In the previous message we looked at 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 in the lives of those around us.
To conclude this section, I'd like to start off by taking a look at the below passage:
John 12:44-50 NIV
Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
In this passage Jesus points out that He was commanded by God to say what He said. He also mentions that whatever He said was what the Father told Him to say... Now you would think that if Jesus was obedient, and said everything as God instructed Him to, that everything would have just fallen in place. You'd think that surely everything has to go right, that people would just automatically respond positively to His message, that they'd believe Him and easily come on board and follow Him ... But if you're familiar with the gospels you'll know this wasn't the case. In fact, Jesus faced all kinds of persecution for the things He shared.
Now if people rejected His words, which came as a result of being obedient and saying only what God told Him to say ... Then it can happen to us as well.
However, can you imagine if Jesus stopped sharing or stopped being obedient to God because He based it on the reaction of people?
Jesus didn't look at the responses in the crowd to gauge whether or not His message was successful, nor did He look for their nod of approval, all He needed was to know that He was obeying God.
His faith was not based on the result but rather on the fact that God said to do it.
In the same way, If we believe the Holy Spirit is leading us to share a message with someone, we should take courage in the fact that God said to do it and therefore regardless of their reaction (what they might think or say or even if they reject what we're saying) - the important thing is for us to be obedient.
We need to believe in what God is asking of us and not base the success thereof on positive responses or how many likes we received or how many page followers we have, etc. Nor on any negative responses we may receive. Our faith in God's instructions is not based on a result or outcome - we believe in it because God said to do it!
In conclusion, I'd like to encourage us by looking at the example of Jesus, that despite all the backlash, the threats, the unbelief, the persecution and ultimately His death, because of the words He spoke in obedience to God - LOOK AT WHAT HIS MESSAGE WENT ON TO ACHIEVE!
... The same can be true of yours!
Amen