Planting Seeds of Faith for Abundant Harvests
Summary
### Summary
Tonight, we gathered to celebrate and reflect on the power of partnership and the principle of seed time and harvest. We began by acknowledging the importance of our media ministry and the contributions of Brother Terry, who has been instrumental in our church's outreach. We then moved into a time of prayer, dedicating ourselves as living sacrifices and asking for God's blessings on our service and our lives.
The core of our discussion centered on the biblical principle that harvest follows seed, not need. This means that in order to receive God's blessings, we must be willing to sow seeds of faith, obedience, and generosity. We explored how the kingdom of God operates on the law of seed time and harvest, emphasizing that our actions, words, and thoughts are all seeds that will eventually produce a harvest.
We also delved into the concept of spiritual warfare, likening negative thoughts and words to weeds that can choke out the good seeds we plant. It's crucial to be intentional about what we sow, as this determines the kind of harvest we will reap. We discussed the importance of unity and partnership within the church, highlighting that together we can achieve what none of us could accomplish alone.
The sermon also touched on the special anointings available to believers and the importance of speaking God's Word to activate these anointings. We were reminded that faith comes by hearing and that we must continually hear, believe, and speak God's promises to see them manifest in our lives.
In conclusion, we were encouraged to stir up our faith, expect the supernatural, and remain steadfast in our commitment to God's principles. By doing so, we can experience the fullness of God's blessings and fulfill our divine purpose.
### Key Takeaways
1. Harvest Follows Seed, Not Need: The principle of seed time and harvest teaches us that we must sow seeds of faith, obedience, and generosity to receive God's blessings. Simply having a need is not enough; we must take action by planting seeds that will produce a harvest. This principle applies to all areas of life, including our finances, relationships, and spiritual growth. [23:43]
2. Intentional Sowing: Just as a farmer must intentionally plant specific seeds to get a desired crop, we must be deliberate about the seeds we sow in our lives. Whether it's through our words, actions, or thoughts, intentional sowing ensures that we reap the kind of harvest we desire. Neglecting this can lead to a life overrun by "weeds" or negative outcomes. [27:01]
3. Spiritual Warfare and Weeds: Negative thoughts and words are like weeds that can choke out the good seeds we plant. We must be vigilant in pulling out these weeds by aligning our thoughts and words with God's truth. This involves rejecting demonic doctrines and embracing the full counsel of God's Word. [28:11]
4. The Power of Partnership: Unity and partnership within the church are crucial for achieving God's purposes. Together, we can accomplish what none of us could do alone. This principle extends to all forms of partnership, including marriage, business, and ministry. When we are united, we push forward and experience greater success. [41:45]
5. Speaking God's Word: To activate the anointings and blessings God has for us, we must speak His Word. Faith comes by hearing, and as we continually hear, believe, and speak God's promises, we set in motion the spiritual forces that bring about change. This cycle of hearing, believing, and speaking is essential for living a victorious Christian life. [35:03]
### YouTube Chapters
1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [01:08] - Acknowledging Brother Terry
3. [16:15] - Opening Prayer
4. [16:52] - Tithes and Offerings
5. [18:33] - Dismissing Children
6. [19:16] - Power of Partnership and Seed
7. [20:05] - Obedience Equals Blessings
8. [22:08] - The Blessing of Abraham
9. [23:43] - Harvest Follows Seed, Not Need
10. [24:09] - Kingdom of God and Seed Time
11. [27:01] - Intentional Sowing
12. [28:11] - Spiritual Warfare and Weeds
13. [35:03] - Speaking God's Word
14. [41:45] - The Power of Partnership
15. [50:32] - Special Anointings
16. [59:40] - Faith Cycle: Hear, Believe, Speak
17. [01:08:29] - Closing Prayer and Dismissal
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Galatians 3:13-14 (NIV): "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.' He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit."
2. Mark 4:26-29 (NIV): "He also said, 'This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.'"
3. Proverbs 10:22 (NIV): "The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Galatians 3:13-14, what did Christ redeem us from, and what blessing do we receive through Him?
