Fertile Ground

Good Morning and welcome in everybody. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from the book of Matthew.

Matthew 13 ¹⁸ Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. ¹⁹ 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.

²⁰ But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; ²¹ 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. ²² 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.

²³ 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.

How many of you have sat in a class for an hour, but when you finally left, you really didn’t understand anything that you had just heard. What’s the old saying, it went in one ear and out the other. I had that same problem with algebra. It was so bad that I got tired of even asking the teacher for help. None of it seemed to make sense at the time, because of which, it never took root in my mind.

To understand means to have a clear and complete comprehension of something. You might understand how to fix a kitchen sink, or how to play an instrument. Your understanding of these things resulted in your capability to do them, or perform certain tasks. To become a doer of God’s Word, we too must have a good understanding of Spiritual things, so we can become pleasing unto Him, and walk according to His purpose.

Colossians 1 ⁹ For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ¹⁰ That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

“Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:17

Some people are never capable of coming to the knowledge of the truth. They may know the Word of God, but rather than repenting, they continue to walk in their sins, which is the outward evidence of a complete lack of Spiritual understanding.

2 Timothy 3 ⁶ For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ⁷ Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

A seed can be planted in many different areas, but it needs to hit the right type of soil to grow. Sometimes God’s Holy Word is planted on stony ground, meaning that the heart doesn’t have the right conditions for the plant to grow and produce fruit. Their love for scripture doesn’t truly develop.

“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” 2 Thessalonians 2:10

In order for a plant to produce fruit, it must first survive the things that happen during the growing season. They can encounter all kinds of storms that will attempt to knock it down, and if it is not well rooted, it will simply fall over and fade away. As a Christian, one will have to endure persecutions and sufferings in this world as you lovingly submit yourself to God’s will. Most often, persecutions will begin from the closest relationships that you have, a spouse, your household, and other relatives or past friends. They will display hatred and animosity towards you because of your religious beliefs. This can cause major irritation because they don’t want everybody upset with them, so rather than maintaining their love for the Lord, they love the world instead. Just as Lot’s wife departed from her husband, these people will not endure loving obedience to Christ, and abandon the true faith.

Matthew 10 ³⁴ Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. ³⁶ And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

Here’s an Old Testament reference.

“For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.” Micah 7:6

When we have to deal with this type of hatred and persecution, you are partakers of the sufferings that Jesus Christ went through.

1 Peter 4 ¹² Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: ¹³ But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. ¹⁴ If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Many people weed their gardens so their plants have lots of room to grow. They will do the same things up here in the woods, as foresters will thin out a large plantation of trees. They will remove certain ones that are depriving others of much needed nutrients and sunlight. Once they are removed, growth is accelerated. In order to have a fruitful life you must remove the things in your lives that crowd out your perfect devotion and obedience to God. Rather than focusing one’s time and attention on God, some people will get caught up with the concerns of the world, choking out what is needed for eternal survival: God’s Word. Rather than redeeming their time to obtain spiritual treasures, their hearts are focused on temporal ones, leading them away from God, and into many hurtful lusts.

1 John 2 ¹⁵ Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

People who are covetous are completely focused on attaining more of something. They continually seek after it, which is a feeling that we should have towards the things of Christ. 

1 Timothy 6 ⁹ But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. ¹⁰ For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

It has always amazed me how many seeds are inside of a pine cone. One little seed can replicate itself many times over. We can have fruitful lives, but we must abide in Christ and His teachings.

John 15 ⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

“But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” Luke 8:15

In order to have a fruitful life, God’s Word must be planted inside of a humble and obedient heart. This is the type of soil that will produce Spiritual results, because it is …

……Fertile Ground

Let’s think about these things for right now.  We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc  where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️

tlkjbc.com