Are You Planting Seeds Of Faith?

ARE YOU PLANTING SEEDS OF FAITH?

As Christians we need to continually plant seeds of faith no matter where we go daily. It is our duty as Jesus said Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

Once we do that the harvest will some day come. We are not always the one to be there for the harvest but we must continue to preach the gospel wherever we go. When the day does come once again Jesus referred to it in Matthew 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

Today I want to focus on the planting of the seeds by using the parable of The Sower.

Mark 4:3-8

"Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 "Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. 6 "And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 "Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. 8 "Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."

I. It is how and when we plant the seeds of faith of Jesus Christ

A. What this is talking about is spreading the good news about Jesus Christ

B. It is our responsibility to preach the word as it says in 1 Corinthians 9:16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.

C. Telling others what Jesus has done in our lives

1. When was the last time you shared your testimony with someone

2. Just a few quick words of encouragement

a. “I stopped that when I turned my life over to God”

b. “I want you to meet my best friend. Jesus”

c. Words of encouragement any time

D. You can do it anytime any place

1. Sitting around talking about anything

2. Eating with each other

E. Some people just don’t want to hear it though

1. Could you live with yourself if they died and you didn’t try?

2. It is your duty as child of God to

3. Are you ashamed of being a child of God? I hope not

a. Luke 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.

II. Let’s take a look at how Jesus explained it to His disciples in verses 14-20

A. 14-15 "The sower sows the word. 15 "These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them.

1. In the great field of the church, the word of God is dispensed to all.

a. Many will be in the church service but not really hear what is said.

b. They really do not let it sink in to their hearts.

c. Impressions that are not deep, will not last.

2. Of the many that hear the word of the gospel, but few receive it, so as to bring forth fruit..

a. They hear it, but do not pass it on or use it.

b. They fail to let Satan take away their joy from the word

3. Many are much affected with the word for the present, who yet receive no abiding benefit.

a. They fail to let the promises of God help them in their lives

b. The devil is very busy about careless hearers, as the fowls of the air go about the seed that lies above ground.

4. The word does not leave lasting impressions because they are not ready.

B. 15-16 "In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; 17 and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.

1. People do not accept the fact of the happiness they can have