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Seed of God’s Word - by Rev Gilbert Wong
Sermon
Text: Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Introduction
Meister Eckhart, a 14th Century Saint wrote these words:
“The seed of God is in us. Now the seed of a pear tree grows into a pear tree; and a hazel seed grows into a hazel tree; a seed of God grows into God.”
What this short poem tells us is that the seeds would grow to become what it is. It can do no other way. The seed of a pear tree will grow into a pear tree. And a hazel seed will grow into a hazel tree. By that it also meant that the seed of God will grow into God.
We Are To Grow Into God
The Parable of the Sower tells us the seeds that are sowed are God’s Word. And if the seeds were sown into our hearts, we will all grow into God.
But how does spiritual growth take place? Is growth an exclusive work of God? And that human play virtually no role in spiritual growth. Or is growth genuinely the work of humans? And that any supernatural grace is unnecessary.
Biblically, it is not a matter of either God’s grace or human contribution. Rather, it is both God’s grace and human contribution that work together to make spiritual growth possible.
Growth comes as a result of human decision and effort co-operating with the grace of God. Of course, God’s grace held the prominent role but your decision and effort play a significant part too.
As it is with God’s grace, so it is with the seeds that were sown. The seed plays a prominent role because the soil is of no use if there were no seeds. Once sown, the potential of growth is there. It is in the nature of seeds to grow.
However, the soil matters too. As it is with human contribution, so it is with the different soils. The Parable of the Sower presents the different environments within which the seeds were sown.
We are told of the seeds that were sown and the devil came and ate it all up. No chance of growth there.
Not only that, we are told of the seeds that were sown and as soon as persecutions and troubles come, the roots of the seeds were not deep enough and soon the seeds were gone.
More than that worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choked the seeds.
Moreover, there were seeds that grew bountifully in good soil.
So what type of soils does each one of us represent?
We Are To Grow in Self-Understanding.
The knowledge of self is necessary for the spiritual life. An author puts it this way that we are “created in the image of God, and it cannot approach his presence without perceiving how unlike it is to Him in whose image it was made” (Basil W. Maturin).
And the apostle Paul gives us an understanding in Romans 8:2. He calls it “the law of the Spirit of Life, and the law of sin.”
Let us first of all look at the law of sin
What is the law of sin?
According to Paul, there is a law which works in such a way that prepares us to sin – the law of sin.
We know well enough what is right and wrong but in life there are plenty of things that are neither right nor wrong. For example in the areas of money and food. These two items of life are neither right nor wrong. But we know we could wish for food and money for a long time until we would be greedy for food and money. Therefore making money the purpose of our life, and making us gluttons because of our greed for food. Some of biggest health problems in Singapore are precisely because of this longing for food. To desire for food once in a while or we eat when we are hungry or it is time for us to eat, food has not control over us. Food is neither right nor wrong.
So it is with money. We all need money to live. So we work reasonably and tirelessly to earn a decent living. And yet we could long for money until it becomes an absorbing desire so that we become greedy for money. And this is how we sin.
For that matter, the area of sex. It is a pleasurable to be enjoyed between a married couple of different gender. But now, we find such obsession with sex, that pre-marital sex, extra-marital sex, and all kinds of excessive habits.
If we are not careful, we could all be heading in the way of the law of sin. And this law of sin leads us to death!
In the same way, there is also the law of the Spirit of Life.
How does the law of the Spirit of Life work?
Obedience to God’s Word prepares the ground for the Spirit’s work. We are bringing our minds to the spiritual things of God. We are constantly thinking of God in whatever we do. Over time, our body is being trained to respond to God’s voice.
Is there any wonder that Jesus knew exactly when God is speaking? Is there any wonder that Jesus could heal and speak at just the right time and to the right people and in the right location?
Since young, Jesus has been training himself to hear God’s voice and when the time comes for God is call upon Jesus, Jesus could respond readily and confidently.
We are to be like Jesus. And a very good place for us to begin is by reading our Bible, and praying. These twin spiritual disciplines would help us in a long run to discern better the voice of God.
And slowly and surely, God’s Word forms a constant check on our bodily needs and wants. It is the discipline of the mind that keeps our body from constantly looking for bodily satisfaction – whether it is money, food, or sex. It keeps us sober and away from excessive habits.
And we would become like the good soil which produces much fruitfulness!
Let us pray.
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Church of the Ascension, 13
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