God Gives the Increase Part 7- Harvest Time Pt 1- We Know Not How
by Brett Jacobsen
This twelve part video series is a call back to Jesus’ doctrine regarding the increase of His Kingdom. It is a re-examination of what the Bible teaches on evangelism and discipleship rather than man’s megre methods.
We Know Not How
Below are the notes from this teaching so you can read along:
We know not how / God gives the increase
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that plants any thing, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase. (1Cor 3:6-7)
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to me. This he said, signifying what death he should die. (John 12:32-33)
And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knows not how. For the earth brings forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putts in the sickle, because the harvest is come. (Mark 4:26-29)
The human spirit was created to reproduce the kingdom of God
Don’t pressure people into a decision when they’re not ready:
…stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. (Mark 4:16-17)
Remember it is a process not an event:
… Except a man be born again, he cannot see [seeing they may see Mark 4:12] the kingdom of God. […] Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:3-5)
Seed- sperma
From conception to birth – process that God performs
* Erroneous to say that any event/ritual is being born again, ie: sinners prayer, baptism etc
The wind blows where it lists [wishes], and you hear the sound thereof, but can not tell where it comes, and where it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)
Got trusts us with our job let’s trust Him to do His.
… a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. […]When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said to them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (Matt 19:23-26)
Regeneration
He came to his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:11-13)
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration (paliggenesia - (spiritual) rebirth, spiritual renovation; Messianic restoration,) and renewing (anakainosis - renovation) of the Holy Ghost; (Tit 3:5)
Our part in God’s part - Enduring faith
Faith – actively believe God can and will do His parts
That you be not slothful [nothros – sluggish, stupid, dull], but followers [mimetes] of them who through faith and patience [makrothumia – fortitude/endurance] inherit the promises. (Heb 6:12)
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Heb 11:13)
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: (V39)
Believe and say to the mountain (Mark 11:22-24) (don’t just sit back in apathy)
Is the harvest ripe?
Jesus was in a different season:
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then said he to his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray you therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. (Matt 9:36- 38) (The harvest was ripe)
The multitude was hungry for God & drawn toward Him.
…say not you, There are yet four months, and then comes harvest? Behold ,I say to you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. (John 4:35)
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Thank you.