Seeds You Didn’t Sow

What you are experiencing RIGHT NOW in life is not simply a product of today - you are reaping the results of your decisions from 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 5 years ago.

Here at The Ark, we consistently talk about seedtime and harvest, sowing and reaping, and understanding God’s principles of harvest.

We talk and teach a lot about being strategic and purposeful in how & what you sow because it determines what you will reap in the future.

But what about the harvest you get from the seeds you didn’t sow?

For example: I know that I have not sown weed seeds in my yard and yet there are weeds that are currently thriving and the grass that I purposely planted is not!

Here’s what Jesus had to say.

Matthew 13:24–30 NKJV

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

In Jesus’ day, the agriculturally based society would have understood exactly what Jesus was talking about in this parable.

Since we don’t live in an agriculturally based society, let me share some things with you that will help you to understand the parable.

In Biblical times, sowing weeds (likely a plant called Bearded Darnel) into another person's crop was a malicious act of sabotage, intended to destroy a rival's harvest, business, and livelihood. Because the weed looks identical to wheat until maturity, it would entwine roots with the crops, making removal impossible without destroying the good wheat.

Bearded Darnel is a noxious weed that mimics many of the characteristics of wheat-for a while. Before they mature, the two plants are almost identical, but as they grow, the differences become apparent in the fruit.

Bearded Darnel is poisonous and in big enough doses will kill a person. So it’s not something a farmer wants mixed up in their harvest.

Jesus is saying that there is an enemy that wants to ruin the harvest of your life by planting poisonous & deadly things amongst the wonderful and beneficial things.

The Good Seeds:

Mark 4:3–8 NKJV

“Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

Mark 4:14 NKJV

The sower sows the word.

Receiving preaching of God’s Word & Reading of the Word of God causes good seeds to be sown that will result in good fruit in our life.

Every seed was capable of 30, 60, & 100 fold production - the only difference was the soil & the other occupants of the soil.

Do you have mixed seeds in your life’s soil?

Some Ways Weeds Get Into the Field of Your Heart:

Have you ever thought or wondered to yourself: “How did that get there? Where did that come from?”

Words spoken by others

Proverbs 18:21 NKJV

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Just like good words spoken can heal, words from the enemy (even through people) can plant a harvest of death in our heart.

The Words of the Devil:

The devil is called the Accuser of the Brethren (Rev. 12:10)

The devil is the one who condemns (1 Timothy 3:6)

Ephesians 6:16 NKJV

above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

Isaiah 54:17 NKJV

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.

Believe what Jesus says.

Reject & condemn what the devil says to and about you - he is the father of lies.

Actions of others:

Matthew 5:11 NKJV

“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Persecution and being hated and rejected (especially by those we love) can be so difficult and cause hurt in our heart.

Seeds of hurt that are not dealt with Biblically grow up into bitterness and offense.

Familiarity:

Matthew 13:54–57 NKJV

When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.”

Familiarity breeds contempt.

We want the fruits of honor - we don’t want the fruits of contempt.

Staying Around Environments with Bad Seeds:

1 Corinthians 15:33 NKJV

Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

Proverbs 13:20 NKJV

He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

If we don’t put up barricades & guards around the field of our heart, negative things will get planted and grow!

Who are you hanging around with & what are you feeding yourself?

What should we do with the weeds in the field of our heart?

Recognize that they are in there.

When the fruit of our lives mature, both good and bad together, the good fruit will bow over - a demonstration of humility - the weeds will pridefully stand tall and almost dare us to pluck them out.

Although you’ve invested resources into the growth of the weeds, don’t keep the toxic plants as your harvest - allow them to be separated & burned!

Just One Thing:

The field of your heart is valuable territory - guard it like The Garden & weed it like your life depends upon it.

Discussion Questions:

What is the best complement you’ve ever received?

What “seeds” have been sown into the field of your heart and life that you did not intentionally sow? If you’re not sure - ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the unwanted crops that are growing.

Please Read Proverbs 18:21 and Isaiah 54:17 and share what these verses mean to you and how you can deal with words of death that get spoken over your life.

What can you implement from this sermon to make sure that you end up with the harvest you want from the seeds you DID sow?