2. In Mark 4:26-29, what is the process described for the seed to grow and produce a harvest?
3. How does Proverbs 10:22 describe the nature of the Lord's blessing?
4. In the sermon, what analogy is used to describe negative thoughts and words, and what impact do they have on our spiritual growth? [[28:11]]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean that "harvest follows seed, not need," and how does this principle apply to our spiritual and everyday lives? [[23:43]]
2. How can intentional sowing of positive thoughts, words, and actions impact our spiritual harvest, according to the sermon and Mark 4:26-29? [[27:01]]
3. The sermon mentions the importance of unity and partnership within the church. How does this concept relate to the biblical principle of sowing and reaping? [[41:45]]
4. How does speaking God's Word activate the anointings and blessings in our lives, as discussed in the sermon? [[35:03]]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you sowed seeds of faith, obedience, or generosity. What kind of harvest did you reap from those actions? How can you be more intentional about sowing positive seeds in your life? [[23:43]]
2. Negative thoughts and words are likened to weeds in the sermon. What are some practical steps you can take to "pull out these weeds" and align your thoughts and words with God's truth? [[28:11]]
3. The sermon emphasizes the power of partnership within the church. How can you contribute to fostering unity and partnership in your church community? What specific actions can you take this week to support this goal? [[41:45]]
4. Speaking God's Word is crucial for activating His blessings. Identify a promise from God's Word that you need to hear, believe, and speak over your life. How will you incorporate this practice into your daily routine? [[35:03]]
5. The sermon encourages us to expect the supernatural and remain steadfast in our commitment to God's principles. What areas of your life do you need to stir up your faith and expect the supernatural? How will you stay committed to God's principles in these areas? [[59:40]]
6. Reflect on the concept of "harvest follows seed, not need." Are there areas in your life where you have been focusing on your needs rather than sowing seeds? How can you shift your focus to sowing seeds of faith, obedience, and generosity? [[23:43]]
7. The sermon discusses the importance of rejecting demonic doctrines and embracing the full counsel of God's Word. Are there any beliefs or thoughts you need to reject in order to fully embrace God's truth? How will you go about doing this? [[19:16]]
Devotional
Day 1: Harvest Follows Seed, Not Need
The principle of seed time and harvest teaches us that we must sow seeds of faith, obedience, and generosity to receive God's blessings. Simply having a need is not enough; we must take action by planting seeds that will produce a harvest. This principle applies to all areas of life, including our finances, relationships, and spiritual growth. [23:43]
"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." (Galatians 6:7-8 ESV)
Reflection: What specific seeds of faith, obedience, or generosity can you plant today to address a need in your life?
Day 2: Intentional Sowing
Just as a farmer must intentionally plant specific seeds to get a desired crop, we must be deliberate about the seeds we sow in our lives. Whether it's through our words, actions, or thoughts, intentional sowing ensures that we reap the kind of harvest we desire. Neglecting this can lead to a life overrun by "weeds" or negative outcomes. [27:01]
"Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:6-7 ESV)
Reflection: What are some specific words, actions, or thoughts you can intentionally sow today to ensure a positive harvest in your life?
Day 3: Spiritual Warfare and Weeds
Negative thoughts and words are like weeds that can choke out the good seeds we plant. We must be vigilant in pulling out these weeds by aligning our thoughts and words with God's truth. This involves rejecting demonic doctrines and embracing the full counsel of God's Word. [28:11]
"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 ESV)
Reflection: Identify a negative thought or word that has been acting as a weed in your life. How can you replace it with God's truth today?
Day 4: The Power of Partnership
Unity and partnership within the church are crucial for achieving God's purposes. Together, we can accomplish what none of us could do alone. This principle extends to all forms of partnership, including marriage, business, and ministry. When we are united, we push forward and experience greater success. [41:45]
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 ESV)
Reflection: Think of a partnership in your life that could benefit from greater unity. What steps can you take today to strengthen that partnership?
Day 5: Speaking God's Word
To activate the anointings and blessings God has for us, we must speak His Word. Faith comes by hearing, and as we continually hear, believe, and speak God's promises, we set in motion the spiritual forces that bring about change. This cycle of hearing, believing, and speaking is essential for living a victorious Christian life. [35:03]
"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17 ESV)
Reflection: What is one promise from God's Word that you can speak over your life today? How can you make a habit of continually hearing, believing, and speaking God's promises?
