Is the Seed Yet in the Barn?
Today’s Verse:
Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you. ~Haggai 2:19
Growing up in the city, we might take for granted the importance of the seed that needs to be sown and planted for fruits and vegetables. If we lived in a rural country setting, we would most likely preserve the seeds of the vegetables and fruits we eat, and replant those seeds for a future harvest. This morning, we are looking at the question: Is the seed yet in the barn? What are you doing with the seed?
We see the SIGNIFICANCE of the seed.
Seed is a necessity for life. No seed, no food! No seed, no life! Seed is a picture of the Word of God. It’s imperishable in its makeup. “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever,” 1 Pet. 1:23. It’s impeccable in its makeup. “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you,” 1 Pet. 1:25. It is life giving and powerful. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart,” Heb. 4:12. It is unchangable truth! It is uncompromisingly timeless! It can be unconditionally trusted!
We see the SHROUDING of the seed.
Is the seed yet in the barn? God uses the analogy of seed in the barn to help the Jews realize they needed to put the resources that God gave them to best use. The seed is ready to be planted, but there is no one to plant it! The time to sow is upon us, but the seed is still yet in the barn! There are mouths to feed, but the seed has not been sown! There are economies dependent upon crops being raised and reaped, but the seed is yet in the barn! The seed is being hidden or shrouded. “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost,” 2 Cor. 4:3 14. “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” Rom. 10:14-15.
We see the SCATTERING of the seed.
In Luke 8:5-8, we have the parable of the sower. The sower is scattering seed. We must sow indiscriminately! We must sow immeasurably! We must sow intelligently! There is large land mass waiting for the seed to be scattered. The sowing of the seed is with great abundance. The more seed that is sown, the more the tangible results. We must get the Word of God everywhere we can. Let’s get the seed out of the barn and into the soil of men’s hearts.
There is the STIPULATION of the seed.
“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him,” Ps. 126:5-6. The scattering of the seed requires immediate irrigation. The tears that flow from our eyes and cheeks for the perishing souls of men are the irrigation. It should break our hearts that that we are not getting more seed sown! It should bother us that some hearts will reject the seed. It should bring us to tears that people are being born faster than we can get the seed out. The most effective soulwinners are those who weep for the souls of the ones they are trying to reach.
There is the SUCCESS of the seed.
We are promised that we shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing our sheaves with us. Seed that are scattered with tears are guaranteed God’s results.
Don’t leave the seed in the barn! Let’s get it out and let God bring forth fruit that will remain!
Have a fruitful God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Numbers 26-27