Dumber Than Dirt

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. (NKJ)

1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. (NKJ)

The important thing to remember in Jesus’ explanation of the Parable of The Sower is God’s Word is the seed and your heart is the ground.

Luke 8:11-15; Matthew 13:18-23; Mark 4:14-20 Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God. The sower sows the Word and those by the wayside are the ones who hear, and do not understand it; then the devil comes and takes away the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. But the ones on the rocks are those who, when they hear, receive the Word with joy and gladness; and these have no root in themselves, believe for a while and in time of temptation when tribulation or persecution arises because of the Word, they stumble and fall away. Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard (the Word), go out and are choked with cares, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the pleasures of life, and the desires for other things choke the Word, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard and understand the Word with a noble and good heart, accept it, keep it and bear fruit with patience and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (NKJ)

Seed was sown in 4 types of soil. The seed is the same but the outcome is different dependent on the preparation of the soil. The Word can only benefit you to the degree you allow it to – to the degree YOU prepare your own heart. That means quieting your mind and focusing your attention.

Deuteronomy 22:9 Do not plant your vineyard with two types of seed; if you do, the entire harvest will be defiled—both the crop you plant and the fruit of your vineyard. (Berean)

The reason I titled this message ‘Dummer Than Dirt’ is because dirt cannot distinguish the difference between good seed and bad seed. It only grows what is planted.

Matthew 13:24-28a Another parable Jesus put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this…’” (NKJ)

What types of seeds have you planted or allowed to be planted in your heart? You cannot expect to have a good harvest if you allow seeds of bitterness, malice, anger, or unforgiveness to take root in your heart. Whatever you focus on will dominate your harvest. Don’t allow the weeds of this life to choke-out the blessings God has purposed for you. Don’t allow other people’s problems to become yours.
There is never a problem with the Word. If the Word is not working for you, your heart has the issue and not the Word. The problem is not with the seed. It cannot be corrupted.

1 Peter 1:23 …having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God which lives and abides forever, (NKJ)

Mark 4:26-29 And Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 27 and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. 28 For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” (NKJ)

The term “By itself” = automatos = automatic.

Just as you don’t have to beg for a river to flow, you don’t have to beg for seed to grow. Simply prepare the soil and the seed grows automatically.

Galatians 6:7-9 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (NKJ)

When you throw a little dirt, you lose a little ground.
Prepare yourself to hear, understand, believe and receive. You do this by clearing everything else, all other distractions from your mind and focusing on the Word. It’s automatic!