The Seed
The Lord’s seed is His word. We can trust Him when He is leading us to plant the precious seed of His word by the spirit to hearts that are ready to hear. As we walk on to know the Lord more deeply, we are enabled to share His longing to be compassionate to all. His seed takes root aswe are led by the Holy Spirit to only speak as the Father speaks, just as Jesus did.
“So Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.” John 8:28 NIV
Rather than waiting to correct and judge us to do right, the purposes of His heart is love, compassion, and mercy forever:
“But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” Psalms 33:11 NIV
The Lord knows whose heart is receptive and ready to hear what He might have to say. Jesus certainly did not speak directly to every sinner around Him. We need discernment to know that time and place while being ready and prepared in our hearts to speak the truth in love when it’s time. Paul taught Timothy, instructing him how to conduct himself in what he was called to do.
“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.” 2 Timothy 4:1-2 excellent
Interesting that Paul puts reproof, rebuke and encouragement all together as part of patient instruction to others. When reproof and rebuke are needed, it is a part of encouraging others in their spiritual lives through patient instruction. Those of us who desire to share God’s word and ways are to always be ready to do so when called upon. We are to be prepared in season, when we would anticipate having opportunity, and out-of-season when the opportunity to speak of God and His word arrives unexpectedly.
When speaking His word of life as we are led by the Lord, He will check our spirit on many occasions, showing us when ears are closed, and hearts are not ready to hear. When God speaks a Word “in due season,” however, we can be sure that Word does its work, throughout all generations.Those used to speaking this word may not witness the crop that grows, but that’s God’s business.
“Jesus replied, ‘Have faith in God (constantly). I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea!’ and does not doubt in his heart (in God’s unlimited power), but believes that what he says is going to take place, it will be done for him (in accordance with God’s will).” Mark 11:22-23 Amplified
Ours is to fully believe, being obedient to speak or not to speak, to share the truth in love when the heart is open to receive. We can then trust the Lord to do His will with that word, bringing forth the crop He intends. We can learn how to speak according to the condition of the heart rather than our religious zeal to do good works for God. God teaches us to follow Him through the promptings of the holy spirit, preparing our own hearts to do so.
We are to be like Him, learning to speak as Jesus did, only what the Father instructs us to speak. We will eventually be empowered, changed into His image and likeness, so that we do this naturally and effortlessly just as He did. As God once said to me, “Don’t tell all you know.” Many know so very much of God and His ways yet we hold all truth in God closely, being ready to speak truth in love whenever and wherever the heart conditions are right.
How is this different from preaching daily on the street corners or knocking on doors with the message of salvation? The key is often in our heart’s motivation for doing these things. When we act for God motivated by zeal, as a part of a program or duty, or to please others, we risk sharing with many who are not prepared to hear it. Doing such things of our own accord or at the direction of another human does not bring forth the fruit of the kingdom, no matter how sincerely done. It becomes a fleshly activity that can never produce the righteousness of God.
Our actions and activities may be the same, but the heart of obedience to God’s spirit leads us to assist others in ways that are productive of righteousness. When it is God’s idea and not the fleshly plans of man:
"For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.” Isaiah 55:10-11 Berean
When we become God’s mouthpiece, sharing the Word of God as He directs, His word will always prosper when and where He sends it. We may plant the seed, and another reap the harvest, but He will have a crop. There are plowmen and there are reapers, both busy in the kingdom. God is always preparing the ground of our earthly hearts for the planting of His seed.
The religious world has had many programs and plans, many ways motivated by good intentions to reach the world for the gospel of Christ. We good hearted humans have many ideas for projects and assistance to help God’s project along. Though much good has occurred through these efforts, most have not produced fruit equal to the labor and investment. It is not what is said and done, but whose idea it is to begin with. The world is far from reaped for the Lord in spite of centuries working at it.
The power is in His word, proceeding from His mouth through those called to be His mouthpiece. All else is lacking, just who Paul warns Timothy to avoid:
“… [those who are] having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:5 KJV
Jesus knew who was able to receive. He was aware that, for some, His word will prosper and grow, and for others not. We are the earth in which the seed of His word is planted for growth:
“And He told them many things in parables, saying, ‘A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Some fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil.
It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seeds fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings.
Still other seed fell on good soil and produced a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold. He who has ears, let him hear.’” Matthew 13:3-9 Berean
Jesus ministered to very large groups in parables, knowing that the seed of His word would fall on all kinds of ground. Why did He further speak about letting those who have ears, to hear? They all had ears, after all! He was speaking to those with spiritual ears to hear, ready to receive the Word He was sharing. He was planting the seed of His word into hearts prepared and called of the Father to receive it. These had good soil, their earth already plowed rather than rocky or hard from the elements of life.
Why would our Lord speak in parables that many of his followers would neither hear nor understand? Do you think the heart of our Lord did not desire to have everyone hear and understand so He would heal them? We can almost sense the longing that they would come to Him so He could heal them but He already knew who would and who would not. For some, it was their time; for others, it would come later in God’s plan. Anyone ministering to large gatherings knows the same truth: not all have hearts prepared to receive.
