THE GOOD SOIL - Nuggets from Matthew 13:23

THE GOOD SOIL
(Nuggets from Matthew 13:23)

"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."

Culled from the PARABLE OF THE SOWER, Jesus used an agricultural phenomenon to pass a very important message on what becomes of God’s word when it meets a human heart?

In this verse Jesus reveals that hearing the message is ONLY the beginning; the true measure is FRUITFULNESS.

For a better understanding, let's take a look at the terms:

1. THE SEED FALLING ON THE GOOD SOIL:

This refers to “the word of God” that lands on a heart that is receptive and prepared.

2. THE GOOD SOIL:

 This refers to a heart made fertile by God’s grace, literally “beautiful/fine/excellent soil.” It is a heart that is humble, open, and teachable.

3. HEARS:

This refers to more than just hearing sound; it means to listen attentively and receptively with intentionality and readiness to apply what is being listened to.

4. UNDERSTANDS:

This means to comprehend, grasp, put the pieces together, gain insight. This is the decisive difference. It takes Divine illumination to UNDERSTAND God's word.

5. BEARS FRUIT:

This means to have visible evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life as a child of God, which will result in the manifestation of the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, making you obedient to God's words, reflecting in the good works you exhibit.

Though there are many that receive the grace of God, and the word of his grace, in vain, yet God has a remnant by whom it is received to good purpose for God's word shall not return empty, Isaiah 55:10,11. 

The main thing that distinguished this GOOD SOIL from the rest, was FRUITFULNESS. 

By this, TRUE CHRISTIANS are distinguished from HYPOCRITES, that they bring forth the fruits of righteousness. Such are disciples indeed, John 15:8. Jesus did not say that this good ground has no stones in it, or no thorns but there were none that prevailed to hinder its fruitfulness. Saints, in this world, are not perfectly free from the pollution in this world, but they are happily freed from the power of sin by having their hearts circumcised through SANCTIFICATION. 

The hearers represented by the GOOD SOIL are:

Intelligent hearers: They hear the word and understand it. They understand not only the sense and meaning of the word, but they personalize it and apply it in their daily lives. They understand it the same way a BUSINESSMAN understands his business and does not joke with it. God in his word deals with men as men, in a rational way, and gains possession of the will and affections by opening the eyes of understanding: whereas satan, who is a thief and a robber, comes in to devour and take away the seed that has been planted from the heart of the UNWARY CHRISTIAN.

Fruitful hearers: They are those who have a good understanding and bear fruits. They make good use of every information they receive in God's word. They are ACTIVE LISTENERS, not PASSIVE or INDIFFERENT.

You bear fruits when you practice the word of God you hear or read, when you fashion your life according to what you have heard in God's word, making you to conform to the image of Christ and align with God's principles and standards. Being a fruitful hearer means you do as you are taught.

It is evident in this scripture that not everyone bears fruits in the same measure, just the same way plants bear fruits in different measures; some a hundred-fold, some sixty, some thirty. 

Among fruitful Christians, some are more fruitful than others, but you should aim at the highest degree of FRUITFULNESS, to bring forth a hundred-fold, as Isaac's ground did (Genesis 26:12), abounding in the work of the Lord, John 15:8. 

If the SOIL IS GOOD, FRUIT IS RIGHT, HEART IS HONEST, those who bring forth but thirty-fold shall be graciously accepted by God, and it will be fruit abounding to their account.

Jesus Himself deliberately gave three different yields: 100, 60, and 30, all from the same kind of soil “THE GOOD SOIL”. This shows that all genuine believers are fruitful, but not all are equally fruitful. Matthew 13:23 teaches that the difference in quantity is not because some are “BAD SOIL” or FAKE CHRISTIANS; it is because, even among TRUE, REGENERATED, GENUINE believers, there are varying degrees of fruitfulness.

Some possible factors that could affect the yield in a believer leading to the different degrees or measures of FRUITFULNESS include but are not limited to:

• Different gifts, callings, and opportunities given by God - Romans 12:3-8; 1 Cor 12:4-11;
• Different degrees of abiding in Christ and the Word of God - John 15:4-5, 7-8
• Different measures of grace and faith - Romans 12:3
• Different levels of diligence, discipline, and obedience - 2 Peter 1:5-8
• Different sacrifices and suffering for the gospel (persecution can multiply fruit) - John 12:24
• Different seasons and spheres of influence (a local pastor vs. An Apostle). It matters a lot who plants the seed. If the planter does not know much about the seed, he or she would plant it casually and forget to do the necessary things needed for the seed to germinate.

An unenlightened preacher who lives in sin and is possessed with an evil spirit cannot make an impact that will yield any positive fruit as much as an enlightened preacher who is filled with the Holy Spirit and anointed. This is because you cannot give what you don't have.

The reason many Christians are underfed is because they do not have GOOD or QUALIFIED PREACHERS or TEACHERS to feed them with the word of God (SOW THE SEED) and most of them are not given the BALANCED DIET of God's word; they only hear PROSPERITY TEACHINGS but no one tells them about LIFE AFTER DEATH, ETERNITY, THE REALITY OF HEAVEN AND HELL, JUDGMENT DAY, etc. 

In summary, God wants every TRUE CHILD of His to BE A GOOD SOIL, and if where you are currently is keeping you malnourished, it is very okay to SWITCH CAMPS and look for a place where the word of God is preached without fear or favor, undiluted and unadulterated.

BE A GOOD SOIL, HEAR GOD'S WORD, RECEIVE IT,  UNDERSTAND IT, AND BRING FORTH BY BEARING FRUITS THAT WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME.

This is HOLINESS CHALLENGE

DAY 342 OF 365🔥
📹 THE GOOD SOIL