The following is what I call a seminar post from forum land. I have shared this many times with many men. This writing was done for ministers I interact with on forums. Conroe UPC was built around this principle. John 12:24 has impacted my life more than any single verse beyond the New Birth message. I share with you here a principle that Tracie and I have lived. The principle is before you. The details of the dying still burn within us. We recognize that every harvest requires yet another death. So Lord, I am ready to die again if it means yet another revival. I pray you feel the spirit of this piece. rks
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. John 12:24 KJV
Seed has to fall....
In this process of falling life will go out of control...
Life must get crazy and chaotic as the good seed tumbles from the hand of the Master into the soil it is intended for if there is to be spiritual germination...
Seed must fall into the ground...
Into the dirty ground and be covered up and forgotten...
No revival will be found in the party of life...
Rather germination can only take place in the loneliness of being buried and forgotten...
Seed has to die....
It cannot germinate without dying first....
Dying is not pretty...
Dying seed is ugly and slimy and black and in a black hole that has been forgotten by the crowd....
Dying for the harvest can be even uglier...
Out of the death of the seed comes the new life of harvest....
Out of the death of the man and his wife will come that new revival...
This verse does not say, "if it feels like it is dying"
To many men, and their wives feel like they are dying and stop short of real spiritual germination....
Little girl wife hasn't had a new dress in a couple of months; she feels like she is dying....
Preacher boy can't play golf so he feels like he is dying...
Something has to die....
That man has to die...
That wife has to die...
The hope is this....
"If it dies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
If the minister goes ahead and allows the death of germination, take place....
He shall bring forth much fruit like himself....
That is .....
A harvest of people willing to die with him next time.....
For every harvest, there must be yet another death.....
A dead minister is much different from a minister who has learned a few tricks; but has no substance.....
Most times this death is financial......
Many times, it is family or kids etc.....
However, a death must occur for a revival to take place.....
Anyone who has merely cut back in lifestyle has not sacrificed....
You will have to see your lifestyle crash around you before there is a death....
One might quit or lose a good job but that is not death......
Trust me....
If you or your wife feel like you are going to die....
You are still a longgggggggg way from spiritual germination.......
If a bill collector calling upsets you; you are along way from spiritual germination.....
When a repo man no longer bothers you.....
When your 5-year-old suit no longer bothers you.....
When your kids are stuck with hand me downs from the church kids and it no longer bothers you....
When it no longer bothers you to pay you light bills on the disconnect notice.....
When you FICA is under 500 and it no longer matters....
When you have a family member sick unto death and you are still mad about it....
If any of these things still bother you...
Sadly....
Then you are a long way from spiritual germination....
But if you die......
If you are past feeling and no longer care.....
You then are in the midst of spiritual germination.....
You are just about dead....
And when you die....
Spiritual harvest can take place....
I have seen too many ministries never really die and never rise to the full potential they could have seen....
I have seen too many preachers live in the realm of talent and buddies....
I have seen too many preachers’ wives not be willing to do without certain material blessings....
I will never forget the day that Tracie and I died simultaneously...
The details are still too painful...
The results of our deaths......
Are not!
RKS
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. John 12:24 KJV
Seed has to fall....
In this process of falling life will go out of control...
Life must get crazy and chaotic as the good seed tumbles from the hand of the Master into the soil it is intended for if there is to be spiritual germination...
Seed must fall into the ground...
Into the dirty ground and be covered up and forgotten...
No revival will be found in the party of life...
Rather germination can only take place in the loneliness of being buried and forgotten...
Seed has to die....
It cannot germinate without dying first....
Dying is not pretty...
Dying seed is ugly and slimy and black and in a black hole that has been forgotten by the crowd....
Dying for the harvest can be even uglier...
Out of the death of the seed comes the new life of harvest....
Out of the death of the man and his wife will come that new revival...
This verse does not say, "if it feels like it is dying"
To many men, and their wives feel like they are dying and stop short of real spiritual germination....
Little girl wife hasn't had a new dress in a couple of months; she feels like she is dying....
Preacher boy can't play golf so he feels like he is dying...
Something has to die....
That man has to die...
That wife has to die...
The hope is this....
"If it dies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
If the minister goes ahead and allows the death of germination, take place....
He shall bring forth much fruit like himself....
That is .....
A harvest of people willing to die with him next time.....
For every harvest, there must be yet another death.....
A dead minister is much different from a minister who has learned a few tricks; but has no substance.....
Most times this death is financial......
Many times, it is family or kids etc.....
However, a death must occur for a revival to take place.....
Anyone who has merely cut back in lifestyle has not sacrificed....
You will have to see your lifestyle crash around you before there is a death....
One might quit or lose a good job but that is not death......
Trust me....
If you or your wife feel like you are going to die....
You are still a longgggggggg way from spiritual germination.......
If a bill collector calling upsets you; you are along way from spiritual germination.....
When a repo man no longer bothers you.....
When your 5-year-old suit no longer bothers you.....
When your kids are stuck with hand me downs from the church kids and it no longer bothers you....
When it no longer bothers you to pay you light bills on the disconnect notice.....
When you FICA is under 500 and it no longer matters....
When you have a family member sick unto death and you are still mad about it....
If any of these things still bother you...
Sadly....
Then you are a long way from spiritual germination....
But if you die......
If you are past feeling and no longer care.....
You then are in the midst of spiritual germination.....
You are just about dead....
And when you die....
Spiritual harvest can take place....
I have seen too many ministries never really die and never rise to the full potential they could have seen....
I have seen too many preachers live in the realm of talent and buddies....
I have seen too many preachers’ wives not be willing to do without certain material blessings....
I will never forget the day that Tracie and I died simultaneously...
The details are still too painful...
The results of our deaths......
Are not!
RKS
Posts
3 comments:
I will never forget the night you preached that for the first time.It changed my life.
Thank you Bishop
VA
I'll never forget that evening when you came downstairs with tears in your eyes and told me about sharing this story with Trent. I remember it made such an incredible difference in his life. He became content and the negative feelings of being alone seemed to have such purpose. Hence the negative turned to positive or purposeful feelings. It was then he was teased about going out to eat with us rather than friends. People didn't understand and teased that he was only going along so Dad could pick up the tab. We knew however that it was then that he was finding protection for the future.
Thinking about this post, Today. Came looking for it. Appreciate you sharing it with us.
Mark Pryor
Post a Comment