Servant Consultant

One of the biggest lessons that I have learnt while conducting the Bible Study “The Sower & The Seed” is this: The principles of the Kingdom of God are the same as farming in Bible days. We now live in a world of automation, mechanisation and instant gratification but that is not how it works in the Spirit. We are fishers of men. Labourers for God, helping Him to reconcile the world back to Himself. God is patient toward us. God is longsuffering toward us. And if we reflect on our own lives, how much time of careful plowing, softening, sowing and hoeing happened in our spiritual lives before we eventually accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour? As we meditate on this Kingdom principle, may the Holy Spirit renew our minds daily and fill us with the fruit of the Spirit so we may labor well. - END OF BIBLE STUDY -

Oftentimes we think that upon receiving salvation, everything is completed; when really, we are just getting started. First, there is salvation. This is when we receive Jesus as our Lord (meaning, we allow Him to truly govern our lives) and Saviour (meaning, we understand that we cannot save ourselves). Then, there is sanctification. The remainder of our lives on this earth is spent in sifting, refining and purifying to ensure that when we are called home to glory, we are like pure grain. As God does the threshing, winnowing and sifting, our job as Believers is to fan the flame in each other, doing everything to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (7/9) THE SOWER AND THE SEED: THE THRESHING “After it was tied into sheaves, the grain was hauled to the threshing floor. Threshing separated the stems from the kernels of grain. The oldest method was to beat the stalks with a flail (a long, flexible stick). Another way to thresh was to use oxen pulling a wooden threshing sledge over the grain. The oxen’s hooves also helped separate the kernels of grain from the stalks.” - Excerpt from The Farmer in Bible Times | The Way Magazine Mark 4:16-19 "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." God uses the obstacles of this world to identify His true disciples. This is why Scripture often encourages us to press on, promising a crown of life to those who overcome (Philippians 3:14 & Revelation 2:7). (8/9) THE SOWER AND THE SEED: THE WINNOWING “After threshing, winnowing was done. Winnowing does a more precise job of separating the wheat from the chaff. The chaff is useless and would be burned. The farmer usually waited for a nice evening breeze, and the mixture of wheat and chaff was thrown into the wind on the threshing floor with a wooden fork and a spade, or winnowing shovel. The grain would fall to the ground, and the wind would carry the chaff away.” - Excerpt from The Farmer in Bible Times | The Way Magazine Check out this similitude in Luke 3:16-17: "John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable." (9/9) THE SOWER AND THE SEED: THE SIFTING “Some farmers went even further and used a sieve to filter the grain to be sure it was pure. This was a final step in processing the grain. The farmer then stored most of his grain.” - Excerpt from The Farmer in Bible Times | The Way Magazine John 15:1-6 says: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned."

(6/9) THE SOWER AND THE SEED: THE GLEANING “The grain that was not tied in sheaves was left for the widows and poor people who came to glean behind the reapers as they worked” - Excerpt from The Farmer in Bible Times | The Way Magazine In the same way, some persons will either not be invited into a formal congregation (for eg, those who are homeless) or may opt not to be in one. For them, we must pray that they grow in their relationship with God, they are discipled, and joined into fellowship with other Believers. Additionally, we must act by supporting the unchurched directly or by supporting those who serve them. How can we support them today?

(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.

(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.

(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)

(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)

(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)

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!