“PLANTING A BETTER SEED FOR A BIGGER HARVEST”

Pastor Mike Barnett – May 18th, 2008

INTRO:

· We Minnesotans are coming off of a difficult winter.

· Several people have stated that the gloomy winter is depressing and they are eagerly awaiting the change of seasons when Spring finally gets here.

· It appears that Spring is indeed here!

· As people we also have different emotional and spiritual seasons.

· Sometimes we experience a long hard frozen winter spiritually where God just seems distant to us.

· Yesterday and this morning, we are celebrating Spring time and the new life that blooms this time of year.

· We see plants, flowers and trees bloom this time of year in nature. We see baby cows, horses, goats, pigs, kittens and puppies born….

· But there is also spiritual “Spring Times” where our souls bud and blossom to New Heights and new joys.

· Perhaps in your walk with God, you are coming out of a “Spiritual Winter” and are anticipating a “Spiritual Spring time” where there is new growth and joy in your life again.

· If this describes you, then welcome to New Heights Christian Fellowship - a church that desires to empower people to New Heights in their spiritual lives, where new life can be seen, felt and experienced in a personal and meaningful way.

· Before we can climb out of the “Spiritual Winter” we must first understand why we got stuck in the hard, cold “snow bank” in the first place.

· Then we will look at a spiritual road map that will take us out of the “Spiritual Deep Freeze” and into a “Spiritual Pasture” where there is abundant green grass and new life growing in our lives once again.

· Perhaps for the first time for some of us.

· Others of us will be brought back into God’s freshness and newness this morning – it will feel refreshing to get new direction and blessings from the Lord again.

· This morning, I will give you a road map for your soul and if you follow it, you will bloom spiritually and experience New Heights and new joys in your life this new Spring season.

· But first let’s look at why people get stuck in the “Spiritual Deep Freeze Winter Ditch”.

WHY DO PEOPLE GET STUCK IN A SPIRITUAL WINTER?

TRUTH: Most people feel unhappy in life because they have made it too easy to feel ________(bad) and have made it too difficult to feel _________(good) about themselves, their marriage, relationships, work, and life in general – They want something ____________(outside) of themselves to make them _____________(happy)

· To some degree, most people trust people or outside stimuli that are _____________(beyond) their ________________(control) to make them _____________(happy) and fulfilled in life and that is why they are _______________(disappointed) at least ___________(half) the time which adversely affects the other half!

Proverbs 13:12 says:

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
       but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

TRUTH: People on the verge of emotional “_____________ __________”(burn out) have________________(unrealistic) ___________________(expectations) of themselves or others – they are ______________(angry) or __________(hurt) because they _____________(want) something they cannot ___________(have).

NOTE: Only the ____________(rules) we have developed in our lives that must be __________(met) until we can allow ourselves to feel good and happy _____________(control) our ____________(moods).

· What needs to happen in your life to feel happy? …Fulfilled?…Significant?…Loved?

· In order for me to feel happy, ……………………… must happen in my life.

· In order for me to feel fulfilled and significant……………………………. must happen in my life.

· In order for me to feel loved…………………………….must happen in my life.

NOTE: IF YOU ___________(BLAME) SOMEBODY OR SOMETHING FOR YOUR UNHAPPINESS, IT IS A SURE SIGN THAT YOUR ____________(FOCUS) IS IN THE WRONG PLACE AND A LOT OF EMOTIONAL ___________(ENERGY) IS BEING ____________(DRAINED) FROM YOU!

· As a Christian, Jesus _________________(changes) my ____________(rules) for experiencing bliss.

· As a “Christ follower”, feeling good about life or feeling bad about life is never _________________(contingent) on the ________________(external) ______________________(circumstances) - (what does or does not happen to me).

TRUTH: THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT ULTIMATELY WE ARE IN _______________(CONTROL) OF OUR __________(OWN) HAPPINESS AND CONTENTMENT, NOT OTHER PEOPLE OR EVENTS!

Philippians 4:10-14 says:

10I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

QUESTION – WHERE DOES THIS CONTENTMENT AND PEACE COME FROM?

Mark 4:26-32 - The parable of the growing seed and mustard seed.

Mark 4:26-32 says:

6He (Jesus) also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."

30Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. 32Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade."

· The Bible says that we will all reap a harvest according to the seed we plant.

