THE POTENTIAL OF A SEED? THE GIFT OF GOD.
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) (This is a 4 part lesson)
We purchased a difficult 1,000 piece puzzle. For several services we set up a table near the altar. Two or three weeks I gave each person one piece of the puzzle and told them to lay it on the table where it belonged. Then soon there was a cry: WHAT DOES THE PUZZLE LOOK LIKE? I told them it was a secret. I gave more pieces out. I finally showed the master plan of what the puzzle was. A year later the puzzle was still not together. Finally someone brought an easier puzzle and it was put together. We do not understand the plan of God. Seeds are a plan of God. We may never understand.
GOD HAS A PLAN… THE SEEDS REVEAL GOD’S PLAN. WHY PRAY FOR MORE FAITH WHEN YOU ARE NOT USING THE FAITH THAT YOU HAVE? THE PLAN IS IT MAY BE SMALL BUT SEEDS CAN GROW AND PRODUCE A HARVEST AND SUPPORT LIFE.
Matthew 13:31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
There are several olive trees near Gethsemane. They are believed to be over 2,000 years old. I ponder who planted those olive trees? Jesus prayed under the shadow of those trees. What seeds are you planting?
I am told that a Judean date palm seed several thousand years old that was planted in 2005 and it grew. I read where in Egypt they found some pea seeds and planted some of the seeds. They believed to be 5,000 years old, and they grew. They were something in the split pea family. How amazing is our God to have created seeds that would grow when they were that old?
What is the smallest seed known to man today? In Biblical times the mustard seed was the smallest known. Now the smallest known seed is the orchid. Several hundred will fit on a mustard seed. The largest seed is the coco-de-mer palm and it can weigh up to 66 pounds. When planted the coco-de-mer has to be watered daily for 5 to 6 years before it breaks the ground. Then in one year it can grow 100 feet tall. THE LESSON IS PATIENCE. Seeds have hidden life … you can’t see it, but God has a plant hidden in a seed.
DO WE RECOGNIZE SEEDS AS A GIFT FROM GOD?
Genesis 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
Genesis 1:29 (NLT2) Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.
Rebecca Arnett often quoted: NO SADDER WORDS OF PEN OR TONGUE THAN THE WORDS:”WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN?”
John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
John 12:24 (MSG) "Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over.
25 In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal. 26 "If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you'll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment's notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.
PAUL KNEW ALL ABOUT PLANTING SEEDS. PLEASE HEAR MY HEART.
I know there are growing, thriving churches with increases. They are a minority in the USA. We have churches in this area that only have church once a month. We have one church, that I know of that because of low attendance have voted to have church one time a year. I ponder where is the evangelism to win lost souls to the cross? I know of small churches that the pastor is so discouraged. The pastor has to pay the utilities out of his pocket.
First let me back up my thoughts with the Bible. How many gospel singers quit singing? They start well… then something hinders. PAUL KNOWS HIS TIME IS SHORT… PAUL IS IN PRISON… COME LET US FINISH WELL…
2 Timothy 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
REMEMBER JUDAS, HE WALKED WITH JESUS. Judas saw miracles…--- YET THE BIBLE CLEARLY STATES “ THE DEVIL ENTERED HIS HEART… KING SAUL THE ANOINTED FIRST KING OF ISRAEL --- THE ENEMY TORMENTED KING SAUL’S HEART. We must keep pressing on and sowing seeds for the harvest to come.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2 Thessalonians 2:1 (MSG) Now, friends, read these next words carefully. Slow down and don't go jumping to conclusions regarding the day when our Master, Jesus Christ, will come back and we assemble to welcome him. 2 Don't let anyone shake you up or get you excited over some breathless report or rumored letter from me that the day of the Master's arrival has come and gone. 3 Don't fall for any line like that. Before that day comes, a couple of things have to happen. First, the Apostasy. Second, the debut of the Anarchist, a real dog of Satan.
Plant trees IF YOUR FAMILY IS HUNGRY… WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO PLANT THE APPLE SEED? 15 YEARS AGO WOULD BE THE BEST TIME. Johnny Appleseed planted thousands of seeds. only apples but apple cider became a stable from his work.
HIS MOTTO WAS HE LIVED FOR OTHERS. JOHNNY CHAPMAN WORE A COOKING POT ON HIS HEAD…. JOHNNY WAS BORN SEPT. 26, 1774 AND DIED IN MARCH 1845. If you would settle down on land and would grow orchurds the Ohio company would give you 100 acres of land. If you planted 50 apple trees and 20 peach trees. Johnny Appleseed started a business in Pennsylvania. 1792 Johnny APPLESEED owned over 1,000 acres of land. Johnny accepted Jesus Christ as his savior and he planted apple seeds. The average apple tree lives to be 40 to 50 years old. Johnny Chapman preached the gospel and planted fruit trees.
