Seeds of the Sower
HHM Pastor Jim Parisi Feb 16, 2003
The church of Jesus Christ has been commissioned to sow the seeds of hope for the next generation.
With all that is going on in the world today… wars and rumors of wars
Mt 24:6 – And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
We are on the brink of war again in our nation today… right now as we speak.
And some churches are giving Bible studies on Sunday morning instead of addressing the troops, and preparing them for battle.
A battle which will be on our doorsteps and in the streets
They will perish these people for they will have no vision.
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. King James
AFRAID or OBLIVIOUS… I’m not sure which…
911 was a wake up call and we were standing blessing God and now where is all of that we were seeing on the TV
Was it in time of crisis we noticed God Government Leaders standing on the steps of great buildings in Washington sing in unity GOD BLESS AMERICA.
Why aren’t they doing this today?
Is it our time again to just bless Him with “LIP SERVICE”?
Death hired hand is Knocking on the doors of our hearts and nation today.
We have failed as the church of our generation.
“BUT GOD”… Remember that phrase...
BUT GOD will change the situation. 46 times nkj 69 times nlt
44 times in the KJ the bible says “But God”
One great example.
Ps 73:26 - My flesh and my heart fail; “But God” is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
He is raising up an army in this nation and in the world that will not compromise the word of God in their hearts.
Or the promises of God for their lives.
We the churches have the responsibility to sow the seeds that our Father in heaven has given to us
for this lost and dying world.
The seeds come first from our mouths and hearts then through our actions.
Through our Prayers
Say it….. Do it…. Accomplish it.
Go on to the next task…
His next commission.
Wealth has come to this nation and to us its people as individuals for the purposes of God.
For His Glory
There are many parts of the text in the New Testament of how we are to help and benefit the less fortunate but I see in Luke a great example.
Luke 16 19-26 19 "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 Then he cried and said, ’Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ’Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ EXPLAIN
We have forgotten the lessons of yesterday let alone the lessons of old.
We are a spoiled generation…. having it all taking and leaving nothing behind for the ones to come.
Me first…. our generations crys out today.
Let them fend for themselves.
My Fathers- father my grandfather was a poor man with many children….
His life was hard. Not enough on the table at times.
They suffered great hardship to make a better life for their children.
I know my Grandmother and Grandfather were people of faith.
My Grandfather.. Frank had the faith to leave his home in Sicily as a Young man and make a better life for his children my father…..
Which benefits me today. His actions then are for me today
Some of you have done the same here today.
I can remember as a child hearing my Grandmother praying for her family.
During the night… in the morning… through out the day…
always thanking God for the blessings…….. no matter how small.
Sometimes there is nothing more comforting to me then knowing that Jane’s Grandmother is there doing still this for us today.
They were and are people of great faith. They depended on God for all there provision and needs.
Sometime they had to believe for even their next day’s provision. Meal.
When did we ever in our lives have to have that kind of faith… that our mortality rested in one last meal?
The problem today is the same as in the days when Luke was writing the text we just read….
The problem as I see it is this.
We have not learned from our predecessors that all wealth and blessing come from God.
WE are spoiled.
All that we have and all that we will have is just to benefit the Kingdome of God and His people.
He puts wealth, monies, talents and time in our hands to us for His benefit.
We don’t want to be in the place like the rich man clothed in purple looking up for just a drop of water.
Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate not for the benefit of Lazarus… but for the benefit of the rich man, it was his test
The rich man had it all and it would have been his blessing and to his benefit we later see just to help this one poor soul.
I see this in Harvest House today.
We are on the verge of many great blessings and opportunities.
I want to see to it… that we make sure as mush as we are blessed we bless others.
Make sure our first love… our first call and desire is to serve God and HIS people.
Never to be caught up in building a bigger Us
While forgetting them who are in front of the buildings and need us most.
My Cry will always be… Lord, Keep us focused on you and your will.
Lord let thy will be done here… start with us first. Use us first.
Fill us with your spirit and power.
1 peter 4:11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Let us only rely on You for all our needs
So no man can doubt it all was provided by You.
Let it be known to all that can see… all that can hear.
We are Your people...
We are Your army…
We are the earthly extension of Your Love in this World.
Amen
Prayer this Wednesday night. 7:30 pm
