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.
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-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.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
GOD’S SUPPLY IS ALL WE NEED
Philippians 4:19-20
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
PRAY FOR RAIN, and THE HARVEST
Matthew 9:38
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Luke 10:2
Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
WE MAY SOW AND NOT REAP. WE MAY REAP THAT WHICH WE HAVE NOT SOWN.
John 4:35-38
35Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
37And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
38I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
EITHER WAY, WE MUST BE READY TO SOW BOUNTIFULLY AND REAP
Are you sharing your faith with others around you?
Have you ever lead someone to the LORD?
SOW, PRAY, and REAP