Jesus also knew the disciples who readily received the seed of His word, including Judas, who ultimately rejected His word and ways. Can you imagine choosing someone to follow you when you already know that person will betray you? Jesus knew what each level of reception would be because He knew the condition of their hearts. After ministering to the multitudes, His disciples asked “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
“‘He replied, ‘The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance.
Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.’
For this people's hearts has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'” Matthew 13:10-15: NIV
Jesus already understood that, for some, it was not given to understand. It was not their time to receive what He was teaching and their hearts were too calloused to allow the seed to be planted within them to grow. He knew that His own Jewish people would reject and crucify Him rather than believe their Savior had come. The “earth” of their hearts was hardened, not broken up, plowed to soften it, prepared for the seed of His truth.
Like Jesus, it is not wise for us to assume that everyone around us is ready, prepared to receive what we have to share. Jesus did share more deeply with those in intimate relationship with Him, His disciples, so they would catch His spiritual meaning. It was time for His disciples to learn and grow, to really know what He was teaching, and to understand the spiritual message of His words. All heard the same words but a deeper message was shared for those with the ability to comprehend by the spirit, who had spiritual ears to hear.
Jesus Christ was realistic, knowing He could teach more to those whose hearts were ready, including His disciples who loved Him. In God’s kingdom, not every seed planted produces the same crop. It not only depends on readiness but God’s purpose and plan for each one. Jesus ministered to many people in the crowds who would not hear Him. Since Jesus discerned the differing preparedness of hearts to hear, is He not able to provide us with the same discernment?
When it is God’s timing, with hearts ready to receive and a teachable spirit, the Word is received as a good seed the person hears and understands. This “word seed” grows a crop, producing the fruit of the spirit. It will always prosper where He sends it, whether we are allowed to witness this or not. The seed in the one who hears and understands always grows a crop, but some crops take longer to grow and some yield more than others. It’s all good, but not at the same level.
Those who all heard Jesus at the time of His earthly ministry surely reveal the difference in each crop from this same seed. There really are many mansions or dwelling places in His heavenly spiritual house. The promise is this:
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 NIV
Just as with the early believers, power and authority is given to do God’s work on the earth. We need the guidance of the holy spirit within now, just as Jesus’ disciples and followers did then. We most certainly do not need to hinder others’ openness to receive by judging ourselves better or worse, presenting truths from the common human viewpoint of the “haves and have-nots.” Callings and experiences are in God’s hand and in His timing, with Him in charge of the outcome.
Many a fellowship has been torn apart by such divisive and self righteous attitudes about position and power that limit God’s plantings. Can we not leave all of this in God’s hands and His timing while we remain His humble servants? We learn from the saints in the bible as experiences unfolded according to God’s plan, empowering each generation of saints to do what is needed for that age.
Where would we be without Passover being fulfilled in Him? What of the beginning of the early church would have occurred if those gathered in the Upper Room had not been empowered by the Holy Spirit coming upon them, emboldening them to fulfill their destiny in Christ? And the third feast, the Feast of Tabernacles, was the one Jesus attended at just the right time in His earthly ministry:
“Therefore Jesus told them, ‘Although your time is always at hand, My time has not yet come. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify that its works are evil. Go up to the feast on your own. I am not going up to this feast, because My time has not yet come.’
Having said this, Jesus remained in Galilee. But after His brothers had gone up to the feast, He also went—not publicly, but in secret.” John 7:6-10 Berean
“On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’
He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified.” John 7:37-39 Berean
Jesus did not go to this gathering because others were attending or told Him to go. He waited until His Father directed Him to attend. Jesus then ministered at this Feast in a way that astounded, confused and offended His listeners. His teachings were in a spiritual language they did not understand. He stood up to bring the seed of His word. Is He not preparing to stand up in His people as He is coming to dwell within, to lead us to gathering that He has called us to, in the right season when at least some hearts are prepared to hear what He has to say through us?
Now it is needed. Now is the time for the Feast of Tabernacles experience, when Jesus Christ our Lord comes to tabernacle in us. Now is the promised time of judgment for the restoration of all things.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying:
‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.’” Revelation 21:1-4 Berean
A new heaven and a new earth! Does this sound like God will allow us humans to destroy the earth as we seem to be doing? Though it takes ages to complete, the time of God's tabernacling in His people is upon us and will eventually unfold for all. He is preparing to come down from heaven to us on the earth, establishing His holy government to judge and redeem everyone. And how we need Him!
The intent of the heart of those who carry the message of Passover, salvation through Jesus Christ is excellent. The teachings about the Feast of Pentecost are vital, showing God’s desire for Christians to have the holy spirit within to lead and guide us into all truth.
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” John 16:13 ESV
All three of the Old Testament feasts are a type and shadow of spiritual experiences available, needed for spiritual progression as we walk with our Lord. Those of us believing for Tabernacles to happen trust His word that He will have a people united in love, with clean hearts, prepared as the habitation of God Himself.
What a day this will be when God fully tabernacles in His people as we show forth His nature of mercy and justice! His seed continues to grow, to mature, and to bear forth a crop, the fruit of the kingdom. The Day of the Lord is unfolding now. He planted His precious seed in His called, chosen, and faithful, to minister Who He is to this world that so desperately needs Him. There’s hope for our human condition of the heart, now and through eternity in God.
Amen and amen. So be it.