The Harvest

Did you know when planting wheat, most farmers use approximately one bushel to plant each acre? This is rough equivalent of about 60 lbs of seed. However, when harvest roles around in June here in Kansas, each acre, in a normal year, can produce 40-50 bushels of wheat! 2400 to 3000 lbs of return...all because of the seed was planted in faith.

Now let this roll around in your brain for a moment: If you take that same seed and place it on your dining room table, you'll get back exactly what you put into it. How does this relate in the Kingdom of God?

Life Jacket

During our staff meeting yesterday, I was sharing with some of our leadership the desires I believe God is putting on my heart for some changes within how we “do” church. As I shared, I allowed the little fear bug begin to creep into my brain! Arrgghh! The more I shared, the more nervous I became. I even found myself championing for non-compliance with what God is downloading into many of our hearts. Do you ever argue with God; or at least question His leading? Welcome to the club! I’ve come to realize the fear bug is very similar to a termite: slowly chewing and eating away the dreams and vision God puts on our heart. Just like a termite, we don’t always see the damage until it’s too late. What is fear keeping you from? How do you get over it?

 

This past Sunday, I preached for awhile about Peter and His step of faith into the water. Do you think he was fearful? Of course he was. Two times in Matthew 14 we can read how Peter and the other disciples were in fear. Fear of the storm crashing around them, fear of the “ghost” walking toward them, and then the fear Peter realized when he stepped out of the boat and saw the wind and waves raging against him. The Greek word used in this scripture is Phobos, which is where we derive the English word, Phobia. In a quick Google research, I found there are over 500 documented phobias. This means there are over 500 hundred irrational fears in society today and over 500 reasons to keep you from doing what God puts on your heart. Dictionary.com defines phobias as: a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that leads to a compelling desire to avoid it. So when Peter stepped out of the boat, he faced both aquaphobia and astraphobia: the fear of water and the fear of storms. But yet, he still got out of the boat? How did Peter face his fears? How did he overcome them? I think it was because Jesus said “come” and Peter was willing to act.

Matthew 14:28-29 ²⁸ Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” ²⁹ “Yes, come,” Jesus said. (New Living Translation)

Here is the rationale to overcome irrational fears…JESUS! If He is leading you to step in the water, then know He will be the one walking on the water with you!

 

After sharing my fears and concerns in our meeting, our children’s pastor, Sharon Toll, and relayed a story I wanted to pass along. When she was 24 years old, she decided it was time for her to learn how to swim. Her oldest son, Drake, was enrolled in swim lessons, so the natural step would be for her to do the same. The instructor at the time took Sharon into the deep end, and told her she would be jumping into the pool that day with a life jacket, but the next day, she would go without. After jumping in, Sharon swam back to the edge of the pool and her instructor informed her right then it was time to remove the life jacket. Sharon, being the rational one, argued with the instructor, trying to prove how unwise it might be to remove the one thing that was keeping her afloat. But the answer the instructor gave had the wisdom I needed to hear: “If you don’t do it now, you’re not going to do it ever.” I’m unsure of her reluctance at the moment, but Sharon got out of the deep end, took off her life jacket, jumped back in to the deep end, and lived to tell me about it!

 

Is Christ telling you to “come”? Is He there in the water waiting for you to step out of the boat? Is your fear keeping you from avoiding His leading? Are you willing to take off your life jacket and trust the Instructor? Don’t let fear dictate your life. Let your life in Christ dictate to your fear! If you don’t follow Him now, will you ever?

 

Power of Prayer

Send Me

If it's to the www, then send me God.

LAG