ARE YOU GOOD GROUND?

Jesus was sitting by the sea side and great multitudes of people gathered together on the shore. Jesus went into a ship and sat down and the people remained on the shore while He began to speak. He told them a parable about a planter (sower) who went to plant (sow) some seeds.

"And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold." (Matthew 13:3-8 KJV)

Jesus said that the sower began to sow the seeds and some of the seeds fell on the road where the sower was travelling. He said the birds came and ate those seeds. Some of the seeds fell upon the ground where there were a lot of rocks and very little arable land. These seeds sprung up quickly because there was no deepness of dirt and when the sun came up it scorched them because they had not taken root and they withered away. Some seeds fell among the thorns and the thorns rose up above them and suffocated them. But some seeds fell into good, arable ground and brough forth fruit. Some produced fruit by the 100's, some by the 60's, some by the 30's.

Jesus then had a discussion with His disciples and proceeded to explain the parable to them. He said:

"Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." (Matthew 13:18-23 KJV)

The seed is the Word of God and the sower is anyone who preaches, teaches, ministers or evangelises. He said that when anyone hears the Word and does not understand it, the devil comes, seizes the word and carries it off by force after it has been sown in the heart. He said this is the person who received the seed by the roadside.

Jesus also said that when anyone hears the Word and receives it with joy but the Word does not strike deep root and sprout with the intention of producing fruit, this is the same as a person who receives the seed into stony places. He said that this person holds the Word for a while even though there is no root. When tribulation or persecution rises like the sun this person becomes (offended) displeased and usually stumbles by beginning to distrust and desert God.

Jesus further explained that when a person hears the Word but allows the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches to stifle the Word, this person becomes unfruitful. He said this is the same as a person who receives the seed among thorns. The thorns are the cares and the deceitfulness of the riches of this world, which suffocate the young sprout and it bears no fruit.

Jesus lastly explains that the person who hears the Word and understands it will bear fruit and bring forth fruit multiplied by the 100's, 60's and 30's. He explained that this is a person who receives the seed into good ground.

I have had to examine myself, to see which one of these explanations from the parable above fit me. My family is currently mourning the passing of our beloved Patriarch. We are all deeply grieving even though we know he is with the Lord. I had been standing in faith for his complete recovery but he passed nonetheless. My heart is broken but I know that God's divine will is being accomplished to GOD's glory. I am good ground and I hope you all are as well. Pray that we all will understand the Word of the Lord, that it will strike deep root, spring up above the thorns and bring forth fruit multiplied by the 100's, 60's and 30's.

God Bless You!