........BASICS SEEDTIME AND HARVEST.................. King James Version (KJV)Passage Genesis 8:22: 22. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. New Living Translation (NLT)Passage Genesis 8:22 22. As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.” YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING WHAT SEED PLANTING AND HARVEST HAS TO DO WITH YOUR CHRISTIAN WALK. IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH YOUR WALK AND LIFE. MOST OF THE CHURCHES I'VE BEEN IN DID NOT KNOW OR TEACH WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SHARE WITH YOU. IN FACT THEY SCOFFED AT IT WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT UP. IT IS THE VERY KEY THAT WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THEM OUT OF ALL THEIR PROBLEMS. IT IS THE VERY KEY TO RECEIVING WHAT GOD HAS PROMISED. WHAT I AM ABOUT TO TELL YOU, OTHERS WILL SAY IS RIDICULOUS AND UNNECESSARY. AND THOSE PEOPLE ARE THE ONE'S THAT ARE ALWAYS SICK AND IN TROUBLE IN THEIR LIVES. THEY ARE THE ONE'S THAT BLAME GOD FOR ALL THEIR PROBLEMS, WHEN HE HAS THE WAY OUT OF THEM. THEY TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR SITUATIONS AND DON'T WANT ANY. GOD IS NOT A WELFARE GOD. YOU MUST DO SOME THINGS IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FROM HIM. SO WHAT DOES SEEDTIME AND HARVEST HAVE TO DO WITH US, AND WALKING IN THE WORD?
LET'S FIND OUT ..LET'S LOOK AT TWO PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE LUKE 8:4-18 AND MARK 4: 26-29
LUKE 8:4-18
4And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: 5A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. 6And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. 7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. 8And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 9And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? 10And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
11Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. 14And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. 15But 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.
16No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. 17For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. 18Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
MARK 4:26-29
26And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; 27And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. 28For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. 29But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
THERE'S A LOT IN THESE PASSAGES. WE ARE ABOUT TO SEE WHY SEEDTIME AND HARVEST IS SO IMPORTANT TO US. EVERYTHING THAT APPLIES TO FARMING APPLIES TO OUR CHRISTIAN WALK AND LIFE.
THE PRINCIPAL THING IS FIRST OF ALL FOUND IN VERSE ELEVEN OF LUKE CHAPTER EIGHT OF THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER. THAT IS THIS,THE SEED SOWN IS THE WORD OF GOD
1. HOW CAN WORDS BE SOWN, OR PLANTED? ONLY ONE WAY. JUST AS SEED COMES IN BAGS OR PACKETS FOR THE FARMER OR THE GARDENER, OUR SEEDS COME IN THE FORM OF THE WRITTEN WORD, OR THOUGHTS.
2. THE FARMER KNOWS THAT THESE BAGS OF SEED CAN PRODUCE A HARVEST, HOWEVER AS LONG AS THEY REMAIN UNPLANTED THIS HARVEST WILL GO UNREALIZED. HE CAN SIT THERE AND SAY I HAVE THE SEED WHERE'S MY HARVEST?
3. THE FARMER MUST PREPARE THE GROUND AND PLANT THE SEED IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE HARVEST.
4. HOW DO WE PLANT GOD'S WORD IN OUR LIVES AND RECEIVE A HARVEST OF WHAT IT SAYS? IN THE BOOK, OR JUST KNOWING THE WORD DOES US NO GOOD. IT'S LIKE THE FARMER LEAVING THE SEED IN THE SACK. HE KNOWS IT CAN PRODUCE A HARVEST, BUT HE MUST DO SOMETHING WITH IT FIRST. WE MUST SOW OR PLANT THE WORD OF GOD IN OUR LIVES. THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS TO SPEAK IT.
5. THE FARMER COULD SAY THAT WON'T WORK AND NEVER PLANT THE SEED AND NEVER GET A CROP.
6. CHRISTIANS CAN SAY I DON'T SEE HOW SPEAKING THE WORD CAN CHANGE ANYTHING AND NEVER DO IT, AND NEVER RECEIVE WHAT GOD HAS PROMISED OR WHAT JESUS BOUGHT AND PAID FOR WITH HIS OWN BLOOD AND BODY.
PREPARE THE GROUND AND PLANT THE SEED AND IT WILL GROW INTO A CROP TO BE HARVESTED.
IN MARK 4:26-29 JESUS SAYS THIS IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD. HE IS SAYING THIS IS HOW IT WORKS.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO LISTEN TO ANYBODY AT ALL, LISTEN TO JESUS.
JESUS SAID IT'S LIKE A MAN PUTS A SEED IN THE GROUND AND THAT MAN DOESN'T KNOW HOW IT GROWS, BUT IT GROWS. IT SPRINGS FORTH AS A BLADE, THEN THE EAR, THEN THE FULL CORN IN THE EAR, THEN THE SICKLE FOR THE HARVEST IS COME.