· This is true of nature when a person plants a summer garden.

· To get corn on the cob in late summer, you have to plant corn seeds in the Spring.

· The same is true in our spiritual lives. To receive a “Love Harvest” in the Summer, you must plant a “Love Seed” in the Spring!

· If you want a “Bitter, Angry Harvest” in the Summer, just plant a “Resentful, Angry Seed” in the Spring!

THE FOUR SEEDS WE SOW ON A REGULAR BASIS:

1) THE ________________(THOUGHTS) WE THINK.

Philippians 4:4-8 says:

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Matthew 6:25-34 says:

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life^[a]?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

2) THE ________________(PRAYERS) WE PRAY.

Mathew 7:7-11 says:

7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

3) THE ________________(WORDS) WE SPEAK.

1 Peter 3:8-15 says:

8Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10For,
   "Whoever would love life
      and see good days
   must keep his tongue from evil
      and his lips from deceitful speech.
11He must turn from evil and do good;
      he must seek peace and pursue it.
12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
      and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
   but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."^[a] 13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear^[b]; do not be frightened."^[c] 15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

4) THE_________________(BEHAVIOR) WE GIVE OTHERS.

Matthew 7:12 says:

12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

· Jesus said, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” because PEOPLE WILL TREAT YOU THE WAY YOU TREAT THEM.

· LIFE IS A ________________(MIRROR) - WHAT YOU GIVE OUT TO THE WORLD IS _______________(REFLECTED) BACK TO YOU.

· “What comes around, goes around”.

· THE _______________(GOLDEN) __________(RULE) SAYS: PEOPLE WILL TREAT YOU THE WAY YOU TREAT THEM, SO TREAT OTHERS THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED!

· THE KEY TO REAPING A BOUNTIFUL HARVEST IS TO _______________(MATCH) THE ______________(SEED) WITH THE _______________(HARVEST) YOU _____________(DESIRE) – IF YOU WANT CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS AS YOUR HARVEST, THEN YOU MUST FIRST PLANT SEEDS OF LOVE.

· YOU DO NOT GET A “LOVE HARVEST” BY PLANTING AN “ANGER SEED”.

· YOU DO NOT GET AN “ANGER HARVEST” BY PLANTING SEEDS OF LOVE.

· FOOD FOR THOUGHT: If you do not like Summer Squash then do not plant that seed…likewise if you do not like your spouse being selfish and angry with you, then don’t plant those type of seeds into his/her life.

· If you like watermelon then plant watermelon seeds….Likewise if you like love, then plant love seeds.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

· If you want people to be patient with you, then you must first plant a love seed and be patient with them!

· If you want people to trust you, then you must first plant a love seed and trust them!

· The divorce rate in our country and among Christians will go way down when both spouses in the marriage plant more seeds of love and less seeds of selfishness.

· WE ____________(REAP) WHAT WE _________(SOW) NOT WHAT WE ______________(WANT).

· In life you do not marry who you want, you marry who you are.

NOTE: THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME, THE HARVEST YOU ARE REAPING _________________(REFLECTS) THE SEED YOU PLANTED MONTHS AND EVEN YEARS ____________(BEFORE) THE RESULTS BECAME VISIBLE!

· IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF SEED YOU ARE PLANTING JUST CHECK OUT THE HARVEST YOU ARE REAPING!

· ONE OF THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES OF LIFE THAT GOVERNS OUR WORLD IS: EVERY ___________(CAUSE) HAS A CORRESPONDING ___________(EFFECT) THAT ______________(PRECEEDED) IT.

NOTE: THE __________(EFFECT) WILL ALWAYS BE AN _______________(EXTENSION) OF THE ______________(CAUSE) THAT BROUGHT IT ABOUT AND THE ______________(HARVEST) IS A __________________(REFLECTION) OF THE ____________(SEED) THAT WAS _____________(PLANTED)!

· IN LIFE, YOU DO NOT ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU _____________(WANT), BUT YOU WILL ALWAYS GET _____________(MORE) OF ________(WHO) YOU _____________(ALREADY) ___________(ARE) AND MORE OF WHAT YOU ALREADY ______________(HAVE) IN YOUR LIFE!

