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THE SEED IS THE WORD OF GOD (2)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.      The Bible likens the Word of God unto many things.

1.       Fire (Jer. 23:29)

2.       A hammer (Jer. 23:29)

3.       Light (Ps. 119:105)

4.       Sword (Eph. 6:17)

 

B.      In a previous lesson, we noted that God’s Word is also compared to seed (Luke 8:15; I Pet. 1:23).

 

Now the parable is this:  The seed is the word of God.

 

1.       Seed should be pure.

2.       Seed can be contaminated.

3.       Seed contains the germ of life.

4.       Seed is essential to a harvest.

5.       Seed must be sown to produce.

 

C.      Let’s continue this study this morning.  Our title again is:  “The Seed Is the Word of God.”

 

I.                   SEED IS POWERFUL

 

A.      Once a seed has been fertilized, it demonstrates unbelievable power.

1.       It produces a small plant that can break open the hardest soil.

2.       It produces a plant that can crack some of the largest boulders.

3.       Within the seed is a treasure chest of DNA.  (Ex., the little acorn becomes a massive oak)

 

B.      God’s Word is extremely powerful.

1.       Hebrews 4:12 is the classic verse on the power of God’s Word.

 

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

2.       In Psalm 119:7-11, the psalmist describes the power of God’s Word.

a.       Converts the soul

b.       Makes wise the simple

c.        Rejoices the heart

d.       Enlightens the eyes

e.        Warns the servant of God

3.       I Thessalonians 2:13

 

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because when ye received the word of God which ye have heard of us, ye received it not as the word of man, but as it is in truth the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

 

a.       Effectually worketh

1)      Strong (1754)

a)      It comes from the Greek work “energeo” from which we get the English word “energy.”

b)      To be active, efficient

2)      Thayer:  to be operative, be at work, put forth power, aid one

b.       Some of the things the Word of God did for the Thessalonians:

1)      Abandon sin and idolatry

2)      Devote themselves to God

3)      Live pure and holy lives

4)      Abide the trials and temptations of life

 

II.                SEED CAN BE DORMANT FOR A WHILE

 

A.      It is possible to plant a seed, and the seed to remain dormant for a period of time.

1.       To be dormant is to be asleep or inactive.

2.       Conditions for germination must be right for a seed to begin to grow.

 

B.      The seed of God’s Word can lie dormant in the hearts of men for a period of time before it begins to sprout and produce obedience.

1.       What we teach a person about God’s Word may not instantly produce.

2.       The seed could lie dormant in that person’s heart for days, weeks, months, or years.

3.       When conditions are right, that dormant seed can bring forth fruit.

 

C.      Examples:

1.       A parent may teach a child the gospel while he/she is at home, but the child does not obey the gospel before leaving home.  Later in adulthood, however, the child becomes a Christian.

2.       We do not know when some of the seed we are presently sowing will finally germinate:  radio, TV, newspaper, or House to House.

 

D.     The problem of dormant seed:  the sower begins to doubt the power of the seed (Isa. 55:11).

 

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:  is shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it.

 

III.             SEED PRODUCES AFTER ITS KIND

 

A.      At the beginning of the Creation, God put seed within each plant.  These seeds produce “after their kind,” that is within definite boundaries sets by God (Gen. 1:11).

 

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herbs yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth:  and it was so.

 

1.       Tomato seeds produce tomatoes.

2.       Squash seeds produce squash.

3.       Watermelon seeds produce watermelons.

4.       Apple seeds produce apples.

 

B.      The Word of God, the seed of God’s kingdom, produces after its kind.

1.       In the first century, the Word of God produced only one kind, Christians, also known as disciples and children of God (Acts 6:7a).

 

And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly…

 

2.       NOTE:  The disciples were eventually called by the name Christians (Acts 11:26).

 

…and the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

 

3.       In the first century, the Word of God did not produce what we see produced today:  Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Nazarenes, Amish, Pentecostals, etc.

 

C.      The reason we have all of these different fruits it because the precious seed of God’s Word has been mingled with the creeds, manuals, disciplines, doctrines, and opinions of man.

1.       We should desire pure seed.

2.       We ask men to lay aside their creeds, manuals, and disciplines, but they will not.  Why?  If they do, they will cease to exist.

3.       Their seed (their doctrines) produce their religious group.

4.       If only the pure seed of God’s Word is proclaimed, only Christians will be produced.

IV.              SEED PRODUCES ABUNDANTLY

 

A.      A few statistics of seeds planted in good ground on a 100’ row.

a.       Lima beans                        400 seeds                     12 lbs

b.       Broccoli                  170 seeds                     75 lbs

c.        Carrots                  3000 seeds                   100 lbs

d.       Lettuce                   400 seeds                     50 lbs/100 heads

e.        Pumpkin                135 seeds                     300 lbs

f.         Squash                   300 seeds                     200 lbs

 

B.      When God’s Word is planted into good soil, it, too, will yield large returns.

1.       Luke 8:15

 

But he that receiveth seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth some one hundred fold, some sixty, some thirty.

 

a.       Not all plants will bear the same amount of fruit.

b.       The harvest is more than that which was planted.

2.       The seed of God’s Word was sown into the heart of Saul of Tarsus.

a.       This Saul, also called Paul, produced a harvest in great abundance.

b.       NOTE:  This was Paul’s desire (Rom. 1:13).

 

Now I would not have you ignorant, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

 

3.       One of the important points known by all good farmers and gardeners is that the more that is sown, the more that is produced (Gal. 6:7).

 

Be not deceived; God is not mocked:  for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.      We have looked at four more comparisons between physical seed and the seed of God’s Word.

1.       Seed is powerful.

2.       Seed can lie dormant for a period of time.

3.       Seed produces after its kind.

4.       Seed produces abundantly.

 

B.      Let’s look at now at one contrast.  Physical seed can be destroyed.  The Word of God, on the other hand, is indestructible.

1.       Seeds can be burned, crushed, or poisoned.  All of these things destroy seeds.

2.       God’s Word cannot be destroyed.

a.       Satan began the attacks on God’s Word in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:4).

b.       Attacks have continued throughout history and continue to this day.  The Supreme Court decision regarding homosexuality is a direct assault on the precious Word of God..

c.        The Bible will not be destroyed (I Pet. 1:24-25a)

 

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.  The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth:  but the word of the Lord endureth for ever.

 

d.       When men die and go to the Final Judgment, the Word of God will meet them there (John 12:48).

 

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him:  the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.