Jesus often spoke in parables, which are earthly stories that convey spiritual truths, through the use of illustration, hyperbole and figurative language..
One illustration that Jesus often used was that of farming and agriculture; something most people, especially 2,000 years ago, would understand, since most people grew and harvested their own food, hence the phrase, sowing and reaping, or reaping what you sow. When one sows or plants seeds, the intended purpose is to grow crops; fruits, vegetables, grains, etc.
The parables that Jesus told were intended for those who have ears to hear what Jesus is saying. There is an intended purpose in sowing the seeds of our faith into the lives of our family , friends and neighbors. People need to be given, or gain “ears to hear” what Jesus is saying.
That’s where preachers, teachers, evangelists, and ministers come in. When we work together, each using our spiritual gifts to serve the Kingdom of God, through our local church, God gives the increase. When we work together for the goal of harvesting souls, we will see His glory, as new people are added to His kingdom.
Matthew 13:3-9 NKJV
[3] Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. [4] And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. [5] Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. [6] But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. [7] And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. [8] But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. [9] He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.13.3-9.NKJV
I’ve learned, over the years, through observing agriculture in comparison with Jesus illustration of planting seeds and yielding a harvest of produce. There are steps to be taken in between sowing and reaping, and even before dropping seeds into the earth to grow.
There’s the preseason of planting or sowing, where the ground and soil are cultivated or tilled, where the soil is turned over, and rocks and other tough spots are worked out of the soil, before dropping seeds.
The work of evangelism is much the same way. The ground of your mission Field needs to be turned over and that fallow ground of hardened hearts needs to busted up and prepared for seeds of faith to be planted. This happens through preaching the gospel and through deeds; that is, providing physical needs, while feeding them spiritual food. Faith and works, working together to reap a harvest of souls. The soil of human hearts needs to be softened through acts of love and kindness. Serving both the physical and spiritual needs within each hungry soul ensures a bountiful harvest.
But this harvest doesn’t happen immediately or overnight. Just like planting crops, there’s a time to plant, and a time to harvest or reap. There is much tending and labor that takes place in between, along with phases of growth, leading up to the time of harvest or bearing fruit.
The crops must be watered, weeded, nourished with fertilizer, which is usually a dirty, sweaty, often smelly job.
Ministering to human souls is much like tending to crops and fruit trees as they grow their produce. This is where the hard work of evangelism takes place and causes the planted seeds to grow into a harvest of fruit and produce. It takes time and tender care to reap a harvest of human hearts and souls.
As Paul wrote in
I Corinthians 3:6-7 NKJV
[6] I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. [7] So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
https://bible.com/bible/114/1co.3.6-7.NKJV
It may very well happen, when one evangelist goes into a town or community, preaching the Good News of Christ,that others water, and yet others bring in the harvest, but it’s God who gives the increase, and it’s Christ who receives these human souls into His kingdom. It’s God who gets the glory.
When local churches and community ministries work together to provide for the needs of people in their community, a better harvest is yielded. It’s not all for one minister, preacher or local church. It’s Kingdom work for the glory of God and our risen Savior, Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit
🙏❤️💪
Living As Light 
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