Galatians 6:7-9 says:

7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature^[a]will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

TRUTH: IF I ______(DO) WHAT I HAVE ALWAYS __________(DONE), I WILL __________(GET) WHAT I HAVE ALREADY ________________(GOTTEN) – TO GET A __________(NEW) RESULT, I MUST DO SOMETHING __________________(DIFFERENT) TO OBTAIN IT.

Albert Einstein said, “You can not solve a problem on the same level of thought that brought it about”.

· To solve any problem, you must transcend above it by thinking new thoughts and planting new seeds.

· THE HARVEST YOU ARE REAPING TODAY IS THE _________________(RESIDUAL) ________________(EFFECT) OF THE KIND OF SEED PLANTED IN THE PAST.

· YOU CAN CHANGE THE FUTURE HARVEST BY PLANTING A NEW SEED TODAY!

· INSTEAD OF _______________(COMPLAINING) ABOUT THE ______________(HARVEST) YOU ARE REAPING, JUST ______________(PLANT) A BETTER _____________(SEED) FOR THE NEXT HARVEST!

· INSTEAD OF ________________(BLAMING) PEOPLE FOR YOUR MISERY, _________________(TAKE) ________________(RESPONSIBILITY) FOR THE HARVEST YOU ARE CURRENTLY REAPING AND PLANT A BETTER SEED!

· THE HARVEST YOU ARE REAPING TODAY IS THE RESULT OF _____________(PAST) SEED YOU PLANTED AND THE _______________(FUTURE) HARVEST WILL ________________(REFLECT) THE ______________(SEED) YOU PLANT ____________(TODAY).

· Galatians 6:9 tells us: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up”.

· IT IS EASY TO __________(GIVE) ______(UP) WHEN I DON’T PHYSICALLY SEE THE _____________(RESULTS) DESIRED AFTER PLANTING GOOD SEED – I MUST ___________(TRUST) BY ___________(FAITH) THAT GOD WILL GROW THE SEED TO MATURITY IN HIS TIME, IN HIS WAY!

Mark 4:26-32 - The parable of the growing seed and mustard seed.

26He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."

30Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. 32Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade."

· YOU CAN TRUST THE SEED PLANTED – EVEN WHEN YOU DO NOT SEE RESULTS. Mark 4:27-28

· I cannot _________(see) everything God is doing __________________(underground), behind the scenes. Mark 4:27-28

NOTE: I must not allow what my physical eyes can see to _____________(distort) the reality that God is really in control and working on my behalf! Just because I can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not ___________(real).

· God’s will for my life is ________________(unstoppable) by human unbelief and ________________(unhelped) by human effort. Mark 4:27-32

· The seed will produce the results _______________(inherent) within it even though the person who planted the seed cannot ____________________(understand) how the change takes place. Mark 4:27

· Good __________(seed) produces good ___________(fruit).

Galatians 6:7 says: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows”.

· Bad seed produces _________(bad) fruit.

"As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble, reap it" Job 3:8

· WHEN YOU PLANT A SEED OF _____________(FEAR) YOU RECEIVE A _____________(SPARSE) HARVEST!

· WHEN YOU PLANT A SEED OF ________________(FAITH) IN GOD’S WORD – YOU WILL REAP AN __________________(ABUNDANT) HARVEST.

This parable in Mark 4:26-32 states that:

· There is nothing I can do to ____________(affect) the growing and reaping process once I plant the seed – it is out of my hands – I will _________(reap) the ____________(harvest) of the ____________(seed) I ___________(sowed) – whether I like it or not. Mark 4: 27-28

NOTE: IN NATURE, THE SEED AFTER BEING PLANTED IN THE GROUND ACTUALLY __________(DIES) AND FERMENTS. OUT OF THIS FERMENTATION PROCESS SPRINGS NEW LIFE…LIKEWISE SOMETIMES OUR ______________(DESIRES) NEED TO ___________(DIE), BEFORE GOD CAN BRING FORTH __________(NEW) LIFE – IT IS THE ______________(METHOD) GOD HAS USED IN NATURE AND IN GROWING THE KINGDOM _____________(INSIDE) THE BELIEVER’S HEART.

· TRUTH: NOT EVERY SEED PLANTED MAKES IT AND MATURES INTO A PLANT – BUT IF I PLANT ENOUGH SEEDS OVER TIME SOME WILL COME UP EVENTUALLY BECAUSE IT IS AN ____________ ________________(ODDS GAME): JUST KEEP __________________(PLANTING) GOOD SEED AND LET GOD WORRY ABOUT THE _________________(RESULTS)!

