Introduction
Matthew 13:11 GNT
Jesus answered, “The knowledge about the secrets of the Kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
Matthew 13:11 NLT
He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.
Matthew 13:11 CEV
Jesus answered: I have explained the secrets about the kingdom of heaven to you, but not to others.
Secret 01: Anything With No Foundation Will Spring Up Faster
Matthew 13:5 CSB
“Other seeds fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep.”
God has all the patience. Thus, it is one principle of discernment. If it is from God, it has the ability to last because God will invest in a strong foundation that will stand the test of time. Jesus plainly said in John 15:16 that His disciples bear fruits that last. If it’s from the enemy, it will come out of nowhere to lure the masses and die out. Gamaliel said it this way; “if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them…”
So you shouldn’t be worried in life if you don’t see yourself “springing”. God will invest a solid foundation into something He believes is worthwhile. He is in no hurry like we are. He doesn’t run out of time. Even the enemy has learned strategic patience. He can patiently wait for thorns to grow with the seed of the Word and choke it before it bears fruit. In Revelation 12:4, the dragon was strategically waiting for the woman to give birth so it could devour the child.
Let us separate ourselves from a quick-fix, fast food, where-are-the-results, manifest-now-by-shortcuts-and-formulae, soft life, comfort zone generation. God does not change His Word, regardless of the generation. He will never put His name on a person He didn’t prepare. He Himself became man but still took 30 years to be prepared for a 3-and-a-half year ministry. This is also why you ought to be aligned with God, especially in seasons of preparation. God will never let you skip any process. It’s rather detrimental to you in the future. The more you go through the motions with Him, the better.
Not everything that springs up faster has a shallow foundation, but anything with a shallow foundation will spring up faster. Bamboo takes root for several years and then springs up faster. God wants you to go deeper before you can go lengthier. The deeper it is, the lengthier it becomes. Take this from an architect. The deeper the foundation, the taller the building. The deeper the depth, the higher the heights. You CANNOT go higher if you didn’t go deeper. Something the enemy cannot counterfeit, yet it’s God’s divine strategy to build a fruit that lasts.
Secret 02: When You Rush and don’t Build a Solid Foundation, what is Destined to Help You will rather Destroy You.
Matthew 13:6 CSB
“But when the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.”
Of all the things God created, trees are the only living things that don’t rely on other living things for food. Check the food chain. They produce their own food. Photosynthesis. Photo means light. Synthesis means building up. They essentially produce food using the elements; of light and water. However, any tree without a root will be scorched by the very sun meant to help it to be productive. The rains will even come and wash such a plant away. This is not a mystery.
Without a firm foundation, things meant to help you will rather destroy you. This is why, although the Israelites could have spent 40 days on their way to the Promised Land, they rather spent 40 years. It is yours but it won’t be given to you until you are prepared. Jesus said He won’t cast pearls before swine nor will He give what is holy to dogs (John 7:6). If you are not firm in humility, some breakthroughs will destroy you. You will become very proud. That’s why there are waiting seasons; so that patience teaches you humility.
The Bible says God will not let us be tempted higher than we can manage (1 Corinthians 10:13). People don’t like to hear this but it includes He shutting some good doors too. He is a very efficient God and will not waste resources by giving it to people who can’t steward it in any possible way at the time. That is why He gives according to each one’s abilities (Matt 25:15). Accept God’s time because God’s time is the best. If He says you’re ready, believe Him. If He says wait, trust Him. He always has your best interest at heart.
Sometimes, it’s not that the enemy has closed that door. That door is closed because you are being prepared for the appointed time it will be opened. A blessing becomes a curse in the hands of the unprepared. The prerequisite of sustaining a blessing is a solid foundation; preparation precedes promotion. Galatians 4 says it this way; “…as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. Instead, he is under guardians and trustees until the time set by his Father.” When the set time comes, the Spirit will be poured from on high, and the wilderness will become a fertile field, and the fertile field will yield bountiful crops. AMEN