and as I embrace it with understanding, I reflect Your divine essence in all I do.
Just as a sower expects his seed to reproduce after its kind, I know Your Word will produce Your likeness and bear a bountiful harvest in me. When others encounter me, they encounter You shining forth in Your glory!
I meditate on Your principles, gaining understanding through Your Holy Spirit. I build my life on the foundation of Your Word, establishing deep roots in Your promises. Challenges do not shake my faith; Your Word produces a steadfast harvest in me.
I prioritize You, Father, over worries and worldly desires. Your Word flourishes in me, bringing forth a bountiful harvest of Your blessings.
By removing all Blessing-Blockers, I open the floodgates for Your blessings to flow freely. As a result, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
