Scattering and Sowing

 

The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-8, 18-23)

“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.

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 their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰ The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. ²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. ²³ But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

 

·         Who is the Sower in this parable? Most commentaries would identify the Sower as God, or Jesus, and at the time of it’s telling this was the case. However, I would now argue that all Christians, as part of the body of Christ, are Sowers, in that we have the responsibility to carry the gospel to others.

·         Do we scatter or sow? Scattering has the connotation of randomly tossing seed around regardless of where it will land. Perhaps at the time when Jesus told this parable, farming methods were fairly rudimentary and seed did fall on rocky paths or shallow soil. We certainly know that Israel is a country with a very rocky landscape. Modern herbicides were unknown, so it’s likely that weeds were a problem too.

 

As a gardener, I like to consider how I plant seeds when I want to produce a harvest of e.g., juicy sweet tomatoes. First, I will have prepared a vegetable plot, making a bed filled with good garden loam in a sunny position. There is edging material to keep my dogs from trampling on the plants. When I’ve planted my crop, the work does not stop there. I need to be attentive to it. I need to water the plants, add mulch and fertilizer, control pests and be patient, selecting the fruit for use when it’s ripe.

Can we use this analogy when thinking about this parable? Jesus has given us a picture of the types of ground on which the seed can be sown, symbolising the types of heart which responds to the gospel. I wonder if there is an opportunity to change rocky ground or weed strewn ground into good soil? Is there anything which can prevent the birds (the devil) snatching away the seed?

 Sharing the love of Jesus can be a scattering- random acts of kindness to strangers, tracts given out, street preaching, posts on the internet. These can be seeds which others may nurture. I’m not discounting the ways in which God can use all things for His kingdom glory.

Each of us, however, is placed by God in various circles of influence- families, workplaces, social groups, neighbourhoods, schools and many other places. Most of us know non-believers whom we would like to see come to Christ.

Are we able to see the barren or weed-choked hearts of others changed into hearts for God? Two words come to mind here – commitment and intentionality. We must be willing to commit long term to others, to pray for them first and foremost, because prayer needs to underpin anything else that we attempt. Prayer warriors may be vital in preparing the groundwork for planting. They may also be the scarecrows that keep the birds from snatching away the seed.

 

We need to intentionally show God’s love in various ways, by being an example of that love -being a giver, a helper, a comforter, a provider, a counsellor, a mediator, a forgiver, an encourager. The practical helpers and givers in the kingdom are the ones who can clear away the weeds of trouble that can choke the gospel.

 

We need to be unafraid to share the Gospel and our testimony and faith in God. We need to be discerning and rely on the Holy Spirit to give us the right words to say, at the right time, in the right measure. As a good gardener nourishes and waters his plants, so we too need to feed on the word of God and assist others to understand where possible. The Bible, Christian books and commentaries, internet resources and courses such as Alpha are great resources.

 

 

^“5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. ⁶ I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. ⁷ So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. ⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labour. ⁹ For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:5-9)

 

The Gospel / How do I become a Christian? reprinted periodically

  The Gospel

In the beginning, God, (God the Father, Jesus Christ his only Son and the Holy Spirit), created the heavens and the earth and everything in it, including the first man, Adam and the first woman, Eve. God created humans to live in relationship with Him, but gave them free will to either obey Him or be disobedient. Satan, the devil, whom the Bible identifies as a fallen angel, tempted Eve to sin by disobeying God and she in turn tempted Adam to also disobey God. For their disobedience Adam and Eve were cast away from God’s presence and the wonderful life God had created for them and through them all their descendants were destined to be born sinful.

Yet throughout history there have been men and women who sought after God. Humanity became so depraved that God destroyed the earth with a global flood, but saved Noah and his family. Through Abraham God established the nation of Israel, who would be God’s favoured people. Moses, Abraham’s descendent, led the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt and received the Ten Commandments and many laws of conduct. Because of the sinful nature of man, these laws were not kept, and a system of animal sacrifices was instituted to make atonement for the sins of the people. However, the people both individually and as a nation continued in a cycle of falling away from God and returning to Him.

During the history of the nation of Israel there were prophets who foretold that a Saviour would be born, to save humanity from its sinfulness. Their prophecies were fulfilled when Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. Jesus is the only Son of God. He was sent to this earth and lived amongst us as a human, without losing His divine nature. In all things Jesus honoured and obeyed His Father, God. During His ministry on earth, Jesus performed many miracles and taught us regarding God’s nature and way of living. He was tempted by Satan but was without sin. He travelled with a group of disciples who were the foundation of the church – God’s people on earth.

In the same way that animals had been sacrificed to make atonement for man’s sin, it was the purpose of God to send Jesus to earth to become a total sacrifice, once and for all time, for fallen humanity. As was His destiny, Jesus was arrested, tried for heresy and crucified on a hill outside Jerusalem called Calvary. At the time of Christ’s death the curtain in the Jewish temple was torn apart, symbolising that the old system of God only being able to be approached by certain people and in certain places, was finished.

Now all could come into right relationship with God through the shed blood of Jesus, by committing their lives to Him in repentance and faith.

The Bible tells us that Jesus descended into hell and has total dominion over Satan and evil. On the third day Christ rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples and many others on earth. He gave his disciples the “great commission” to go into all nations and preach the gospel. Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven.

