Romans 10:17 (Amplified Bible)

17 So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself).

How does faith really come? Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God over and over and over again.

In Matthew 13, we have the parable Jesus gives us about the four soils.

The revelation of the Kingdom of God is a precious secret that is only given to the ones who seriously seek the Kingdom of God. And as Jesus goes on to explain, the revelation of that Kingdom comes in different stages.

Jesus explains the parable in Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8:4-15. Jesus compares our hearts to the soil on which the Word of God, the seed for His Kingdom falls.

There are 4 different types of conditions.

  1. The first soil is a hard path, this represents the people who’s hearts have grown hard against the truth. It speaks of people who hear the Gospel but they do not understand it. Jesus says that the birds came and ate the seed, which represents the enemy.
  2. The second soil is represented by a rocky place, this represents the people who get excited about the Good News, it sprang up quickly, but because it has no root, as soon as persecution comes because of the Word, it is stolen from them at the beginning of trouble.
  3. The third soil, is a thorny soil, where the seed has roots, so that the person does hear the truth and understands the Word of God, but he allows his circumstances and his feelings to take control over his mind so that he is filled with worry, and material concerns and worldly possessions. This person’s heart is divided and cannot bare good fruit.
  4. The fourth soil is the good soil. The seed falling on this soil bare good fruit. These seeds multiply sometimes thirty times, sometimes sixty times and sometimes a hundred times.

God’s Word is powerful, in Hebrews 4:12 it says that God’s Word is sharper than a two edged sword. And in Isaiah 55:11 it says that God’s Word does not go out and return empty, but it will accomplish and prosper in the very thing it was sent to do.

Have you ever seen a baby tree that has been planted around slabs of a pavement? When the tree becomes too big, the pavement cracks and the tree pushes through, and nothing can stop it. So it is with God’s Word. It is like a mustard seed growing into the biggest tree or the yeast penetrating the whole loaf of bread (Matthew 13:31-34). It is unstoppable.

But God’s Word is also a hidden treasure and when you find it, you treat it like the greatest pearl (Matthew 13:44-45).

Without the Word of God in our hearts, we will find it difficult to hear that still small voice of our Shepherd because it will get mixed up with our feelings and the enemy’s thoughts.

I pray that we would have this treasure rooted deep into our hearts, and we begin to change effortlessly, because when we need it, then the Word will rise in our hearts and light up our path by the power of the Holy Spirit.

  1. How does faith come?
  2. What are the effects of the four soils in our hearts?
  3. Why is it so important what we are listening to?