Embracing God's Presence: Sowing Seeds of Faith
Summary
### Summary
Today, we gathered to seek the presence of God, to feel His touch, and to be filled with His glory. We prayed for every need in the building to be met and for every heart to be touched by the Holy Spirit. We celebrated the collective worship and the joy of being in the house of the Lord. We also acknowledged the hard work of our church members and staff, especially those involved in our recent camps and activities.
We delved into the parable from Matthew 13, where Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a man who sowed good seed in his field, only for an enemy to come and sow weeds among the wheat. This parable speaks to the end times, where the children of God and the children of Satan will be separated. The key message here is about being blindsided by unexpected problems, even when we are doing everything right. We discussed how life involves sowing and reaping, and how resistance and challenges are part of this process.
We explored the principle of sowing and reaping in various aspects of life, including relationships, finances, and personal growth. We emphasized that while we may face resistance and unexpected problems, God is greater than any challenge. We must recognize that sometimes the enemy sows weeds in our lives, but we should not be discouraged. Instead, we should take authority in the name of Jesus and trust that God will handle the situation.
We also touched on the importance of recognizing and planting good seeds, even in small beginnings, and understanding that what we sow, we will reap. We must be mindful of our actions and the seeds we plant, as they will determine the harvest we receive. Finally, we encouraged everyone to repent and turn from any bad seeds they may have sown and to trust in God's ability to bring about a good harvest despite the challenges.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Presence of God: Seeking God's presence is essential for spiritual growth. We must intentionally press into His presence, setting aside distractions and focusing on Him. This act of worship and surrender allows us to experience His glory and touch in our lives. [37:14]
2. Sowing and Reaping: Life operates on the principle of sowing and reaping. What we sow in our relationships, finances, and personal growth will determine the harvest we receive. We must be diligent in planting good seeds and nurturing them, even when faced with resistance. [46:06]
3. Handling Unexpected Problems: Even when we do everything right, we may still face unexpected problems. These challenges can be seen as weeds sown by the enemy. Instead of being discouraged, we should take authority in Jesus' name and trust that God will handle the situation. [50:37]
4. Small Beginnings: Never despise small beginnings. God can take something small and make something great out of it. We must be faithful in planting and nurturing the seeds we have, trusting that God will bring about a good harvest in due time. [54:05]
5. Repentance and Forgiveness: If we have sown bad seeds, we can repent and turn from them. God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Staying current in our confession of sins allows us to move forward and experience God's blessings. [01:00:47]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[37:14] - Seeking God's Presence
[37:58] - Prayer for Needs
[38:58] - Celebrating Worship and Community
[39:48] - Acknowledging Hard Work
[41:17] - Welcoming Online Church
[42:06] - Introduction to the Parable
[43:06] - Explanation of the Parable
[44:34] - Being Blindsided by Problems
[46:06] - Principle of Sowing and Reaping
[49:13] - Resistance in Life
[50:37] - Handling Unexpected Problems
[52:06] - Recognizing and Planting Good Seeds
[54:05] - Importance of Small Beginnings
[55:03] - Sowing and Reaping in Life
[01:00:47] - Repentance and Forgiveness
[01:02:24] - Taking Authority in Jesus' Name
[01:09:27] - God's Promise of a Good Harvest
[01:11:01] - Trusting God in All Situations
[01:12:34] - Invitation to Accept Christ
[01:13:53] - Altar Call and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Matthew 13:24-30 (ESV)
> "He put another parable before them, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"
