Persevere in Sowing

Luke 8:4–15 NIV84

4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. 6 Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” 9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “ ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’ 11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

The Principle of Sowing

The idea that what you sow, you will also reap, and that the results will be in proportion to what you sow. The idea that if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap a harvest of blessing, but if you sow to the flesh, you will reap a harvest of sorrow and adversity. The idea that one should not grow weary of doing good, for in due season they will reap, if they do not give u

1. The Sower's Duty: Consistent Sowing

A. Diligence in spreading the Word

2 Timothy 4:2 “2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

B. Sowing in all seasons

Ecclesiastes 11:6 “6 Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.”

c. Overcome discouragement

Galatians 6:9 “9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

2. The Seed's Quality: Unadulterated Gospel

A. Proclaim the pure Word of God

1 Peter 1:23 “23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”

B. Avoid false doctrines

Galatians 1:8–9 “8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!”

C. Live out the message

1 Thessalonians 2:8 “8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.”

3. The Soil's Preparation: Cultivate peoples’ hearts

A. Pray for receptive hearts in people

Ezekiel 36:26 “26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

B. Remove any obstacles to faith

Luke 8:12–14 “12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.”

C. Nurture spiritual growth in believers

Colossians 1:28–29 “28 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”

4. The Harvest's Promise: Trust God's Timing

A. Patience in waiting

James 5:7 “7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.”

B. Rejoice in spiritual fruit

John 4:36 “36 Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.”

C. Transform lives through faithful sowing

Daniel 12:3 “3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”

Conclusion: As we embrace our Harvest Mandate, let us remain steadfast in sowing seeds of faith, trusting in God's perfect timing for growth and rejoicing in the promised spiritual harvest.