In last week’s podcast, we took a look at what a parable was and what the disciples understanding of Jesus message was. In this week’s podcast, we are going to begin to look at the different types of unfruitful ground so that we might learn and align ourselves with God’s plan for our life. Jesus mentioned three types of unfruitful ground; Wayside Ground, Stony Ground, and Thorny Ground. Let’s take a look today at the first type of ground, wayside ground.

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The Most Important Clue to Avoid Becoming Wayside Ground

Mark 4:4 (KJV)
4 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.

• In His explanation to the disciples, what did Jesus tells us about way side ground?

Mark 4:15 (KJV)
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.

• He told us seed sown by the sower on wayside ground doesn’t stay around long enough to germinate because Satan comes immediately for it and takes it away.
• What does that mean? How can we overcome it?

Matthew 13:19 (KJV)
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.

• According to Matthew the problem with wayside ground, was the hearer didn’t understand what he heard.
• Lack of understanding the Word is the only element which makes potential harvest-able ground Wayside ground.

Whose Responsibility is It to Understand God’s Word?

• According to Jesus understanding is in the realm of the hearer.

Definition: understanding – to understand, comprehend, put together, have insight into.

• We have traditionally thought understanding was the realm of the preacher, or Bible teacher.
  • That it was his or her job to help us with understanding the Word.
• But it was the hearer who had the Word stolen from him not the sower.
• We thought if the preacher would preach it better, if the teacher could teach better, understanding would be ours.
• Are there any areas of Gods’ Word which you are failing to grasp or understand?
• Follow the advice of Proverbs 2.

Proverbs 2:3–5 (KJV)
3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, And liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, And searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God.

• Are you crying out for knowledge?
• Are you lifting your voice for understanding?
• Are you seeking understanding as you would silver or in other words do you apply the same discipline to the study of God’s Word as you do getting up and going to work every day?
• If you are, then you have successfully fulfilled your responsibility to God’s Word.
• It’s His job to get understanding over to your spirit.
• Think about what Proverbs 2 is saying to you with respect to the engagement of God’s Word.
• It’s saying your heart must be in position to hear God’s Word BEFORE you ever try to engage God’s Word.
• You have to prepare to prosper.
• You have to get ready to grow.
• Being nonchalant and dispassionate about God’s Word is a sure signal for crop failure.
• Don’t just try to wing everything. Successful life is lived on purpose with purpose.
• Being casual with God’s Word is lukewarm living (Rev. 3:16).
• Being ‘spewed out of Jesus mouth’ is hardly a picture of a fruitful life.

[Tweet “Being nonchalant and dispassionate about God’s Word is a sure signal for crop failure.”]

Paths to Understanding: Pray for It

Ephesians 1:16–18 (KJV)
16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

• Paul is praying for the Ephesians that the eyes of their heart might have understanding in the knowledge of God.
• You can pray this prayer for yourself.
• If you desire your heart to harvest God’s Word, if thirty, sixty, and hundredfold returns of His Word appeals to you, then make friends with understanding.
  • Become buddy buddies with insight.
  • Crave it.
  • Have a passion for it.
  • And bug God until the answer comes.
• If understanding is missing, Satan comes immediately to take the Word which was sown.
• Crying out for understanding brings the Spirit of Revelation on the scene which shuts down Satan’s operation.
• Praying for revelation shuts the devil out because if you ask, you will receive.
• If you seek you will find.
• If you knock, the door will open and there is nothing the enemy can do about it.
• The enemy does not have access to the ‘understanding’ transaction between you and the great teacher, the Holy Spirit.
• That transaction takes place in your heart and the enemy has no access to your spirit.

[Tweet “Crying out for understanding brings the Spirit of Revelation on the scene which shuts down Satan’s operation.”]

Paths to Understanding: Engage the Ministry of the Holy Spirit

• Meditating the Word gives you access to the Holy Spirit’s ministry of teaching you the sayings of Jesus.

John 14:26 (KJV)
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

• Look at the impact of the Spirit of God in the ministry of Jesus.

Isaiah 11:2 (KJV)
2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and might, The spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;

• Notice the effect of the Holy Spirit who rested on Jesus.
• He came upon Him as ‘the Spirit of wisdom and understanding’.
• We are not shut out of this ministry.
• The same Holy Spirit who came upon Jesus is available to come upon you.
• 1 John 2:27 confirms this.