· A good farmer calculates in the chances of loosing a crop and plants excess seed to compensate.

· The seed I plant often times looks very _____________________(unpromising) until God gets a hold of it and grows it to fruition.

NOTE: Only God can transform a tiny speck of mustard seed into a six to ten foot high tree. I cannot see everything God is doing under the ground and behind the scenes.

· I will reap something much more __________________(significant) than I originally planted. Vs. Mark 4:30-32

Luke 6:37-38 says:

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you".

Ephesians 3:16-22 says:

16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

· To keep myself from getting discouraged from not seeing the "fruit of my labors", I must remember:

· What has been sowed ________________(underground) will become _____________(visible) in due time.

· Just like there are natural growing and dormant seasons for seeds, there are natural growing and ________________(dormant) seasons for me __________________(spiritually) and __________________(emotionally) as a Christian.

The seasons teach us that:

· A fruitful ________________(harvest) is the natural result of good seed ___________(sown).

· IN OTHER WORDS…

· IF YOU WANT TO ___________(REAP) A BETTER _______________(HARVEST), _________(SOW) A BETTER ____________(SEED)!

· Instantaneous growth is not ____________________(promised). God gives the growth, and it follows an appointed _____________(order) that cannot be hurried or bypassed.

· There is a season of _________________(waiting), before the harvest.

· All the farmer can do is leave everything to God while continuing his daily routine, waiting patiently until the grain is ready to be harvested.

· The same is true in our lives. Sometimes our frantic activity many be a smoke screen that hides our lack of trust in God.

· We feel we need to take control before God’s will can be done.

NOTE: The parable in Mark 4:26-32 allows us to stop concentrating on what we need to accomplish or have accomplished and to reflect on what God is accomplishing.

· The parable encourages us to trust the seed to do what seeds do in the soil – develop and become visible.

· Sometimes the hardest thing to do is _________________(nothing) and allow God to do the “underground” work.

James 5:7-12 says:

7Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. 9Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

10Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

12Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned.

Waiting is difficult because:

1. The seed is ____________________(vulnerable) as it is scattered, falls, and lies on the ground, and meets a variety of fates. We ____________(fear) that the seed is subject to adversity, rejection, delays, and ___________(loss).

2. Just like the seed is hidden and underground, so too God’s working is often ________________(hidden) from human eyes and ______________(silent) to human ears for

a ________________(season) of ____________(time).

The kingdom of God is inside of you and is often times hard to see because:

1. Our view is often ________________(distorted) because we see ourselves instead of God in us.

2. We are looking for fulfillment _______________(outside) of ourselves.

Luke 17:20-21 says:

"Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is, ‘ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you."

Tips to helping go through the waiting stage:

1. Realize that the "waiting stage" is part of the process and is ________________(needed) to _________________(manifest) more of God in your life.

2. Understand that only persevering __________(faith) will get you through the "waiting stage". Faith is needed to risk trusting one’s whole life to something that lies hidden – when it is still in the _____________(seed) stage, out of physical visibility.

Hebrews 11:1 says:

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see".

Mark 11:22-24 says:

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done from him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours".

3. Tell yourself that abundant fruit is _____________(certain) eventually if you have planted good seeds.

· Good seeds planted in good soil always lead to a good harvest.

John 15:5-8 says:

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing…If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

4. _______________(Surrender) the __________(size) of the Harvest to God – you can plant a lot of seeds, but God __________________(determines) how _________(big) or _____________(small) the crop is going to be.

5. Realize that if you already planted good seed, you can be happy and fulfilled today because the fruit you are longing for is already in your life _____________(today) in either _____________(seed) or ______________(tree) form because the Kingdom of God is inside of you!

Colossians 2:9-10 says:

"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.”

· PLANT CAREFULLY – SOW ONLY THE SEEDS OF THE HARVEST YOU WANT BECAUSE YOU WILL RECEIVE THE EXACT HARVEST TO THE SEEDS YOU SOWED.

THE FOUR SEEDS WE SOW ON A REGULAR BASIS:

1) THE (THOUGHTS) WE THINK. Matthew 6:25-34

2) THE (PRAYERS) WE PRAY.