After Jesus ascended to heaven, God sent the Holy Spirit to the earth at Pentecost (ten days after Jesus’ ascension). The Holy Spirit is not only alive in the world, but indwells in those who have committed themselves wholly to God and gives such attributes as comfort, counsel, power and discernment. God's temple is now not a building, but the people in whom His spirit dwells. In the same way the church is not a building but the body of Christian believers on earth.

The Bible tells of spiritual battles between good and evil in both earthly and heavenly realms. It includes indications of great tribulation yet to come. We are told that Christ will return to this earth, the second coming, when He will defeat the evil forces raging in the world and will judge the living and the dead.

We who have committed our lives to Christ still struggle in our humanity with temptation to sin, and must choose daily to live in obedience to His will. We grow in our faith through prayer, study and reflection of God’s word, the Bible; and by meeting regularly in fellowship with other Christians.

All this is a fairly factual summary of some of the content of the Bible. But most of all, our lives as Christians are lives that are transformed. We know a love that surpasses anything. We know a deep joy within our spirits springing from God's Holy Spirit within us. We know a power beyond ourselves which touches others and transforms them too. We have a confidence that even when life is difficult and deeply sad and broken and disappointing, we have a relationship which sustains and comforts and gives us hope. God is faithful and He has the best in store. Christianity is not a killjoy set of rules which will spoil your fun. It's the most fantastic life you could ever hope to imagine....and then some more.

How do I become a Christian?

The Bible tells us that there is only one way to relationship with God and that is through Jesus Christ:

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

“Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. (John 14:5-6)

To become a Christian, you need to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died on the cross to honour God and for the forgiveness of sin and that He rose again and ascended to His Father God.

You also need to admit or confess that you are a sinner in need of God’s forgiveness through Christ. This is known as repentance. Repentance involves confessing that we have done wrong, saying sorry to God and committing to living a life in obedience to God's ways. Becoming a Christian does not make you suddenly perfect. We all still struggle with temptations and failures in this earthly life and continually need God's grace and forgiveness. Repentance does mean that we look to God for wisdom and guidance to resist temptation.

You then need to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Just as a wedding ceremony begins a marriage, so a prayer of confession and faith can begin, but is just the beginning, of a relationship with God. An ongoing relationship includes learning about God through Bible study; baptism, conversations with God through prayer, and encouragement through Christian fellowship in a caring church.

The following is a prayer which could be used to begin this relationship. You may wish to pray it alone, personally, or you may wish to discuss your decision with a Christian friend or pastor first to fully understand:

Dear Heavenly Father God,

I come before You acknowledging You as the only one God- Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thank You for revealing Yourself to me. Thank You, Father God, for sending Your only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross, honouring You and making a way for sinful people to come back into relationship with You. I acknowledge that I am a sinner. Please forgive my sin and cleanse me I pray. I receive Jesus Christ into my life to be my Lord and Saviour for the rest of my days. May You give me strength through the power of the Holy Spirit to live my life as a Christian. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour. Amen

May God bless you with an ever-increasing knowledge of His wonderful presence and endless love as you continue to seek and serve Him.

Ephesians 3:14-20 :

^"For this reason I kneel before the Father,  from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Ame

New Beginnings

 This week marks the beginning of the working year for many of us in Queensland. The school holidays, prolonged to deal with an upsurge in Covid 19 cases, have now finished and schoolchildren have returned to their classrooms. Businesses are moving into full swing and church programs are recommencing for the year. 

This year marks a new beginning for me personally, one I've been looking forward to for many months now. I'm taking a twelve month sabbatical from my employment in health as a Clinical Assistant with the view to retirement following this period in early 2023. Retirement for a Christian, however, does not mean to put your feet up and take life easy- rather it is an opportunity to move into new areas of witness and ministry, albeit with perhaps some extra time to enjoy pursuits which bring personal satisfaction.

Life with Christ brings its own new beginning. When we commit to Jesus we are changed. Whilst many aspects of our lives externally may appear the same, internally we have a new nature, one which knows the great love God has for each of us, a nature sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit of God. The apostle Paul tells us in his letter to the Thessalonian church:

"For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God that He has chosen you because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction." (1 Thessalonians 1:5).

I think that what Paul is saying is that those who believe when they hear or read the gospel are deeply convinced of it's truth, and understand its power to impact this world for good. This can be a source of great wisdom and great joy.

Heavenly Father God

I pray that anyone visiting these pages this year will be drawn by your Holy Spirit into deeper relationship with You. Fill them with Your love, your understanding and your power I pray.

In the precious name of Jesus Christ,

Amen.

Where will you be at the cross?

 

Where will you be at the cross?

 

Will you stand with Pilate, washing your hands of Jesus?

Will you laugh and scorn with the scoffers?

Will you champion sinners and bay for innocent blood with the crowd?

Will you run with Peter, afraid to say you know Him?

Will you sit with the gamblers, looking to gain by Him, not knowing

the greatest gift was freely given?

Will you scorn Him in your final hour like the thief beside Him?

 

Or

Will you carry His cross like Simon?

Follow Him right to the end like the many

who waited and watched and wept?

Will you grieve from the depths of your heart like Mary his mother

as lifelong shadows fall?

Will you call on Him in your final hour like the thief beside Him?

Will you promise, like John to care for his family?

Declare Him Lord, like the centurion?

Will you give your worldly possessions like Joseph of Arimathea?

Risk your public standing like Nicodemus?

 

And will you always be one of His disciples,

Waiting for the morning, a new day

And His arriving?

 

Where will you be at the cross?

Because everyone, sometime

Will come to the cross.