WHAT EVER YOU PLANT WILL GROW. GOOD OR BAD. SEEDS OR WEEDS. PREPARE THE GROUND, THAT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT. FARMERS MUST CLEAR THE LAND OF ALL THE ROCKS AND WEEDS AND FERTILIZE, AND PLOW THE GROUND TO PLANT AND GROW THE SEEDS.
WE MUST DO THE SAME. WE MUST CLEAR THE DOUBTS, COMPLAINING, GRUMBLING, BACKBITING, JUDGING, LYING, UNFORGIVENESS, HATE, BITTERNESS, UNBELIEF, OFFENSE, GOSSIP, AND SLOTHFULNESS OUT OF OUR LIVES. WE MUST FERTILIZE OUR GROUND WITH LOVE, FAITH, FORGIVENESS, PEACE, LONG SUFFERING, CONSISTENCY, INTEGRITY, HONOR, AND FORGIVENESS. THEN WE MUST PLANT THE SEED. SPEAK THE WORD.
IN PLANTING AND HARVESTING WE MUST REALIZE THERE IS A GROWING TIME. A SEASON. IN THE WORLD THEY HAVE DEVELOPED HOT HOUSE CROPS. THEY CAN HAVE A CONTINUAL HARVEST ALL YEAR ROUND.
WE CAN COME TO THE PLACE OF CONTINUAL HARVEST IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK AND LIFE ALSO. WE WILL SHOW YOU THIS LATER IN THIS MESSAGE.
LET'S LOOK AT THE SEASON OF GROWING?
GALATIANS 6:7-9
7Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For 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. 9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
VERSE SEVEN: DO NOT BE DECEIVED!! MOST PEOPLE DON'T THINK WHAT THEY SAY MATTERS. IT DOES, BECAUSE YOUR WORDS ARE SEEDS. WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWS HE SHALL REAP.
VERSE NINE TELLS US THAT IN DUE SEASON WE SHALL REAP IF WE FAINT NOT. DON'T GIVE UP. KEEP CULTIVATING, KEEP WATERING. KEEP THE WEEDS OUT. AND YOU SHALL REAP.
IF A FARMER QUITS, IF HE GIVES UP, IF HE SAYS THIS IS TO HARD AND SITS DOWN AND DOES NOTHING MORE, THEN HIS CROP WILL BE OVER RUN BY WEEDS AND CHOKED OUT. NO HARVEST OR VERY LITTLE COMPARED TO WHAT HE COULD HAVE GOTTEN.
HOW DO WE STOP OUR HARVEST. WE THINK IT IS TAKING TO LONG AND WE SAY THINGS LIKE I DON'T THINK IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. WE LET WEEDS OF DOUBT SNEAK IN AND ROB US OF OUR CROP. IF WE LET THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPEN WE WILL LOSE OUR HARVEST. WE MUST CONTINUALLY KEEP THOSE WEEDS PULLED IN ORDER TO LET OUR CROP GROW.
NEVER GIVE UP, EVEN IN THE FACE OF WHAT PEOPLE WILL THINK OR SAY ABOUT US.
I AM GOING TO TELL YOU A TRUE ACCOUNT. A TESTIMONY I KNOW TO BE TRUE. I LIVED IT.
