Summary: God rarely gives a finished product. God gives us a handful of seeds and says: GROW IT.

GOD GIVES IN THE SEED FORM!

HE IS STILL WORKING ON ME!

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

INTRODUCTION:

The largest seed known in the world is the COCO-DE-MER.

It can weigh up to 60 pounds.

The smallest seed in the world is that of an orchid.

Several orchid seeds can rest on a speck of dust.

TEXT:

1 Cor. 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

Psalm 126:5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

I. WE LOVE FINISHED PRODUCTS!

THIS IS COMPLETE, WHOLE, FINISHED, IT IS DONE.

A. We know many things in the Bible are types or symbols.

1. The Dove, Wind represents the Holy Spirit.

2. The Mantle represents God’s anointing.

3. Leprosy illustrates sin.

4. Light brings cleanliness.

5. Egypt is a type of bondage.

B. THE SEED IS A GREAT TYPE IN THE BIBLE.

The seed is a type of hope, renewal, a source of development.

The seed contains a plan of God.

As a sparks to the fire.

C. THE SEED OF NEEDLESS WORRY CAN HINDER OUR FINISHING:

Mark 16:3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher?

D. THE STONE WAS NOT ROLLED AWAY FOR THE BENEFIT OF JESUS.

We know that Jesus walked through locked doors and walls. The stone was rolled away for our benefit, that we might see the EMPTY TOMB.

Matthew 28: 6 COME SEE THE PLACE WHERE THE LORD LAY.

II. HIDDEN MESSAGES LEFT FOR THOSE THAT KNOW!

A. Hobo’s used to ride trains and jump off the train to eat food. If there was a house along the tracks where the lady of the house was kind and would feed them, the HOBO WOULD LEAVE A MARK IN THE DUST ON

THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE.

This would identify to the next HOBO that came, in this house are people that will feed you.

B. JOHN AND PETER RAN AHEAD TO SEE WHAT THE WOMEN HAD TALKED ABOUT.

They looked in the door to the empty tomb, and Jesus left a note for them, many will not understand this note, but those that were in the know knew!

John 20:5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulcher, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

C. THE FOLDED LINEN CLOTH ON THE POLIHED PIECE OF FURNITURE WAS A NOTICE TO ALL THAT THIS WOOD WORK WAS FINISHED.

It was ready for sale when the carpenter lay a clean piece of folded linen material on the top of the piece.

D. This linen cloth wrapped and placed by itself identified JESUS WAS FINISIHED.

III. BUT WHEN IT IS GROWN? NO! NO! NO! GOD SELDOM GIVES FINISHED PRODUCTS. I CAN’T WAIT, I CAN’T GROW IT.

I SEE GOD’S WORK, GOD I WILL BUILD THE ARK TO SAVE THE LOST, WHERE ARE THE 2’ BY 6’S? WHERE ARE THE 2’ BY 4’S?

Matthew 13:31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:

32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air

come and lodge in the branches thereof.

A. GOD RARELY GIVES THE FINISHED PRODUCT:

B. A lump of carbon is coal, under great pressure and heat, it makes a DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH.

C. The rough diamond is laying in the cold damp ground, his heart KNOWS THERE IS MORE.

One day a man walks near and takes his pick and knocks around the rough diamond. The diamond sees the sunlight for the first time.

D. Hip, Hip, Hooray I knew there was more, said the rough diamond, all those years of pressure and heat have accomplished my purpose.

E. The little diamond goes back into the dark pocket of the man, and the little diamond said, IS THIS IT?

F. At the diamond sale the rough diamond went up on the stage of the auction block, NOW! FINALLY!

The highest bidder comes and picks up little diamond and puts it back into the darkness of a thick soft cloth bag, and into a briefcase. IS THIS IT, SAYS THE DIAMOND?

G. The diamond lays for weeks untouched.

One day Diamond hears some noise and he is poured out on a jeweler’s bench. The light was so bright.

Diamond knew: THIS IS IT!

H. Diamond started screaming, the grinder hurt. The magnifying glass seemed so cruel. The grinder worked, the polisher came.

