Are We Planting Seeds

As Christians, we are, according to Christ, spiritual farmers.  He also says there is a time to sow and a time to reap.  Here on the earth, we are sowers.  We need to plant seeds, “spiritual seeds” to all those we pass by, run into, have encounters with, are friends with, socialize with, have fun with, fellowship with, serve with, and live with.  We need to look at people whether young or old as opportunities, opportunities to spread the Good News. I’d like to dive right into a story from the Bible.  It pertains to spreading seeds and being obedient to God when He calls us to do something.  We see in Acts 8:26-40:

26 “As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

I can see Philip, he’s out doing his daily business and he comes to a fork in the road, one is the main road, it’s nice and smooth has constant traffic  It is a major road that connects Jerusalem and Gaza.  The other is a dirt road, not too many people travel that road.  It may be harder to navigate through but it is shorter.  The nicer road, however, is broader and there are many traveling it, so I think I’ll travel that one.  This is where he hears that still small voice, “Philip I want you to go down the dirt road, the smaller, more difficult path.  Maybe Philip was like, “But I don’t want to God, I want to go down this other one.  It’s bigger and more people travel it”  Still Philip hears, “I want you to travel down the dirt road, for I have a plan, a plan to prosper you and not harm you.” (Jeremiah 29:11) So Philip shows his obedience and finally goes.

27 So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

Imagine that Philip is walking down this dirt road, not traveled by many and here he sees this magnificent carriage, with beautiful horses, guards all around it, carrying a man in fine clothes, and looking like royalty.  Passing by him, he just so happens to overhear the man reading in the carriage.  It’s actually from the book of Isaiah, so maybe he was like, “Wow, that’s cool, someone is diving into their Word.  Awesome!”  He thinks nothing more about it, but wait, God had more to say to Philip.

29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” 30 Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

Okay, so my first thought is God is telling him to run up to this royal looking carriage, with guards surrounding it and ask the man if he understands what he is reading.  Philip must be like, “No way!”  But what do we see?  Yes, we see Philip’s obedience and I picture him jogging next to this man’s carriage and yelling up to him, “Sir, do you understand what you are reading?”  “31 The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.

Philip must have been in awe.  Here a royally dressed man invites him up onto his royal carriage to interpret the Bible for him.  So I imagine him jumping up and introducing himself to the man and this is where he learns the man is the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia.

32 The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter.

    And as a lamb is silent before the shearers,

    he did not open his mouth.

33 He was humiliated and received no justice.

    Who can speak of his descendants?

    For his life was taken from the earth.”

34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?” 35 So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. 36 As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?” 38 He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing.

You see, I believe that by the Holy Spirit snatching Philip away is proof we don’t need to be present to see our seeds bloom.  We just need to be obedient in planting them, because it says that the Eunuch went on rejoicing, which tells me he understood his need for Jesus and that’s why he was baptized.  Planting seeds starts with obedience if Philip was to take his own path or chose the wrong path he would have missed this great opportunity.  But seeing he obeyed, a seed got planted with a very powerful person, one who could influence many more for the kingdom.  I’m certain the eunuch has a great testimony just from that experience alone.

40 Meanwhile, Philip found himself farther north at the town of Azotus. He preached the Good News there and in every town along the way until he came to Caesarea.”

You see we don’t know God’s timing for His plan, but we do know that all things happen for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.  There are no “by chance” moments.  We, the chosen children of God, have been ordained and placed right where God wants us.  So we can do His will which includes planting seeds.  Imagine if we could see the spiritual warfare people walk in.  That my friend would make planting seeds a little easier and people a little more approachable.  When you’re out and about or around others, keep an open mind and ready for the seed to be planted.  Remember it’s not the size of the seed that matters.  Remember the parable about the mustard seed?  It’s the tiniest but packs an impact of nuclear proportion.

There are many jobs when it comes to planting seeds or shall I say for the one who is a seed planter.  There are many steps that have to be taken before the seed is planted as well as how often the seed is planted.

Let’s start with before, if you wanted to plant a garden, as you stand in your kitchen and look out in the back yard, you first have to decide where do I want to plant this garden?  Do I want full sun, moderate sun, or shade?  Do I want to build sides to my garden like a box or have chicken wire fence around it to keep intruders out so things don’t destroy it?  Can I use the existing soil or do I bring in some really good soil?  I could just add some compost to the existing soil to improve it.  Do I need a watering system or do I let nature take care of it?  How many rows do I want?  How many different types of seeds do I want?  Wow, there are many factors even before I get to plant a seed.  Well, in the same way, there are many factors to planting spiritual seeds.  (area conditions, environment, soil condition, types of seed, care, preparation, aftercare, harvest)

You see before the consideration of planting a seed there are conditions.  Not saying everything has to be perfect, but the initial prep is required.

We are the seeders/farmers and we must be able to equip ourselves with the knowledge that it takes to plant at the right time.  Wait on God’s timing, don’t Bible bash, be humble, be patient, be kind, be loving, and be a good listener because in due time it will be ready to plant.  God will purpose your area.  He will purpose your garden so your seeds will grow.  He will allow your seed to be watered possibly by someone else and in due time.  There will be a harvest.  Your seeds will grow and bloom producing seeds of their own. 

So our 1^st step is “preparation” of our garden.  Make sure that you have thought about and have taken into consideration all of the preparation and when you do this, you will know the perfect time to plant.

Prepare their soil, surroundings, and environment, protect their interests and be aware of your surroundings and conditions before you initiate.  Our main goal is to plant a seed that will eventually grow and lead them to Christ.  Some seeds will immediately take root and be thirsty, while others will not.  Some may start to shrivel, some will never grow, but there are those who will grow.  So don’t worry, for not all can be saved, but all can hear.  So you concentrate on being a seed planter and let God do the rest.