The Power of a Seed
My family and I live in Colorado on the front range of the Rocky Mountains, and I can tell you from my observations that a rock is no match for a seed. We see plants and trees on a daily basis that appear to be growing right out of the midst of a rock or in small crevices between two boulders. Yet these trees stand tall and spread their roots in search of water. It’s truly amazing. The power of a seed is undeniable.
Could this be why Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to a seed? Why did he use a seed, why not something that would be more obviously potent? I believe it’s because we need to understand that Kingdom has laws that govern it and the workings of the Kingdom are as natural (supernatural) as the workings of a seed. The law of seed time and harvest is a natural principal that cannot be cheated as it was put in motion by God Himself. Likewise, with the Kingdom, God has set in motion the laws (or principals) of His Kingdom and it is up to us to cooperate with those principals in order to bear fruit. Jesus was letting us in on how to be fruitful in the Kingdom.
Mark 4:26-29, Jesus said, “And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
Jesus was saying that the entire Kingdom works based on seed time and harvest and that it was like a farmer scattering seed on the ground. The farmer doesn’t really understand how it works; he just knows that it does.
The Four Soils
(Matt 13, Mark 4, Luke 8)
Mark 4:15-16, 18, 20
“And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirty fold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
God is not holding anything back from us… we simply need to listen and put His Word into action and then the more we’ll be given. (see Mark 4:21-25 below)
“Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
Thank God that he withholds no good thing from His children (Ps. 84:11).
The Problem with a Seed
Jesus also explained that the fruit or harvest comes in stages (first the blade, then the head, then full grain in the head) it’s not immediate. God’s word contains tremendous power but it must be planted within our hearts in order for its power to be released.
The Kingdom works the same way, I don’t understand exactly how it works, and no one does. But I do know the Word works if I’ll plant that seed in my heart and tend to those pesky rocks and thorns in my heart then I’ll bear great fruit. My responsibility is simply to plant the seed and make my heart (the soil) an environment for the seed to flourish. We can see from the scripture that we can make it more difficult for that living seed to come into full maturity with 30, 60, 100 fold or we can slow the progress or kill the seed altogether.
Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the “word of God is living and active”
A seed is also unquestionably durable. At home I have a picture that speaks to this very thing. The picture shows a tree that was grown from a 2000 year old seed discovered in Israel back in 1965. What an awesome testimony about the seed and its staying power. Could this also be why Jesus compared the Word of God to a seed?
1 Peter 1:23-25 “…having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever”
Now, this isn’t the power of positive thinking! God’s Word is unique in that it is supercharged with supernatural power to bring about fruit in the heart of the one who will sow and believe. The seed will always work because the power is within the seed not the soil. You see the seed (Word) is never the problem, but is always the answer and sowing it assures us of results (fruit) within the Kingdom.
The Solution of a Seed
I hear people say all the time… I’m looking for my miracle… I need a miracle… I’m waiting on God to give me what I need (a miracle). God is not the one who is in neutral…nor is the party that is asleep at the wheel. Many times we’re the ones who need to move or to act!
The heart cry of every true believer in Jesus should be to change – to be conformed to the image of Christ
I don’t want to be bound to that old life or pattern of the world. Your opportunity for change, your harvest, resides within that seed (the Word). Just like an apple seed, when I plant that seed, I expect an eventual harvest of apples… possibly hundreds of apples and all from that one seed. Same goes for the word of God. When I sow the Word, I expect great fruit and an abundance of it!
Start sowing the Word into your heart today and watch your stony heart be glorious changed by the power of a living seed. See with the eyes of your heart your tree laden with fruit. Have a problem? Sow a seed.