“PLANTING
A BETTER SEED FOR A BIGGER HARVEST” – Part 2
Mike Barnett – May 25th, 2008
INTRO: 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.
REVIEW:
Galatians 6:6-9
THE FOUR SEEDS WE SOW ON
A REGULAR BASIS:
1) THE THOUGHTS WE
THINK.
Philippians 4:4-8 (pg.
832) 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 (pg. 685)
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 (pg. 685)
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 (pg. 858)
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
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.
·
THE BIBLE
SAYS WE REAP WHAT WE SOW!
Galatians 6:7-10 (pg.
826)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. 10Therefore, as we have
opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to
the family of believers.
Mark 4:26-32 (pg. 710)
26He also said, "This is what the
30Again
he said, "What shall we say the
This parable in Mark 4:26-32 states that:
·
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
·
Good __________(seed) produces good ___________(fruit).
Galatians 6:7-10 (pg.
826) 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. 10Therefore, as we have
opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to
the family of believers.
·
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
John 12:24-26 (pg. 762)
says:
24I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls
to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it
produces many seeds. 25The man who loves his life will
lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for
eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me; and
where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves
me.
·
AFTER THE
BEATIFUL FLOWER DIES IT SOWS SEEDS FOR THE FOLLWING SPRING SO IT CAN GIVE LIFE
TO OTHERS.
ILLUS – PANSIES GROWING
IN OUR FRINT YARD
– IT IS THE METHOD GOD HAS USED IN NATURE AND
IN GROWING THE KINGDOM INSIDE THE BLEIVER’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
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". Luke 6:37-38
Ephesians
3:16-22 (pg. 828) 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.
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) than cannot
be hurried or bypassed.
·
There is a
season of _________________(waiting), before the
harvest.
·
The growth of
plants cannot be forced.
·
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 (pg. 856)
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. James 5:7-12
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
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
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". Hebrews 11:1
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". Mark 11:22-24
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" John 15:5-8
4.
_______________(Surrender) the __________(size) of the Harvest to God – you can
plant allot 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
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",
Colossians 2:9-10
·
PLANT
CAREFULLY – SOW ONLY THE SEEDS OF THE HARVEST YOU WANT BECAUSE YOU WILL RECIVE
THE EXACT HARVEST TO THE SEEDS YOU SOWED.
THE FOUR SEEDS WE SOW ON
A REGUALR BASIS
1) THE (THOUGHTS)
WE THINK. Matthew 6:25-34 (pg. 685)
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 GRUMPLE 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 (pg. 731) 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
" '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 presents the devil
snatching the seed away from the persons heart.
·
The seed that
fall the on rocks will not grow – this seed represents the person who hears
God’s word receives it with joy, but since he has not root falls away when
trouble or persecution comes.
·
The seed that
fell among the weeds and thorns will not grow – this seed represents that
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, rocks and breaking up clumps of hard
dirt.
·
We must
protect and guard the seed and keep varmints 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
others 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… LIVE LIKE:
1) LIVE LIKE I HAVE NOTHING TO ____________(LOOSE).
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
·
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 WHE THEY DO NOT GO
THE WAY YOU PLANNED.!
·
AFTER
PLANTING GOOD SEED IN FAITH, ______________(DETATCH) FROM THE
_____________(RESULTS) – THIS ATTUTUDE 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 INSEAD 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!