It’s All About Planting The Seed

Recently I had an experience in which Bob Jones was standing in front of me. At first he was smiling and his blue eyes were twinkling as he said, “Today is my birthday!” I replied, “No, it’s another friend’s birthday.” Then, with a very serious look on his face he stood real close to me. In fact he was right in my face and very matter of fact said, “It’s all about the seed!” I repeated – the seed?  He said, “Yes, it’s all about the planting of the seed!”And he was gone.

Needless to say I began praying about this and seeking the Lord for understanding. I’m well aware that Mark 4 gives an account of the parable of the sower of the seed. All of the seed came from the same seed bag however it fell in four different places. Some by the wayside, some on stony ground, some fell among thorns and other seed fell on good ground. I realize it’s a parable of the Word being sown in the heart of mankind. Does the recipient nurture the seed to maturity or does the devil steal it? I believe this is the most important parable Jesus taught. He said, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the Word.” (13 &14)

Satan immediately steals the seed sown by the wayside. The seed sown on stony ground never takes root. It’s easier to compromise that stand on the Rock of Salvation. While the seed sown among thorns are easily deceived by the desires of life and they return to the world’s system. But the seed sown on fertile ground, hear the word, accept it and bear fruit; some thirty, some sixty and some a hundred.

After a couple days the Lord spoke to me regarding this word. He said, “I am planting by My hand, says the Lord, My vineyard and I need vine dressers.You see I’m going to yield a harvest of souls, says the Lord, but I need those who will tend the vines.There’s a great harvest of souls forthwith but I need My mature ones to raise up the body of believers.”

Who Are His Vinedressers?

Jesus said, I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. (John 15:1)

Clearly the Father is the vinedresser so why is He looking for others? We are His children who were made in His image. We were bought with the blood of Jesus, baptized into His death and raised to eternal life IN HIM. We are the Bride of Christ, the anointed ones in the earth today who He’s entrusted with the seed. The Father has been pruning His body so it will be abundantly fruitful (John 15:2-4) And He promises “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. (Verse 5 & 8)

I was not sure about the word “forthwith” but Webster says it means without delay or hesitation, with no time intervening. Whatever is going to happen will happen instantly without delay. And Bible Gateway shows 10 scripture references in the King James Version. One example being when the scales fell from Saul’s eyes and he received sight forthwith,and arose, and was baptized. (Acts 9:18) And when the soldier pierced Jesus side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. (John 19:34)

Then He said, “My grace is so great says the Lord and many believers aren’t sure what they believe in. They love Me in lip service only but their hearts are grown cold.”I believe much of the church teaches a watered down gospel and rarely teach the cross, the blood of Jesus and resurrection life. Therefore 2 Timothy 3 talks about perilous times in the last days and how men will become boasters, lovers of money and lovers of themselves. In fact they will have a form of godliness but denying its power. (Verse 5) The church is in a compromised position with a severely cracked foundation.

“So I need mature vinedresser’s who are willing to step out and take a risk on Me. Can they do this asks God? Will they? There are many born-again believers that still sit in spiritual darkness. They have never been planted in deep rich soil.I’m sending My challenging message of repentance to turn their heart back to Me. Then the fullness of My gospel can be experienced in the body. Thus far they are unable to receive it. Amen.

What I’m saying is this; I’ve planted many seed by the wayside but now it’s time to cultivate them before I begin harvesting.They have never grown to maturity. Why?Dissuasion, distraction and disunity but I’m going to change that. I’m restoring everything and turning eyes toward Me.”   (Malachi 3)

God has planted many seed along the wayside and He doesn’t want even one seed to fall to the ground and be unfruitful. Too many times we boast about the numbers of salvations we credit to our account. But were these really salvations? Did they truly surrender their life to Christ or was it just lip service? Was there a transformation in their heart? Did we go back and disciple them or did we just let them lying by the wayside so the birds of the air could devour them? Jesus said, Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19) I’m sorry to say that the church at large falls short in this area. The Lord emphasized the importance of baptism and infilling of the Holy Spirit immediately following salvation. Why? Without the Holy Spirit a new convert stands a far greater chance of becoming one of the other three types of seed. A new Christian immediately becomes prey to the enemy and without the Spirit and discipleship too many new believers fall by the wayside. The body of Christ needs to pick up the slack and work with these babes.

How Do We Cultivate

In the natural we cultivate land by breaking up the clods and preparing the soil for planting seed. As Christians we cultivate hearts by setting the captives free from religion, demonic oppression, lies of the enemy. We feed them milk until they can eat the meat of the word. We pray with and for them and teach them the word and how to walk in love and obedience to God. We also teach them the gifts of the Spirit and make sure they receive the Holy Spirit. Salvation is so much more that just repeating words, it’s a way of life in Christ.

He Who Has An Ear To Hear

“He who has an ear to hear let him here what the Spirit of God is saying!I have sent ones who sowed seed and others have watered and now My seedlings are mature and ready to be planted where I need them most. I’m rearranging the body of Christ and I’m repositioning people so they are most influential where I place them.”

I believe the Lord is re-commissioning many of His people. There are those who will receive new assignments because the anointing they now possess is needed elsewhere. If they stay planted in their current location they will not produce the maximum results. Perhaps thirty or sixty yield but God wants a hundred percent yield. 1 Corinthians 3:6 Paul says that he planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. I can say that is true in my life. Bob planted many seeds over 40 years in ministry. The Lord has given me opportunity to water many of them since Bob has gone home. And now the Lord will give the increase. It’s time for harvesting those seeds.

In the story of the Samaritan woman, when she realized Jesus is the Messiah, she ran back to Sychar to evangelize her town. Jesus’ disciples are talking to Him about food and He answers with a question. Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! (John 4:35) And here is the fulfillment of 1 Corinthians 3:6, Jesus said, he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.  For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.” (John 4:36-38)

There’s No Time For Jealousy

I feel a need to caution the body of Christ. The entire body of Christ has been waiting for this time to come and now at last it is upon us and we are exuberant with expectation. Like Peter we want to fill our nets to overflowing and that’s a good thing. But what if a new convert starts moving in signs, wonders, miracles and salvations galore? Will we who’ve been waiting 20, 30 years or more become jealous? Will we begin questioning God why He’s allowing him to reap a big harvest while we’re only seeing a few salvations and no one healed?

Remember the man in Matthew 20 who owned a vineyard? He sent out workers at different times of the day and each received the same amount of pay. He called the laborers and gave them their wages beginning with the last to the first. Remember, it’s not about us it’s about the Lord and His Kingdom not ours. Let’s look to where the anointing is and jump in to assist them. The reward is the same. Are we a failure? Absolutely not! We must see it as a success. Behold this is the great commission and a sure sign of the end times. There is NO DELAY.

The Great Commission

The last words Jesus spoke before He ascended into heaven were a commandment to His disciples. And we are His disciples in the earth today.  He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those whobelieve: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; theywill take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:15-18)

The body of Christ is no longer in a twelve-step program. When heaven invades earth and the glory of God rests upon His children they will “BE” the great commission because there will be no doubt that the presence of God rests upon them. Let’s all take part in the greatest harvest of souls, become vinedressers and care for the precious seed God has entrusted into our hands. Whatever seed Father gives you, protect it, nourish it and help cultivate its’ soil.