So few witness to the lost and yet most don’t recognize that it’s not in the sower to save, but the power to save is in the seed.
The Theology of Sleep
[1]The late Dr. John MacArthur sent out a small book called, “The Theology of Sleep.” It’s a short read, but an eye-opener. Dr. MacArthur’s main point is that the farmer plants the seed and then goes to bed. So it is with our witnessing for Christ. The seed does not need the farmer to cheer it on or have a pep rally, saying, “Let go Seed, Let’s go!” No, the seed has the power that the sower does not, but that’s actually great news. Isaiah the Prophet wrote, “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (55:10-11). After God’s Word is shred, we could call it, “Sowing and Sleeping” or “Snoring and Ignoring,” meaning we share the Word and leave the results up to God. The farmer sows His field…then he goes to bed.
God’s Word has effectual power…that is, the power to effect things and people. God says of His Word, “Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces” (Jer 23:29). All we do as believers right now is simply sow the seed (Share the Gospel) because only God can give the increase (Acts 2:47).
Mystery of the Seed
Planting seeds is like having a funeral. There you are, burying a seed that appears to be dead, and yet hoping the seed sprouts, takes root and produces a crop. It’s like a funeral for believers who have died in the faith. Their bodies have been planted in the ground, and someday will be raised to incorruption at Christ’s return (1 Cor 15). Only God can give that increase! Jesus says that how the seed grows is a mystery even to farmers. In Mark 4:26-29 Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
[2]
Notice that the farmer goes to sleep, not worrying about whether the seed will grow or not, knowing “the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.” His job is to sow the seed not understand how it grows. So it is with sharing God’s Word. We don’t know how or even if it will sprout, but that’s okay. God is responsible for it sprouting and growing. It’s not our responsibility to save anyone…it is their response to His ability. It is our responsibility to sow the seed.
The Seed of God’s Word
[3]So few believers witness to the lost today and yet most don’t recognize that it’s not in the power of the sower to save, but the power to save is in the seed. The Sower sows the seed and goes to bed for he has no control over making it grow. We are told make disciples by going into all the world (our neighborhoods, workplace, family, etc.) and we do that by sowing God’s Word. Sowing the seed (God’s Word) is the start of making disciples. Some might think, “My little light “will shine” BUT >>>>> they are not saved by your “life” but by His death! Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Rom 10). Here’s how it works: someone from God, shares the Word of God, then the Spirit of God, births a child of God, and for the glory of God. Sowing seeds is step one in making disciples so sow as many seeds as you can, as often as you can and in as many places as you can, and let God make it grow.
The Great Omission
Did you know that less than 1% of Christians are willing to speak to a stranger about Jesus (Lifeway, 2022), even though 73% of strangers are at least willing to listen to you talk about Him. Further, 72% of unchurched people have never once been invited to church! Should we not be compelled to share the greatest news humanity has ever had. We already have an imperative command from the King to “go” (Matt 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). Remember that the power in the seed; not the Sower. God’s Word is like the the Rock that breaks the hammer, yet some might argue, “How about using a designer seed bag” or making people fill out this decision card. That’s not biblical. Remember, the
[4] farmer sows the seed and goes to bed. Only God gives the increase. There is no method…only the Message.
Ashamed of Christ?
Jesus once stated, “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26). Are we ashamed of the Gospel? The Apostle Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power [Lit “dynamite!”] of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rom 1:16). Even though we’re commanded to share Christ, we must realize that “the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor 1:18). Even the Sower in the Parable he hit 1 of the 4…but it was not the Sower, but the seed! It is not the sower’s power but the power of God that gives the seed new birth (Eph 2:1-5). Even if it seems foolish to the lost, it is the wisdom and power of God that leads others to salvation.
Trust the Word
First Samuel 3:19-21 says that “Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD. And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.” Notice that God revealed Himself to Samuel “by the word of the Lord.” That’s how God works in revealing Himself and why Paul could write, “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17). The God of the Word is revealed in the Word of God.
Joy of the Soul Winner
[5]Our church has a prison ministry, and interestingly, we have an elder in our church who is a supervisor in law enforcement. I once joked with him, “You arrest them…I set them free!” Of course, God is the One Who sets them free in Christ, but you see the point. God can reach anyone, anywhere, in any circumstance. His Word is not restricted by barb-wire or stone walls or iron bars. For those who are already broken, it is easier to get God’s seed into their hearts. To be part of someone’s being saved…to be used by God to bring people to Christ, may be the greatest joy there is. The Psalmist seemed to know that too, in writing, “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 125:5-6). The sheaves came from the seed, not the sower, although he was a participant in the process. God used the Sower as a means to reach His ends.
Conclusion
I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.
Here is some related reading for you: What is the Parable of the Sower? A Bible Study [6]
Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.