Mensa Otabil - Some Fell On Good Ground
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We’re still with the parable of the sower, and we’re looking at the seed that fell on good ground. That’s what we’ll be focusing on. Matthew chapter 13, verse 8 states, «But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.» So far, we’ve seen the seed of the farmer falling on all the wrong and unproductive soil, but finally, we see the good seed that falls on good ground, and we are introduced to it.
Now, when you look at the parable, it may seem as if the majority of the seed fell on bad circumstances. If you averaged the percentages, it would appear that three-quarters fell on bad ground and only one-quarter fell on good ground. However, that’s not the only way to interpret the passage. When you examine the passage, especially when it discusses the good ground, it mentions «some» yielding this amount and «some» yielding that, and then it presents percentages. In other words, the majority of the seed fell on good ground and yielded a harvest for the farmer. That’s what we want to trust God for: that most of us will receive the word of God well and that it will bear good fruit in our lives.
Good ground is what every sower aims for when sowing their seed. It is fertile, well-plowed, ready to receive seed, and it refreshes the person whose heart is prepared, whose mind is led, and who has purged themselves of every limitation that would hinder the word of God from penetrating deeply into their hearts so that when it enters, it begins to bear great fruit. However, upon closer inspection, the good ground doesn’t yield the same fruits for every seed; some will yield a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty. In other words, everyone is productive, but productivity is not uniform.
Why is that? Because people apply the word of God in different measures to their lives. There are individuals who accept the word of God for the salvation of their souls, which is, of course, the most important aspect, but it is not the only one. Just because it is the most crucial does not mean it is the sole focus. Some people are content with just being saved; they want to go to heaven. Then, there are those who say, «I want to be saved, but I also want to be filled with the Holy Spirit,» so they are now receiving more from the word of God. Others say, «Yes, I want to be saved, I want to receive the Holy Spirit, and I also want healing.»
Then, there are people who desire all these three benefits, and they also want God to prosper them. Each individual will bear fruit according to how well they apply the word of God to their lives. If you apply it only in a limited sense, that will determine the fruit you produce. However, you can receive much more than that. So, how much do you want to harvest from the word of God? Do you want a hundredfold, sixty, or thirty? I don’t know about you, but I want it all—everything that God has for me. I want to be everything that God desires for me to be.
We must recognize that the same God who saves us from sin also heals our bodies. The same God who saves us from sin also prospers us. The same God who used David in the past to fight Goliath can also empower me to fight my battles and win them. If I see God only as my Savior but not also as the one who teaches my hands to war and grants me victory, I may be saved yet lose all of life’s battles. If I don’t recognize Him as the one who prospers me, I will be saved but will not prosper.
We must allow the word of God to permeate not just one layer of our lives but also to give us a hundredfold harvest, and I pray that God will bestow upon you a hundredfold harvest of His word. If you’re ready, you can receive it in Jesus' name. Well, let’s pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, help me to prepare my heart as good ground for your word.» In Jesus' name, amen.
I trust that God has blessed you. I hope you’ve been encouraged and are going to bear a hundredfold result. I’m pastor Mensa Otabil, shalom—peace and life to you.