SEEDS – God’s Secret Design for Us

In John12:24 it reads: “Very truly I tell you, that unless a grain of wheat that falls to the ground dies, it stays just a grain; but if it dies, it produces a big harvest.”

Easter is celebrated this month. One of many important lessons can be learned from this celebration. This year, our church is focusing on ‘Expansion and Overflow’. A major part of that is following the Holy Spirit. However, there is another very important truth we need to adhere to. That is to produce a big harvest, which we all want, the seed NEEDS TO DIE. Jesus is also referencing His death with this verse, The disciples, The Jews, The Roman Empire, The World, the devil and his demons thought that when Jesus died on the cross, everything was OVER. They had won and Jesus had lost. Even though Jesus told His disciples and many others that He would rise again, not many actually believed Him at this time.

Darkness covered the earth; the darkness of sin, death and being buried. However, this was NOT THE END. Let’s go back to the seeds that God had created. Deep within the seeds God had written their DNA and foretold what would happen to Jesus. Seeds are planted in the ground or the soil. They ‘Die.’ This is not the final part of the whole process, but just the beginning. Next, the seed ‘Germinates,’ bringing forth ‘Life.’ The harvest is grown and reaped. The seeds journey is Death and burial to Life to Harvest. Jesus also followed this pattern. Jesus died on the cross, was buried in the tomb and three days later rose from the dead. God had given us clues even in the simple seed. The process of getting a massive harvest is to die first, buried and then life breaks forth with the bountiful harvest. Someone said that if you are in darkness, maybe it is not the grave but that you have been ‘planted’ in preparation to produce a Harvest in you and through you.

Many Christians want the ‘Resurrection Power of God,’ but are not willing to experience the death that needs to happen before the resurrection life and the harvest. God’s design for the humble seed is exactly the same for us. Death, Burial, Life Breaks forth and finally the Harvest. We are wanting ‘Expansion and Overflow,’ we too need to be like the seed. Death first, then Life, then the Expansion and Overflow. There are no short cuts.

Easter is the time we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, BUT the resurrection is proceeded by Jesus’ death. Luke 20:36 clearly states that: “We are children of the resurrection,” but coupled with this, Jesus goes on (in Matthew 16:24) to command us to ‘Daily take up our cross.’ We need to die to our self, our rebellion, our pride and everything else that sets itself before God or opposes God. This is a daily process so that we can walk in God’s Resurrection Power. Just as for the seed it is God who germinates it and produces life, so too it is God who by the Holy Spirit gives resurrection life to us.

So, as we continue in this year of ‘Expansion and Overflow,’ let us not forget the lesson and the process of the seeds. Before the resurrection power and the harvest, we, individually and maybe even as a whole church, need to die to ourselves. Then and only then will we see the Holy Spirit breaking out in full power through us.

By - Pastor Kevin Hill.