Isaiah 6:9-10 (BBE)
[SUP]9 [/SUP]And he said, Go, and say to this people, You will go on hearing, but learning nothing; you will go on seeing, but without getting wiser.
[SUP]10 [/SUP]Make the hearts of this people fat, and let their ears be stopped, and their eyes shut; for fear that they may see with their eyes, and be hearing with their ears, and their heart may become wise, and they may be turned to me and made well.
Isaiah 6:9-10 (KJV)
[SUP]9 [/SUP]And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
[SUP]10 [/SUP]Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
This is the condition of the heart after years of being taught that the Old Testament is past. I have even heard it said, by some, that the New Testament must be used so we can understand the Old Testament. Talk about turning things upside down.
Mark 4:10-20 (KJV)
[SUP]10 [/SUP]And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
[SUP]11 [/SUP]And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:[SUP]12 [/SUP]That seeing they may see, andnot perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
[SUP]13 [/SUP]And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
[SUP]14 [/SUP]The sower soweth the word.
[SUP]15[/SUP]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.
[SUP]1[/SUP][SUP]6 [/SUP]And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
[SUP]1[/SUP][SUP]7 [/SUP]And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
[SUP]18 [/SUP]And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
[SUP]19[/SUP]And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
Obviously, the ground is the heart condition according to Luke 8:15. If we refuse to obey this commandment, and its implications defined in His law that surround this commandment, we have a hardened heart that rejects all Spiritual truth, or a stony heart that is unable to endure, or a heart that is more concerned about the values of the world rather than the values written the Word of God.
This is in God's Law in the book of Deuteronomy. If you neglect it, fight against it, and it causes contentious actions deep inside you, you are contributing, and part of the "falling away."
Deuteronomy 10:16 (KJV)
[SUP]16 [/SUP]Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
Deuteronomy 6:5 (BBE)
[SUP]5 [/SUP]And the Lord your God is to be loved with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:5 (KJV)
[SUP]5 [/SUP]And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Granted, good ground is agitated by a plow, and made fertile by manure. Expect, and accept the agitations and what smells to be garbage and dung. Don’t go hunting for it, for it will find you.
Romans 8:28 (KJV)
[SUP]28 [/SUP]And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Trusting in God through these trials will make your heart fertile enough to receive the truth, and bring forth good fruit. Remember, hope that is seen isn’t hope, and we are saved by hope.
Romans 8:24-25 (KJV)
[SUP]24 [/SUP]For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
[SUP]25 [/SUP]But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Trust in this (His hope) by your gift of faith. It works!