A Harvest of Epic Proportions: Prepare the soil!
“We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”
Acts 4:20
This morning I flipped open an old notebook and saw something that I’d scratched down possibly years ago. I knew the Lord was speaking because there is no such thing as chance when we serve a Sovereign King.
In bright red ink I scribbled these words:
“It’s not our job to determine harvest. If you’re a leader, you’re a seed. SOIL should be our focus, not harvest.”
It all came together because just last night I dreamed of a HUMONGOUS SEED embedded inside a slice of bread!!!
My friends, I have tears running down my face because the Lord woke me up at 4:20 a.m. with this dream. I went to search for scripture with that same number.
LOOK AT THIS…
Mark 4:20 — “Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”
When the Lord pieces lessons together, I can’t help but cry at His goodness! He’s such a good Father who loves to teach us when we yield to His voice. Today we must grasp the importance of soil.
WHAT IS GOOD SOIL?
Simply put, anywhere the Lord plants you. The hidden enemy of your purpose is failure to discern the soil.
Every atmosphere that’s right for you will promote:
-Creativity, excitement, peace, assurance, steadfastness, relentless resolve, and usual grace to fulfill a certain purpose.
Remember, in my dream, one giant seed was embedded inside the fresh slice of bread.
Jesus is the Seed.
Galatians 3:16, NIV — “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.”
Fresh bread = Bread of Life; Word of God; Source of Nourishment; God’s provision.
The Seed of Christ is implanted within your heart when you accept Jesus as your Savior. The Seed inside you grows as you seek the Living Word (bread) each day. God then has you plant that Seed into atmospheres with good soil. Those who “hear the word,” accept it, and then produce a crop “some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”
We must constantly go back to the Source, Jesus Christ, to provide constant growth and nourishment. “Give us this day, our daily bread…”
You carry the giant Seed of the Lord to nourish others wherever you are planted.
You are called to create a climate and set the tone wherever you enter. Stand firm and do not allow the soil to define you and remain centered inside the heart of Jesus Christ. You are a Climate Changer and everything and everyone must adjust to the Spirit of God beating inside you.
WHAT IS BAD SOIL?
Bad soil = will trigger anxiety and uneasiness, there will be no growth, will trigger old wounds, you’ll face unusual resistance that you’ll even sometimes feel inside your body. Your spirit just knows that’s bad soil. There will be absolutely no growth and you’ll think “I want to be anywhere but here.” God’s hand just won’t be there. Everything in that environment will feel dead.
Bad soil = the whole ministry will be shrouded in manipulation for money (2 Corinthians 11). The gospel of Jesus Christ comes free of charge. It’s definitely Biblical to support ministries; however, be mindful of anyone who expects payment to deliver any word of Christ.
Bad soil = Church or ministry that only focuses on the law or the spirit of religion. There must be a combination of Spirit and Truth. The Holy Spirit must be taught and moving, alive and beating and speaking into the now. Wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!
Galatians 5:1 — “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
Bad soil = people who don’t respect your healthy boundaries. They only see the old version of you and not the new life that God has recreated. Your spirit will just feel unsettled around them.
Good soil in one season can become bad soil for you when the season has changed. We can only know what’s alive and the right soil for us by constantly going back to the Source and getting our daily Bread.
Bad soil = will promote self-life.
Galatians 5:19-20 TPT: The behavior of the self-life is obvious:
Sexual immorality,
lustful thoughts,
pornography,
chasing after things instead of God,
manipulating others,
hatred of those who get in your way,
senseless arguments,
resentment when others are favored,
temper tantrums, angry quarrels,
only thinking of yourself, being in love with your own opinions,
being envious of the blessings of others,
murder, uncontrolled addictions, wild parties, and all other similar behavior.
Why is sexual immorality, lustful thoughts and pornography listed first? Because those have to do with SEED ISSUES. The enemy is not after you, he’s after your SEED. He will do everything possible to prevent two faith-filled, God-loving people from coming together. We all have fallen short of the glory of God, so if anything, the Lord is waking us up today to remember why we have to get everything in this list under control. That freedom can only come in Jesus Christ. He’s the Chain-breaker.
Remember, Jesus came from a bloodline with lots of sexual immorality and He was the greatest Son to ever live. So, God can and does reverse bloodlines. He is a God of Redemption.
You might be the very person chosen to rewrite the story of your family.
Galatians 5:16-18 MSG:
My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness.
These two ways of life are contrary to each other, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?
GOOD SOIL PRODUCES A GREAT HARVEST — BUT THE SEED OF JESUS CHRIST MUST BE THE FOCUS!
