Firstfruits

Everyone of us has planted a seed before, whether it was grass seed, vegetable, fruit or other we all know how seeds work. But did you know Jesus was a seed? Did you know that He came to this world to plant Himself so that others may grow?

We all know that a seed isn’t the end result, its just a destiny in another form. We know that if we plant tomato seeds we will get a tomato plant. That one seed produces many after its kind. So if you plant one tomato seed, you get many tomatoes. But what has to happen in order for that plant to be born? The seed has to die (John 12:24). In order for there to be a tomato, the seed has to be no more. In order for something to live, seed has to die.

When Adam sinned in the garden, his seed became corrupt. From that day forward mankind was reproducing corrupted seed, but when Jesus came and died, His life was incorruptible seed. Jesus was like the second Adam (Rom 5). When Jesus died, rose again, and ascended to Heaven, spiritual life began. The bruised an battered body of Jesus represented the seed of Heaven. That seed had to die, so that heavenly life could be born. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches (John 15). The power of sin died when Jesus died, and when the Holy Spirit rose Him back to life, new (heavenly) life was born.

Jesus’ death not only paid for sin but the effects of sin. Everything He suffered was for a purpose. If we read Isaiah 53 we see all He went through so we could be whole. He carried our grief, our sorrows, was wounded for our transgressions, and by His stripes we are healed. Before the fall of man in the garden, there was no such thing as sickness and disease; grief, pain, and fear didn’t exist, but when sin entered, so did its effects. Thankfully the sacrifice on the cross paid for it all. Too many times we focus on the blood for the remission of sins, but overlook the body. When Christ was on the cross He proclaimed “it is finished”, meaning the debt had been paid in full (John 19:30). This is why it is important to examine ourselves when taking communion (1 Cor 11:28). The wine represents His blood that paid for sin and the bread represents His body that paid for the effect of sin.

If you are born again, you are no longer a slave to sin (Rom 6:6-7). Just like Jesus, you are dead to sin and fleshly desires and raised to new life in the Spirit. The manifestation of that new life is the working out of our salvation (Philippians 2:12-13). Our seed (flesh) has to die so Holy Spirit can live. That is why Paul said “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” (Gal 2:20). You are born from heavenly seed and are no longer enslaved by the flesh. So every time a fleshly desire rises up, just tell yourself that your flesh is dead and has no power over you. If we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 5:16).

If we want God to do more in our lives we have to be more like Jesus. The Kingdom of God is attracted to righteousness. The more righteous and holy we become the more of Heaven we attract. God wants us to live Heaven on earth. The bible says “thy kingdom come, thy will be done, ON EARTH as it is in heaven. The more we die to self and our fleshly desires the more heavenly we become. Just like Jesus we too must crucify the flesh (Gal 5:24). One of the best ways to undo the power of the flesh is to fast (Isaiah 58:6-12).

Every seed takes time to grow. God is constantly working in us to make us like Him (Philippians 2:13). So when trials come, take time to recognize that it may be God trying to expose the things in your heart that are not like Him. As Christians, we should be inviting trials, so that our faith can be perfected. Just as Jesus was tried, so must we be also (1 Pet 4:12-13).

Prayers are an answer in seed form. When we plant a seed in the garden, we don’t expect a harvest the next day. If we pray according to His will, we will have it (1 John 5:14-15). We cannot hold onto the seed (prayer). Once we plant it, we must wait for it to die, so the answer can be born. If we truly believe God is faithful we will move from prayer to praise.

Further reading:

Unanswered prayers.

You are not on trial.