We Never Stop Growing

September is here. School has started. Summer has slowly come to an end. New growth for each of us has begun. Unlike the farmer we seem to plant in fall and not the spring. No matter, we concentrate on growth. Growth by education and experiences and spiritual growth. We never stop growing it is sign of life.

In Mark 4:26-29 "The Parable of The Sower" Jesus says, "This is what the Kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night a;nd day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seeds sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain-first the stalk, then the head, and then the full kernal in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."

In our individual lives and also in our church we want to grow. As a child we want to grow faster. As an adult we want to grow slower. Life is "I want maturity NOW and I want it YESTERDAY!" We seldom take the time to realize there are processes that must take place in our physical, psychological, social, and yes spiritual growth. We no longer want to learn from the experiences, good or bad, from our parents or peers (whatever that means today). We lust after that which should be carefully planted and allowed to grow by its own degrees not at its full potential of maturity.  The church wants to grow and the growth status is determined by those who are not the Holy Spirit but "growth specialist." The church is the seed of the Holy Spirit. Even Jesus' birth had a growth process as Mary carried Him in her womb. Nine months I believe is the growth time of a fetus.

In our passage Jesus gives us and His church degrees for growth.  He says "the blade or stalk, the ear, and then the full corn" is the process and you can't change it. He said the blade is the first to appear. There was life before it was visible, but it was wholy earthly, until now it was judged as dead or dormant. True, the growth was going on, as the Word of God is shared and preached in the hearts of those who hear. We should look on the degrees of growth as the following.

The blade as the tongue of outward profession. It makes a show openly, and declares its intention of bearing fruit. But we must realize that every blade does not blossom into full kernal corn in the ear. There is the worm, the fowl, and the weather, the world, the flesh, and devil, by which many a potential blade is devestated.

The ear may represent the preparedness and readiness to receive without which there can be no fruit. Remember the first part of the sower and the soil. Before the soul comes into this hopeful state many a cold night and many a trying day has to be endured, but when through suffering the soul is made receptive for God, then the fruit will be found. An open ear to God will soon be abundantly satisfied with spiritual growth.

The full ear of corn is the mature growth goal. Here we have the idea of a soul filled withall the fullness of God. Now we see the full ear bending under the weight of a precious treasure, the soul satisfied, all growth needs being met, and bowing in sweet breathof Heaven, in the Son light and power of the Holy Spirit.

So how is your degrees of growthcoming? Are you running ahead of the Holy Spirit for a faster growth of our physical, psychological, social, and yes spiritual growth? The Bible says we are "Wait on the Lord, and show forth His work in us at whatever stage it is and soak of up His Son Light until He comes." "Until He Comes" mean the harvest or the rapture. Don't miss the harvest.

See you in worship on Sunday. DR. B. - Pastor.