Understanding the Practice of Sowing
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Text: (Psalm 126:5-6)
New Living Translation Psalm 126
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.
INTRODUCTION:
We all would like to see a great harvest of souls into the Kingdom of God. Why are we not seeing that harvest? The majority of SBC churches are either plateaued or declining.
It has been said that the problem with Southern Baptists is that we are “A harvest oriented denomination in a unseeded generation.”
We must come to grips with the fact that It is necessary to sow the seeds of the Gospel if we are to reap a harvest. It does not matter where the Lord has placed you… on the international mission field , in another state… or here in Woodville…; there are people … and people groups who will never come to know Christ until we passionately sow the seeds of the Gospel.
Psalm 126:5-6
Those who plant in tears
will harvest with shouts of joy.
They weep as they go to plant their seed,
but they sing as they return with the harvest.
TS: Notice with me … “Three facts we must understand about sowing.”
I- SEED-SOWING IS NECESSARY TO THE HARVEST (Psalm 126:5).
I- SEED-SOWING IS NECESSARY TO THE HARVEST (Psalm 126:5).
Those who plant in tears
will harvest with shouts of joy.
A- There is a direct connection between joyful reaping and passionate seed- sowing.
A- There is a direct connection between joyful reaping and passionate seed- sowing.
1) There can be no harvest without sowing seed.
a. (Proverbs 20:4)
Those too lazy to plow in the right season
will have no food at the harvest.
b. (Galatians 6:7)
Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.
c. Example: Statistics for Ohio and SVBA. Seed sowing has been neglected here, therefore the harvest is not being reaped in many areas.
B- The implied promise in the text is that passionate seed-sowing will result in joyful reaping.
B- The implied promise in the text is that passionate seed-sowing will result in joyful reaping.
1) When the seed is sown, the harvest will come!
a) The Early Church is a good example.
John the Baptist sowed seeds
Jesus sowed seeds
Peter reaped the harvest on Pentecost and beyond.
II-WE MUST DO WHAT IT TAKES TO PLANT THE SEEDS IN THE FIELD (Psalm 126:6).
II-WE MUST DO WHAT IT TAKES TO PLANT THE SEEDS IN THE FIELD (Psalm 126:6).
They weep as they go to plant their seed,
but they sing as they return with the harvest.
A- There must be a commitment to “go” into the field.
A- There must be a commitment to “go” into the field.
1) The command to do so has been given.
a) (Matthew 28:18-20)
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
b) (Mark 16:15)
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.
c) (Acts 1:8)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
B- There must be a passionate investment of ourselves in fulfilling our commitment.
B- There must be a passionate investment of ourselves in fulfilling our commitment.
(Psalm 126:6 a)
They weep as they go to plant their seed,
but they sing as they return with the harvest.
1) We must answer the call just as Isaiah did:
(Isa. 6:8)
Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”
I said, “Here I am. Send me.”
C- There must be a clear purpose in our going and a recognition of the quality of our seed.
C- There must be a clear purpose in our going and a recognition of the quality of our seed.
1) We must recognize that our purpose is to sow the gospel seed… not spread empty religion.
2) We must realize that the seed we carry is “precious”. Only the gospel of Christ is … . “ It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes.” Rom. 1:16)
For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.
3) We must sow because there is no other way of salvation.
(Acts 4:12).
There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
a) Illustrations:
Paul (led to Christ two weeks before he died)
Don Mouton (saved at 60): had a Matthew Meal and invited lost friends the day he was baptized.
D- We must move in the energizing assurance that the promise will be fulfilled.
D- We must move in the energizing assurance that the promise will be fulfilled.
(Psalm 126:6 b)
Psalm 126:6b (NLT)
They weep as they go to plant their seed,
but they [will] sing as they return with the harvest.
1) The text gives this assurance… “WILL sing as they return with the harvest” .
2) The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23)
E- We must keep busy in the field, looking to the harvest that will come.
E- We must keep busy in the field, looking to the harvest that will come.
1) Because the harvest will come…”they sing as they return with the harvest”
2) (Isa 55:11)
It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
3) Illustrations:
a) Joyce Florentine
Catholic, hostile to my witness
Contracted cancer of the spine
Trusted Christ after two and a half months of intensive witnessing
Baptized in her bath tub at home in front of her family at risk of death
Four daughters and son-in law got saved as a result
CONCLUSION:
Illustration:
Jersey Baptist Church, outside of Columbus, OH:
Planted 1980 with 14 people
Now runs between 1800 and 2000 people on Sundays in 3 services
The key: constant sowing of the Gospel seed
The results: people constantly coming to know Christ as Savior and Lord and serving in the church.
God wants to do amazing things in and through our lives… through your life. He wants to bring a great harvest of souls… remember… God is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9). He desires that the people for whom He died come to know Him as savior and Lord.
The key to being a part of the harvest God wants to bring is sowing the seed of the Gospel. That is the key here in your Jerusalem, in the Steel Valley Baptist Association area, and “to the uttermost part of the Earth”.
Why? Because, “People Need The Lord”. Please watch this video…
The question is… Will you choose to be a part of the seed-sowing? …Individually … as a church … ?