Galatians 5:22-23 TPT:
But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions:
joy that overflows,
peace that subdues,
patience that endures,
kindness in action,
a life full of virtue,
faith that prevails,
gentleness of heart, and
strength of spirit.
“Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.”
Good soil = The Lord gives abundant grace there. The soil is alive and moving, the Word of God will continue to speak right into the now. There will be an ease there, things will just grow and move and flourish. You will realize that it’s not you, but the Spirit of God moving in that soil.
Good soil = You have a teachable spirit. You understand that we will never know everything about Christ in this lifetime, so we constantly seek the Teacher to learn more.
Good soil will make you feel fed. You will also feed others because of what Jesus constantly feeds your soul. There is a lightness and freedom there. We will certainly endure trials and sufferings in this lifetime, but good soil will help you still understand God’s power through the pain.
WORDS INSPIRED BY CHRIST
As the Seed of Christ buries and forms deep roots within your soul, the harvest ignites anywhere you go. Those who take hold of the Word of God and accept the message of Christ can then produce a harvest for others to come to know the Lord. The harvest is about PEOPLE. The harvest is about making disciples of all nations. The harvest is about spreading the love and hope of Jesus Christ across all the world.
The Lord is living and breathing. He is life-giving. He is life-changing. He transforms. He makes all things new. Jesus makes us want to surrender everything to passionately chase after His perfect will. He makes us want to discover more about Him by getting our daily Bread found in the Word. We surrender to our own plans and yield to the Spirit of God.
WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS THERE IS FREEDOM!
Galatians 5:25-26 —
If the Spirit is the source of our life, we must also allow the Spirit to direct every aspect of our lives. So may we never be arrogant, or look down on another, for each of us is an original. We must forsake all jealousy that diminishes the value of others.
Good soil = we carry each other’s burdens when called to those people and those places. We stay low so that God can go high. We don’t exalt ourselves and only boast of our weaknesses. We seek only the commendation of Christ and not others. We cheer and celebrate the unique callings of others because we know God gives gifts to everyone to fulfill a greater purpose. We are one body of Christ with a loving Father who pours into each of us to help the others.
WE HARVEST WHAT WE PLANT
God will never be mocked! For what you plant will always be the very thing you harvest.
The harvest you reap reveals the seed that you planted. If you plant the corrupt seeds of self-life into this natural realm, you can expect a harvest of corruption. If you plant the good seeds of Spirit-life you will reap beautiful fruits that grow from the everlasting life of the Spirit.
And don’t allow yourselves to be weary in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming! Take advantage of every opportunity to be a blessing to others, especially to our brothers and sisters in the family of faith!
May my only boast be found in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Love, Paul
Penned in Galatians 6 (TPT 7-10, 14)
A STORY OF HOPE
In the early 80s, a woman was faced with an untimely death. She was only 53 years old and realized that her life was coming to an end. Her journey had been one of many ups and downs. Her mother abandoned the family during the Great Depression. Her earthly father loved her dearly, but he couldn't afford to raise his kids, so the woman was dropped off at a Christian orphanage.
All the kids had jobs there. Everyday the little girl got up to make bread for the others. It was there at the orphanage that Jesus was planted in her soul.
As she made bread for others, the Breadmaker built her life in Him.
The woman later got married and had four children. She lost her husband at a young age, but she trusted God through it all.
Then one day, her granddaughter was born.
The woman knew she only had a few short years with the young child, so she planted the seed of Jesus inside her. She loved the girl and poured into her and took her to church every weekend.
Even when the woman was dying of cancer and sick, she still proclaimed the love of Christ to the little girl.
That child was me.
All the seeds that my late grandmother poured inside me for just a few short years continue to water the earth. My Nana’s life had magnificent purpose and so does yours.
When you plant the seed of Christ into others, in the right soil, it will take hold. The fruit of the bloom will reap a harvest of epic proportions and all glory will belong to Jesus Christ.
Keep planting, beloved friends. In due time, you will reap a harvest.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” — Col. 3:23-24.
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-14
You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for my Nana and all the spiritual leaders who went before us. Thank you for giving us Your Son who came into the world so that we could all be granted freedom! Thank you for allowing us to be Your children. It is the greatest honor of our lifetime.
Father, help us to continue to plant the Seed of your Son into the lives of children and those we are called to teach, minister and serve. Help us to grab hold of Your Seed and plant wherever we go!
We know the workers are few, so send us into the harvest fields, Oh Lord! We know the time is ripe! We can’t wait to pour Your Spirit into new atmospheres! Give us abundant grace and purpose to fulfill the mission You have set forth for each one of us. Lord, we know you don’t want perfect people, but only those who are yielded to Your Spirit! Help us to become more like You. We are like small children anticipating Your voice every single moment of the day! We love you so much, Jesus!
