Sowing spiritual seeds

By Susanna Koch

Throughout the Bible we – as believers – are encouraged to live a life open to be used by God. Ready anytime to “sow our seeds” into people’s lives through giving words of hope, praying for healing or sharing our stories of what Jesus has done for us.

Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 New King James Version (NKJV)

1 Cast your bread upon the waters,
For you will find it after many days.
2 Give a serving to seven, and also to eight,
For you do not know what evil will be on the earth.

3 If the clouds are full of rain,
They empty themselves upon the earth;
And if a tree falls to the south or the north,
In the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie.
4 He who observes the wind will not sow,
And he who regards the clouds will not reap.

5 As you do not know what is the way of the wind,
Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child,
So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.
6 In the morning sow your seed,
And in the evening do not withhold your hand;
For you do not know which will prosper,
Either this or that,
Or whether both alike will be good.

Here are some encouraging facts about seeds that we can apply to the spiritual seeds that we sow:

1. A seed contains life and is powerful (this is said about the word of God which is the seed we sow. In Hebrews 4:12 it says that “The word of God is alive and active”)
2. A seed does nothing until planted (we need to be active)
3. A seed is much smaller than the fruit it produces (sometimes the things we do seem so small like baking a cake, visiting someone in hospital or writing a card.)
4. A seed begins its growth in secret (it may not be obvious to us at first but we can trust that God – through the seed- is at work in the person)
5. A seed takes time to produce (some grow faster, some need more time – don’t be discouraged)
6. A seed is persistent (even though other things may go on in the persons live)
7. A seed is not affected by other seeds (even though they may be exposed to other things – we have sown a powerful seed that will prevail and not be swallowed up by other seeds)
8. More seeds planted produce a larger harvest

The good news is that Jesus does not leave as alone in our efforts to reach other people – he has equipped us to do so.

Mark 16:21
“Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by signs that accompanied it.”

Acts 1:8
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witness, telling people about me everywhere…”
Jesus was a perfect example of someone who not just invested in the twelve disciples (his focus 12) but also invested in “random” people he met on a daily basis.

Two things stand out in his ministry:
1. He was giving words of hope to people which led to their salvation
2. He prayed for healing for people and everyone he prayed for was healed

We as his disciples are called and equipped to do the same.

Giving words of hope:
Isaiah 50:4-5
“The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears, I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back.”

Isaiah 61: 1-3
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grief in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” 

Praying for the sick:
Mark 16:15
“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my Name they will…place their hands on the sick people, and they will get well.”

Quote from John Piper:
“Our goal in evangelism is to be his instruments in creating new people who delight in God.”

Discussion Questions

1. Although we are commissioned and equipped we sometimes hold back to invest in the random people we meet – why is that so?
2. How can we overcome these obstacles?
3. Open up for testimonies where people did step out and sowed their seeds.

Source: City Life Church Australia

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