The Principles and Power of Planting

Sermon Title: The Principles and Power of Planting

Point 1: The Perfect Promise vs. Genesis 8:22 “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”

In this familiar verse there are some unfamiliar revelation we need to comprehend. Before we can comprehend the revelation we must grasp the context.

Context: This is right after God destroyed the earth with the flood. The flood had disrupted the life cycle and laws... The principle concern of Noah and his family is sowing... God sought to restore the laws of sowing and reaping. This life cycle is the foundation of how we tap into...

Genesis 8: 20 The Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it, (21) the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. Let me repeat how this happens—because Noah planted a sacrifice. 

Point 2: Paralyzed from Planting vs. Ecclesiastes 11:4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. Solomon taps into the human psyche of why we do not reap the harvest due us. He plainly says we do not plant; not just finances; we do not give of ourselves, we do not forgive, we do not plant whatever seeds of life that need to be planted; because of fear. We are too busy watching the conditions and waiting for the perfect time. I will forgive when I stop hurting. I will give when I have more...

Point 3: Planting Produces a Plethora vs. Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be marked. A man reaps what he sows. Paul told the Galatians God guarantees what he says. Paul also says in Ephesians 3: 20 he will do exceedingly abundantly more than you can ask or think by the power that works in you. Proverbs adds 3: 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

        Now I most of us is thinking about material/financial blessings that is produced. I want to expand your thinking. I need you to understand there are spiritual fruit we need more than financial fruit. We need the fruit of the spirit. That's originally what Paul is talking about. That's why he talks about the Galatians 5: 22 fruit of the spirit; love joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

Point 4: There is a Permanent Seed vs. John 12:24 I tell you the truth unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.  

Jesus likens himself to a corn seed in the text. He says the seed does not produce until it is planted. When it is planted or dies then it will produce fruit. The fruit that it produce is better known by verse John 12: 32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, [like a seed] will draw all men to myself.” In other words, the crucifixion death, burial and resurrection of Jesus is the permanent and perfect seed. When we plant Jesus into our lives he produces the fruit of eternal life. No other seed or planting process...

        Remember planting financially, words or deeds is to enhance your lifestyle not to earn your salvation or work for your blessings. The system God set up in Genesis 8: 22 is the law he put in place to bring increase into your life, NOT to save your life. Planting and harvesting is not works for salvation. Neither isn’t works to be blessed. Remember God said in Gen 8: 21 man has an inclination to be sinful but he set up the system any way. The system only...

Conclusion: When we grasp and apply what God did when he was invoked to do by Noah’s sacrificial planting, we can