2. Seeds: Who We Are

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“Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”

Psalm 139:16 (ESV)

In this exercise we look at seeds as they relate to us.

As a reminder, each time we approach The Word of God, we should ask the Father to guide us, by His Spirit.  He created each of us in a unique manner.  

Instructions for the Bible and Strong's searches assume that you are using the e-Sword app on your Android or Apple device.  If you need help, please view the Examine page.  These examples may be used in other electronic bibles, however it is best to avoid online bibles that require network or internet.  

A.  Become familiar with what the Word has to say about “seed”. 

• Bible Search “seed” (partial match) from the KJV, and then Bible Search again from your preferred bible, or the ESV.  Note the difference of returns between KJV and the modern translations.  Modern translations often use the word “offspring” in place of “seed”.

• As the Spirit leads you, scroll through the returns and note the context of the word “seed” or “offspring”, with focus on Psalms and the New Testament.

B.  Become familiar with what the Word has to say about “flesh”.

• Bible Search “flesh” and scroll through the New Testament returns.

C.  Matthew 13 exercise, “The Parable of the Weeds”.

• Read Mat 13:24-30.  Jesus is telling of the “Parable of the Weeds”.

• Next, read His explanation of the parable in Mat 13:36-43.

• Use the details from the explanation and rewrite in your own words the “Parable of the Weeds” from Mat 13:24-30. 

D.  Who are “we”?

In the Mat 13 parable we see two types of “seeds”, wheat and weeds, which Jesus then differentiates as “the sons of the kingdom” and "the sons of the evil one”, or more plainly God’s seed and Satan’s seed.   

Here are three terms found in scripture that help define who “we” are:

Spirit: 

The term spirit is often used in a personal manner and is considered as part of our unique soul.  We should not confuse this spirit with God’s perfect Spirit.  God’s Spirit enters us the moment we are saved through faith and become a believer.

Scripture gives examples of each, the spirit that is part of the soul, and “God's” Spirit:

“My” spirit (soul):

Psalms 143:4 (ESV)  “Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled.”

God’s Spirit (in all believers):

Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV)  "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,"

Body:

There are two body types, flesh and eternal, or perishable and imperishable.  The bodies of flesh live naturally on this earth.  Eternal bodies can live on, or under, this physical earth and of course they can also live apart from the natural realm, in Eternity.

1 Corinthians 15:42 (ESV)  “So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.” 

Soul:

Before the foundation of the world, God foreknew us.  He created each soul uniquely, and it is our soul that ultimately distinguishes us as individuals.

The term “soul" is understood to encompass our heart, mind, and strength which may include physical strength while in the flesh, but more likely means our determination or willingness, or our spirit (not God’s Spirit).

A believer’s soul is the “battleground” for the struggle between the flesh and God’s perfect Spirit in a believer.  The “momentary and light afflictions” faced while in the flesh are part of the sanctification process.  The trials and the results vary from soul to soul, and have Kingdom consequences.  Many parables speak to this. 

 As a reminder, “we” didn't start here on earth and this is not our home.  We are sojourners and exiles.  And we won't be here for very long.

1Pe 2:11 (ESV)

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

E.  Read Luke 8: 4-15

• This is another seed related parable.  There are similar parables in Matthew and Mark.

• What do the seeds represent in this parable?

• As the sower sowed, some seeds fell along the path, some fell on the rock, some fell among thorns, and some fell on good soil.

• Note that some seeds produce more than others.

• Which seeds do you believe fell to the “sons of the kingdom”?

• Which seeds do you believe fell to the “sons of the evil one”?

In this parable do you see a relationship to 2Cor 5:10 and the Judgment Seat of Christ?

For the believer, the brief time in the flesh is our opportunity for spiritual growth, sanctification.  This includes discipline, and discipline is often painful.

In Hebrews we read: “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”  

Hebrews 12:11  (ESV)

F. Examine Summary Diagram

This exercise is designed to help you visualize that which you have examined to this point.  Be sure to pray persistently, asking God for wisdom as you examine the scriptures and text in this exercise.

If you struggle with any scripture interpretation then Examine with KJV+. 

The numbered paragraphs below relate to the numbered areas on the Picture Diagram.

We will add to this diagram as we “Examine” the remaining “S”, “R”, “T”, “K”, “J”, and “H” icons.

You may view a PDF of this Examine Diagram.

1.  Eternity

• Consider Eternity as a place, not a time.  Eternity has always existed, and it is “timeless.” (Revelation 21: 23,25).
• God inhabits Eternity. (Isaiah 57:15)  Scripture gives the dimensions (Revelation 21:15-17) and many other important details of His timeless dwelling place. (all of Rev 21 and Rev 22).
• Scripture refers to this dwelling place as “the 3rd Heaven” (2 Corinthians 12:2), “Paradise” (Luke 23:43, Corinthians 12:4), and the “Father’s House” (John 14:2). 

2.  Creation

• Carefully examine the creation of the heavens and the earth in Genesis 1.  Often overlooked is it that God created time, or “seasons, days, years”. (Genesis 1:14).  Scripture also indicates that time goes away after the 1,000 year Kingdom, as the earth and the heaven flee away from the face of the one seated on the great white throne (Revelation 20:11), and that there is no need for time in Eternity (Revelation 21:23-25).
• The scriptures refer to three “heavens”, and we have already seen that “the Third Heaven” is part of Eternity.  The first heaven indicates the atmosphere of the earth.  The second heaven is outer space, which includes the sun, moon, planets, stars, and galaxies.  Scientists combine the first and second heavens and call it our “universe”. Often missed is that everything from the tiniest particles to the biggest galaxies, and all the forces and laws that hold them together require the element of “time”.  This is why God included “time” in His creation.  Ask your AI app, “does an atom require time to exist?" and expect a response similar to, “The tiniest atom requires time to exist, because time is part of the fabric of the universe in which atoms exist.” 
• In summary, time starts with the creation of the heavens and the earth, and time ends after the 1,000 year Kingdom. 

3.  Seeds and Weeds

• God’s Seed (His):  This is a good time to remember that we have shown that God is sovereign over His creation, and that he knows the plans He has for us. (Jeremiah 29:11).  We are His seed, and we were known (created) before the foundation of the earth, and He knew the days He formed for us even before those days existed. (Psalm 139:16).  The Son of man sows His good seed, the children of the kingdom.  (Matthew 13:37-38)
• Satan’s Seed (Not His):  The devil sows his weeds, or tares, the children of the wicked one (Matthew 13:37-38) with the intent to slow or eliminate healthy growth of the children of the kingdom.  Satan works constantly to deceive His (the children of the kingdom), that he may steal, kill, and destroy.  (John 10:10).
• The Seeds and Weeds are scattered across time.  (Matthew 13:24)  The good seeds of the great multitude will likely land prior to the resurrection “R” and of course come to faith in Christ Jesus during Tribulation. 

4.   Soul (coming soon)

Question to ponder (coming soon)