Sowing in the New Year.2

The Sower, The Seed, The Soils, The Fruit

Bible Passages: Matthew 13:1–9; Matthew 13:18–23; Mark 4:1–20; Luke 8:4–15

Behold the Seed

Summary: This theme explores the nature of the seed as God's Word, a powerful, everlasting seed that brings transformation and faith in believers.

The Seed is the Word of God

Luke 8:11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.”

Luke 8:5–15 “5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” 9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?” 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’ 11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.”

Last week we looked at the sower of the parable. The sower had a mission to spread his seed across the entire field emptying his seed pouch. Let’s look into the topic of the seed. What is it? Where is it from? What does it grow when it is planted?

It is the essence it is the saving message. Believe in Jesus Christ and receive His gift of everlasting life. In its simplicity, it has a profound potential to transform lives and produce a harvest of righteousness.

A seed is the thing that germinates into life.

The sustainer of life by providing food to sustain the body.

It carries the identity of the plant from which it came, the “DNA” of it’s source.

It is Indestructible and Effective

Isaiah 55:10–11 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

It accomplishes its purpose. Just as rain and snow accomplish their purpose, God's Word is unfailing and always achieves its intended effect.

Given that the seed is the word of God, if it is sown in good soil it will spring up. It will germinate and fulfill the plan of God. God has promised that there is power in the word to save, to heal, to deliver. We often fall short because we don’t avail ourselves of all that God has offered.

God saves through the seed of the word; John 5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” 1 Peter 1:23 “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,”

God heals us through His word; Psalm 107:20 “He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.”

God delivers us through His word; Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

God cleanses us through His word; Ephesians 5:26 “that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,”

God disciples us through His word; 2 Timothy 3:15–16 “and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,”

The Seed Appears Weak - But is the Power of God

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

Contains the spark of life, just add the water of regeneration John 3:5 “Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

See the force (of His command) display itself in the stone of a peach. It is very hard, and the germ it encloses is very tender; But, when the moment has come, the stone must open to let out the young plant that God calls into life. Martin Luther

If I try to open it will I not damage it? The water of the word germinates through the Spirit unto life.

It cannot be forced, but we wait upon the Lord. (Isa 40:31; Ps 27:14)

Its Fruit is Everlasting

It is in this world a reality that those who receive the seed of the word have everlasting life. We look and see the temporal body, not much has changed. If we use the eyes of faith we would see an everlasting new life not of this world. A new life waiting for the resurrection unto an eternal kingdom.

1 Peter 1:23 “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,”

A second point of the divine imparted life we receive from the seed of the word is fruit in this life. Colossians 1:10 “that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

Faith comes from Hearing

Romans 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Salvation depends on the vital role of faith and how it comes through hearing the Word, (Romans 10:17). We should actively engaging with Scripture and the preached Word to establish and grow in faith. We need to cultivate a habit of listening to and reflecting upon God's Word to instruct us in the evangelistic message; to heal and deliver us; and to build a robust faith that withstands life's trials.