The Sower & The Seed
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(6/9) THE SOWER AND THE SEED: THE GLEANING
“The grain that was not tied in sheaves was left for the widows and poor people who came to glean behind the reapers as they worked” - Excerpt from The Farmer in Bible Times | The Way Magazine
In the same way, some persons will either not be invited into a formal congregation (for eg, those who are homeless) or may opt not to be in one.
For them, we must pray that they grow in their relationship with God, they are discipled, and joined into fellowship with other Believers.
Additionally, we must act by supporting the unchurched directly or by supporting those who serve them. How can we support them today?
Oftentimes we think that upon receiving salvation, everything is completed; when really, we are just getting started. First, there is salvation. This is when we receive Jesus as our Lord (meaning, we allow Him to truly govern our lives) and Saviour (meaning, we understand that we cannot save ourselves). Then, there is sanctification. The remainder of our lives on this earth is spent in sifting, refining and purifying to ensure that when we are called home to glory, we are like pure grain.
As God does the threshing, winnowing and sifting, our job as Believers is to fan the flame in each other, doing everything to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
(7/9) THE SOWER AND THE SEED: THE THRESHING
“After it was tied into sheaves, the grain was hauled to the threshing floor. Threshing separated the stems from the kernels of grain. The oldest method was to beat the stalks with a flail (a long, flexible stick). Another way to thresh was to use oxen pulling a wooden threshing sledge over the grain. The oxen’s hooves also helped separate the kernels of grain from the stalks.” - Excerpt from The Farmer in Bible Times | The Way Magazine
Mark 4:16-19
"And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful."
God uses the obstacles of this world to identify His true disciples. This is why Scripture often encourages us to press on, promising a crown of life to those who overcome (Philippians 3:14 & Revelation 2:7).
(8/9) THE SOWER AND THE SEED: THE WINNOWING
“After threshing, winnowing was done. Winnowing does a more precise job of separating the wheat from the chaff. The chaff is useless and would be burned. The farmer usually waited for a nice evening breeze, and the mixture of wheat and chaff was thrown into the wind on the threshing floor with a wooden fork and a spade, or winnowing shovel. The grain would fall to the ground, and the wind would carry the chaff away.” - Excerpt from The Farmer in Bible Times | The Way Magazine
Check out this similitude in Luke 3:16-17:
"John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable."
(9/9) THE SOWER AND THE SEED: THE SIFTING
“Some farmers went even further and used a sieve to filter the grain to be sure it was pure. This was a final step in processing the grain. The farmer then stored most of his grain.” - Excerpt from The Farmer in Bible Times | The Way Magazine
John 15:1-6 says:
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned."
As God does the threshing, winnowing and sifting, our job as Believers is to fan the flame in each other, doing everything to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
(7/9) THE SOWER AND THE SEED: THE THRESHING
“After it was tied into sheaves, the grain was hauled to the threshing floor. Threshing separated the stems from the kernels of grain. The oldest method was to beat the stalks with a flail (a long, flexible stick). Another way to thresh was to use oxen pulling a wooden threshing sledge over the grain. The oxen’s hooves also helped separate the kernels of grain from the stalks.” - Excerpt from The Farmer in Bible Times | The Way Magazine
Mark 4:16-19
"And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful."
God uses the obstacles of this world to identify His true disciples. This is why Scripture often encourages us to press on, promising a crown of life to those who overcome (Philippians 3:14 & Revelation 2:7).
(8/9) THE SOWER AND THE SEED: THE WINNOWING
“After threshing, winnowing was done. Winnowing does a more precise job of separating the wheat from the chaff. The chaff is useless and would be burned. The farmer usually waited for a nice evening breeze, and the mixture of wheat and chaff was thrown into the wind on the threshing floor with a wooden fork and a spade, or winnowing shovel. The grain would fall to the ground, and the wind would carry the chaff away.” - Excerpt from The Farmer in Bible Times | The Way Magazine
Check out this similitude in Luke 3:16-17:
"John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable."
(9/9) THE SOWER AND THE SEED: THE SIFTING
“Some farmers went even further and used a sieve to filter the grain to be sure it was pure. This was a final step in processing the grain. The farmer then stored most of his grain.” - Excerpt from The Farmer in Bible Times | The Way Magazine
John 15:1-6 says:
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned."
One of the biggest lessons that I have learnt while conducting the Bible Study “The Sower & The Seed” is this:
The principles of the Kingdom of God are the same as farming in Bible days. We now live in a world of automation, mechanisation and instant gratification but that is not how it works in the Spirit. We are fishers of men. Labourers for God, helping Him to reconcile the world back to Himself. God is patient toward us. God is longsuffering toward us. And if we reflect on our own lives, how much time of careful plowing, softening, sowing and hoeing happened in our spiritual lives before we eventually accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour? As we meditate on this Kingdom principle, may the Holy Spirit renew our minds daily and fill us with the fruit of the Spirit so we may labor well.
- END OF BIBLE STUDY -