In the previous message we took a look at the impact one can have when sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and that we should never take for granted the times that we share a scripture or a Christian message with someone, or the times we may encourage someone regarding their relationship with God, or the times we bring someone along to church or to our small group meetings, etc. because by doing so we're planting or watering the seed (God's word) into the lives of others.
For today's message I'd like to add to the above and start off by taking a look at the below parable where Jesus explains that the seed is the word of God and how when it is sown, the condition of the soil determines the type of harvest one can expect:
Mark 4:14-20
The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”
What I'd like to point out here is that in all these instances it was the same seed that was sown. The problem wasn't with the seed, it was the condition of the soil (the heart/mind of the person receiving the word) that determined the outcome/success of the seed that was planted.
Our opinions, choices and actions are influenced/shaped by our values and beliefs, some which may have been instilled from a young age, whether by parents, teachers, extended family, etc. It's also influenced by the information we absorb (The articles we read on social media, what we watch, what we listen to, the conversations we have with colleagues, etc.). Now this can either work for us or against us. One of the reasons the Bible refers to passages about "renewing the mind" (Romans 12:2), "guarding our hearts" (Proverbs 4:23), "taking every thought captive" (2 Corinthians 10:5), "meditating on the word" (Joshua 1:8), being careful of the company we keep (Psalm 1:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:33), etc. - is because we can become a product (produce the fruit) of the seeds (word/information) that we allow to germinate in our hearts/minds.
This is why we are cautioned to guard ourselves from what we allow to enter our hearts/minds - because the word/information we absorb is like planting seeds that have the potential and ability to produce "fruit".
Now while all of the above is true in terms of how we can apply this truth in our own lives - this is also true in the context of preaching the gospel.
I mentioned earlier that we can become a product (produce the fruit) of the seeds (word/information) that we allow to germinate in our hearts/minds. Knowing that this process is true, it should encourage us to make the most of the opportunities around us (including the use of various social media platforms) to plant seeds (sharing scriptures, teachings, invites, etc.), because by doing so, we're allowing the seed to carry out its process, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, hopefully take root in people's hearts/minds and produce a harvest (where they call on Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and seek to live their lives for His glory, fulfilling His purposes and plans for their lives - and planting seeds of their own as they also begin to reach others!)
Amen! ... This only happens when we plant the seed ... if we don't plant, there can't be any harvest