1 John 2:27 (NKJV)
27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

• The anointing, in the person of the Holy Spirit, will teach you concerning all things.
• He will give you understanding and such input from Him guarantees that you will not be way side ground.
• The Holy Spirit is the inspiring power behind the Word.
• It is by His moving that we have the scriptures in the first place.
• If anyone knows what a Bible passage means, it’s Him.
• Develop a relationship with Him. Talk to Him about the Bible.
• Ask the Holy Spirit questions.
• His ministry is to lead you into all the truth about God.

Paths to Understanding: Meditate on the Word

• How did Jesus have such an understanding of God’s Word?
• Jesus statement in John’s gospel is critical in coming to grips with this question.

John 14:12 (KJV)
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

• Jesus did nothing in His earth walk as a result of His powers as God.
• The Bible plainly states Jesus emptied Himself.

Philippians 2:6–7 (KJV)
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

• Jesus was not born full of the wisdom and foreknowledge of God.
• He emptied himself.
• He had to grow in wisdom and understanding.

[Tweet “Jesus did nothing in His earth walk as a result of His powers as God. The Bible plainly states Jesus emptied Himself.”]

Luke 2:52 (TNIV)
52 And as Jesus grew up, he increased in wisdom and in favor with God and people.

• Jesus had to advance in wisdom and progress in understanding.
• He had to develop His capacity to function according to the understanding He gained.
• Jesus had to grow and so do you.
• What was true concerning Jesus is true concerning you.

How Jesus Grew in Understanding

• Now, if we can find out how He grew. Then we can do the same thing.
• Do you remember Jesus in the Temple asking the teachers questions?
• Do you remember the teacher’s reactions to Jesus questions?

Luke 2:46–47 (NKJV)
46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.

• The teachers were astonished at Jesus understanding.
• Where did Jesus get such understanding at such a young age?
• It didn’t come by osmosis.
• He didn’t go to sleep one night in the manger and wake up the next morning with more understanding than the doctors of the law.
• Now, it is true that by the age of 12, Jesus was already studying scripture.
• From a religious education standpoint, how was Jesus reared?
• This passage from the Mishnah, the oral law of the Jews gives us a clue about what may have been the education of Jewish boys during this time.

At five years of age, one is ready for the study of the Scripture, at ten years of age one is fit for the study of the Mishnah, at the age of thirteen for bar mitzvah, at the age of fifteen for the study of Talmud, at the age of eighteen for marriage, at the age of twenty for pursuing a vocation, at the age of thirty for entering into one’s full vigor (Avot 5:2l).

• According to the tract, five year olds were already studying the scriptures.
• The memorizing of huge portions of scripture, was due in part to the fact that writing materials were costly and scarce. The scriptures were hand written on scrolls and many did not have their own copies.
• Even though Jesus was given education in the scriptures, this was the same education given to every Hebrew boy.
• Yet at the tender age of twelve, Jesus stood head and shoulders above his peers, challenging even the more seasoned and elder teachers of the law.
• The point is it’s one thing to memorize the Bible, it’s another to understand it.
• What we have to know is what gave Jesus such a huge edge in understanding?
• How did He gain it so He was head and shoulders above everyone else?
• Psalms 119 gives us a clue.

Psalm 119:99 (NKJV)
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation.

• How did Jesus gain more understanding than His teachers?
  • He meditated on the Word.
  • He didn’t just memorize it.
  • He didn’t just read it.
  • He didn’t just have discussions about it.
• What Jesus did you can do.

Call to Action:

We have seen the one hing which makes wayside ground what it is, a lack of understanding. But we have also seen at least three ways we gain the understanding we need to have. Now, it’s your turn to out theses principles into action in your everyday life.

Episode Resources

You can find more information on The Parable of the Sower by visiting the following posts:

1. Introducing the Gospel of Mark
2. What is the Parable of the Sower? [Podcast]
3. How Important is Understanding Jesus Parables? [Podcast]

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If you have a suggestion for a Bible topic you would like to see taught, or if you have a question, please e-mail me at energized1@outlook.com.

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Question: Is there another way which you have found to successfully gain understanding of God’s Word? Please leave your comments in the comments section below?