### Observation Questions
1. What does the parable in Matthew 13:24-30 compare the Kingdom of Heaven to?
2. According to the parable, what did the enemy do while the men were sleeping? ([43:06])
3. How did the master respond when the servants asked if they should gather the weeds? ([43:50])
4. What is the significance of the master allowing both the wheat and the weeds to grow together until the harvest? ([43:50])
### Interpretation Questions
1. What might the "good seed" and "weeds" represent in our lives today? ([43:06])
2. How can the principle of sowing and reaping be seen in different aspects of our lives, such as relationships, finances, and personal growth? ([46:06])
3. Why is it important to recognize that unexpected problems (weeds) can arise even when we are doing everything right? ([50:37])
4. How does the concept of small beginnings relate to the overall message of the parable and our personal growth? ([54:05])
### Application Questions
1. Seeking God's Presence: How can you intentionally set aside time this week to seek God's presence and experience His glory in your life? ([37:14])
2. Sowing and Reaping: Reflect on the seeds you are currently sowing in your relationships, finances, and personal growth. Are there any areas where you need to be more diligent in planting good seeds? ([46:06])
3. Handling Unexpected Problems: Think of a recent unexpected problem you faced. How did you handle it, and how can you apply the principle of taking authority in Jesus' name in future challenges? ([50:37])
4. Small Beginnings: Identify a small beginning in your life that you might be overlooking. How can you nurture it and trust God to bring about a good harvest? ([54:05])
5. Repentance and Forgiveness: Is there a "bad seed" you have sown that you need to repent for? How can you stay current in your confession of sins and trust in God's forgiveness? ([01:00:47])
6. Trusting God in All Situations: How can you remind yourself to trust God when you are blindsided by problems, knowing that He is greater than any challenge? ([01:11:01])
7. Taking Authority in Jesus' Name: What specific steps can you take to exercise your authority in Jesus' name when facing spiritual attacks or challenges in your life? ([01:02:24])
Devotional
Day 1: Pressing into God's Presence
Description: Seeking God's presence is essential for spiritual growth. It requires intentionality, setting aside distractions, and focusing on Him. This act of worship and surrender allows us to experience His glory and touch in our lives. When we gather to seek God, we open ourselves to His transformative power, which can meet every need and touch every heart. The collective worship and joy of being in the house of the Lord amplify this experience, creating an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit can move freely. [37:14]
Psalm 27:4 (ESV): "One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple."
Reflection: What specific distractions can you set aside today to intentionally seek God's presence? How can you create a space in your daily routine to focus solely on Him?
Day 2: The Principle of Sowing and Reaping
Description: Life operates on the principle of sowing and reaping. What we sow in our relationships, finances, and personal growth will determine the harvest we receive. We must be diligent in planting good seeds and nurturing them, even when faced with resistance. This principle is evident in every aspect of life, and understanding it helps us navigate challenges with faith and perseverance. Recognizing the importance of our actions and the seeds we plant can lead to a fruitful and abundant life. [46:06]
Galatians 6:7-8 (ESV): "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to be more intentional about planting good seeds? How can you nurture these seeds to ensure a positive harvest?
Day 3: Handling Unexpected Problems
Description: Even when we do everything right, we may still face unexpected problems. These challenges can be seen as weeds sown by the enemy. Instead of being discouraged, we should take authority in Jesus' name and trust that God will handle the situation. Life involves resistance and challenges, but God is greater than any obstacle we face. By recognizing the enemy's tactics and standing firm in our faith, we can overcome these difficulties and continue to grow spiritually. [50:37]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: What unexpected problems are you currently facing? How can you take authority in Jesus' name and trust God to handle these situations?
Day 4: The Importance of Small Beginnings
Description: Never despise small beginnings. God can take something small and make something great out of it. We must be faithful in planting and nurturing the seeds we have, trusting that God will bring about a good harvest in due time. Small beginnings often lead to significant outcomes when we remain diligent and faithful. By valuing and nurturing the small things, we allow God to work through them and bring about His purposes in our lives. [54:05]
Zechariah 4:10 (ESV): "For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth."
Reflection: What small beginnings in your life have you overlooked or undervalued? How can you be more faithful in nurturing these small seeds, trusting God for a greater outcome?
