Paulette Reed: "A SEASON OF ACCELERATION AND MIRACLE GROWTH--ONLY GOD MAKES IT GROW"

August 31, 2006

Paulette Reed: "A SEASON OF ACCELERATION AND MIRACLE GROWTH
--ONLY GOD MAKES IT GROW"

The Dream of Seeds Soaking

Recently the Lord gave one of my intercessors, Rory, a dream. In the dream, I was standing at the front of a classroom wearing a white lab coat with a transparent pocket in front. Inside the pocket was a key. Seated at their desks, each student had a tray and I said, "Now class, you must soak the seeds; you must soak the seeds." In the dream, I was carrying an old watering can with a large spigot.

Heart Revelation

We know the Church is in a season of acceleration--Miracle Growth--and Jesus, the Master Gardener, has given us the spiritual tools and wisdom to cultivate that growth. We also know we must maintain unity of purpose, whether planting, watering or harvesting, and we must always remember that only God makes things grow.

We find this declaration in I Corinthians 3:6-9, "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."

We are God's tilled ground, for "God formed man from the dust of the ground..." Genesis 2:7. Many of us are keenly aware that we have endured the plowing, preparation, cultivation, and planting with seeds from the Heavenly granary. Some have Divine seeds within their hearts they have nurtured for years, not knowing when their yield will come to fruition. And some have seeds in their womb that they aren't even aware they're carrying...yet.

When Truth and Grace bent down to earth, He worked the field (us), which was barren wasteland, overgrown with tares--and He redeemed it for Himself. In a Divine Exchange, desolation gave way to the Promised Land. Be assured, the Master Gardener expects to receive a harvest--love begets love.

What farmer would plant, without fully intending to see a mature crop as the fruit of his labor? The planter and the waterer can rejoice and anticipate the gathering, as in Psalms 126:6, "He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him." Our great expectation is securely founded upon the promises of God. After all, the Scriptures proclaim God Does make things grow, not God might make things grow.

Soaking the Seeds

Recently, it seems many articles and conference themes expound upon the process of soaking in the presence of the Lord. In light of that theme, it seems prudent to first focus on the seeds and the crop they will produce.

We know the promises made to Abraham and his seed--us. God made several promises in His covenant with Abraham, but the grandest was most certainly the blessing through Christ. Galatians 3:16, "The Scripture does not say, 'and to seeds,' meaning many people, but 'and to a seed,' meaning one person, who is Christ." That seed is of one lineage, one family, and one harvest of offspring--Christ-like sons and daughters. It is to this seed the blessings and the inheritance belong. 

Now, please forgive me for stating the obvious, but we all need to hear, as that is how faith comes. Therefore, though this may not be new information for many, I pray it is new revelation for some.

Dry seeds are dormant. In the dream, the Holy Spirit strongly (repeating Himself) encouraged us to soak the seeds. Soaking seeds ends dormancy, stirring up the life process hidden beneath their protective covering. Alleluia! Friends, seeds can remain in a granary for hundreds of years, preserved in their dormancy, but they're useless there. We know a seed must fall to the ground and die. Then, with proper care, and soaking/watering, dormancy ends and the anticipated crop will spring forth. In other words, a seed becomes fruitful by the giving up of self, like Christ.

Shower it Down, Lord!

According to researchers (who may or may not wear white lab coats), seeds cannot soak up too much water. Some will absorb a considerable amount of water; some will absorb a small amount of water. What really matters is the provision of water for life to spring forth. Our choice, our free will, is so very crucial to the outcome.

Do we soak in Living Water? Beloved, we must return to our Provider daily, just as the coriander seed/manna was provided to the Israelites in their wilderness experience--daily. Yesterday's manna will not do.  

Can we lay aside our own agenda and apply tears of intercession to the seeds sown by the saints who have gone before us? Do we allow God's presence to work in us for His will and His good purposes, creating in us the fruit of the spirit? Do we nurture Christ, the seed within us, realizing that as we are transformed into His image, and as the seed reaches maturity, we are the will of God "on earth as it is in Heaven?" Or, does our flesh yet willfully contend for our own harvest?

It seems laughable to consider the fact that seeds soaked in hot water germinate very quickly. I'm certain many of you can relate to that concept spiritually. After soaking in hot water, the sprouting and growth phase will accelerate. This is the same principle as placing popcorn seeds in hot oil. There can be a "suddenly" resulting from our yielding, to the ways of the Harvester. Dear ones, the more we yield--the more we will yield (produce).

Before we move on, let's note that seeds producing the best harvest have gone through a process of complete cleansing and purification. This most assuredly produces successful germination for "The Gardener."

And may we remember that purification often takes place in the desert where it seems dry and desolate. But, in truth, God is always "reigning" even in the desert where the Spirit may have led us. Rejoice, for "the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will burst into bloom." Isaiah 35:1

Who Among Us Is to Water?

Now that we've seen how crucial it is to awaken the seeds of God, let's explore who among us, is to water in accordance with the Word of the Lord. The waterer, in our key text was Apollos. Apollos was well versed in the Scriptures, an itinerant preacher. God uses this Scripture to indicate we must all study to show ourselves approved (See also 2 Timothy 2:15).

