Introduction
Spiritual growth is essential to our walk with the Lord (Col 1:9-10). Our Lord described spiritual growth as the process of how a good ground would produce abundant good fruits (Mat 13:23):
Mat 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.
Hungering Hearers
In the parable of the sower, our Lord Jesus Christ mentioned that seeds that fall unto good soil bringeth forth fruits. ‘Good ground’ here refers to people that actually hear the word and understand it. The nature of these genuine hearers is that firstly they know that God equips us with christian knowledge through his Word (2 Tim 3:16-17). The Word of God is complete and is the only source of truth (John 17:17) about God’s will and His plan of salvation for mankind. It helps to shape, train and guide us unto every good work that God wants us to do.
Knowing how valuable God’s Word is for our soul, hearers would hunger for the knowledge of God (Mat 5:6). They are just like David, who described his deep desire to know and have fellowship with God as a deer thirsting after water in a dry and thirsty land (Psa 42:1-2); God’s people hunger and thirst after God’s Word for they love God and seek His spiritual guidance.
Psa 42:1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
Psa 42:2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
Patiently Yielding to God
Our Lord will then have mercy on us and will teach us (Php 1:6, Php 2:13) to ‘bear fruit’ as to produce good works desirable to God. By this, true Christians are distinguished from hypocrites, that they bring forth the fruits of righteousness; so shall ye be my disciples (John 15:8). Our Lord 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. Christians, in this world, are not perfectly free from the remains of sin; but happily freed from the reign of it.
The apostle Paul, when he was challenged and faced opposition doing God’s work, patiently relied on God to deliver him (2 Cor 12:9). We Christians likewise are to be ‘patient, wanting nothing’ (James 1:4) when faced with trials and tribulation, as God will use these opportunities to prepare us. When we truly surrender to Him, He will have mercy and grace granted to us, and strengthen us to do His good will and work!
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Growing in Christ
We should then aim to the highest degree, to bring forth a hundred-fold, as Isaac's ground did (Gen 26:12), abounding in the work of the Lord (John 15:8).
We must grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. “Follow on to know the Lord. Labour to know him more clearly and more fully, to know more of Christ and to know him to better purpose, so as to be more like him and to love him better.” This is the knowledge of Christ the apostle Paul reached after and desired to attain (Php 3:10).
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Conclusion
Let us then hunger for His Word so that we may grow and bear fruits that will glorify God, the most High.