Luk 9:23-24 KJV And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (24) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Jesus said, That is not all; we need to grow too. In the parable of the seed, He showed us that we are still on a 'journey' to grow, or else He would not use
Many preachers preach that the parable of the seed described different types of people or different types of sinners in the world; so there are different types of good people and evil people in the world. But I see it differently. The parable describes different stages of growth in the believers:
1. Some could be still at the starting stage of sowing (or hearing and receiving the seed)
2. Some could be at the stage when they started to grow
3. Some have fully grown and they are now at the crucial period to bear fruits
4. Some have gone through the harsh weather and difficult period, and they have fruits
However, many are afraid to grow. So, some 'preachers' will come along and give them the promise of 'miracle seed' - the promise of 'instant fruit' without the need to grow. Please think, Is there such a seed or fruit? Probably yes, but it is certainly not the seed of God.
Many of us think that growing is not necessary. We think that, in the kingdom of God if we can receive salvation supernaturally, effortlessly, and once and for all, we can surely get everything instantly including our fruits. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Growing is still a major law or principle in the kingdom of God, which can never be obsolete. That's why Paul and James used the illustration of the farmers (or husbandman) to describe us in the churches (not those in the world). Hence, we still need patience to grow in the Lord:
Jas 5:7-8 KJV Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. (8) Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
2Ti 2:3-7 KJV Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (4) No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. (5) And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. (6) The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. (7) Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
Many still argue, "Why do you say (accuse us) that we do not grow? Surely the Lord will never say that to us. If we are in the Lord, we will automatically grow. We don't need anyone to tell us to grow .. If grace can lead us to repentance automatically, grace will lead us to grow effortlessly too .."
I will tell them, Please grow up. I did not say that. Paul said that. Of course, he knew that there were many believers or babes who refused to grow, and it could be much more in the last days:
Heb 5:11-14 KJV Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. (12) For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. (13) For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (14) But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
There is a law in every seed. It will produce only one type of fruits. It is not a mystery and it can never change. Have you found any apple seeds which can grow oranges? No.
Similarly, a true believer will grow only one type of fruit - the fruit of the Spirit. It would be questionable if we always see the 'fruit' of the devil:
Gal 5:17-23 KJV For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (18) But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Eph 5:6-11 KJV Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. (7) Be not ye therefore partakers with them. (8) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (9) (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) (10) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. (11) And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
I will ask them, Is the fruit (in Eph 5) grown automatically by believing or thinking only. No, Paul said that you have to choose light and walk as children of light. It is not effortless, mind you; you have to crucify or die to the desires of your old flesh, and prove what is acceptable unto the Lord. Sometimes, there is stress and unpleasant situation when you may have to make big sacrifice to reject unfruitful works of darkness and reprove some people. Paul continued and showed us that it is a major effort to walk in God's righteousness (and bear the fruit in Eph 5):
Eph 5:15-21 KJV See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, (16) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (17) Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. (18) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (19) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (20) Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (21) Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Can we see all those efforts above? None of them tell us to do nothing and expect something.
I said that they is a law in every seed. Apart from the law to grow the same type of fruit, there is the law about how it will grow too, for example, how long it will grow, in what direction it will grow, in what way it will grow, and etc. Hence, there is always a way, a path, a rule, a fixed pattern, or a non-changing law for its growth. Similarly, there is a way, a path, or a law for the growth in a believer too.
Psa 23:3 KJV He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
2Pe 2:21 KJV For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
Hence, we know that the way or the path of righteousness will still follow and come from the non-changing law and commandment of God. The law of God is not the opposite of the Spirit of God; but it shows the way, the path, and the law of righteousness in Christ.
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