I mentioned in the previous message 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!)
I'd like to add onto the above by sharing the following illustration:
If a farmer plants a seed and that seed grows to become a tree, that tree then goes on to produce fruit which in turn carries many seeds. If they went on to plant all of those seeds and carried on with this process, one day they could end up with a forest full of trees ... and all of this started with 1 initial seed ... This illustration explains the power and potential of a seed.
It can also be used to describe how everyone on the planet has the potential to receive salvation today (because God sent Jesus as a seed) and how Christianity grew and spread to where it is today because the disciples went about planting seeds (preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, teaching the word of God and making disciples) ...
When we, in obedience to the Holy Spirit, plant and water those seeds, it creates an opportunity for that seed to take root and produce fruits of salvation, healing, prosperity, love, joy, peace, hope, etc. in the lives of those who receive it.
This is the power and potential of what a seed can accomplish.
... And it starts with sharing that seed with someone. If that farmer kept the seeds in a bag, locked away in a storeroom and never planted any of it, they'll never see the harvest described in the illustration above.
Without a seed sown there can't be any result/outcome ... And that's where we come in ...
We have opportunities everyday to plant and water seeds (sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, sharing Bible verses, sharing Online teachings, books, inviting people to church, small group meetings, courses at church, etc.) with the people in our lives ... This only happens if we plant. If we don't plant, we won't see any harvest.
The encouragement I want us to take away from this message is to understand the potential that a seed carries and how, through our obedience to the Holy Spirit, we can find hope and encouragement in knowing that if that person goes on to produce fruit because of the seed we've planted, that it's not only that one life that's impacted. That person can go on to impact many others; their friends, family, children, relatives, work colleagues, people they'll eventually go on to meet and disciple. God may even call them into full-time ministry. They may end up pastoring a church or doing missionary work. Their children might even go on to accomplish great things in the kingdom of God. They may even give birth to the next revival. They may see thousands coming to know Christ ... and those thousands may go on to win many more thousands ... all because we took the time, and chose to be obedient to what God has called us to do in His kingdom, by planting and watering seeds with others.
Amen