Sow Bountifully - A Message Of The Dandelion

2009.06.14.Sermon.Sow Bountifully-A MESSAGE OF THE DANDELION

By William Akehurst, BA

HSWC

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Luke 10:2

John 4:35-38

Do not be discouraged. Keep sowing the seeds of the Gospel. Some will reject it. Some will accept it and grow. Sow until there is harvest. Sow and Pray. Sow and Pray for Rain. Pray that the Seeds will take root and grow. Pray that the Harvest will be great.

We may sow, we may reap, we may do both. But the thing to remember is this, not everyone will have understanding at first. But we are to sow the seed of the WORD to those around us, whether they are good ground or a stony rock. God’s word will not return void. Eventually it will come back around.

* * *

-MESSAGE OF THE DANDELION

One morning, as I was leaving the house, I looked at our front yard, and it was a beautiful yellow. Our entire yard was full of dandelions. I don’t think our neighbors appreciated it, as their yards were spotless. Not a weed to be seen. They probably gasped at the sight of our dandelion strewn lawn. But I thought it beautiful, and let the otherwise viewed pest plant, live. Had we been dandelion salad or wine makers, this would have been the right time to harvest the lawn.

That day, it was hot and dry. When I returned home in the evening, I was astonished as my beautiful yellow lawn, was a desolate field of dry stumps and white fluff. The dandelions had all in one day, gone to seed, and POOF were gone.

Now, I know my neighbors are going to be mad!

Nonetheless, I saw a lesson to be learned. The harvest is now! It can’t wait.

And for my senior church members. The dandelion flower is here for just a little time, then, its petals all turn white as snow, (like the hairs upon our head) and in it’s “Senior moments”, the dandelion casts off seed, bountifully. To the Seniors, this is a message to you. When your hair turns gray, Make sure you are sowing seed and praying for the harvest!

I remember a preacher tell the story of how as a downtrodden kid of 16 years old, a drug addict, totally lost and unchurched, he was approached by an older grey headed gentleman, and asked a simple question. "Do you go to church?"

As simple as this question was, it burned inside this young man’s mind and heart to see what church was all about. That Sunday, he went to the church down the street, and when the time came, he went forward to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. His life changed instantly. And today he is serving the LORD.

There are many similar stories of people who have been influenced by a question, a seed planted in their hearts. One of the more widespread stories, is the one of Frank Jenner, also known as Evangelism on George Street, told by Dave Smethurst

http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=4955c9129af115cc51f0

(Google - the true story of frank jenner)

This older white haired man, Mr. Jenner made it a daily duty to speak with 10 people a day, and ask them a simple question, then hand them a tract.

The Question was simply. "Excuse me, (Sir or Madam), are you saved? If you die tonight, are you going to Heaven?"

This seed of a Question was asked practically every day to 10 people for over 16 years, in a little side street, George Street of Sidney, Australia. And as the story goes, this one question permeated in the hearts of those who heard it, and took root in countless hundreds of people across the world. Testimonies of pastors, evangelists, missionaries, chaplains, are that they came to the LORD from this one man’s burning question. Are you Saved?

Part of the Telephone ministry training is to take the call and ask a qualifying or exploratory question, "Did you call to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?" This is a question that puts it right on the forefront. If the person answers yes, then,

HALLELUJAH, we lead them to the LORD. Otherwise, they respond with their ‘status’. Having these types of questions ready, is a good tool in our witness to those around us. And the more times we put that question out, the more opportunity for God’s Word to work in the life of those that hear.

SOW BOUNTIFULLY

SOME MAY RECEIVE THE WORD, OTHERS MAY MOCK IT. BUT EVEN THIS SOWER KNEW HE MUST CONTINUE TO SOW BOUNTIFULLY IN ORDER TO REAP BOUNTIFULLY

2 Corinthians 9

6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.