The sower of the seed planted seed on rocky and stoney ground (Matthew 13:20-22; Mark 4). When the sun came up the blade was scorched and because it did not take root, it died. Some seed fell on good ground; took root, and grew. Then came harvest time and the sower harvested the fruit and took it into the marketplace to sell. Some of the fruit sold for $10, $20, $30, and $40 or $50 a bushel. Such is the Word of God when it takes root. It brings forth good, hearty fruit that will produce an increase.
What is good ground? Good ground is a broken and contrite heart, a beaten down spirit. It may also be a joyous heart (God has been so good to me!). God has allowed situations in life to prepare a soul to receive the Word of God--trials, tribulations, hurt, despair, multiple challenges and successes (watered, toiled, and fertilized)--to accept Jesus into their life as personal Lord and Savior.
What is stoney or rocky ground? This is the hardness, wicked, evil and perverted heart with an ulterior motive. It is the heart inside of a soul that pretends to want or accept the Word but as soon as the sower turns its back, helps them out, or walks away, they curse the sower under their breath.
It is not up to the sower whether the seed grows. It is up to God who prepares both the sower to plant, and the seed to grow, and to subsequently produce a harvest.
When Jesus heard that Lazarus was dead he wept. He could have gone right away when He heard that Lazarus was dead but He waited three days after the body had rotted. (John 11) Then, when Jesus went to the tomb he shouted "Lazarus, come forth!". Jesus waited not because He wanted to, but that those who were watching would believe in the power of the living God to raise the dead.
Jesus is still raising the dead today. Accept Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and be born again.
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Exercise your authority to tread on serpents and to cast out demons. You are the head and not the tail. Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. Exercise your holy boldness.