BE GENEROUS WHEN SOWING SEED… THE AMOUNT OF SEEDS YOU SOW WILL DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF THE HARVEST YOU REAP.
If you plow, till and prepare 10 acres but you only plant 3 seeds, you will probably have a lean harvest. You will determine the size of the harvest by the seeds you sow.
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
2 Corinthians 9:6 (Msg) Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop.
7 I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.
8 God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done.
FAITH IS A SEED…
Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
SICKLY OAKS FROM SICKLY ACORNS GROW. ALL THE MIGHTY OAK IS --- IT IS AN ACORN THAT STOOD ITS GROUND. WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR SEED? God gives us an eternal seed in our children. A child is a gift from God. What you do with what God gave you could be your gift back to God. Few accept that children are an eternal being and the parents’ seed can demine if that child goes to hell or heaven. As an acorn bears the mighty oak…
I READ THAT A MAN NAMED TIM SLEDGE WROTE A BOOK: GOODBYE JESUS… NOT EVERYONE IS SUCCESSFUL with their seeds… MANY START WELL… TIM QUT. THE LAST PART CAN BE THE HARDEST… FALL AWAY?
There is a site called: www.pastoralcare.com/statistics.
*It is estimated 5,000 churches will closing in 2025.
*Across all denominations the stats record 38% of ministers are considering leaving the ministry permanently.
*51% from main line denominations.
*46% of Americans believe church is important, that is down from 70% decades ago.
*On any given Sunday only 10% to 20% of Christians attend church once a week.
*Yet 50% of Americans claim to be church members.
*Only 36% say they have confidence in the organized church.
*A recent survey reveals 3,300 people a day people a day are leaving the church.
*3,300 people a day leave, that is for 365 days = 8,431,500.
*The national stats say 15% 0F PEOPLE IN CHURCH NOW WILL LEAVE WITHIN 12 MONTHS. That is 30% in two years. Weigh what will 5 years bring? 75%. Please God bring the seed back to the church.
GOD HAS A PLAN. THERE IS POTENTIAL IN SEEDS. Seeds transmit life. THE SEED REPRESNTS REBIRTH AND SURVIVAL. THE MYSTERY OF THE SEED IS AMAZING. MULTIPLICATION, GROWTH, PRODUCTIVITY AND THE CYCLE OF LIFE.
Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
We must accept SEED as hope. Trust and nourishment. In the Bible the seed represents GOD’S WORD that can grow in one’s heart. Part of the growth process depends on the soil and the weather.
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. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
LET’S COME TO THE CONCLUSION IF WE SOW SEED TO THE SPIRIT, WE CAN REAP DIVIDENDS OF PROPHETIC SEEDS AND FRUIT. THE CLOSER WE GET TO THE SOON COMING OF THE SECOND COMING THE MORE THE ALLING AWAY WILL GROW.
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Hebrews 10:25 (MSG) not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:25 (NLT2) And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
DO WE SEE WE NEED SOWERS SOWING SEED?WHIICH IS WORSE: NEGLECT OR ABUSE. THE BIBLE IS 100% TRUE. DOES THE ANCHOR HOLD? YOU ARE DRIFTING TOO FAR FROM THE SHORE?
*Years ago we sang: Out on the perilous deep, where dangers silently creep, and storms so violently sweep:
You are drifting to far from the shore.
*Today the tempests rolls high, and clouds overshadow the sky. Sure death is hovering nigh,
You are drifting too far from the shore.
*Why meet the terrible fate? Mercies abound fully wait, Turn back before it is too late.
You are drifting too far from the shore.
Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
Hebrews 2:1 (MSG) It's crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we've heard so that we don't drift off.
WILL WE PAY THE PRICE FOR A SURE FOUNDATION? IF I WERE BUILDING A BIRD HOUSE OR A DOG HOUSE I DO NOT NEED TO DESIGN A FOUNDATION.
My friend, if you are going to build a home that will stand the storm you better design a SURE FOUNDATION. The higher the structure the deeper the foundation.
PATIENCE MY FRIEND, AN ACORN DOES NOT TURN INTO A MIGHTY OAK OVER NIGHT. WE KNEW AN OLD MAN THAT GREW A GARDEN IN THE LOT NEXT TO HIS HOUSE. WATT HALE WAS 87 YEARS OLD.
Watt loved his little garden. His last year he cut up his seed potatoes to plant. I talked to him as he was planting the eyes of the potato and gently placed them in the ground with the eye facing up so they would grow? Watt lived next to the church, so I would see him in the garden and talk to him. Several days later, I saw Watt digging in the garden and I talked with him. He was disgusted that the seed potato was not growing. So he dug them up to check on them. The next week I saw him digging. He explained to me the potatoes should be several inches high. They weren’t. He could not figure what was wrong? Every few days he dug the seed potatoes up to check on them. He knew he had planted them on the right moon? Need I tell you that those potatoes growth was stunted that year?
