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!
b. Elsewhere the Bible says if we sow sparingly we will reap sparingly…but if bountifully then, well!
c. The magic formula of the sower is to sow plentifully everywhere. If you aim at nothing you’re sure to hit it! We must try and try again, over and over, all the time!
d. We cannot continue to allow seed sowing opportunities to get by us. Don’t wait to be led…God has already led! Don’t say I’m looking for an open door…the door is wide open until one day very soon when God will shut it, and then no more sowing can be done!
e. In most cases the word translated go is in what’s called the present, progressive tense…it means literally: “as you are going”
f. Paul tells us that we freely received, therefore we should freely give.
g. DO YOU PLANT THE SEED AT ALL OPPORTUNITIES?
2. Passionately
a. Don Posterski wrote a little book called “Why am I afraid to tell you I’m a Christian?” And that is the question I’d like you to ponder now. Most people knows that it is important but few people does it. Others are ningas kugon, they start out with a strong desire to win souls, but stops when they see how hard it is.
b. Consider how important people are to God.
i. “The Lord...is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but wants everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
ii. Parties in heaven.
iii. Be a stretcher bearer, bring people to Christ.
iv. Other people does not belong "to another race of creatures bound on other journeys," as Charles Dickens wrote in Christmas of 1843. "They are fellow passengers to the grave."
c. Consider the benefits
i. We all have needs, but we still give time to preach and encourage evangelism. Why? Because there are also benefits. Evangelism is also for us.
ii. People do something when it gives them pleasure.
iii. Spiritual growth-
1. Someone has said, "We will either evangelize or fossilize." It is equally true to say, "We will neither go nor stagnate. We will either go or backslide. We will either go or die." From "The Church’s Challenge"
2. Exams and assignments are given to increase our knowledge. When we do Christ’s assignment for us, we increase in spiritual knowledge too..
3. Kids bring strength to relationships.
iv. Fulfillment-
1. Ill. Cyprus garden. “One reason some saints will have a greater fullness of heaven than others will be that they did more for heaven than others. By God’s grace they were enabled to bring more souls there.”
2. "How shall I feel at the judgment, if multitudes of missed opportunities pass before me in full review, and all my excuses prove to be disguises of my cowardice and pride?" W. E. Sangster.
v. Enduring investment-
1. Matt 6:19-20 “Store for yourselves treasure in heaven…”
2. 2 Peter 3:10-11 “The day of the Lord will come like a thief… the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed this way, what kind of people ought you to be?”
3. "How shall I feel at the judgment, if multitudes of missed opportunities pass before me in full review, and all my excuses prove to be disguises of my cowardice and pride?" - W. E. Sangster.
d. DO YOU CARE ENOUGH ABOUT PEOPLE TO PLANT SEEDS IN THEIR LIVES?
3. Personally
a. When it comes to reaching people who need Christ, there are two possible approaches: personal or impersonal. People today seem to be growing immune to many of the less personal methods of communication such as tracts, religious radio and television, billboards, and bumper stickers. People are, however, open to talking with a personal friend.
b. Effective evangelism flows out of a genuine, living relationship with Christ where His love for the lost people passes through us to others. You may have heard it said that “You are the only Bible that some people will read.” This is why our lives must reflect our message, if we are people who don’t reflect the fruit of the Spirit to some extent (“love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” – Galatians 5:22-23) then our light is pretty dim.
c. Does the dead need help to reach more people? Talk about prayer walk, upon reaching Cristobal, is it right to pray for more customers?
d. Jesus said that as we “abide in Him” we will “bear much fruit” (john 15:5)
e. Joe Aldrich said in his book, Lifestyle Evangelism, that “Christians are to be good news before they share the good news”
f. St Francis of Assisi said “Always preach the Gospel, and when necessary, use words.”
g. If we have a personality change or a change in vocabulary or accent as soon as we begin to talk about spiritual matters with someone, it’s hard to believe that what we have is real. God uses the Personality and the gifts that he has given each of us to draw people to him.
h. ARE YOU PLANTING THE SEED IN OTHERS, ESPECIALLY IN PEOPLE AROUND YOU?
4. Perseveringly
a. In due time we’ll reap if we ‘faint not’. Don’t give up.
b. Ill.—farmers don’t plant on Monday and expect to reap on Monday, or even next week or next month. Just obey and do your job, and trust the results to God! Plus, we often will never know the results of our witness…I believe we will have some surprising discoveries in heaven!
c. Effective people are not necessarily talented, gifted, or outgoing. But they do have one thing in common. They’re persistent. They don’t give up.
d. Galatians 6:9: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
e. We are not capable of seeing the outcome and future of our labor. But we are called to obey what ever God told us to do and trust that He knows and prepare the future for us. No labor is in vain if we did it according to His will
f. DO YOU KEEP PLANTING SEED, WHETHER YOU ARE TIRED, WEARY, HAVE YOUR OWN PROBLEMS, AND DO NOT SEE THE RESULTS OF YOUR PLANTING?
