The Secret Life of Seeds Part II: Fruit Frustations

Micaiah Irmler

John 12:23-27 NKJV

Note: Seeds are symbolic in the Bible.

Seeds symbolize:

The Word of .

The of God.

Life and Death.

Survival and .

Spiritual of Maturity.

Question: How do we become spiritually mature?

Note: Spiritual maturity has become a confusing things when in reality it’s actually very simple. A mature tree produces fruit.

Last Week We Said: I Don’t Need to See it to Know It’s Started. The Purpose of a Seed is to Be . The Potential of a Seed is to Produce A . The Problem with Most Seeds is They Never Get Planted.

Note: This message only matters to those who want more from their life.

Remember: Are you frustrated by the lack of fruit in your life?

John 12:23-27 NKJV

23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. 27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.

John 2:1-4 NKJV

1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”

The Principle vs. 23-24

23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.

Remember: Don’t Miss the Point that Life is About Planting.

Note: Cultivating, Irrigating, & Weeding are pointless if you never planted the seed.

You Are Not Stuck in a Season You are Stuck as a Seed. Planting Should Have a Progression. There is a healthy normal and natural progression. A seed was never intended to stay a seed. You have no need to be scared of the next season. A Seed is Not Enough for What is Needed in the Next Season. Who I am now is not what is needed in the next season.

Remember: You can’t skip a stage and still see the fruit.

Illustration: How much would you pay for this seed and dirt? How much would you pay for this small plant? How much would you pay for this larger plant? How much would you pay for these Red bell peppers? Excuse me these Whole Foods Organic Red Bell Peppers? Would it surprise you to know that these Whole Foods organic red bell peppers cost more than these? Why is it we are willing to pay more for produce than to plant?

Illustration: This Red Bell Pepper is this Plant. This bigger plant is the same as this smaller plant. This smaller plant is the same as this cup of dirt that has a red bell pepper seed. This is that.

Note: They don’t look the same because one is just smaller.

Remember: You don’t look like your future self because you are smaller.

I John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

The Priority vs. 25-6

25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

Question: Have people stopped telling you that they don’t get you?

Note: If you see someone in this church loving someone that is unlovable and you don’t get why they would do that you aren’t following him.

Remember: Sowing doesn’t always make sense to people who aren’t following Jesus.

Remember: To have a new life it will cost you your old life.

Note: The moment has come and will stay with us. There is no going back now.

*Follow His .
*Following His .
*Follow His .

Note: We are preserving the seed instead of planting the seed.

Remember: Self-preservation is what is leading to your lack of progress in life.

Hosea 2:19 NKJV Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you.’

The Promise vs. 26-27

26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. 27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.

Note: Jesus knew the right season to surrender the seed. It’s Not Failure God’s Just Not Finished. Keep Feeding What Feeds You.

Note: A tree gets from the ground and then gives back to the ground.

Question: Do you feed what feeds you?

Note: Jesus cursed the barren fig tree because it was getting but not giving.

Question: How many Christians are breaking the natural order?

Progress is Often Invisible but the Harvest is Inevitable!