Quotes
1. "You know, the doctrines of devils are feel-good type things, you know. There's nothing required of you. And so, people love to hear those kind of messages. You know, God said to the prophet, he said, my people are destroyed or they perish for a lack of knowledge. You see, most people, because something is required of them, they don't want to partake. But if you're ever going to have God's best, then you're going to have to be willing to get involved and to obey God. Because obedience equals blessings. Disobedience equals the curse." [19:16] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Harvest follows seed, not need. You know, a lot of times we come to God, we want to talk to him about the needs that we have. But listen to me, folks. Harvest never follows need. It always follows seed. You may stand out in your garden or in a field and say, I need a truckload of watermelons. I need a basket of tomatoes. I need, I need, I need. But you're not going to get them. You know why? Because harvest doesn't follow need. Harvest follows seed." [23:43] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The kingdom of God works exactly the same way as a seed planted by a man into the ground. The man does not make it bring forth. God commanded the earth to bring forth when he first created it. The kingdom of God works exactly the same way, right? Now, how many of you know that all things, taken together according to God's word, when you take a seed in the natural, you've got to plant it, you've got to water it, you've got to protect it from, you know, predators and environment and all that kind of stuff, right? But it will bring forth." [25:32] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You have the ability to choose your harvest by choosing the seed that you sow. I heard one of the great men of God many years ago say, basically, all of life is about seed. Seed time and harvest. What you think is a seed. What you say is a seed. What you do is a seed. How you act is a seed. What you give is a seed. And all of us know that the Bible says that God is not mocked. You cannot fool God. You can't trick him into believing that you sowed one thing and get something else." [29:08] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "You need to choose what thoughts that you are going to think on, that you are going to entertain. They're like weeds that just pop up. And of course, we know this. Many, much of us, it's just demonic of the world, sensual, devilish, but you got to be quick to pull those weeds up. That's the reason you got to be careful what words you allow to come out of your mouth. You do understand that a lot of people have torn down, like the foolish woman in Proverbs, their house with their own hands or with their own tongue, because they allow words to come out of their mouth that should have never been spoken." [28:11] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "You have been given the power to control your own financial destiny. Folks, this is powerful. And I'm telling y'all right now, there is a mandate that God has given to us to take this message to the body of Christ in order, in order to accomplish everything that God wants us to accomplish, and them to accomplish it as well. Look at Matthew 18, verse 18. Now, Jesus was talking to the disciples about, he'd given them the keys of the kingdom. He didn't say the kingdoms of, you know, to something, of the kingdom. In other words, these are spiritual mysteries of the kingdom of God." [31:19] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "If you're going to access all that God has in store for you, if you're going to access authority, if you're going to access the grace of abundance and the blessing of the Lord, then it starts with believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth according to God's word. Hallelujah. Now, I don't know about you, but I, I don't want to stand by and allow the enemy to control any part of my life. I don't want you to stand by and allow him to control any part of your life, your marriage, your children that are gone wrong, your finances, your body, your mind, nothing." [35:03] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "The blessing of the Lord is all about partnership. The blessing of the Lord is about becoming a partner with him and his anointing. When you are a partner with the Lord and his anointing, in return, his blessing, which is a supernatural force, comes into your life and begins to work in your life to give you favor, to open doors, to cause all type of supernatural things to happen. I encourage every one of you, start expecting the supernatural. Stir yourself up. Stir yourself up." [01:08:55] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "You can't take the hill looking over your shoulder, people. Are you hearing what I'm saying to you? You've got to set your head like Flint, looking forward, going straight ahead, having the vision, not looking around, not doubting. Think about Israel for a moment. We don't have time to go to these scriptures, but let me point something out to you. One time, God had given instruction to take the Ark of the Covenant as they were getting ready to cross the Jordan. And God told the people now, he said, tell the people to keep a space between them and the Ark. But when the Ark moves, they move. If the Ark stops, they stop. When the Ark moves, they move." [58:25] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "There are special anointings that are available. Available to every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. There are special anointings that are available. But here's the thing. Just like tonight, faith comes by hearing, hearing by the Word of God, right? And I mentioned to you how faith works, believing in the heart, confessing with the mouth. And here's how it works. It's like a cycle. You hear it, you believe it, you say it. You hear it, you believe it, you say it. It's a cycle over, over, and over. And over, and over. Because what happens is, it begins to work its way out of you." [59:09] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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