2 Thess 2:1 (amp) BUT RELATIVE TO THE COMING OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST (THE MESSIAH) AND OUR GATHERING TOGETHER TO (MEET) HIM, WE BEG YOU, BRETHREN, 2: NOT TO ALLOW YOUR MINDS TO BE QUICKLY UNSETTLED OR DISTURBED OR KEPT EXCITED OR ALARMED, WHETHER IT BE BY SOME (PRETENDED) REVELATION OF (THE) SPIRIT OR BY WORD OR BY LETTER (ALLEGED TO BE) FROM US, TO THE EFFECT THAT THE DAY OF THE LORD HAS (ALREADY) ARRIVED AND IS HERE. 3: LET NO ONE DECEIVE OR BEGUILE YOU IN ANY WAY, FOR THAT DAY WILL NOT COME EXCEPT THE APOSTASY COMES FIRST (UNLESS THE PREDICTED GREAT FALLING AWAY OF THOSE WHO HAVE PROFESSED TO BE CHRISITANS HAS COME), AND THE MAN OF LAWLESNESS (SIN) IS REVEALED, WHO IS THE SON OF DOOM (OF PERDITION),
THE WORDS YOU SPEAK ARE SEEDS. SEEDS GROW. PLANT NEW SEEDS? THE ANCHOR HOLDS…
I heard that Willie Nelson said: “ONCE YOU REPLACE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS WITH POSITIVE ONES, YOU’LL START HAVING POSITIVE RESULTS.” This means when you stop focusing on doubts, fears and negativity. Instead fill your mind with hope, confidence and good thoughts--- your life will begin to change for the better. The way you think shapes your words and actions, they change your future. If we focus on the good, we open the door to more opportunities, happiness and success.
SEED, BARNEY FIFE SAID: NIP IT, NIP IT IN THE BUD. MY POISON IVY THEORY. WE MUST BE CAREFUL WHAT SEEDS WE PLANT.
My second son was very allergic to poison ivy. He could look at the poison ivy and break out. We raised rabbits and in the summer we would supplement their diets with grass. One summer we spent several hundred dollars curing the breakout. We walked down to the barn and I taught him how to identify poison ivy. We never had that problem again.
MARK 4: 1-20 TELLS THE PARABLE OF THE SOIL TYPES AND THE SEED. DON’T ANALYZE THE SOIL, JUST PLANT THE SEED. DON’T EAT THE SEED CORN. If there is erosion plant seeds.
IF WHAT YOU HAVE IS NOT ENOUGH FOR THE HARVEST, YOU MUST KNOW THE SEED IS TO PLANT. HARVEST COMES FROM THE SEED TO PLANT. JESUS IS TEACHING PEOPLE BY THE SEA SIDE. WHICH ONE ARE YOU? BE PREPARE THE LAND THEN PREPARE THE SEED. WE MUST NOT EAT THE SEED CORN. TO RECEIVE YOUR SEED AND BE FRUITFUL. FOR 30, 60 TO 100 FOLD HARVEST.
*THE WAYSIDE… THE PATH… THE HOT SUN HARDENS THE PATH. THE BIRDS EAT THE SEED…
*THE STONEY --- ROCKY GROUND… SHALLOW GROUND --- NO ROOTS
*THORNY GROUND --- THE SEED GROWS BUT THE PLANTS ARE CHOKED OUT, OFFENDED, HURT AND DYING. THEY HEAR BUT CHOCKED OUT.
*THE GOOD SOIL. 30, 60, some 100 FOLD. I am told a 100 fold yield is the harvest would equal 10 years.
AS LONG AS EARTH REMAINS THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SEED TIME AND HARVEST.
Genesis 8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease
CONCLUSION: WE BETTER MAKE SURE WE PLANT THE RIGHT SEEDS IF WE WANT THE RIGHT HARVEST.
When I was in 9th -10th grade we lived in a parsonage in Jellico, Tennessee. The lady’s club offered a $50 reward for the prettiest yard. My dad borrowed a rotor-tiller and my older brother and I worked for days tilling in front of the hedge and two perfect circles to plant seeds. An old man in the community told dad he had all kinds of seeds that grew beautiful bright red flowers… SCARLET SAGE. We worked and worked planting the seeds in order. Days later a neighbor came by and said: YOUR MUSTARD IS GROWING BEAUTIFUL. ISOM SHARP gave us mustard seed not SCARLETT SAGE. Many laughed at us.
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) This is a 4 part lesson.
