In a small village, Farmer Samuel and Gardener Lily cherished the value of seeds and their ability to sprout new life. Each season, they carefully selected and stored the best seeds, planting them in spring. Their gardens flourished, yielding bountiful harvest. Afterward, they repeated the cycle, maintaining the tradition of planting, harvesting, and storing in a continuous, fruitful loop. Many of us who have done gardening would have experienced this in their life as well.
Jesus explains the Gardener experience of Wheat Kernel in John 12 where Jesus had a discussion with disciples.
John 12:24-26 'Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.'
Jesus used the example of a seed to show that there can be no glory without suffering, no fruitful life without death, and no victory without surrender.
A Seed by itself is weak and useless; But when it is planted, it "dies" and becomes fruitful. Then those fruits produce many seeds.
If a seed could talk, it would no doubt complain about being put into the cold, dark earth. But the only way it can achieve its goal is by being planted.
God created all the human beings to be a seed in this world to full fill his works. Many are being put to the world in dark closet not being used.
Anyone who has faith in Christ, follows scripture, and obeys His word is a child of God. Some of God's children are chosen to be seeds.
God's children are like seeds. We are small and insignificant, but each of God’s children have a life in them that’s God's life.
However, that life can never be fulfilled unless we yield ourselves to God and permit him to "plant us."
When we say we must die to self its not committing suicide, We must die to our selfish desires so that we may live unto God.
1st Step is to surrender the Self desires / self goals to God as described in Romans 12:1, We no longer keep Self first, Its God’s plan supersedes our Self - Romans 12:1 'Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. '
2nd Step we experience the Christ power in us - Galatians 2:20 'I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. '
Christianity is primarily a personal relationship with God! The goal is relational: His presence, His fellowship! We were created for fellowship with God, that’s why he created us in his image Genesis 1:27 'So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. '
Salvation is the restoration of the broken fellowship of the Garden of Eden. John 12 emphasises that this fellowship is restored now to us. John 12:24-25 'Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life
The only way to have a fruitful life is to follow Jesus Christ in death, burial, and resurrection. In these words, Jesus challenges us today to surrender our lives to Him.
John 12 :25 “while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life” - We are called to hate our life not in the sense that we disregard it, but in the sense that we freely give it up for God.
Note the contrasts the seeds that do not produce. Like the hybrid seeds which is not potent.
loneliness or fruitfulness;
losing your life or keeping your life;
serving self or serving Christ;
pleasing self or receiving God's honour.
Paul’s life example of Seed and fruits
Paul’s self- Centred life
PAUL’S LIFE BEFORE HIS CONVERSION
Galatians 1:13-14 'For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. '
“For you heard of my previous life in Judaism.”
Before his conversion to Christ, Paul was a Pharisee and wholeheartedly committed to the Jewish religion.
The Jews added many man-made traditions , complicating the Old Testament teachings. As a result, the once vibrant supernatural Jewish religion of the Old Testament became corrupted and lifeless due to excessive ritualism.
In Paul’s time, Judaism had shifted to basing salvation on good works.
“How intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.”
Paul had such zeal for Judaism that he persecuted Christians in the name of God, being fully persuaded he was doing God’s will. He went from house to house in Jerusalem, seizing any Christians he could find, dragging them to prison (Acts 8:3 “But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.”).
Paul even voted for the death of Christians (Acts 26:10 “And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.”). He was determined to destroy the church and wipe it off from the face of the earth.
Paul, in his pre-conversion days, could not have received his gospel from the church because he was persecuting it.
Paul was too deeply influenced by Jewish traditions to consider changing his mind about Christianity. Only God could reach him—and God did! When Paul accepted Christ and given his appointment of apostle, he broke completely with all his Jewish background, traditions and religion. When he made this break, it cost him everything in the Hebrew culture: fame, power, influence, wealth. Acts 9:1,3-6,8 'Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. '
PAUL’S LIFE AFTER BEING BROKEN
God’s breaking of Paul - Scales dropped from his eyes.
Acts 9:17-19 'Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. '
After God touched him, he was blind for 3 days and God directs Ananias to place his hand on Saul to be converted from Saul of Taurus to Paul, when his scales of his eyes fall off.
