Secrets of the Sower - After the Sermon

This past Sunday, I preached a sermon on revival. Today, I just want to offer some more thoughts.

When faith seems to be declining and skepticism towards religion is on the rise, it's easy to feel discouraged about the future of Christianity. Many of us have experienced moments where mentioning Jesus or our faith leads to awkward silences or even outright rejection. These experiences can shape our expectations and make us hesitant to share our beliefs.

But what if we're looking at things from the wrong perspective? What if, instead of seeing our current times as uniquely challenging, we recognized them as ripe for revival?

Throughout history, it has been in times just like these – when faith was out of fashion and immorality widespread – that God has broken through in powerful ways. Times that seemed hopeless were transformed into periods of great spiritual awakening. So, we must ask ourselves: Is revival possible in our time and place, here and now?

To answer this question, we turn to the timeless wisdom of Jesus' parable of the sower. In this story, a sower goes out to sow seeds, which represent the word of God. The different types of soil where the seeds land symbolize various human hearts and their responses to the message.

One of the key insights from this parable is that the power to produce a harvest lies within the seed itself. It's not dependent on the skill of the sower or even the initial quality of the soil. This truth should fill us with hope and confidence as we share our faith.

But what does it mean to "sow" in our daily lives? Simply put, sowing is saying. It's using our words to point others towards Jesus. This can take many forms:

1. Offering to pray for someone
2. Sharing a relevant Bible story in conversation
3. Inviting someone to church or a faith-based event
4. Simply expressing how your faith has impacted your life

The act of sowing doesn't require theological expertise or eloquence. It's about being willing to speak up and share the seeds of faith that have taken root in your own life.

However, many of us hesitate to sow because we lack confidence. We fear rejection, ridicule, or feeling foolish. We worry about not having all the answers or saying the wrong thing. But the parable reminds us that our confidence shouldn't be in our own abilities or in people's responses. Our confidence should be in the power of the seed – the word of God itself.

The Apostle Paul declared, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation" (Romans 1:16). The transformative power lies in the message, not in our delivery of it.

This shift in perspective can be liberating. Instead of trying to perfect our techniques or predict people's reactions, we can focus on simply scattering the seeds of faith wherever we go, trusting that God will bring the growth.

But how do we cultivate this confidence? The early Christians provide a powerful example. In Acts 4, when faced with opposition and threats, they didn't organize seminars on persuasive speaking or devise clever strategies. Instead, they prayed fervently, asking God for boldness to continue speaking His word.

Their prayer is both inspiring and instructive:

"Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." (Acts 4:29-30)

They acknowledged the challenges they faced but anchored their confidence in God's power, not their own abilities. And God responded dramatically, filling them with the Holy Spirit and enabling them to speak with boldness.

This story reminds us that the confidence we need comes directly from the Holy Spirit. When we feel inadequate or afraid, we're in good company with countless saints throughout history. The solution is not to muster up more courage on our own, but to turn to God in prayer, asking Him to fill us with His Spirit and empower us to speak.

Imagine how differently we might live if we truly believed revival was possible – if we were confident that our small acts of sharing faith could lead to a great harvest. We would see our everyday environments as mission fields ripe with potential. We would approach seemingly hard-hearted individuals with hope, knowing that God can soften any heart. We would be more inclined to take risks in sharing our faith, trusting that God can do "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20).

This doesn't mean every conversation will lead to immediate conversion. Jesus' parable makes it clear that not all seeds will take root and grow. But it does mean that every time we share something that points to Jesus, we're participating in God's work of renewal and revival.

Revival needs a revived perspective:

1. See your daily life as a field ready for sowing. Look for opportunities to naturally share your faith in conversations and relationships.

2. Pray for boldness and confidence, relying on the Holy Spirit rather than your own abilities.

3. Remember that the power is in the seed, not the sower. Trust in the inherent power of God's word to change lives.

4. Sow generously and expectantly, knowing that some seeds will fall on good soil and produce a bountiful harvest.

5. Keep your eyes open for signs of revival, celebrating every small victory and growth in faith around you.

The promise of revival is contained in every seed of faith we sow. As we step out in confidence, may we see a great awakening in our time, bringing glory to God and hope to a world in need.