There are great things coming to the youth and children of the Church. However, in the dream it appears the Lord desires to use the older saints to do some watering. It's very significant that the watering pitcher in the dream was old, or could we say seasoned? Perhaps, when rain is coming, God prefers to use the older, more mature saints. After all, Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters came upon the earth (Genesis 7:6).

A refreshing is coming, friends, as we soak the seeds according to the Master Gardner's plan. It is written, "The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail" Isaiah 58:11. For those who have been in the desert, this is a refreshing promise, indeed. You will be like a well-watered garden.

God Alone Gives the Increase

May I also propose that, like Apollos, we are all itinerant preachers going from place-to-place, presenting the Good News, whether to our neighbor, or to the nations. But, in sharing the Good News, we must not focus on the growth of our Church or our ministry. We must only focus on the growth of the seed. For it's when we each mature to full stature, that the storehouse will be full.

In this hour, perhaps more so than ever, the Lord is looking to His Harvest. He has entrusted every believer with spiritual gifts and the body of Christ needs them all. We can't afford to be without even one of them! However, even with the gifts of Heaven apart from Him, we can do nothing. God, and God alone, brings growth. But as we go on our way, seeds can be choked by life's worries, riches, and pleasures, and they will not mature without soaking in the Living Water (Luke 8:14). Jesus is our Master Gardener and, as we see in Isaiah 52:15, "...He purposes to sprinkle many nations...." which is often compared to rain or water.

Have you noticed that often when water/rain presents itself, some don't run to it, but from it? What seems to be a dry, safe place, turns out to be just a dry place. Maybe we need to be asking ourselves, "Do I really want growth? Have I become dormant in the process of seeking my own comfort? Do I remain inert, safe within my shell, because I know that growth most often creates tension?"

Remember, the enemy's purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy. Some seeds may be sluggish, complacent, or inactive, indicative of a slow death. The devil is coy and won't just kill the seeds instantly. Rather, he takes years, even centuries, deviously trying to mutate seeds of the righteous. However, the Good News promises Jesus has come to give life abundantly!

God is saying, "Soak the seeds, soak the seeds." Friends, we would do well to take heed.

A Time of Testing, Adorned for the Task at Hand

Do you remember the white lab coat in the seed dream? White typically indicates purity. This exemplifies the necessity of purity in the teacher, the planter, the waterer, and the Church. I believe the lab coat in the dream also denotes healing, testing, and teaching.

Physicians (healers) and other practitioners often wear lab coats. Researchers within a laboratory, a place designed for testing, wear them too. And, in Argentina, it's common to see educators and students wearing a lab coat style of uniform on a daily basis. Also, collegiate white coat ceremonies involve a cloaking or robing, and have taken on a quasi-religious significance that symbolizes "conversion" similar to a priest's ordination into the priesthood.

Don't miss the relevance of the students in the classroom. Remember that God is a Rewarder of all who diligently seek Him. In the classroom of life, students/disciples will be in varying degrees of the pursuit of learning. Do we seek to be one of many who are called, or do we long to be one of the few who are chosen? The students in the dream all had containers--they had each been given equal opportunity to soak the seeds. Only time will tell of the crop produced by our submission to the lessons presented.

The Key is Now Visible

The key in the transparent pocket reveals the authority of the Church. In Hebrew, key is "maphteah" meaning "the opener" (Judges 3:25); and in the Greek New Testament, kleis, from its use in shutting (or binding as in Matthew 16:19). A key is used figuratively to show power, or authority of office (Isaiah 22:22, Revelation 3:7). Only God gives the increase and, in so doing, He is opening and closing doors.

The "key of knowledge" (Luke 11:52), is the means of attaining knowledge regarding the Kingdom of God. "The power of the keys" is a phrase used to denote the extent of ecclesiastical authority. As the Master Gardener brings increase, His Word remains the same, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Genesis 1:28

Our Father promises in Revelation 21:6, "I will give to the thirsty the springs of the Water of Life--as a gift!" A gift, friends! He says only to whose who are thirsty after righteousness will He give that gift. God never forces His Living Water on anyone. But, He does promise to fill those who are thirsty (Matthew 5:6).

The Fields are Ripe

The Heavenlies are seeded with intercession. The fields are ripe and harvest time is near. Are you parched? Do you feel dormant? The rain is coming--soak the seeds! Turn away from anything that would take preeminence over your time with the Master Gardener. Allow Him to uproot anything in your garden that hinders growth. Our Precious Savior provides water from His pierced side and again, as He promised, "You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."

Beloved, only God makes things grow as in Mark 4:26-29, "This is what the Kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.

All by itself the soil produces grain--first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."

Living Water, "reign" down on us!

Paulette Reed
Daughters of the Morning Ministries
www.dotmm.org

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Paulette Reed's Upcoming Itinerary:

October 13-15, 2006
Releasing Freedom and Empowerment through Servanthood
Bethel Church/Multi-Church Retreat
Gold Beach, OR
Contact: office@bethelchurcheureka.org  or Cheryl, 707-845-2360

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