Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Kingdom Seeds

A few weeks ago I talked about how the Lord opened up a door for me to witness to a coworker. It was just the other day that I got a chance to talk with the fellow Christian brother who was there. As we fellowshipped about how the Lord opened the door and paved the way for the ministry, it turned out to be quite amazing! To keep it short the Lord really moved in the both of us, where we worked in team ministry, and I didn't even know it! Oh how good our God is! This brother and I ended up having a great time of fellowship, and ended the day feeling refreshed and uplifted! It was the next morning when I was driving home that I lifted up our time together, as well as the man in whom we witnessed to. There in that time of prayer the Lord took me through journey in His word. Which is where I would like to take you now J.

So let us just dive right in....

We know that when we were witnessed to, the Lord placed a seed in us. We also know that when we witness to others a seed is placed in them. Where it falls is not really up to us. It’s just up to us to “plant” that seed! We should all be somewhat familiar with the parable about the seeds falling on different kinds of ground (rocks, shallow soil, good soil, etc...) Mat_13:3-9. We all know that when we are called (by the Holy Spirit) we play a different role in growing this “kingdom seed” process. We have heard (something like this) planting the seed, watering it, and harvesting it. These last few weeks we have really hit on planting the seed. Let us look at the watering of it now. With that short base laid the Lord brought to light many scriptures of a truth we are all familiar with.

Jesus said:

Luk 13:18-19 NKJV  Then He said, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?  (19)  It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches."

This kingdom seed put in us and others, will only grow with proper care! We can only get so far by our self! So the question remains; How do we water this kingdom seed in us and others? Ask any farmer, or gardener for that matter what makes a seed grow. They will all tell you "water!" without water nothing grows. This same principle applies to the kingdom seed in us! There must be water to grow it! With this in mind, can a seed water itself? NO! Just as someone planted that seed, someone must also water it! Watering is a very intentional thing. So how do we as believers water our kingdom seed? Fellowship! We know upon being "saved" we are given the Holy Spirit, where He lives in us, and we are His 1Co_3:16 & Rom_8:9. Knowing that the Holy Spirit lives in us, we know that we have this truth to hang our hats on:

Joh 7:38 NKJV  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."

You see how amazing this is!? That kingdom seed in us and in others needs watering! That comes through fellowship! When we get together with others and are sensitive to the Holy Spirit we will water their kingdom seed! And they will water ours. For out of us (believers) will flow that "river of living water!" The Holy Spirit will flow through us to others!

We know this to be true from Acts 2, just as the Holy Spirit came, so came the fellowship, and the new church... the kingdom seed was planted, and watered! The Apostles even counted this as number one in their doctrine:

Act 2:42 NKJV  And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

It is vital that we fellowship with fellow believers! This goes beyond the Sunday greetings, the once a week bible studies, and the occasional get together's. This is a way of life. An intentional conversation with brothers and sisters in are day to day life! Yes we can set up lunch dates, or evening get together's, etc... but those can become cumbersome. Though what if we had "kingdom" talks with fellow believers at work? Or other places that we live parts of our life? You might say, "well there are just not any believers in my life expect for church." Then I would say "praise the Lord! you're in a mission field!" Let me encourage you to begin planting those kingdom seeds in others, live the kingdom life always, water when needed, and seek the Lord for the lost! Soon enough you will have that "fellow believer" in the places you live and work! And isn't this a true fulfillment of the two greatest commandments? To Love God with all we are, and to love others!

Watering the kingdom seed (in us, others, and the newly planted) comes with a daily devotion to the Lord! It comes through fellowship with one another, for out of us flows rivers of living water! Out of us flows the Holy Spirit!

How are you watering the kingdom seeds in your life (in you and in others)?

Your Brother in Christ
Grace and Peace be with you
Nate Cook, Setting Captives Free Team Member

And Jesus said to me:

Eze 3:10b-11a  "...Receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears, and go, get to the captives..."

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