Kingdom Seed Harvest

KINGDOM SEED HARVEST JUNE 12, 2022 Kingdom Seed Harvest •The Gospel Of The Kingdom will meet with varying levels of success in the human heart. •There are different responses to the Kingdom: • Some are for it • Some are against it • Some will welcome it • Others will oppose it Kingdom Seed Harvest For those who welcome the Gospel of the Kingdom: •A significantly great response can be expected • They produce a 30, 60 even 100-fold increase Kingdom Seed Harvest • Matthew 13:1–2 (NIV) — 1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Kingdom Seed Harvest • Matthew 13:3–9 (NIV) — 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.” Kingdom Seed Harvest • Matthew 13:10–12 (NIV) — 10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” 11 He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 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 •A parable = “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.” •Jesus used these stories to illustrate spiritual truths Kingdom Seed Harvest • A parable was that it would be truth to those who were open to truth --It would be meaningless to those who were closed off to truth • “Jesus taught in parables so He could communicate kingdom truths to his disciples and at the same time conceal them from the enemies of the kingdom” Matthew & Mark – Bock, Turner, Comfort  Those in the Kingdom would genuinely receive it.  To those who were opposed it would fall on deaf ears.  Everything they thought they knew-- they didn’t really know Kingdom Seed Harvest • Matthew 13:12 (NIV) — 12 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. • Matthew 13:13–15 (NIV) — 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart 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.’ Kingdom Seed Harvest •Those who rejected The truths of His kingdom would remain hard hearted •Those with good soil would recognize, respond, and enter the Kingdom •They would know the blessing – life—freedom – and power of the King and His Kingdom Kingdom Seed Harvest • Matthew 13:16–17 (NIV) — 16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. • The light was shining for those who wanted to see. Kingdom Seed Harvest • WHAT THIS PARABLE REALLY MEANS • Matthew 13:18–23 (NIV) — 18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Kingdom Seed Harvest • PEOPLE WHO HEAR ARE IN 1 OF 4 PLACES • THE PATH – On the hard trampled down ground the seed never gets beneath the surface and the enemy comes to snatch away the seed that is sown •THE ROCKY PLACES - The rocky places represent those who hear the truth and immediately accept it with joy -- they are excited , they are emotional, and yet because there are no roots to pierce the soil and anchor them to it – there is nothing substantial to establish and maintain the seedlings Kingdom Seed Harvest • THORNY GROUND in this ground those who have been into the kingdom life – get engulfed in other aspects of life that crowd out their time, dedication, and desire for the things of God •GOOD SOIL – the seed that falls on good ground is productive and growing --It is planted, takes root, and produces a harvest • In This Good Soil Incredible Things Take Place Kingdom Seed Harvest •Jesus gave this parable to the whole crowd •To many the truth bounced off with no lasting effect  A good amount of those who believed, did so, only for awhile  The crop was choked out, stolen, or never took root  But for those looking for a king and his kingdom  For those hungry there would be lasting food Kingdom Seed Harvest Important Lessons From This Parable 1.We must avoid the danger of hearing but not applying & obeying truth from God 2.Many will hear – and not as many will see Kingdom life & growth 3.There must be a response to the message and a readiness to receive 4.The way to be fruitful and spared from the seed that dies is to avoid three enemies of the Kingdom – the devil – the flesh – the world Kingdom Seed Harvest •Warning 1: •HOW SATAN STEALS YOUR CROP 1.Neglect 2.Deception 3.Lies •1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) — 8 Be self-controlled and4.Resistance alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like5.Distractions a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 6.Manipulations 7.Attacks On Mind, Soul, Body 8.Pride 9.Unteachableness 10.Refusal To Listen To Truth Kingdom Seed Harvest •Warning 2: 1. You Stop Sowing, Planting, Watching, Weeding 2. Failure To Focus On The Task •HOW YOU SUBVERT YOUR OWN CROP 3. Lack Of Effort •John 15:5 (NIV) — 5 “I am the vine; you are the 4. Lack Of Understanding / Knowledge branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he 5. Failure To Stay Current ( Stuck In Old Ways & will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do Traditions) nothing. 6. Avoidance Of Duties •John 15:8 (NIV) — 8 This is to my Father’s glory,7. Indifference that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to8. Being And Staying Shallow be my disciples. 9. A Cluttered Life With No Time Or Inclination •Galatians 6:7 (NIV) — 7 Do not be deceived: God For The Kingdom cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 10.You Stop Believing And Turn Away Kingdom Seed Harvest •BE AWARE OF APOSTASY AND TURNING AWAY •Hebrews 3:12 (NIV) — 12 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. • BE AWARE OF DISCONNECTION FROM GOD • John 15:6 (NIV) — 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. Kingdom Seed Harvest • BE AWARE OF HARDENED HEARTS •Hebrews 3:8 (NIV) — 8 do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, •Hebrews 3:13 (NIV) — 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Kingdom Seed Harvest •BE AWARE OF CONTINUING IN SIN •1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (NIV) — 9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.  Do not put out the Spirit’s fire •1 Thessalonians 5:19 (NIV) — 19 Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; Kingdom Seed Harvest • BE AWARE OF DRIFTING AWAY • Hebrews 3:7–8 (NIV) — 7 So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, • RECOGNIZE, ACCEPT, AND VALUE THE GOOD NEWS • John 3:16–17 (NIV) — 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Kingdom Seed Harvest • THE HEART OF THE LORD IS FOR US TO RETURN TO HIM • Isaiah 1:18–19 (NIV) — 18 “Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; •JESUS SAID THIS KINGDOM SEED IS IMPORTANT •He Who Has Ears -- Let Him Hear This