LIVING FULL / DYING EMPTY — THE JOURNEY SO FAR
Mark 4:26-29—26 And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 27and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. 28For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. 29But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
TRUTH 1 — GOD ALWAYS STARTS WITH THE SEED.
• God never starts with behavior, circumstances, or outcomes; He always starts
with the seed.
Psalm 139:13-16—13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelousbare Your works, and that my soul knows very well. 15My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.
TRUTH #2 — GOD GROWS ROOTS BEFORE HE PRODUCES RESULTS.
• What God designs in the seed requires development in the soil.
John 12:24—Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
TRUTH #3 — GOD ALLOWS EMERGENCE BEFORE FULL MATURITY.
• Growth appears before strength develops
Mark 4:28—For the earth yields crops by itself: “FIRST THE BLADE,” then the head, after that the full grain in the head.
TRUTH #4 — GOD FORMS STRUCTURE BEFORE HE RELEASES FULLNESS.
• Growth becomes sustainable when structure is built.
Mark 4:28b—first the blade, “THEN THE HEAD,” after that the full grain in the head.
1. SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Ephesians 3:17-19—17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—19to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
2. MENTAL FORMATION
Romans 12:2—And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
3. EMOTIONAL FORMATION
Proverbs 16:32—He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
4. PHYSICAL FORMATION
1 Corinthians 6:19-20—Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.