Sunday Sermon: Watering The Seed, January 10, 2020

Sunday Sermon at Grateful Church (UPCI) in Phoenix

Watering The Seed

The kingdom of God operates in laws and principles rather than feelings or chances. The law of sowing and reaping governs success, growth, and prosperity. To enforce these laws through prayer is watering the seed of God’s word for providence. We cannot water a field where nothing is sown, nor can we prayer outside the will of God. The bible is the will of God (Ps. 40:7). It is a blessing to sow the seed of God's word beside all waters of prayer (Isaiah 32:20). Faith in His laws is how we prosper like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season (Ps 1:3). I have planted Paul said, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase (1 Cor 3:6). The text revealed how Jesus prospered in His quest to save mankind.

Luke 22:41-46

41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled, and prayed,

42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.

43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground.

45 And when he rose from prayer and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter temptation.

We water to enable growth and new life in the seed because nothing sown will survive without watering it.

1. There is new life in the seeds of (a) God’s word, (b) our plans, and (c) visions for this year.

2. If we do not water our plan with prayer according to God's will like Jesus, our plans for the year will have little or no chance of survival from challenges - the heat in the ground.

3. Jesus prayed earnestly to (a) aid a new life of hope, freedom, etc., (b) enforce God’s will, and (c), to overcome the temptations of the weariness of His flesh and the sorrow to quit.

4. His prayer was strengthened by 3-purposes, for (a) the glory of His father, (b) His own glory, and (c) the salvation of mankind. Thus, was able to:

   1. Self-surrender to His father’s will to suffer and die for the sins of mankind.

   2. Pray with unparallel devotion to overcome the agony, sorrow, and drowsiness of His flesh until sweat wrung out of him like blood to the ground. Prayer is how we water our passions and breathe new life to our dreams.

How much to water our dreams depends on soil conditions; Jesus prayed harder and frequently the toughness the situation got.

Heb 5:7

7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared.

Ps 126:5

1. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

Therefore, prayer strengthens our resolve to overcome the temptations to quit on God’s word sowed in our hearts due to life’s challenges.

1. Jesus was not delivered from His troubles rather He was strengthened in them.

2. He was strengthened when His enemies (the rulers, drowsiness of the hour, and sorrow of death) were awakened, and His disciples quit on Him.

3. By strong prayers, Jesus brought the new and abundant life of hope, freedom, growth, and prosperity to mankind.

We are encouraged to pray without ceasing. If we pray earnestly like Jesus we will reap in joy with great results, success, and prosperity.