Immediately he got up and got baptised, this symbolises his old life gone and new life in christ coming in. We read “he regained his strength” it represents the physical and spiritual strength from God.
In the letter to Galatians he records this experience of transformation by Grace. He was fore chosen by God even at his mothers womb. Galatians 1:15-16 'But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. '
God's actions towards Paul are connected to His eternal plan, which humans cannot fully comprehend. It was God, in His wisdom and pleasure, who intervened in Paul's life, despite his Jewish upbringing, education, zeal, and blindness to Christ.
God’s training school for Paul - Early 3yrs. Journey before he was called to God’s work.
Galatians 1:17-22 'I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. '
Paul gives a brief history of his first 14 years of ministry after his conversion to show that this was impossible.
Paul needed to correct his misconceptions, so God placed him in solitary confinement for three years. Arabia, largely desert, held significance as the place where God revealed Himself to Moses and where Elijah experienced God's grace and power. Paul chose this region for meditation and prayer.
In this three years of solitude, Paul was learning the gospel of grace from Christ. In this time of seclusion, he meditated on the Old Testament scriptures, on the life and death of Christ and on the experiences of his conversion. He was forming a new theology, for all his learning of the past about works had been shattered by his new discovery of grace. He had been steeped in law, legalism and good works for salvation and it took teaching by Christ Himself to change his mind.
Before any Christian can have an effective ministry, he must spend time learning the gospel of grace. For us its with Bible and Prayer with Lord we can understand the grace.
Grace is the key to really understanding and appreciating salvation and is the great motivator for service for Christ.
If God took three years to teach Paul about the doctrines of grace, how can we, as new converts, rush into roles like elders, deacons, preachers, or teachers? Effectively serving God requires time. Being an instrument of grace is akin to God planting us as seeds in the calling He has for us.
After three years, Paul finally went to Jerusalem, but his stay was only for fifteen days and he saw only two of the apostles.
Paul’s ministry for the first fourteen years was not very significant in the eyes of men, but God was using these years to train and teach this man many things about grace and life. Paul’s main ministry came when he was about 45 years old, and he would be used mightily because God had taught him much in the school of hard knocks.
Paul Summarises his ministry experience
He boasts his weakness to have the glory of Christ overcome them
2 Corinthians 11:23-28 'Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. '
He has been in prison more often than any of the apostles - Flogged many times by Roman Guards
He has been beaten by rods / Pelted with Sones
Three times the ship he sailed got ship recked - He spent one night in sea.
He lived in constant danger around him (bandits / jews / Gentiles / city / country / rivers / sea / false believers)
He has gone without food for many days and been hungry
In all this his suffering after Christ planned him to his work, he rejoices and says this experience
2 Corinthians 6:7-10 'in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. '
From the outside worldly people may speak of his suffering, but in real sense he was worshiping and enjoying the fellowship with Christ in his ministry as he walked every step of his ministry by God’s Holy Spirit’s guidance.
He had his works of righteousness of God his right hand and left hand
through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report
genuine, yet regarded as impostors
known, yet regarded as unknown
dying, and yet we live on
beaten, and yet not killed
sorrowful, yet always rejoicing
poor, yet making many rich
having nothing, and yet possessing everything
Our experience of Christ's breaking will be similar. Paul has been a powerful example of hope, showing us what it means to be truly broken. God might use you or me as another Paul, but only if we are willing to be broken.
Lesson to us
Humble and ask God to break yourself and surrender ,so that the seeds of us are put to death and seeds of Life of Christ that is planted in us will Grow.
The seeds will not start germinate and become a big plant day 1, wait for the Lord, use that time for meditation and prayer like how Paul spent time of his early 3 yrs.
The plant, when it comes will offer some pain, like how a baby coming out of mother has a pain, so we will experience some struggles / sacrifices etc..
The plant, once it produces the fruit, it will germinate to produce 10 to 100 more plants that the father may have desired by your work. So yield to him
Don’t question the planter why you are planned in RED Soil vs CLAY soil vs SANDY Soil, its the planters choice to plant us in the right place. We may be called to do small work in church or even in a parking lot work at church or even a rest room cleaning.. But his plans are way different than what we see.
Do not lament or complain as the plant grows, learn to be like Paul. Say it with Christ’s confidence - 2 Corinthians 6:9-10 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
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