What Does Your Gound Look Like?
Mark 4:14-20 KJV
The sower soweth the word. [15] And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. [16] And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; [17] And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. [18] And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, [19] And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. [20] And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
The seed is the word of god. The ground is the heart of man. The sower is Jesus (and later, His messengers.) The word must be received (mixed) with faith in the hearer in order to profit (Matthew 13:3; Hebrews 4:2)
You will become offended if your ground condition isn't right, offense leads to bitterness, bitterness will cost you. You may backslide if your ground condition isn't right. You can't produce ripe fruit with a rotton spirit.
Storms will come. That is inevitable. But with Jesus we will may make it. We will,as long as we don't let go of Him. As long as we hear His word and let our faith grow.
Mark 4:36-41 KJV
And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. [37] And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. [38] And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? [39] And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. [40] And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? [41] And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Traveling with Jesus does not mean absence of trouble, but it is always the safest place to be. Matthew reveals that the ship was covered by the waves (Matt 8 :24) Luke adds that they were in Jeopardy( Luke 8:24)
I heard a preacher say one time, that "God can sleep through the storms, but he cannot sleep through the cries from his child." That has forever stuck with me.
Matthew 8:24-27 KJV
And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. [25] And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. [26] And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. [27] But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
Jesus' authority over the storm that appeared on the Sea of Galilee identified Christ as both the Creator and the ruler of the natural world. Only God has power over the forces of nature.
Luke 8:24 KJV
And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, Master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
With the waves overlapping the sides of the boat, they were in danger of sinking.
"Rebuked" is the language of exorcism. Demonic forces sought to capsize the boat and send them into the deep.
Luke 8:25 KJV
And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
Bringing us back to the ground. And what we are sowing.
Mark 4:23-29 KJV
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. [24] And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. [25] For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. [26] And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; [27] And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. [28] For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. [29] But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
The extent of receiving is determined by interest and desire. Conversely, not valuing what Jesus gives results in it being taken away. To not use it is to lose it (Matthew 25:28)
This is one of the great wonders of the kingdom of God - that things are happening below the surface. No one will understand everything. Compare this to Ecclesiastes 11: 1-6 with the instructions to keep casting, give a portion of seven and to eight, and to sow in the morning and the evening for one does not know what will be produced.
"Full corn" refers to wheat or grain, in general. Like the natural, many things in the spirit involves process.
The harvester did not cause the seed to grow. One plants, another waters, but it is God who gives the increase. Yet the man benefits from the growth.
"We grow from the things that destroy us "
I've heard this alot and want to use it biblically.
What this means is we must run to Jesus, if we want the things that is trying to destroy us to grow us during our storms, during the times of pain and persecution and the times we are being destroyed, physically, spiritually and yes even mentally. A ill mental mind is the devils playground. With Jesus is the only place we can grow from the things that try and destroy us.
First off we must have faith. Without faith it's impossible to please God. Faith comes by hearing of the word. And our hearing activates that faith.
Romans 10:17 KJV
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
" Faith cometh by hearing" the word of God. Preaching is distinct to all other forms of speech. It is an annointed forthtelling, a proclamation of the Good News, but with a unique unction, an anointing, which empowers it with other- world authority.
Romans 10:18 KJV
But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
"Hearing" in verse 17 means to embrace by faith and to act in obedience. In this verse, to "hear" simply means no more than to hear with the ear - "their sound went into all the earth, and their words into the ends of the world."
Which brings us back to the what does your ground look like?
Is it by the wayside where any Ol thing can devour it up? Meaning you are hearing the word but not hearing the word. So it's easiest to walk away and backslide because you are not" sowing" enough at all.
Mark 4:4 KJV
And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
Is it on stony ground? Where theres not much "earth" to nurture it and bring it to fruition, where there is no root and the "sun" scorched it and it withers away. Meaning that you are hearing the word but not getting the word rooted deep inside of you. You're hearing the word but there is no depth to your walk with God. So backsliding is a lil easier when offenses come & the cares of this world are heavy upon us, and affliction, persecution and more come upon us. It takes alot to get the word rooted deep inside of us. Falling in love with Jesus has to be #1! Feasting on & obeying God's word, hearing & obeying an annointed man of God, going to the altar, dying daily, fasting. It takes a walk with God to be rooted. It takes dedication and consecration.
Mark 4:5-6 KJV
And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: [6] But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
Mark 4:16-17 KJV
And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; [17] And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
Is it among the thorns where thorns will eventually destroy it? Meaning you are hearing only what you want to hear in the word, or from your Pastor, mayb you are jus attending church and "hearing". When deceit reaches for you it's much easier to be decieved because you have sown among thorns. You have not put any work into sowing your seed & the cares of this world set in, and the daily battles of life and the fleshly carnal man are heavy upon you. The other thorns will destroy you!
Mark 4:7 KJV
And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
Mark 4:18-19 KJV
And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, [19] And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
Or is it on good ground where it is not only heard but acted on as well. When It is taken care of on good ground, it will bring forth good fruit and a harvest. This is a place of dedication and consecration. You must take care of your relationship with Jesus, jut as you do when growing any fruit. The end goal is a harvest. (souls, and you growing, and of course Heaven.) Because it's only through that care that something bigger can be grown. The deceit will come, but won't decieve us. The offenses will come, but won't offend us. The persecution will come, but won't persuade us. The heaviness of life will come, but won't hinder us. The warfare WILL Come but won't destroy us!! You must have good ground to grow your seed to fruition against all offenses and all odds!
Mark 4:8 KJV
And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
Mark 4:20 KJV
And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
There is hope for those with these ground conditions. Nevertheless, not all who begin to follow the Master will continue successfully. Ultimately, fruitfulness is an essential requirement of discipleship. Fruitless was will not make it. And there must be a root to produce that fruit.
Here is revealed the intended result of sowing the word into hearts, that is fruit bearing.
You can't have the fruit without the root,
SIs Jenn Maddox
Oct 13,2023
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