The light seemed to MAKE THE PURPOSE clearer.

I. The diamond went back in a dark bag, and Diamond felt brand knew, but the darkness felt so bad after all all the bright light it had known, and now to be back in the dark.

J. One day the master came and hand picked little diamond and there was much heat, as the master placed Diamond in a new seat of gold.

WOW, SAID DIAMOND! I FEEL SO GOOD.

K. One day, the diamond laying in it’s bed of gold was sparkling under the light so pretty, and a young man came in and picked him out, and the young man purchased diamond and her ring.

L. A few days later the diamond heard the Preacher say:

WITH THIS RING I THEE WED IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER,

IN THE OF THE SON, AND IN THE NAME OF THE HOLY GHOST...

And diamond slid on to the left finger of the beautiful wife, AND DIAMOND KNEW ALL THE PRESSURE, ALL THE HEAT, ALL THE PAIN, ALL THE DARKNESS WAS FOR THIS MOMENT!

M. DIAMOND WOULD FOREVER BE A TOKEN OF LOVE IN THIS FAMILY, PASSED FROM ONE GENERATION TO ANOTHER.

IV. CAN WE ACCEPT THE PRIORITY VALUE OF SEEDS?

GOD SEES THE POTENTIAL AND VALUE OF THE SEED.

Matthew 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof

goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

A. Lord, I don’t want to sell, just give me ---

the selling represents establishing a VALUE SYSTEM OR PRIORITY LIST.

B. Lord, I need some power saws, a fork lift, nail gun, I need an experienced crew, and a clear set of blueprints.

C. GOD GAVE ME A HANDFUL OF ACORNS, I SAID BUT GOD AT LEAST GIVE ME A FORREST OF MIGHTY OAK TREES.

D. GOD SAYS ALL THE MIGHTY OAK IS --- A NUT THAT STOOD IT’S GROUND.

E. Please God you are not listening?

God says: SICKLY OAKS FROM SICKLY ACORN GROW.

F. I say: God how about a second opinion?

V. WE HAVE INSTRUCTIONS TO FINISH GOD’S WORK.

KJV

Col. 4:17 Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord."

NIV

Col. 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

LIVING

Col. 4:17 And say to Archippus, "Be sure that you do all the Lord has told you to."

A. We do not know who Archippus was, he is mentioned twice in the Bible.

B. Archipphus served as a helper, he is likened unto Hur. Hur was a man that lifted Moses arms.

C. We do not know what Archippus’ work was, we just know that God wanted him to FINISH HIS WORK FOR THE CROSS!

D. GOD RARELY GIVES FINISHED, POLISHED, MATURE, SMART WORK.

E. GOD SAYS: HERE, GROW, MATURE, ADAPT, CHANGE, LEARN, AND SET PRIORITIES.

VI. WHY SHOULD GOD GIVE YOU ANOTHER SONG TO SING, WHEN YOU DON’T SING THE SONG YOU HAVE?

A. To have Water --- dig a well --- there are few artesian wells.

B. Oil has to be drilled --- then refined.

C. Coal has to be mined.

D. A plane taxi’s down the runway before it flies.

E. A farmer has to plow, sow, weed, before the harvest.

F. The great athlete has to exercise, train, learn and fit in with the team.

G. The president was at one time a baby, toddler, and kid, etc. before he was elected as president.

VII. THE SEED MUST DIE BEFORE IT CAN LIVE.

John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

A. The seed is the beginning and the end of a plant.

B. A seed must go down in the cold, damp soil to grow up.

C. A good seed will develop a ROOT STRUCTURE.

D. A healthy seed has a tough outer coat to protect it through hard times.

E. A healthy seed has some stored food to sustain it until it grows.

2 Cor. 9:10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your

righteousness;

F. I love verse three of JUST AS I AM.

Just as I am, tho’ tossed about,

With many a conflict and many a doubt.

Fightings within, and fears without,

O lamb of God, I come, I come!

G. LOVE THE SEED, PLANT THE SEED...

1 Cor. 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

My hands are so little! Could you help me and pass this on to another?