Transcription
We are persuaded to share this morning on the power of sacrificial seeds. The power of sacrificial seeds.
And we take our test from John chapter 3 verse 16. John chapter 3:1 16 new living translation. He said, "For this is how God loved the world. He gave his one and only son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
Easter is important because Christ came onto this world and sacrificed his life in order to bring the sal bring salvation to those who would believe in him. There were different reasons for which Christ came. But the primary and principal purpose for Jesus coming in human flesh to this earth. You see in John chapter 3 16-1 17 and also in Matthew chapter 1:21.
In Matthew chapter 1 verse 21, Matthew 1:21, King James version, it says, "And she will bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." And to save us from our sins implies three things. One, genuine salvation and connection to God. To save us from our sins also implies sanctification from all sorts of sin including besetting sin, secret sins, bad habits. To save us from our sins also includes giving us personal access to God's grace. And with the grace of God, we are able to resist and overcome any manner of sin in our journey here on earth.
Some key lessons that we must re uh take note of. The most valuable goals in life would sometimes require a great price to be paid. God has trillions of angels. Angels are in trillions in number. So God could have sent a multitude of angels including some archangels. But he did not because the goal that needed to be achieved was a unique one and the most appropriate sacrifice that will address it excellently yielding optimum results. Which was still witnessed to today with the salvation of souls across the globe on a daily basis was for Christ his only begotten son. His one and only son to come in human flesh be handed over to the hands of wicked men. Crucified not just through any dimension or kind of debt but through that very shameful kind of debt as death on the cross. He came, he paid that price, ultimate price, great price for us to be reconciled with God.
So that also applies even most of the time in the journey of men on the surface of the earth as some of the most valuable goals in life for them to be achieved it will require great sacrifice. In order for humanity to receive a great gift from God, a great sac sacrifice had to be offered. John 3:16, easy to read version. Yes. God loved the world so much that he gave his only son so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life. So the salvation of mankind was secured through a great sacrifice.
In the days preceding this message, the Holy Spirit emphasized on the power of a seed. And that talks of the potential of the seed. That a seed once it is planted has a capacity to reproduce itself in multitudes of dimensions. The power of the seed refers to its inherent potential to grow and reproduce. God sacrificed one son. And today in the kingdom of God here on earth, the same place Christ came to pay that sacrifice, we have over a billion sons and daughters that have been worn into the kingdom through that price that was paid.
The power of the seed refers to potential outcomes of the good deeds of humanity on the surface of the earth. It refers to the rewards that would also come for the good deeds that men will sow through their actions, their decisions, their choices. In this journey of life, the power of the seed implies that planting good seeds or good deeds leads to positive outcomes. Sometimes it is even guaranteed by God. The seed is seen as something that has a potential to grow and flourish. And I pray that this beautiful morning, fresh grace from heaven will come upon you. To water every realm of your life. A fresh dimension of the glory of God rest upon you this beautiful day for a new season in the name of Jesus.
When seeds are sown into good ground into felter ground it can lead to very significant growth and transformation. In Genesis 1 verse 11-12 said God then God said let the earth bring forth grass the head that yields seed and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to his kind whose seed is in itself on the earth and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass the yield seed according to his kind. And the tree that yields fruit whose seed is in itself according to his kind. And God saw that it was good. God instituted the principle of sewing and reaping into the earth. He placed power in every seed. Every seed carries potential. Every seed carries potential. And that is why as God gives you seed, always remember that some measure of that seed is to be swn back to God and according to divine direction. He place power in every seed to produce a harvest to duplicate itself and to greatly multiply. Greatly multiply. This sacrifice of one man has generated over a billion a billion souls and he's still counting. He's still counting.
Everything starts out as a seed. Everything starts as a seed. That is how you came in the first place into this earth. You came as a seed from your father. Things don't just grow out of nothing. The blessing can't manifest without a seed being sown. And this will play out in different realms of life. And we are all products of seeds. Your life, your family, even the church of Christ today are all products of seeds that were sown. Different people have planted seeds in your life and you also have planted seeds in the lives of other people.
There is great power in the seed and also they are all seeds are not equal. And Jesus Christ would make that very clear when he was referring to the offering of the widow. In one of the versions, he said, "This woman has given a greater gift, a greater gift, a greater offering than all others in the temple on that day."
What is a sacrificial seed? Want to take a look at the power of sacrificial seeds. What is a sacrificial seed? One, a sacrificial seed is when you give out all that you have. When you give out all that you have. John chapter 3 verse 16. God so loved the world. New Living Translation is he gave his one and only his one and only son. Amplified Bible classic edition will say he gave up he gave up his only son. So a sacrificial seed is giving out all that you have. Giving up all that you have.
