In our journey through Mark 4 we come to a very familiar story of Jesus and His disciples who find themselves at sea in the midst of a furious squall after a long day of ministry. As I read this passage, I found some key statements made by both Jesus and the disciples which really stood out to me and what it can mean for us today as it relates to planting our spiritual story.
Learn when it is time to leave the crowd behind v35,36
This passage teaches us that there are seasons in our spiritual life when we learn to ‘leave the crowd behind’. We are not meant to fill our lives up with opportunities. There is a recognition of the call to ‘steal away’ time with Jesus. We have to be with Jesus in order to share about Jesus.
Going through seasons of desperation v37,38
There is also a ‘season of desperation’ when we do feel like we’ve been left behind, forgotten and are drowning in our desire to follow Jesus. It in the midst of these storms when we are real and honest with others that we can have incredible opportunities to plant our story.
Isaiah 43:1-3
Identify your ‘defining moments’ in your faith journey v39-41
Finally, there are seasons in our life when we really sensed that God came through, defining moments, when we know that He answered our prayer and we have experienced the peace of God that transcends all understanding and God increases our faith.
Too much evangelism is an attempt to answer questions people are not asking. Let the experience the life of the Christian community. The church is the home in which God dwells by His Spirit. And do not worry if life is sometimes less perfect than it should be! We do not witness to good works but to the grace of God. Tim Chester and Steven Timmis in Total Chuch
Plant In Season
To plant ‘in season’ means that we speak the truth in love.
Ephesians 4:15… speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
Psalm 40:10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.
It was said of Jesus that He was full of grace and truth. John 1:14
There are 3 types of planters:
As a chameleon – we over emphasize on the love side which gains a receptive audience but there is no mention of truth so people know us a good human, a humanitarian.
Romans 3 states that we have to be honest with people and press them to their need.
v10,11a As the Scripture say, “No one is good, not even one, No one has real understanding; no one is seeking God. All have turned away from God; all have gone wrong NLT
As a cactus – we overemphasize the truth of the message, it clear, but it is not received because we are not compelled by love, we are only convicted by truth.
As Buckleys – a true friend will tell their buddy something even when they know what they might say will hurt, Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. Proverbs 27:6 A contagious friend have a receptive audience and a powerful message. They love their friend too much to let them stay where they are, without hope, awaiting judgement without knowing God’s unfailing love.
Recognize The Field You Are Planting In
There are different types of audiences –
Uninterested – There are people that just move on to another subject in the conversation. In Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"
Inquisitive – There are people that spark the discussion. In John 3, we see the example of Nicodemus who was quite taken with Jesus’ explanation of being born again. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb… In Mark 10, the rich young ruler who came running up to Jesus and asked what must I do to inherit eternal life?
Receptive - They have come through an experience, a wake up call or they just know there is a God shaped hole in their heart. In Luke 19, we discover Zacchaeus who was so intent on being able to see Jesus. He was a believer waiting to happen!
Can you discern your audience? It is so important to understanding how much impact you will have. Probably even more important is really understanding the leading of the Holy Spirit because as Romans 8:14 states
those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God
and John 16:8
When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
Remember you are not the Holy Spirit, He ultimately will convict people of their need for the Lord, our job is to sow the seed.
Plant Truth With Believers
Hebrews 10:23-25
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. – we were designed for community
For the next 30 days, every time God teaches you something, share it with a Jesus follower. This is really the best place to start because we already know that we have a receptive audience. Your Christian friends should get excited to hear what God is doing and if they don’t then find some other Christian friends who will rejoice with you in your walk with Christ. If we start here and begin with people who already know the Lord, you will see that it will soon become more natural to share those same things with those who need to know the Lord
Now let me say this of the flipside. If we are on the receiving end, you have a responsibility to receive it well. Try not to be demoralized by what is happening in their life, but let it inspire you to search and think more about what God is doing, little or big, in your life.
Plant In The Right Light
Acts 17 Paul In Athens
This passage teaches us a lot about Paul’s awareness of the people he was ministering to. He recognized that they were spiritual and was able to speak to their belief and captured the truth found in the statue to the unknown God.
Look for the rays of light, the window of opportunity in your conversations. This takes sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit. As you are listening to them, as you hear how they are feeling, look for similar things that have taken place in your own life or when you have felt the same way. Now, you have an opportunity to bridge the conversation by sharing the difference in your life now by sharing what Christ has done for you!
Your friends don’t know what they don’t know. Unless you can go beyond just identifying with them, then you haven’t given them any answers or hope which deep down in their soul is what they are craving.
What about when they ask questions of you?
Take a deep breath, pray and ask God for wisdom and share from your heart. If the answer doesn’t come, then be honest. People appreciate the fact that we can explain it all because if we could we would be God. Another good thing to do is to say “That is a really good question, can I get back to you on that one.” It allows another opportunity to follow up.
Plant With Your Own Story
John 4:39Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." 40So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41And because of his words many more became believers.
They overcame (the accuser) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. Revelation 12:11
Why?
When you share your life story, you share part of your life. Your friendship can deepen as you talk openly about your best friend Jesus. The deeper your friendship, (both with Jesus and with them) the greater the impact of your story.
Your story shows how Jesus is real in your everyday life and this helps people understand how God can work in their life and be their friend too.
Your experience cannot be argued with because it happened to you. Your story creates interest in the gospel and will help your friends to want to know more. Once learned, your testimony will always be with you.
- Understand that not every seed bears fruit right away, let it take time to germinate.
- Know this up front that you will probably get more people that will just nod their head and then move on to a new subject then turn to the Lord right there on the spot, but don’t let that discourage you, you have planted a seed for the Lord, don’t lose sight of that.
- Know that you are making a difference. Every God-inspired word is planting a seed… which leads to my final point…
Planting With An Expectant Heart!
There is something to be said about planting with expectancy. We really need to believe that God‘s Word will take root in people’s lives, believe that the Word of God will not return void. There is no greater power than the power of invitation. When was the last time you invited someone to really know God?
Listen to the prophet Isaiah testify of life with God!
Isaiah 55 NLT
Invitation to the LORDs Salvation
1"Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink--even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk--it's all free! 2Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen, and I will tell you where to get food that is good for the soul!
3"Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, for the life of your soul is at stake. I am ready to make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the mercies and unfailing love that I promised to David. 4He displayed my power by being my witness and a leader among the nations. 5You also will command the nations, and they will come running to obey, because I, the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious." 6Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. 7Let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8"My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
10"The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. 11It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit.(The NIV states it will not return empty) . It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. 12You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!
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