Mathew 7:7-11

3) THE (WORDS) WE SPEAK.

1 Peter 3:7-15

4) THE (BEHAVIOR) WE GIVE OTHERS. Matthew 7:12

· Instead of complaining about the harvest we are reaping, we are to sow a better seed.

· THERE IS NO REASON TO GRUMBLE AND COMPLAIN ABOUT A HARVEST YOU ARE REAPING FROM OTHERS – JUST CHOOSE TO PLANT A BETTER SEED FOR GOD’S GLORY!

QUESTION: APART FROM GOD’S WILL AND TIMING…HOW COME I DO NOT ALWAYS SEE THE HARVEST AFTER PLANTING GOOD SEED?

ANSWER: JUST LIKE IN NATURE, ____________(WEEDS) CAN _________________(CHOKE) OUT THE GOOD SEED SOWN IN OUR HEARTS.

Luke 8:4-15 says:

4While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. 6Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown."
      When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

9His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,
   " 'though seeing, they may not see;
      though hearing, they may not understand.'^[a]

11"This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

· God’s word is the seed that leads to spiritual maturity.

· The seed sown along the path on the hard soil will not grow – this seed represents the devil snatching the seed away from the person’s heart.

· The seed that fall on the rocks will not grow – this seed represents the person who hears God’s word and receives it with joy, but since he has no root falls away when trouble or persecution comes.

· The seed that fell among the weeds and thorns will not grow – this seed represents the person who hears the word but the worries of life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it and it bears no fruit.

· We must prepare the soil by taking out the weeds and rocks and breaking up clumps of hard dirt.

· We must protect and guard the seed and keep pests out by building a fence.

· Only the last seed, the seed that fell on good soil is the person who hears the word and understands it – this person produces a crop that outlives them and produces other fruitful seeds for planting and harvesting.

· OUR _______________(PRIDE)/EGO IS A BIG _____________(WEED) THAT GETS IN THE WAY OF GOOD SEED SOWN AND _______________(CHOKES) IT OUT.

TO PULL UP WEEDS OF PRIDE THAT CHOKE OUT THE GOOD SEED IN YOUR LIFE:

1) LIVE LIKE I HAVE NOTHING TO ____________(LOSE).

2) LIVE LIKE I HAVE NOTHING TO ____________(HIDE).

3) LIVE LIKE I HAVE NOTHING TO ____________(PROVE).

4) LIVE LIKE THE ______________(RESULTS) DEPEND UPON ____________(GOD) AND NOT ME!

· AN ATTITUDE OF ________________(SURRENDER) TO GOD WILL PROVIDE THE GOOD SOIL FOR THE SEED TO GROW ______________(INSIDE) YOUR HEART.

REMEMBER: THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT OUTSIDE OF YOU, BUT INSIDE OF YOU.

· FOR THE CHRISTIAN – LIFE IS NO LONGER OUT OF CONTROL – YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR LIFE BY PLANTING GOOD SEED AND TRUSTING GOD WITH THE RESULTS EVEN WHEN THINGS DO NOT GO THE WAY YOU PLANNED!

· AFTER PLANTING GOOD SEED IN FAITH, ______________(DETACH) FROM THE _____________(RESULTS) – THIS ATTITUDE OF __________________(SURRENDER) TO GOD, BRINGS PEACE AND _________________(HAPPINESS) KNOWING GOD IS IN CONTROL AND NOT MYSELF!

SUMMARY: THE __________(SEEDS) YOU ___________(SOW) WILL ________________(DETERMINE) THE ______________(HARVEST) YOU ___________(REAP), SO INSTEAD OF ______________(BLAMING) OTHERS FOR YOUR ____________________(UNHAPPINESS) AND ___________________(COMPLAINING) ABOUT THE UGLY ______________(HARVEST) YOU ARE REAPING, ______________(PLANT) A ____________(BETTER) SEED! AS A “CHRIST FOLLOWER”, YOUR HAPPINESS IS NOT CONTIGENT UPON WHAT HAPPENS ___________(OUTSIDE) OF YOU…HAPPINESS IS AN INSIDE ____________(CHOICE) – YOUR HAPPINESS RESIDES IN THE _______________(KINGDOM) OF GOD ____________(INSIDE) OF YOU!