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The disciple is someone who finds excitement and peace in seed sowing and seed watering. He then finds his greatest joy in seeing the Father causing the seeds to grow. Seed (Greek:sperma) growth is causing life where there was no life previous. Nothing but the Lord can cause the seed to burst from its shell and spring into new life, or to cause the dead to live. The seed (sperma) of man and the egg (ovum) of woman meet, and God causes the seed to grow and form life. Man is a dead seed spiritually as well until he is given "new birth". The term "new birth" is also referred to at times as being "born from above", born anew, or born again.
"The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed upon the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. The earth yields crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head".1 This is regeneration, the seed giving full-grown life. Ezekiel 37:1-10 gives the story of dry (or dead) bones (Israel) receiving new life: "Behold I will cause breath (Spirit-life) to enter you, and you shall live".2 Nothing lives independent of the Giver of life. To be regenerated is to receive new life.
Jesus said, "the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost", and then He said, "I came that they might have life and have it abundantly", and finally, "this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent".3
This is the progression of regeneration: Lost, Life, Eternal Life. The seed is the Word, and God causes the seed to grow and give life to all who will receive it.4 The disciple can only scatter seed and water; God will give the increase.
The emergence of the new seed (a resurrected form) is one that can proclaim, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God".5 The new (regenerated) seed (or person) then assumes a new nature: "Put on the new nature (or new man), created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness".6 God gives birth, life, and death. How wonderful! He has allowed us to even participate in His on going work; to be like Christ and to be called His children. We are called to sow the seed of the Word of God into all the world so many can hear of the Great King Jesus and the promise of New Life!
Additional Scripture References:
Luke 4:26
1 Peter 1:23
1 John 3:9
Luke 19:10
Leviticus 27:19
1. Mark 4:26-28
2. Ezekiel 37:1-10
3. Luke 19:10, John 10:10, John 17:3
4. Luke 8:11
5. Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 3:15-19
6. Ephesians 4:24
© Copyright 2001 Lighthouse Ministries. All Rights Reserved.
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