Plant Vs Zombies

Introduction:

- One of my favorite fictional character is the zombie or the undead. These are people who are living aimlessly looking to satiate their appetite. And the worst part is, they could easily infect others. Zombies are not found in the bible, their main source is African voodoo. However they could represent the people in this world, who wander in their lives foolishly looking to satisfy their appetites.

- This reminds us of the man mentioned in the bible who planted and reaped and stored riches, but for the loss of his soul. In revelations, to the Sardis church in Rev 3:1 “I know all the things you do. You have a reputation for being alive but you are dead.”

- Luther Burbank, the greatest botanist of all times, wrote on his death bed thirty minutes before he died, "I have lived in the garden, but I have failed to meet the Gardener." Lost! Because he put his hope in the creation and failed to heed the Creator.

- In the movies, there is something known as a “zombie apocalypse”. This is a scenario where the zombies overrun the whole world. It could easily describe our generation today, which was likened to Nineveh. It was headed for destruction because of the great evil, but God sent a prophet to give them the word, and Jesus said unlike the evil generation, they repented.

- What then can we do against a world of zombies? Answer: We plant.

Text: Parable of the Sower

Luke 8:5-8

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."

What do we sow?

- Jesus Himself gives the key to understanding how the Kingdom of God is to be found: “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11).

- The Word of God is a life-giving seed waiting to be implanted in the very being of those who hear it. It has the power to transform human hearts. ”I am not ashamed of the gospel,” said Paul, “It is the power of God for salvation” (Rom 1:16).

- 1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

- Mark 4:30-32, "And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it."

- Before we can begin to reap, or even expect, a harvest is that the seed must first be planted. Planting of a seed can be used to describe many things in life, even in the formation of life itself. Without the seed nothing grows.

Who will sow?

- Romans 10:14 14But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" NLT

- That is YOU. Talk about being a fan and follower.

Fans have four bibles in the house, followers study them.

Fans attend church services; followers worship and absorb the word.

Fans want the benefit of relationships, followers offer commitment to Christ.

Fans go home when it gets uncomfortable, followers stick it out.

Fans occasionally root for the other team, followers root only for Jesus.

Fans can be fickle, followers trust their leader.

Fans ask “ have you done for me”, Followers ask “what have I done for you?”

Fans love the loveable, followers love one another and their enemies.

Fans celebrate Jesus privately, followers share Jesus publicly.

Over and over through the gospels, we see Jesus say, “Come, follow me.”

How do we sow the seed?

1. Plentifully

a. Sow what? The Word of God! Sow when? All the time! Sow where? Everywhere…but hopefully on good ground!