HOW CAN YOU TELL IF A SEED IS LIVING OR DEAD?
1 Peter 1:23
Take a careful look at your seeds; just by looking, can you tell if the seeds in which you hold in you hand is alive. Or have you cast judgment and deemed these seeds as useless and dead.
When you look at a seed, there is something more that what meets the eye. . . . You see – inside the seed there is a complex reproduction network that lies dorsal until conditions are right and reproduction can take place.
Lets’ take a moment and learn what’s inside a seed --- Inside the seed there is a reproductive structure that contains a embryo or miniature plant, --- a supply of food --- and a protective coating. . . .
What are the conditions for Christian Growth to take place?
You have be first exposed to the Word of God – Once you have been exposed – a seed is planted – though it might not take root and grow then – But somewhere in the fertility of life – the conditions get right – the heart becomes warm from the trails of life --- and becomes fertile for the seed to grow.
In order for a seed to grow – there must be pollination and fertilization
In order for a Christian to grow -- there must be justification and sanctification
In order for a seed to reproduce or change into a new form – first it must die --- Once the seed dies it looses it’s protective coating and from the inside a new growth takes place
WELL! ! ! In order that those whom are in Christ to become a new creature – a change must take place – Paul said in Romans 6:6 that our old man is crucified with him (with Jesus) – that the body of sin might be destroyed – that henceforth we should not serve sin – for he that is dead is freed form sin – now if we be dead with Christ – we believe that we shall also live with Him. . . .
How can you tell if a seed is living or dead?
Just as the seed grows day by day. . .
For the Christian this reproduction process is a one day at a time . . . Paul said in I Cor. 15:31b ---
I die daily. . . . Everyday you have to die to sin that you may grow in Christ..
Look at the seed’s character: When a seed began to grow – I’ve noticed that it’s not hinders because something blocks it’s path of growth. What the sprout does is – grows around what ever is in the way. . . .
Well – I feel I need to tell you – you ought to be like the seed – when a seed can’t grow straight up – it won’t stop growing --- It just grows around.
You know how some of us will do: We start off doing good – but soon as trouble come – soon as we are face with the issues of life – soon as satan get in our way – soon as problems happen that we can cope with – the first thing you do is stop coming to church --- when you stop coming to church – you stop growing -- because you miss out on your share of the sincere milk of the word – thereby letting worldly vices block our growth.
Don’t let the problems of this world – stop you from growing – Paul said, I’ll let nothing separate me from the love of God. My brothers and sisters
If you can’t grow straight up – learn how to grow around.
Look at the seed – The seed has an identity: When you plant mustards – don’t expect turnips – or if you plant lettuce – you won’t get tomatoes – When ever you plant – that the produce you will get. . . .
The seed give you an identity – the seed identifies you as the Children of God.
If you plant the seed on the word – you’ll get a Christian whose steps are ordered by the word – whose hearing is obedient to word. . . . WATCH THIS
You can’t plant worldly seeds and expect to grow a heavenly garden. . . .
That’s why some folk don’t feel comfortable in the church – WHY – they growing in the wrong soil. . . .
Selfishness was planted and you expected blessing to come up
Lying was planted and you expected the truth to come up
Hatred was planted and you expected Love to come up
Jealousy was planted and you expected fellowship to come up
Gal. 6:7 – Be not deceived – for God is not marked – for whatsoever a man soweth – that shall he also reap
A seed resurrects and forms a new life
Just as the warm earth around the seed is the catalyst for growth
The Word of God is that great instrument that promotes growth in a Christian. The Word is the truth that warms and purifies the soul. . . Many hear the truth – but are never changed by it.
The only way a new life can evolve is that a change must take place. . . .
When you look at the seed with a carnal eye – you can’t determine if it is dead or alive --- incorruptible or corruptible. . . .
Look at the seeds appearance – though it be little -- yet it is wonderful in operation – Out of a small seed – great plants growth
The word will change your appearance – What sin has made ugly – the word of God will mold into a beautiful creature.
The Church should be like mustard seeds sown in a field – no matter how close they are planted you ought to still grow. . . .
Then there are some like corn seeds – When 3 or 4 are planted together – these began to grow up together --- But when they get a certain size --- one will stop taking nutrients from the ground --- and start drawing them from the other stalks.
Look at the seed – can you tell if it is living or dead
Look around you – look around your home – look in the streets – in the jail cells – in the schools – can you determine who is going to heaven or going to hell --- can you determine those on whom God has laid His hand – from those whom he has not. . .
That same grace that worked on you --- will work for others too. . .
There are times when one is looked down on --- because they are small in life. . . . But I’m glad that Jesus has an answer for all of life’s problems --- In Matthew 13:31 as Jesus spoke to His disciples – saying the kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed – which a man took and sowed in his field: which indeed is the least of all seeds --- but when it is grown -- It is the greatest among herbs and becomes a tree --- so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches there of --- Don’t let folk tell you that you are a nobody – God don’t make junk
God has taken many that were small in life
Many that has come through hard times
Many that has had it rough in life
Many that come through the storm and rain
Many that has been casted down
Many that has struggled and strained through life – and made them pastors, preachers, teachers and doers of the Word. . .
How can you tell if a seed is living or dead
One significant fact I’ve found about a seed is --- it is not choicy where it grows – It’s how it grows that affect the outcome.
Christians ought to be like seeds --- Where-ever you are – grow and make the best of it.
Don’t let the things around you affect your growth in Christ
Look at the seed:
You’ll notice that a life line extend from the center out through the body. . .
In order for a christian to grow – there is a life line coming from Jesus out to the body. . .
Look at the seed:
There are some that are large and some that are small
It doesn’t matter what your stature is in life --- God can still use you
Look at the seed:
There are some that are irregular and some that have spots and blemishes
I stop by to comfort your hearts – it does not matter how you may look --- In the eyesight of God – everybody is somebody
Grow up in the Lord --- He will – make everything alright
There is another seed that Isaiah predicted – would grow out of the fullness of time
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