In Mark 12 verse 41-44 Mark 12:44- 44 amplified Bible. And he sat down, our Lord Jesus Christ being referred to there opposite the temple treasury and began watching how the people were putting money into the treasury. And many rich people were putting in large sums. Verse 42, a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins which amounts to a might. Verse 43, calling his disciples to him because sacrificial giving attracts divine attention. It attracts divine attention. Is a spiritual law. Every sacrificial seed is recognized by heaven. So verse 43 said, "Calling his disciples to him, he said to them, I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this poor widow put in proportionally more than all the contributors to the treasury." So you see one of the primary criteria that God uses to determine a a sacrificial seed is based on percentage of what you have. So, someone can give $100 and has given a sacrificial seed. And someone can give $1,000 and is not considered a sacrificial seed. If the $100 is all that a person has, is a sacrificial seed. If the $1,000 is just little or nothing out of so much that that same person has is regarded as an offering, is regarded as a seed but not a sacrificial seed. So this woman just came and gave what in quantity looked so small. But in the spiritual realm, our Lord Jesus was saying here that do you know that what looks so small that this woman has given now in the spiritual realm is greater than what every other person collectively has given that day. So he gave an explanation in verse 44. He said, "For they all contributed from their surplus." He said, "But she from her poverty put in all she had, all she had to live on." So sacrificial giving is when you give out all when you give up all.
John 3:16. Is it to read version? Yes. God loved the world so much that he gave his only son. His only son. And you see that being emphasized in Mark 12:43-44. Go through the other different versions, you see being consistently emphasized. In contemporary English version, he said in verse 43, I tell you that this poor widow has put in more than all the others. In the voice. Verse 43, he said, "Truly, this widow has given a greater gift." I'd like you to take note of that version, the voice. Mark 12:43, he said, "Truly, this widow has given a greater gift than any other contribution." Said, "All the others gave a little out of their great abundance." Said, "But this poor widow has given God everything, everything she has." So it's sacrificial giving and sacrificial seeds implies to give out all that you have, to give up all that you have, to give out the only one that you have.
The third description of a sacrificial seed is when you deny yourself of something to the extreme. When you deny yourself of something to the extreme. When you do it to the point where it brings a serious drain on you. Brings a serious drain on you. And that can happen in many ways. When you give out all you have in order to make a contribution, there are parents that have given out all in order to pay some bills, including educational bills. But you give out all that you have in order to make a contribution in favor of someone else. Deny yourself to the extreme can also be demonstrated in an absolute fast. Anytime you go without food and water for as long as 3 days, you have activated this spiritual key. And if you go and check from the Old Testament to the New Testament, any time anyone waited on God for three days, no food, no water, by the third day, there will be a response from heaven. Queen Esther understood this spiritual principle. So at a time she urgently needed God's intervention in the sight of her husband the king, she decided to activate the key of an absolute three-day fast. And just like she expected, by the third day there was a breakthrough in the spiritual realm. And God gave her great and deep favor in the eyes and heart of her husband, the king. The intervention that was needed was subsequently achieved. 6 months from today, someone listening to this message would have received the fullness of God's intervention in the name of Jesus Christ.
You would also see that when Jonah was thrown into the sea and swallowed by a big fish, he was in agony, crying out to God. He didn't eat anything. He didn't drink anything. Go and check it out. When he got to the third day, no food, no water, mercy spoke for him. Messy spoke is a spiritual principle by the third day. Another instance was in the New Testament, Acts chapter nine. Saul later called Paul, Apostle Paul, this moment and season of his encounter, the beginning of his journey, was struck with blindness. And he went into a time of absolute fast praying for God's mercy and God was watching. First day, no food, no water. Second day, third day, by the third day, Messi spoke for him. And God spoke to someone somewhere by name Ananas, gave him the address of Paul and gave him an instruction to go to him, pray for him that his eyes may be opened. Whatever has been closed in your life on this resurrection service, the mercy of God reopen it for you. In your spiritual life. It's opened again in ministry is opened again in your marital life. It's opened again in your career. It is opened again in your finances. It's opened again concerning that key relationship. It's open again in the name of Jesus. And as he laid hands on him, a miracle happened and his eyes were opened again. God is going to restore all for you in the name of Jesus Christ.
Sometimes before God will release certain breakthroughs to you. Take note of this. The depth of your faith will be seriously tested. Sometimes it will be your obedience. The depth of your obedience will be tested. Sometimes it will be your love for God. The depth of your love for God will be tested. So always have this in mind. The power of the seed. Jesus Christ was the seed for your salvation. In Galatians chapter 3 verse 13-14 said Christ redeemed us from the cause of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written cursed is everyone who is hung on the pole. He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus. So that by faith we might receive the promise of the spirit. Our Lord Jesus Christ gave his life as the seed for that exchange on the cross to take place. And the ultimate the best seed that you can ever sow is by giving your life to God through Christ Jesus and allowing him to take over every realm of your life. The best seed you can ever sow is by surrendering your life to God and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior.