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.
Last week, I introduced you to “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.
Yesterday, we looked at the rocky ground. We will go back to it again today. Jesus said these people, “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.”
Jesus identifies three issues with these types of people:
(1) They do not allow the Word of God to go deep into their lives.
(2) They keep it only for a short time.
(3) As soon as trouble or persecution comes (because of the Word), they are quick to give up!
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. If you expect the seed of God’s Word to work, you will prepare for the harvest and not give up on it.
— Jesus taught us that the “rocky ground” people only keep the Word of God for a short time. They give up before their harvest comes.
— Faith embraces the assurance that God’s Word will bear fruit in due time.
— If you trust in the faithfulness of God and in the promises He made you, you will never give up on what He said to you! You will anticipate the harvest with confidence.
2. While you are waiting on the Word to work and on God to do what He said, you must maintain your focus.
— Guard against distractions that may divert your attention from God’s Word.
— If the devil can get your attention for 5 seconds, he may have you distracted for 5 minutes. The devil does not have to stop you. All he has to do is distract you long enough to get you off the path to your destiny. If he gets you off course, you derailed yourself because you lost focus.
— One of the ways to say on the course is to meditate and medicate on God’s Word day and night. The more you remind yourself of what He said to you, the more apt you will be to stay the course, despite anything that comes your way.
Meditate on these verses:
(James 5:10,11 Message Bible)
Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You’ve heard, of course, of Job’s staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end.
3. Deep roots ensure stability.
— Jesus explained that one of the challenges with “rocky ground” people is that they do not allow the Word of God to go deep into their lives!
— What does it look like to allow God’s Word to take root deeply in your heart and life? It looks like a person who is so acquainted with and committed to the Word of God that it becomes the foundation for their character and conduct.
— If you build a solid foundation in God’s truth, you will be able to withstand the storms of life.
— The rain can come, the floods can flow, but your house will stand because it was built on the foundation of God’s truth!
4. Cultivate your spiritual garden in your heart.
— The Bible likens the Word of God to seed. Not just any seed, but incorruptible seed (1 Peter 1:23).
— In this parable, Jesus likens us to soil. He makes it clear that the seed of God’s Word is sown down inside the soil of our hearts.
— There is nothing wrong with the seed. The seed is never supposed to return to the sower (God) without producing a harvest. It is supposed to prosper in every heart in which it is sown (see Isaiah 55).
— You don’t have to make the Word of God work; you just have to let it do what it does.
— If you rid your heart of all blessing blockers (weeds), and you meditate on the Word God gave you, you will be cultivating the seed of God’s Word in your life, and it will produce CHANGE IN YOU and FRUIT FROM YOU!
— You water the seed in prayer and praise, you feed it with your faith, and you protect it by removing fear, doubt, and unbelief!
5. Stay receptive – always be OPEN to what God is saying!
— Jesus explained that the “rocky ground” people only keep the Word of God for a short time. As soon as trouble or persecution comes (because of the Word), they are quick to give up!
— One of the reasons why people give up is because they cannot see what God is doing in the moment. If they don’t think God is moving, they “move on” from what God said.
— If you maintain an open heart to the divine impulses of the Holy Spirit, He will speak to you about what He is doing. He will tell you that He is moving, even when you cannot see Him moving. As a result, you will be motivated to maintain your faith, despite challenges and opposition, knowing that your blessing is waiting for you on the other side of the storm!
— When you remain open, receptive, and teachable, you will be amazed at how long you can endure and wait!
6. Let God’s Word be your compass for daily living.
— There are answers to life’s challenges in God’s Word. But you must take the time to read it, meditate on it, and live it.
— Seek guidance from God’s Word at all times, especially in times of uncertainty or decision-making.
— When people come to me for advice, I don’t give them my opinion. I give them what God said in His Word. This way, I know the wisdom will come from HIM!
— God’s Word can be a light to your path. Allow His Spirit and His Word to illuminate the way forward, unlike the rocky ground people who, instead, choose to give up.
7. Live with an expectation of harvest!
— If you believe God and His Word, you will also believe that it will produce in your life. Therefore, you will enter every day expecting God to do what He said He would do in your life!
— Maintain a hopeful expectation of the blessings and rewards promised by God.
— This expectation will empower you to persevere in faith, knowing that the abundant harvest awaits those who remain faithful to His Word. GREATER IS COMING!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me! I boldly declare:
I am preparing for the harvest. I will not give up on Your Word. I expect You, Father, to do what You said You would do in my life!
I guard against distractions and meditate on God’s Word day and night.
I will not be swayed off course but will stay on the path to my destiny.
I allow the Word of God to take deep roots in my life. It becomes the foundation of my character and conduct, providing stability and strength to withstand any storm.
I cultivate my spiritual garden by removing all blessing blockers and meditating on God’s Word. I water it with prayer and praise, feed it with faith, and protect it by removing fear, doubt, and unbelief.
I remain receptive and open to what God is saying. Even in the face of trouble or opposition, I will not give up. I trust that God is always at work, even when I cannot see it.
I live with an expectation of harvest. 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!
