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The Seed from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

We have a majestic oak tree in our yard that is older than me. It would probably take three men to reach their arms around the base of it at the moment. It stands about sixty feet tall, and the canopy is at least sixty feet across. During the hot southern summer, it provides a cool, dense shade underneath. It is home to a diverse group of creatures. Gray squirrels bounce along the branches, and possums crawl the limbs. Birds build nests, and swarms of butterflies and moths are born there each year.

Yet, the tree it is today didn't begin its life that way. It started out as a tiny acorn that sprouted and put down roots. The slightest bit of resistance or wind would have destroyed it in its early state. A squirrel could have once eaten it, but not anymore. For it has matured and grown into its destiny. It has become unshakable and established deep roots.

While praying about a message this week, I prayed for half an hour. Then stopped and said, "Speak Lord, for I am listening." To which He replied, "Not yet. It's not time." So, I returned to praying and continued for another half hour. This time, when I stopped, I saw a vision.

I saw dry, cracked earth that was hardened like a dried-up riverbed. Then suddenly, a tiny green plant broke through the crust and began to grow. It quickly grew into a tall, lush, green plant that reminded me of a stalk of corn. Then I heard these words, "Grow! For you are watering your land." This is a word for you, as well as me:

(Isaiah 55:10–11 NKJV)  For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

When we take care of it, the word of God grows inside of us. It begins to change us from the inside out. As people, we like to change the outside, our appearance, our clothing, and don't even get me started on implants and botox. Yet, we happily allow all sorts of evil to remain inside of us. The Apostle Paul gave two lists of deeds. One was basically the fruit of the flesh, and the other the fruit of the Spirit:

(Galatians 5:19–24 NASB)  Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Notice the wording Paul used, "Crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." In other words, "Nail it to a tree, and learn to tell your body, No! Not on my watch." We want so much from God, yet, we tend to offer Him so little of us.

God starts cleaning up the inside by pressure washing our hearts and minds. We begin to think differently and eventually begin to treat others as we would like to be. Yet, the little seed He gives struggles to survive in bad soil. When Jesus explained the parable of the Sower to His disciples, He mentioned four types of soil. He began with the hard heart:

(Matthew 13:18–19 NASB)  Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.

The parables of Jesus Christ conceal and reveal. Those who are submitted to the will of God will be given the understanding to read between the lines. While those who are rebellious will only hear gibberish. The Bible makes no sense to them. After Jesus finished speaking, the disciples asked Him why He spoke to the people in parables. He told them this:

(Matthew 13:10–12 NKJV)  And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

The Apostle Paul wrote this:

(1 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV)  But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

A carnal, fleshly mind will never comprehend the Bible. Yet, once we submit our lives to Him, then His Spirit will teach us all things (John 14:26). How do you fix the hard heart? Submit your life to God, and He will give you a new one (Ezekiel 36:26). Jesus continued on with the shallow heart:

(Matthew 13:20–21 NASB)  The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.

Notice it is "When affliction or persecution arises," not if...troubles are going to come. Who you become under pressure is who you really are. Many put their hand to the plow but turn back from following Christ. This is sad because many are the afflictions of the righteous. But the Lord delivers him from them all (Psalm 34:19). One of the most incredible memories you will ever have is when you are desperate for help, and the Lord shows up and fixes it. I watched Him instantly heal my wife of an affliction she had struggled with for three months one night.

What is the cure for a shallow heart? You put on the armor of God, and you stand your ground (Ephesians 6:13). Never give up. Never surrender. Jesus continued on with the strangled heart:

(Matthew 13:22 NASB)  And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

The tiny seed sown here was ruthlessly strangled by the cares of the world. "Oh, I am too busy to pray today...I'll do it tomorrow." Yet, that worry-free tomorrow never comes, does it? Also, the pursuit of worldly things like wealth without being rich toward God becomes a trap, for you can't serve two masters.

What is the cure for a strangled heart? Make the Lord a priority in your life instead of an option that you can have or have not. Put Him first instead of last. Also, when the Lord blesses you, bless others. Finally, Jesus came to the good heart:

(Matthew 13:23 NASB)  "And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."

Some seed finally lands on good soil and begins to grow and put down roots. Yet, even on good ground, the quantity of fruit returned varies significantly between the plants.

One interesting thing I came across while studying this parable is that the Sower is unnamed. We can assume it was God, Jesus, but it can be anyone who is spreading His word. In light of that, this message is a tiny seed. May it fall on good ground.

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray that You cause Your word to grow in me. Change me from the inside out and deliver me from my enemies. Give me a new heart. Open my mind to understand Your scriptures as You did with the disciples on the road to Emmaus. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!