Conclusion:
• Jesus said that the qualification for good-soil is that it “produces a crop”. “Fruit” says Jesus, is “showing yourself to be my disciples” (John 15:8). It is “all goodness, righteousness and truth … what pleases the Lord” (Eph 5:9,10). It’s the “fruit of the Spirit … love, joy, peace, patience
• Edmund Burke said, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
• We cannot be neutral. We are either part of the problem, or we are part of the answer.
• Phillip Brooks said, "It seems as though the heroes have done about all they can for the world. Now nothing much will be accomplished until the common people rise up to do their common tasks."
Illustrations:
A model from the world of real estate becomes instructive at this point. A firm in Salem, Oregon, assigns 500 families to each agent. Agents are expected to contact each assigned family once per month for a year. The contact may be personal, a telephone call, or a letter. Research indicates that it takes at least six contacts for people to remember who the agent is and the firm represented. During this time of “building relationships,” agents are encouraged not to go in the house (good psychology, everyone else ins trying to get their foot in the door). Furthermore, they are encouraged not to ask for a listing during this “get acquainted” time. Obviously, there would be exceptions to these restrictions, but they do illustrate an understanding of what it takes to create a favorable climate for selling real estate. After the initial year of regular contacts, the agent continues to communicate with the assigned families on a scheduled, systematic basis. Research reveals that if this pattern is followed consistently for one-year-and-a-half, the agent will secure 80% of the listings.
What does the real estate firm know that we either do not know or overlook?
First, people do not like to be confronted by strangers seeking entrance into their homes. In fact, in many communities this is socially unacceptable. The sales person or any other unknown professional who arrives at the door is automaticaally confronted with a high sales resistance. If the door is opened, it is done with a determination not to be “taken in” by sales talk. The salesperson professionally represents the product, and consequently the sales pitch is discounted at least 50 percent. However, if a friend comes over and shares a glowing personal testimony concerning the value of the agent’s product, the reaction is apt to be markedly different. A satisfied customer makes the most effective salesperson.
Second, people are more inclined to do business with acquaintances than strangers.
Third, it takes time and effort to build a healthy decision-making climate.
Fourth, there is no substitute for time. Often it is necessary to “make haste slowly.”
C. H. Spurgeon
The renowned 19th-century English preacher C. H. Spurgeon told this story about King Cyrus, the man who conquered Babylon and freed the Jews from captivity: A visitor who was admiring Cyrus’ gardens said it gave him much pleasure. “Ah,” said Cyrus, “but you have not so much pleasure in this garden as I have, for I have planted every tree in it myself.”
Spurgeon then commented, “One reason some saints will have a greater fullness of heaven than others will be that they did more for heaven than others. By God’s grace they were enabled to bring more souls there.”
Those words should cause all of us who know the Lord to do some serious thinking. How many people will be in heaven because of us? Our desire should be that when we reach our eternal home, some will say to us, “I’m so thankful for you. It was your testimony, your life, your invitation to accept Christ that accounts for my being here today.” The apostle Paul anticipated the joy in heaven of seeing people who were there as a result of his ministry (1 Th. 2:19-20).
Yes, heaven’s joys will be the fullest for those who have helped lead others to Christ. So do all you can to bring to Jesus those who are lost in sin. That’s how you can lay up pleasures in heaven!
RWD, Our Daily Bread, Sept.-Nov. 1997, page for September 10
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"Live so people will want your autograph and not your fingerprints."
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A woman named Rose Crawford had been blind for 50 years. "I just can't believe it!" she gasped as the doctor lifted the bandages from her eyes after her recovery from delicate surgery in an Ontario hospital. She wept for joy when for the first time in her life a dazzling and beautiful world of form and colour greeted eyes that now were able to see.
The amazing thing about the story, however, is that 20 years of her blindness had been unnecessary. She didn't know that surgical techniques had been developed, and that an operation could have restored her vision at the age of 30. The doctor said, "She just figured there was nothing that could be done about her condition. Much of her life could have been different."
As I read the news account of her case, some questions came to mind. Why did she continue to assume that her situation was hopeless? Had no one told her about the wonderful advances in eye surgery? Then I thought of the plight of those unreached by the Gospel. How many will go on living in moral blindness unless we bring them to the Saviour? Millions will never know anything but spiritual darkness because no one has shared with them the Light that has come into the world. – Source unknown.
