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Mark 4:26-29  And He said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 27  and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. 28  For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. 29  But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come."

THE SIX STEPS OF SOWING TO REAPING

Many of Jesus’ parables had to do with farming. Matthew 13:24  Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; Matthew 13:3  Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow. Mat 13:3, 24 Mark 12:1  Then He began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Luke 13:6  He also spoke this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Tonight we are going to look at six steps of sowing to reaping.

I. PLOW IN HOPE The reason for plowing is the hope of a harvest. 1 Corinthians 9:1-14  Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2  If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3  My defense to those who examine me is this: 4  Do we have no right to eat and drink? 5  Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? 6  Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? 7  Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? 8  Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? >>>

I. PLOW IN HOPE 9  For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10  Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11  If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 2 Timothy 2:6  The hard-working farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Romans 8:24-25  For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25  But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

II. SOW IN FAITH Faith sees a flower in a bulb, a giant oak in an acorn. Psalm 107:36-37  There He makes the hungry dwell, That they may establish a city for a dwelling place, 37  And sow fields and plant vineyards, That they may yield a fruitful harvest. Ecclesiastes 11:4  He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards the clouds will not reap.

III. WORK IN DILIGENCE Farming is hard work and is not for the lazy. Genesis 3:17-19  Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. 18  Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. 19  In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return." 2 Timothy 2:6  The hard-working farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Ecclesiastes 11:6  In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening do not withhold your hand; For you do not know which will prosper, Either this or that, Or whether both alike will be good.

IV. GUARD IN VIGILANCE Look out for weeds, animals, etc. Matthew 13:24-30  Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25  but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26  But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27  So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' 28  He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' 29  But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30  Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.' "

V. WAIT IN PATIENCE James 5:7-11  Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8  You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9  Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10  My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11  Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

V. WAIT IN PATIENCE Galatians 6:7-10  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9  And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

VI. REAP IN JOY Psalm 126:5-6  Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. 6  He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him. Genesis 3:17-19  Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. 18  Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. 19  In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return."

SOWING AND REAPING? Jesus was not really giving lessons on farming. He was talking about Christian living. Galatians 6:7-10  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9  And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Ecclesiastes 11:6 In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening do not withhold your hand; For you do not know which will prosper, Either this or that, Or whether both alike will be good.

SOWING AND REAPING? WE PREPARE THE SOIL FOR PLANTING – develop relationships – I don’t care what you know until I know that you care. WE SOW IN FAITH THAT GOD’S WORD WILL GROW WHEN WE PLANT IT - Isaiah 55:10-11  "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, 11  So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. WE WORK DILIGENTLY, WATERING, TILLING AND FERTILIZING THE SEED WE PLANTED – continue teaching and encouraging.

SOWING AND REAPING? WE GUARD VIGILANTLY TO KEEP SATAN FROM PULLING THEM BACK - Mark 4:15  And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. WE WAIT PATIENTLY FOR GOD TO DO HIS WORK - 1 Corinthians 3:6-8  I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7  So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8  Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

SOWING AND REAPING? WE WILL REAP IN JOY - 1 Corinthians 3:12-15  Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13  each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14  If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15  If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

HAVE A FRUITFUL WEEK