Seasons of Revival 2 - Springtime

Anticipation – spring

Theme: See the need, sow the seed

Now that winter is passed. It is time to get to work! The clock is ticking, and time is already running out.

The preparation, repairs and rest during the wintertime is about to pay off.

We look out across the fields of our lives and begin to imagine the what the upcoming harvest will look like.

Let’s follow the steps of a successful farmer, in order to see a harvest of blessings in our lives and community.

1 – Plow the SOIL of your future

winter has taken its toll – the ground is hard and compact.

work must be done to prepare the ground to even receive the seed.

plowing - break up the fallow ground

Jeremiah 4:3 NLT

3 This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: “Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste your good seed among thorns.

Hosea 10:12 NLT

12 I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’

Spring is for PLOWING

fallow ground has potential, but no productivity

HARD WORK AHEAD

· other than harvesting, plowing is the hardest part of the growing cycle.

· much energy, sweat, force must be used to change the current environment to make the surroundings hospitable for the seed to grow.

· the natural plows with a shovel, but the spirit plows with praise so that the seed of God’s Word can have space in a person’s heart to receive Christ.

land will not plant itself; you must be active about your future.

be single minded about your harvest!

set your hand to the plow and do not look back

Luke 9:61–62 NLT

61 Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.” 62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

likewise, every church needs to be single minded toward revival

Spring is for SOWING

Farmer sows a seed in the spring by faith for a fall harvest.

Spring is the time to get out and plant – evangelism

Where is Jesus in the spring? Sower sows the Word

Mark 4:13–20 NLT

13 Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? 14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. 15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. 16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. 20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

2 choices – burn and barn

Hebrews 6:7–8 NLT

7 When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing. 8 But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it.

2 – SOW God’s SEED into souls

natural seed is based on a natural harvest – food, timber, etc.

personal seed is based on personal need - financial

spiritual seed is based on eternal perspective = souls

seed = investment

everything comes from seed – fruit, vegetables, animals, people, even the trees that built our houses.

every business started with “Seed money” or venture capital

every ministry starts with seed “faith” of a vision in a person’s heart

even the Kingdom of Gid starts with “mustard seed faith” that grows into a world wide tree

Mark 4:30–32 NLT

30 Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? 31 It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, 32 but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.”

every educational degree starts with an investment of study

in terms of revival, every salvation begins with planting the seed of God’s Word into the field of their hearts

sow into whatever harvest you want

example – harvest of mercy – blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.

when someone sows mercy, they can expect to reap mercy.

James 3:18 NLT

18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

Do not expect to reap where you have not sown.

Galatians 6:7–8 NLT

7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

Financially speaking, even though the tithe belongs to God, He will still give you the harvest! (Malachi 3:10)

some who sow evil do not think anything will happen to them

some who sow good things don’t think anything will happen to them either…

both are wrong – everyone reaps what they sow – some now, some later.

your seed controls your destiny.

and YOU control your seed!

God put the power of choice in your hand

the choice to succeed is yours!

2 Corinthians 9:6 NLT

6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.

2 Corinthians 9:10 NLT

10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

3 - water God’s Word with PRAYER

pray over your seed. speak God’s promises over your harvest.

Some seeds are watered with tears.

Psalm 126:5–6 NLT

5 Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. 6 They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.

You are God’s Garden

1 Corinthians 3:5–9 NLT

5 After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. 6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 9 For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.

A Springtime faith believes God will do it AGAIN.

People come out to walk

it is a joy to watch the grass grow!

· it is exciting and encouraging to see the FRUITS of your labors!

· No one gets more excited about seeing the first blades of grass than the person who plowed the ground, invested the money, and planted the seed!

· why? Because It’s MY harvest!

· There is a feeling that only a farmer can experience to see his life’s investment begin to grow out of the ground and become fields of plenty.

· It’s exciting and rewarding for parents to watch their children grow, maturity, achievements, awards but most importantly, growing in their relationship with the Lord.

· It is exciting for an owner to see his business grow, employees, customers, and profits.

· It is a wonderful feeling for a pastor to see souls come to Christ and his investment in the church grow.

Anticipation is the unforgettable fire of motivation.

Sow even in bad times

A good seed sown in a bad time still brings a good harvest

Isaac sowed during a time of famine.

Genesis 26:12 (NLT)

12 When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the Lord blessed him.

Jesus was sown as a seed for a Global Harvest

Genesis 3:15 NLT

15 And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Galatians 3:16 NLT

16 God gave the promises to Abraham and his child. And notice that the Scripture doesn’t say “to his children,” as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says “to his child”—and that, of course, means Christ.

Questions to consider:

What do you see in your future?

What have you planned?

How have you prepared?

What harvest will you sow into?

do you see the need?

Will you sow the seed?