âJesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground.
Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens.
The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens.
And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.”
-Mark 4:26-29
Something caught my attention as I read the last post on the Maximizing Your Potential Series.
We dealt with âenlargement in the waitingâ (You have to read that post to flow here).
As I read the post again, I started comparing enlargement in the waiting to pregnancy.
What happens during pregnancy?
GROWTH.
What should happen during the waiting?
GROWTH.
How does this growth take place?
That’s what we are here to explore today.
Holy Spirit help us.. breathe life into everyone today, may our hearts be ready soil for your Word in Jesus name, amen.
Let’s go on…
Jesus told them (the disciples and the crowd) a parable in the passage above.
He related the kingdom of Heaven to a man sowing seed in the ground.
He said the man sleeps and wakes up daily and does not know how the seed grows…
âWe are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us.â
-Romans 8:24, MSG
Just as a mother does not see how her child grows in the womb, no one can also understand how the enlargement happens in the Spirit.
No one knows how this enlargement takes place but you wait and you see it blooming/booming… just like the farmer doesn’t understand how his seed grows.
Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens…
The earth produces the crops on its own…
So also the baby is made by the joining together of the sperm and the egg â the promise is made by the reality of the word joining with our own mortal bodies/flesh/spirits and then the hope of the promise is produced. Then it starts growing within â and as we groan at the pain and inconvenience and wait, still it grows.
First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed…
The baby starts taking shape â starts growing â the promise starts looking like its going to be fulfilled, God appears over and over again to you to remind you of His Word â to let you know that He is still working and growing your baby.
Every time He appears to you, it seems like its so close but still, its oh so slow.
But the truth is that the seed is growing â and more importantly, you are growing.
Just as a pregnant woman grows during pregnancy â her feet becomes enlarged, her belly and practically everywhere stretches, so also are you being enlarged as you wait for your seed to grow.
As you wait, you are enlarged in the waiting.
Little by little… a piece by piece..still its growing.
What do you do as your baby (physical or spiritual) is growing?
You feed it.
You nourish it.
You pour out your life on it.
How?
With the word AND THANKSGIVING.
âDo not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.â
-Philippians 4:6
Don’t get angry with the child but pet the child even in the womb.
Stay away from harmful stuff.
Nourish with healthy meals.
Keep it growing â if it stays stagnant, it can die.
...and finally the grain ripens.
Oh, finally it ripens.
For every child that is brought forth, months have gone into its incubation and growth process.
For every promised delivered..
For every potential realized…
Months and years â depending on the strength and power of what is being birthed â have gone into its birthing.
Growth is crucial to spiritual seeds ripening or not ripening.
So few people birth their potential/divine promises from God.
So few wait till the grain FINALLY ripens and as a result, those who take in the harvest are few.
âAnd as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.”
But then the truth is just that no one can stay till the end but by grace poured out on them with resultant effect on faith springing up from the inside â faith to see the seed grow to maturity.
If you are about giving up on God, I plead with you.. DON’T!
Jesus said âthis is how the kingdom of God works; it springs forth little by little.
It takes a while before FINALLY the grain ripensâ.
We have to understand this and don’t commit spiritual abortions before its time for our seeds to ripen.
Prayer:
Lord give me grace to hold on. To stay strong. To follow the way of the kingdom.
You have never failed me before and you won’t start now.
Thank you Jesus for loving me so, for staying the course with me. I receive grace to stay the course with you too, till my seeds ripen. In Jesus name I have prayed, amen.
Till Our Next Online Bible Study,
Love,
Frances.
PS: Thanksgiving is one way to stay on course with the kingdom way. It keeps your heart light and your spirit in tune with God’s faithfulness.
Having difficulty praising in these times?
This HERE will help 🙂
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If you also have a (spiritual) seed to birth, I pray the video from “The Women At The Well” last meet will be of great help to you.
2 Comments
Amaka
December 17, 2016 at 8:47 amThamk you, Frances. Much needed message. I understand every bit of this post. I understand . . .
Frances Okoro
December 18, 2016 at 9:19 pmAs we understand, may God keep us in this understanding.. to not throw away our confidence.
He who promised is faithful.