Day 5: Repentance and Forgiveness
Description: If we have sown bad seeds, we can repent and turn from them. God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Staying current in our confession of sins allows us to move forward and experience God's blessings. Repentance is a powerful act that realigns us with God's will and opens the door for His grace and mercy to flow into our lives. By acknowledging our mistakes and seeking forgiveness, we can start anew and cultivate a life that honors God. [01:00:47]
1 John 1:9 (ESV): "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Reflection: Are there any bad seeds you need to repent of today? How can you stay current in your confession of sins to experience God's forgiveness and blessings?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "God is greater than the problem. Somebody shout. Amen. Right there. Doesn't matter. Yeah. There'll be pressure, but the pressure is not greater than the blessing and it'll take some time, but it's going to work in your life." [49:53] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The principle of sowing and reaping occurs in all matters of life. It doesn't matter. It occurs. It's, it's there. And, and, and we can see it in relationships. We can see it in marriages. If you don't sow good things into your marriage, you're not going to have a good marriage. If you don't show good things into your family, your, your finances are covered by this also." [49:13] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "If you sow a bad seed, ask God to forgive you and stay current on your confessing of sins. John chapter first John one first John one in verse nine if we confess our sins we say it a lot if we confess our sins he's faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." [01:01:00] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God's going to receive glory out of my situation. Now giving praise hallelujah amen well pastor how do you know if it's uh you know the seeds good did you you know how do you know if the problem is the devil did you plant good seed did you take care of the seed if you did then it was the enemy so what I do if it's the enemy God said I'll take care of it don't you love that did you see that the master said no no no well we'll go out but no no no I'll take care of it I'm going to take care of it and God when it's the enemy is going to take care of the situation and root out that problem and you get to watch the deliverance you get to stand by and watch and you'll enter your blessing." [01:08:47] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If you believe God's word today would you just give him the very best praise you've given him all day come on praise God hallelujah now I want you to bow your heads with me for just a moment we are so proud that you are here and so thankful that you come to be in church with us Jesus Christ died for you God loved you so much that he gave his only son to die on a cross for you and here's what may blow your mind if you would have been the only individual on this earth he still would have done it for you because he loves you." [01:11:01] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "The difference between these two parables is there are certain things in life that we sow, and there are certain things in life that Satan sows. Now the enemy, he said, the enemy, which is Satan, has come and sowed weeds. Jesus was sowing people and sowing good seed. And the things we sow, we have to be careful about. And often we wonder why certain things comes into our lives when we are the ones that sowed it." [55:03] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Problems in harvest had been a part of the curse since the earth began. We see it. There can be too much rain. There can be a drought. There can be times when, you know, pestilence that comes along and a lot of things are there. And the principle. The principle of sowing and reaping occurs in all matters of life. It doesn't matter. It occurs. It's, it's there." [49:13] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You are never going to get a harvest of all wheat and no weeds. You won't. You won't ever just get all wheat and no weeds but the blessings are greater than your problems hallelujah and the harvest is going to outlast your weeds look at your neighbor and say the harvest is going to outlast your weeds come on tell them now you know what I'm going to tell you I'm going to tell you I've discovered in being in ministry for a while every problem doesn't have an earthly sensible answer." [01:03:47] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "If you harvest bad seed you can do something about it you can do something about it you can do something about it hear me I don't want you to miss this solid rock if you harvest bad seed you can repent and turn from it I mean if you're having problems and not being able to get up in the morning and get to your job then you need to turn around from the way you're going with that mess and head in the opposite direction and get up early and be at your job early and be there on time right right hallelujah." [59:23] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We have to understand if we sow the seed we will reap the harvest no matter what it is but then you know you know you can do something about it if you don't have premarital sex you can do something about it turn around and head the opposite direction and we do began to do something totally different in your life now we know that satan can sow seed into your life that's why Jesus said in verse 28 an enemy has done this an enemy has done this and when does satan sow seed whenever he can steal your seed out of your heart." [01:00:47] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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