BACK IN 1999 I WAS GOING TO GO OUT DEER SCOUTING AT THE LAKE AREA. AS I WAS PREPARING TO GO I GOT A CHECK IN MY SPIRIT TO NOT GO. THIS WAS GOD TRYING TO PROTECT ME FROM HARM. I DID NOT OBEY AND WENT ANYWAY. AS I WAS WALKING AROUND I GOT HURT AND IT SHATTERED MY ANKLE BONE. THE FINAL RESULT WAS I HAD TO HAVE MY LEFT FOOT AMPUTATED. I HAD SEVERAL OPERATIONS ON THAT LEG AFTER THE FOOT WAS REMOVED. NONE OF THIS WAS GOD'S WILL.. HE TRIED TO PROTECT ME. IT WAS MY FAULT I WAS IN THIS STATE. SO I STARTED TO SPEAK THE WORD DAILY SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. ONE OF THE SCRIPTURES I WOULD SAY EVERYDAY WAS IN THE LAST PART OF FIRST PETER 2:24 WHICH SAYS BY WHOSE STRIPES YOU WERE HEALED . AND I WOULD SAY IF WE ARE THEN I AM HEALED. I PLANTED THAT EVERY DAY. IT WAS GROWING IN ME. IT WAS BECOMING REAL TO ME AND DURING A 2 YEAR PERIOD I WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS, BUT CONSISTENTLY SAYING BY JESUS STRIPES I WAS HEALED AND IF I WAS THEN I AM NOW. I PREACHED AND TAUGHT HEALING AND HEALTH. I KNOW PEOPLE SAID THINGS LIKE IT DOESN'T WORK FOR HIM. OR HE'S LIVING A LIE AND DECEIVED. NO I WAS LIVING THE WORD PLANTING AND CULTIVATING AND WAITING AS IT GREW TOWARDS A HARVEST. MY LEG WOULD AT TIMES GET SORE AND SWELL AND WOULD TAKE 6 WEEKS TO GET BACK TO WHERE I COULD WEAR MY PROSTHETIC FOOT. ALL THE TIME I WAS STILL SPEAKING THE WORD OUT LOUD EVERY DAY. NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE THOUGHT OR SAID. SEE THEY CAN'T STOP ME FROM GETTING TO THE HARVEST UNLESS I LET THEM. IT HAD BEEN ABOUT 2 YEARS AND ON THIS SUNDAY I WAS TEACHING A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS FOR PEOPLE FROM 20-60 YEARS OLD. I MADE A STATEMENT THAT DAY. I SAID HEALING SHOULD BE JUST AS EASY AS SALVATION TO GET. AFTER ALL IT WAS THE SAME SACRIFICE THAT PAID FOR BOTH. THE NEXT MORNING I AWOKE TO GREAT PAIN. MY LEG WAS SWELLED AND HURT MORE THAT ANY OTHER TIME IN MY LIFE. THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT CAME TO MY MIND WAS," HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE THIS TIME TO HEAL TWO MONTHS?" THOUGHTS CAN'T STOP YOU UNLESS YOU ACT ON THEM AND SPEAK THEM OUT,WHICH I DID NOT LET THOSE WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH. I SAID INSTEAD, BY JESUS STRIPES I AM HEALED. THERE NO WAY I COULD EVEN GET MY FOOT ON. JUST A FEATHER LIKE TOUCH SENT SUPER PAIN THROUGH ME. THEN I HEARD THIS, "MIKE". I SAID YES. THEN THIS CAME. "DID YOU NOT JUST YESTERDAY SAY THAT HEALING SHOULD BE JUST AS EASY AS SALVATION?" YES I DID SAY THAT. THE LORD THEN ASKED ME,"WELL IS IT?" YES I REPLIED. "WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT THEN?" I SAID, "I'M GOING TO LAY MY HANDS ON MY LEG AND SPEAK TO IT. I SAID IN JESUS NAME SWELLING AND PAIN YOU MUST GO FOR BY JESUS STRIPES I AM HEALED." IN ABOUT 10 SECONDS THE SWELLING AND PAIN WAS GONE, AND I PUT MY PROSTHETIC FOOT ON AND WALKED AWAY. THAT LOOKED LIKE AN INSTANT MIRACLE, BUT IT WAS TWO YEARS IN THE MAKING. I WAS AT THE HARVEST TIME, AT THE END OF A SEASON OF GROWING. SATAN CAME WITH ONE BIG PUSH TO TRY TO MAKE ME FAINT AND GIVE UP, RIGHT AT THE EDGE OF MY HARVEST. I STAYED TRUE TO THE SPOKEN WORD AND THE HEALING HARVEST CAME FORTH. NOW AS I AWOKE THE NEXT SUNDAY MORNING THE PAIN WAS BACK AND I SAID, " NO YOU ARE NOT COMING BACK YOU MUST GO." IT LEFT IN AN INSTANT. THE LORD SAID TO KEEP SPEAKING THE WORD DAILY AND I WOULD BE WALKING IN A CONTINUAL HARVEST AS I WAS CONTINUALLY PLANTING. SEEDS OF THE WORD WOULD BE PLANTED AND GROWING AND BE HARVESTED CONTINUALLY.
REMEMBER ANYTHING TO DO WITH AN EARTHLY SOWING AND REAPING APPLIES TO US, AND HOW THE KINGDOM OF GOD OPERATES. SO WE NEED TO SEE THIS CONTINUAL HARVEST IN THE WORD. WELL LET'S LOOK AT IT.
King James Version (KJV)Passage Amos 9:13: 13Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.
ISN'T THAT THE PICTURE OF A CONTINUAL SOWING AND HARVESTING. KEEP SPEAKING THE WORD DAILY. JESUS IS OUR EXAMPLE. HE WALKED IN A CONTINUAL HARVEST. YOU NEVER SAW IT TAKE ANY LENGTH OF TIME TO GET RESULTS WHEN HE SPOKE. IN JOHN 14:12 JESUS SAID THAT HE THAT BELIEVES ON HIM, THE WORKS THAT JESUS DID THE BELIEVER SHALL DO THE SAME AND GREATER WORKS.