The Sower & The Seed

[servantconsultant]

Shalom! Recently I conducted a Bible Study on Mark 4:1-20. Using "The Farmer in Bible Times" by The Way Magazine as a guide, the Holy Spirit revealed the powerful work of evangelism, salvation and sanctification.

I look forward to sharing my findings with you and discussing your thoughts!

 

[servantconsultant]

(1/9) THE SOWER AND THE SEED: THE PLOWING

"The growing of grain involved plowing the ground to prepare for sowing the seed. Often the plowing and sowing were combined as one operation. The plow was made of two wooden beams, jointed T-fashion, and was usually pulled by two oxen. At times the plowing was done by village farmers as a team. Each farmer used his own equipment and oxen, and they plowed all the fields of the village." - Excerpt from The Farmer in Bible Times | The Way Magazine

As labourers for God, working with God to reconcile the world back to Himself, let us consider our plow.

Today, may we pray:

➡ to do the work of an evangelist (2 Timothy 4:5) and desire to spread the gospel

➡ for unity in the body of Christ (John 17:21); that we would work collectively to spread the gospel (Mark 6:7)

➡ to not despise our testimonies (Revelation 12:11) but truly understand that all of our unique experiences will help us to sow the Word of God into the hearts of unbelievers (John 4:28-29)

➡ to be a surrendered servant (Philippians 2:5-11); bearing much fruit and demonstrating it in our daily lives (John 15:5)

 

[Magenta]

Matthew 13:44

 

[servantconsultant]

Matthew 13:44

Love this!

 

[FollowerofShiloh]

Shalom!
Looking forward to your thoughts.
After this I hope you discuss the 3 Harvest Seasons.

 

[Magenta]

Love this!

Thank you!

Matthew 11:28-30

 

[servantconsultant]

Shalom!
Looking forward to your thoughts.
After this I hope you discuss the 3 Harvest Seasons.

Very interesting! I'll definitely give it some prayer and see where God leads! Thanks for sharing

 

[servantconsultant]

(2/9) THE SOWER AND THE SEED: THE SOFTENING

"Producing grain began in October or November, when the autumn rains had softened the soil." - Excerpt from The Farmer in Bible Times | The Way Magazine

2 Peter 3:9 says:
"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

As God's labourers, we must always remember that God loved us before we could love Him or each other. It is HIS greatest desire for as many as possible to be saved. Therefore, we do not work "for" God but "with" God helping Him to reconcile the world back to Himself.

Today, may we pray:
➡ that God would soften the hearts of the unsaved and prepare their hearts to receive His word so that the seeds which we sow may be on good soil and produce a harvest (Mark 4:8)

➡ that every follower of Jesus would be filled with the Holy Spirit and learn to hear, discern and obey God’s voice, believing that God will always position us in the right place and send us to the right people in order to sow His seed (John 10:27)

➡ that as we listen to the Holy Spirit, being slow to speak and quick to listen, God would give us the right words to say in each moment (Matthew 10:19)

 

[Stan_the_Man]

Mark 4:13-20
And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
The sower soweth the word.
And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
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.
And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

 

[servantconsultant]

Mark 4:13-20
And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
The sower soweth the word.
And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
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.
And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

Thanks for sharing! As I continue to unpack the Bible Study, I will cover this scripture as well

 

[Stan_the_Man]

That's Jesus' classic teaching on sowing and reaping that shows us the 5 things the devil uses to choke the Word of God out of believers IF the believer allows these 5 things to enter in:

Persecution, affliction, cares of this world, lusts of other things, and deceitfulness of riches

 

[MarcoftheTruth]

View attachment 261717

Shalom! Recently I conducted a Bible Study on Mark 4:1-20. Using "The Farmer in Bible Times" by The Way Magazine as a guide, the Holy Spirit revealed the powerful work of evangelism, salvation and sanctification.

I look forward to sharing my findings with you and discussing your thoughts!

37He replied, “The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Matthew 13:37-39

 

[servantconsultant]

(3/9) THE SOWER AND THE SEED: THE SOWING

"After planting the seed by scattering it by hand, the farmer went over the field again with his plough, or he dragged branches across it. This helped to bury the seed and protect it from birds or strong winds." - Excerpt from The Farmer in Bible Times | The Way Magazine

Lessons:
➡ Jude 1:22 - When we sow to an unbeliever who has never accepted the gospel, it should be done in a merciful way; even though it may take an extended period of time

➡ Jude 1:23 - For those who have left the fold, witness to them with trembling concern for their souls and reverence to God - being sure to cement the important points in hope of saving them out of fire. With divine wisdom from the Holy Spirit, we must be able to decipher those who wandered from the fold vs those who truly never accepted Jesus as Lord of their lives. This allows us to deal with each person accordingly (Hebrews 6:4-6)

➡ As the farmer went over the field again with his plough, it’s important to try and establish a connection with unbeliever(s) so that we may follow up and become a friend to the lost. Followers must also remember that we work collectively, so God may begin the work with one person and continue with others (1 Corinthians 3:6)

 

[servantconsultant]

(4/9) THE SOWER AND THE SEED: THE HOEING

"The farmer hoed his fields from December until February to keep the weeds down." - Excerpt from The Farmer in Bible Times | The Way Magazine

Lessons:
➡ Mark 4:18-19 - During this time, Christians must constantly pray that the seed in the unsaved would take root and produce a harvest instead of being choked by weeds.

➡ 2 Peter 3:9 - Longsuffering ALWAYS leads to salvation. God is longsuffering toward us therefore so must we be toward others. In this world of instant gratification, we need patience; a lot of it. Let us pray for what we need to serve everyone God sends our way.

 

[Stan_the_Man]

Here's how they do it today:

 

[servantconsultant]

Here's how they do it today:

View attachment 261843

Yes, this is true. And when we examine the two methods, we can see that although one requires more manual labour, it is more careful and intentional. The same process should be applied when we deal with evangelism. Nowadays, we tend to use a heavy-machine methodology when spreading the gospel, when Jesus took a more careful and intentional approach.

Lots of food for thought. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Obedience]

Thanks for sharing.
Simply put, sowing requires the right method.It's like preaching the gospel,The correct way will be accepted by all .

 

[Stan_the_Man]

The correct way will be accepted by all .

That's not what Jesus said.

He said most people will end up in hell.

Matthew 7:13,14
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

 

[Obedience]

That's not what Jesus said.

He said most people will end up in hell.

Matthew 7:13,14
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

One out of 100 folks is missing that 99 is also few.
Those who claim that most people cannot be saved,Is the road they are looking for is narrow?
Everyone who has read the Bible knows that floks deserve to die.Anyone who hasn't read the Bible knows that.What's the difference between what you said?

 

[servantconsultant]

(5/9) THE SOWER AND THE SEED: THE HARVESTING

"When the grain was ready for harvest, or reaping, the workers would grab a handful of stalks and cut them with a sickle. The stalks were then tied in sheaves. This was done until the whole field was cut down. A lot of workers were needed to do this kind of work." - Excerpt from The Farmer in Bible Times | The Way Magazine

There is much harvesting to do but so few willing to do the work. May we pray to the Lord of the harvest that as He sends forth labourers into His harvest field, He will also send us to those souls that are ready to receive salvation (Acts 8:26-39).

Then, may we pray that those who receive Christ would be led to a Godly congregation and be pastored (Genesis 29:7, John 4:10).

And may we pray that Godly churches around the world would pastor and disciple their congregations; learning from the early church in the Book of Acts.