Sowing the Seed…
And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 13:3-9) This is so up-to-date!
It’s getting late to sow fall greens, but I have seeds and the bed is about ready to plant. (Turnips, Mustard, Spinach, Kale, Buttercrunch Lettuce, Collards, Red Swiss Chard.) A neighbor said he sowed his turnips two weeks ago but they haven’t sprouted because there’s been no rain. I may water mine to make them sprout while the soil is still warm. I like fall greens because the bugs are few and the greens will grow slowly all winter under the canopy.
Our eye surgeon, Dr. Miller, has emphasized that we should eat a lot of greens to prevent macular degeneration. Brain Surgeon and Nutritionist: Russel Blaylock is equally in favor of eating greens. He blends his greens (raw) with a little water in a Vita Mix blender and eats a cup a day. He says that in eating a green salad, we absorb 30% of the nutrients. When Blenderized, we absorb 90%. (I use Walmart apple juice instead of water.) God did a marvelous job in making all the garden plants suitable for us and gave us taste buds to enjoy them.
Last week we looked at: “Root and Fruit.” In the above Scripture, we see: “…they had no root.” The real thing is made with a root. These had no root. Look at this verse: For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. (Hebrews 4:2) Some who heard it, did not reach out and embrace it. They mixed no faith with what they heard. They were fake Christians. They might eat hot dogs like Christians and play games and have fun like Christians, but they were not Christians.
I never get tired of praising the Lord for what happened to me that night in the bean market in October 1943 when I was nine years old! I reached out and took Him, and I’ve had Him ever since! That was 74 years ago this month. I believe in children professing faith in Christ if it’s their own decision. I knew what I was doing at age nine. I knew very well! The age of accountability varies from one child to another. Jesus commented on little children:
Jesus said: … Suffer (allow) little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 19:14)
He also said: Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3-4)
Jesus talked about sowing the seed of the Word of God and He talked about the fields white unto harvest (John 4:35). These two ideas are not in conflict. Jesus is the master and director of sowing and harvesting. We can sow all the time, but we can only harvest where the Holy Spirit has drawn a soul by His Holy Spirit. That’s very important to understand. Our job is to sow, to preach. If the Holy Spirit is drawing and convicting, then perhaps we will be privileged to harvest. McGee has an interesting commentary. Please read this slowly and get his main points. McGee writes:
“Sowing seed was a familiar sight in Palestine. They would sort of scratch the surface of the ground with a very crude plow. Sometimes they didn't even do that much. Then the sower would go out and fling the seeds upon the earth.
“The sower represents the Lord Jesus—we learn this from the parable of the wheat and tares (Mat_13:37). The Lord Jesus is the One sowing the seed, and I feel that this defines His work today in the world. He was the King, but He laid aside His regal robes, and today He is doing the work of a farmer, sowing seed—but He is still the King.
“The seed, Mat_13:19, represents the Word of God. The field symbolizes the world (Mat_13:38). Notice that it is the world, not the church. We are talking about a world situation. I think the picture is something like this: Here is the church in the world, and outside there are multitudes of people who have not received Christ. The Word of God is given to this one and to that one, and to another. One accepts, another does not accept. Our business is to sow the seed, although not everyone will receive it.
“The Lord Jesus has charge of this great program of sowing seed. He has given me a little corner to work in, and my business is to sow seed. This is the day for sowing seed. I don't want to split hairs, but the "harvest" is not the picture for today. But someone says, "Didn't Christ say, 'Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest'?" Yes, and let's look at it again: "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest" (Mat_9:36-38).
“This passage occurs just before the Lord sent out His apostles to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The age of the Law was coming to an end. Harvest time comes after seed has been sown. For fifteen hundred years, approximately, under Law, the seed had been sown. Then the harvest came, and a new age, a new dispensation, came in. At the close of one age there is a harvest, and at the beginning of another age is the sowing of seed. But I want to emphasize that the harvest at the end of an age is judgment. We will see that in some of the parables which follow.
“However, in our day we are to be sowing the seed of the Word of God. I rejoice when I receive a letter from someone who has listened to my teaching of the Word by radio. Some folk listen for a year or more, and finally the seed germinates and brings forth fruit. It is my business to sow the seed while I am in the world, and it is your business also, my friend.
Now notice where the seed falls. It falls on four types of soil, and three-fourths of the seeds do not grow—they die. There was nothing wrong with the seed, but the soil was the problem. You can argue election all you want to, but in this parable there is a lot of free will exhibited. The condition of the soil is all important as far as the seed is concerned. — End. (McGee)
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15) We are to preach to every creature we can, and the Holy Spirit does the drawing.
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. (John 6:44-45)
The Father draws lost souls through the agency of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said: And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (John 12:32) The Father and Jesus draw men through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus did His work through the power of the Holy Spirit. And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, (Luke 4:1) And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. (Luke 4:14)
And when he (the Holy Spirit) is come, he will reprove (convince, convict) the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (John 16:8) The Holy Spirit will make these things real to the hearts and souls of lost sinners. We are not the Holy Spirit and we cannot draw lost souls. We are seed sowers and we can sow the seed, everywhere and all the time.
Sometimes, we may see evidence of the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of people we talk to. We can ask them: Do you need to be saved? Do you want to be saved? Do you know how to be saved? Would you like me to show you how to be saved? If you are in a setting where you can do this, you may want to ask them if you can pray with them and lead them through a prayer of repentance and acceptance of Christ as Savior and Lord.
“Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and have done some bad things. But, I believe Jesus died on the cross for me and paid for my sins. And now, the best I know how, I want to accept Jesus as my Savior and Lord. I’m sorry for my sins and by your grace and help, I want to live for you all the days of my life. Thank you for dying for me and thank you for saving me and accepting me as your child. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.” Something like that. It is not rocket science.
The thief on the cross simply said, … Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:42-43)
Read Through the Bible in a Year
October 2, 2017 – MONDAY
A.M. Isaiah 24-26
P.M. Ephesians 4
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)
Great Memory Verses:
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. (1Corinthians 3:6-9)
Song for Today:
Bringing in the Sheaves (2:05) (Tenn. Ernie Ford)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u67Lb1RyXTU
Wait a few seconds. You may have to adjust the volume.
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