Dear friend,

When you ultimately arrive in heaven you may well be amazed at what God has done in and through your life. Let me explain.

About three weeks ago I sowed some seed on a patch of bare land that we’d been working on. Already many blades of grass have sprung up. (See the photo on the right). This reminds me of something Jesus said about the Kingdom of God.

Jesus …said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens.  The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.” Mark 4:26-29 (NLT)

It is very interesting that the Greek word used in verse 28 for the phrase ‘on its own’ is automatos, this can mean ‘spontaneously’ or ‘of its own accord or self.’ I imagine that automatos is where we get our English word ‘automatically’ which means ‘without human intervention’.

To me this parable is hugely freeing. I think that the implication is that the growth of the Kingdom of God is not dependant on us living the perfect life or being some sort of Super Christian’, but rather recognising that it is God Himself who is the one who ultimately brings a person through to salvation and new life….He causes the seed to grow, not us…and yet He gives us the privilege of being involved. 

Like the farmer in the parable, perhaps our responsibility is firstly and quite simply to tend the ground. We can do this in a number of ways including nurturing relationships, caring for those in need, showing respect for each person we interact with, and simply acting out of real love. Admittedly sometimes this will be in difficult conditions and circumstances, like doing good to those who have hurt us or are our enemies!

As we share our lives and the ‘Message of Jesus’ in words and deeds, we are sowing the seed. Sometimes God very specifically instructs us where and when to share the Gospel. Remember the account in Acts 8 where Philip was instructed by the Spirit to go up to the desert road leading from Jerusalem to Gaza. There he met an Ethiopian high official and witnessed to him about Jesus. The Ethiopian received what Philip had to say and was baptised there and then.

Admittedly it’s not always as dramatic as Philip’s encounter, however every time we listen to what God is saying and then act in faithfulness, seeds can be sown in just the right place. Then it is up to God to cause those seeds to grow.

Do you ever think, like I sometimes do, that seeds we sow seem so small and insignificant? Well, remember what Jesus said next in Mark 4 following the parable of the seed - He said “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.” Mark 4:30-32 (NLT)

So, even very small, tiny seeds can be hugely significant. None of us can know this side of heaven the full extent of what our seed sowing will do. What we do know however, is that as we cast the seed far and wide, God is the one who can cause the seed to land exactly where it should be, and to have His people tend the soil and water the seed.

One meaning of the word ‘broadcast’ is to sow or throw the seed over a wide area. That is, broad = wide and cast = throw. Here at Rhema Broadcasting Group we are in the seed sowing business… and so are you. As one who supports this mission, you are in a farming partnership with us, and we have a very extensive farm…a whole nation of precious people who need the faith, hope and love that God has waiting for them. 

On behalf of the tens of thousands who day by day are encouraged in their faith and those who hear the Good News of Jesus for the very first time, thank you for supporting this home based multimedia broadcasting mission… farm ☺. Our prayer for you at this time is that you will experience ‘…God [who] is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work’. 2 Cor 9:8 (NIV)

God bless
Your brother in Christ…and fellow farmer

John G. Fabrin
CEO