Seed Principle
"... you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)
The preceding condition to God's liberating promise was: " If you abide in My word...." (John 8:31). God's Word, as it appears in the parable of the sower, takes the form of a seed (Lk. 8:11). It is like a seed that is planted in our lives, and it must then take root, grow and bear its fruit.
"A sower went out to sow his seed.
And as he sowed some fell by the wayside....
But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.....
.... the ones that fell on good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and food heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience." (Luke 8:5,8,15)
God's word is truth, and it has the power to set us free, indeed. Nevertheless, there lies a time for truth to enlighten a believer's mind, and a time for truth to instruct his heart, before the time comes for truth to liberate him from the pressures of sin. Like how a seed being first planted must be watered regularly before it grows into a tree and bears fruit of its own, so the word of truth must first be birthed in a believer's life and be matured over faithful meditations and prayerful confessions before becoming a power that sets him free. It is therefore not a reason to be discouraged when we do not gain an immediate breakthrough in our circumstances after the initial consultation of scriptures.
The truth that is represented by the canon of scriptures carries all the promises of power and blessings we need in order to live a victorious life in God. The promises are so clearly and directly worded that we know nothing could keep us down so long as God remains able and faithful to keep His promises to us. Everything would turn out fine, we are sure, if God does what He said He would, for us. However, many end up feeling frustrated and disheartened when they are taught the truth and yet do not experience its liberating power of deliverance even though they embrace the truth in all belief. When they expected God to intervene (because they read from His word that He could and that He would) but He does not, or at least, not in the space of time they expected. They start to get impatient and anxious, thus driving themselves into spells of despondency and dismay of disappointed expectation. This trend is especially common when it comes to the issue of inner healing and, of restoration from wounds of grief and pain. Let us now consider Phil. 4:6-7:
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
We know the promise of the above scripture to be perfect and true, simply because God never lies. But how far or how much of it do we experience in our life today? Not many, for are there not more of us anxious souls than those who are secured in God's peace and serenity? Do not the pressures and voices of the world and of our flesh shout so loudly that it overcomes all human's resolves to keep our cool? Yet, the promise is ours, that "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding" will guard our hearts and minds.
God is not slack in working out His promises towards us (2 Pet. 3:9). It is certainly within His awesome power to manifest the reality of His promise right at the time that we read of them! However, capable of doing so as He is, God does not always do so. In His own divine wisdom, "He has made everything beautiful in its time "(Eccl.3:11), and He continues to do so, until now. Therefore, contrary to common notions of the word setting its hearers free the moment it is spoken, God, in His supreme wisdom appoints a time for the Word to be planted and to take root in our lives before it yields its fruit in its right season.
Remember, "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good "(Num.23:19). In Rev.3:20, the Lord Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him..." Take note, the Lord is the gentleman who enters only upon reception. This is bad news for those who hear the knock and expect Him to enter uninvited. For He will not! He enters only when we open the way for Him to.
Knowing that the word of God is like a seed to be planted in us, it is therefore important for us to be "good ground" (Matt.13:23) for the seed to grow. Many are missing out on the benefits of the truth because they have not learnt to surrender themselves into the outstretched arms of God's truth and let the " implanted Word which is able to save the souls" (James 1:21) heal the wounds and restore the strength in their lives. What some do not realise is that while they neglect to nurture the good seed planted in them, they actually end up being passive farmers of the devil's seed! When we do not embrace the light, we allow ourselves to be overtaken by darkness. Unless we consciously enthrone God's truth in our hearts, the devil's ills will reign in its place.
Drawing a lesson from Mike's experience, let us consider that Mike was not immediately delivered from his anguish and hurt the moment the truth of God's divine love, peace and mercy dawned on him. Arriving at that realisation did not liberate him from existing pain, nor did it set him free from the hurt and grief he was suffering. However, the truth became a sword within him that battled the enemy of grief, depression and, unforgiveness. The more he dwelt on the truth, the more intensified the power of the sword of truth in him. Soon, Mike began to gain ground over the enemy, and as he did so, the devil's oppression on his mind weakened in intensity till it eventually died under the conquering sword of truth. From that victory, Truth began the progressive work of restoration in Mike and soon, he found himself being transformed day by day unto glory and life.
Inner healing (healing of one's emotions) takes time. We inherit the promises of God by faith and patience. "And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Heb. 6:11-12) It is by cultivating and nurturing the seed through prayer and meditation that the fruit of the Spirit is borne in us.
"The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day." (Prov. 4:18) This is what we are, if we always put the shadows of our lives behind the cross and follow Him. Truth goes before us and will lead us in the way everlasting till we enter the fullness of His light and glory where darkness and shadows cease to follow.
It remains our earnest prayer that the words of this book will deposit the seed of strength, healing and restoration in your relationships. As you faithfully and prayerfully cultivate that seed of love in your marriage, may the Lord make His face shine upon you and your household as He uses His chosen generation to transform the nations. Consider Acts 19:11 "Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them." Not one of these books has been released without prayer - every book has been personally prayed for; and we believe on the Lord to impart His grace, favour and blessing into your family as you come to the truth in this book; and for glorious miracles to be worked in your family, that being blessed you will be a blessing to others also: " I will bless you...and you shall be a blessing" (Gen.12:2).
