Rhemalight

^{Ge 8:22} “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” (NIV)

After the flood of Noah’s time, God after smelling the aroma of the sacrifice stated that He would never again curse the ground because of man. God has never cursed the ground again because of man-it ended in the garden. In this article, I intend to expound on the spiritual laws of “seedtime and harvest” and “release and Profit”.

The law of seedtime and harvest is dependant on the law of release and profit. For seedtime to occur there must be release of seed from the stores of the sower and harvest time is profit time. I believe that when we fathom these two laws, not only will we benefit but also prosper more. I will deal with both correlating principles together so that you get the full definition

Seedtime and Release

One of the most misunderstood principles in the kingdom of God is the sowing principle. I will not delve into the theology of it but I will center on its applicability and why it works.

The Parable of the Growing Seed

^{Mk 4:26} He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. ⁱ A man scatters seed on the ground.

^{Mk 4:27} Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.

^{Mk 4:28} All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.

^{Mk 4:29} As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” (NIV)

Let us obtain some truths from this parable;

1: He scatters seed

2: He sleeps over duration of time

3: Seed grows without his direct knowledge or input

4: There is a progressive but exhaustive growth

5. Harvest is determined by definite sign and should be done

Actually the whole of chapter 4 illustrates the principle of release and profit. Therefore I encourage you to read the whole chapter. I will therefore have truths from this whole chapter though my emphasis will be on the above portion of scripture.

1: He scatters seed

I know people have wondered what the seed is. This is what I believe a seed can be money or things but I believe the primary seed is the word of God and people are the ground

The seed is sown in the right ground and the ground is people who also have a part to play in this matter but let us concentrate on the sower. This sower has understood the law of release and is willing to give the little he has in anticipation of profit. This principle was exercised at its greatest potential in the revelation of the Living Word-Jesus. He gave one that He may obtain many sons into glory. This principle is also very operative in relationships and I believe if one has not yet perfected it, there are still not at their full potential in love.

^{Heb 2:10} For it was an act worthy [of God] and fitting [to the divine nature] that He, for Whose sake and by Whom all things have their existence, in bringing many sons into glory, should make the Pioneer of their salvation perfect [should bring to maturity the human experience necessary to be perfectly equipped for His office as High Priest] through suffering. (The Amplified Bible)

Until you are ready to lose, you are not ready to keep that which you treasure. This principle is all over the bible. Until those individuals were ready to lose that which they had, they could not keep it. Abraham, the widow at Zarephath, David, Jesus and even God himself. I have come to believe that people who are willing to let go of their better halves especially in fulfillment of God’s will when asked of God are the best lovers. Just like Isaiah 1:18, if you are willing and obedient, you eat the good of the land. It is the willingness to lay everything at the altar that the real thing occurs. With consecration and dedication to God of everything comes power and profit.

Luke 6:38 brings in another aspect of this principle. When you give, you release that which you have. Without release, there is no scattering or sowing. It is a sacrifice on the part of the sower. Though it is a sacrifice, often times it is also a joyous time because of the investment into their future.

2. He sleeps over duration of time

I think what I have seen most in people including myself is the failure to sleep through the growth time. I believe the 3 days that Jesus was dead were some of the hardest for the father but also the days were He rested because He knew what was at the end, harvest. He sleeps and this means he rests.

Hebrews 4 says we who have believed do enter into his rest. Rest is a result of faith. Without faith-steadfast confidence and assurance in God and His Word-it is impossible to be at rest. Folks who are restless and usually in haste are not in faith. Let us look at my favorite passage in the bible;

^{Ac 27:23} For this [very] night there stood by my side an angel of the God to Whom I belong and Whom I serve and worship,

^{Ac 27:24} And he said, Do not be frightened, Paul! It is necessary for you to stand before Caesar; and behold, God has given you all those who are sailing with you.

^{Ac 27:25} So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith (complete confidence) in God that it will be exactly as it was told me; (The Amplified Bible)

Paul knew whom he belonged to and who he served and worshipped that he could tell the folks to cheer up. Why? Verse 25. Paul could have a complete confidence in God because he knew God would act. He believed in his heart and also confessed it with his mouth. Jesus could sleep in a storm because He knew divine laws work when activated at any time, But remember they are activated by faith.

Probably you have sown your time, money, love etc and it all seems amiss. Be encouraged that there is some work going on and you will reap. Stay in rest i.e. in faith and you will reap.

3: Seed grows without his direct knowledge or input

A seed grows without the direct knowledge of the sower. His input at the start of the equation is planting the seed and what happens in the ground is up to God. You sow, you water, you remove the weeds but God gives the increase. (1 Cor 3:6). Let us not delve into good and bad grounds. Let us stay on the good ground. When you sow the seeds, the seed makes a demand on the ground to produce after its kind. The ground can’t say to the seed to produce otherwise i.e. beans to produce peas.

Secondly, the seed dies and then gives life. I believe that sometimes even in the commitment to love, it looks like death at the beginning but as u continue to water the seed of love by words of faith (confession), there is growth. Seeds are planted and the increase is given by God. You exercise your part but the increase is from God.

Please notice the scriptures say that the farmer doesn’t know how the growth happens. When we sow seeds of love, kindness, money etc, let us be rest assured that not only will it change the people who have been the objects of this planting but there shall be fruit. The ground is people which receive the seed and the seed (especially the word) will place a demand on the people to change. Romans 12:2 best illustrates this. You can not talk about production unless you talk about seedtime which is a result of release.

4: There is a progressive but exhaustive growth

Growth in the Kingdom of God is both exhaustive but also progressive. Let us take this for an illustration. A baby born yesterday is much a human as a 40 year old. It has all a body, soul and spirit. The growth was exhaustive for we can say it is whole. However there must be progression for its faculties to function at their intended potential. Look at the verse 28. There is a progression based on the natural development- stalk, head and kernel. This is where we miss it. We usually want to harvest before it is time. God is a God of order and has placed into motion; laws that He will also not go against. In the spiritual development, the seed (word of God) is planted in the believer and time should be given to it to fully blossom.

It is even so when it comes to money. I remember a time when the Lord told me to participate in a friend’s wedding to a tune of money which was quite an amount for me then. He told me it was for my business. It took 3 years before the business manifested. God has a way of doing his business and we must desire to work like Him if we are to benefit from the seed sowed whether in our lives or that of others.

Even in the commitment to love, I have seen that growth does not happen overnight and usually comes in small doses. When you plant seeds of love and trust in a relationship, the demand shall be made on the person and change which is gradual will come. You don’t make the demand, it is the seed you sow. Folks, this works tremendously and I have seen it operate in friends’ lives to a great extent.

Harvest Is Profit time

In the spirit, losses have been left to the devil and his cohorts. Our kingdom is one of profit. Have you forgotten the scripture which says He teaches us on how to profit and also another-do not be slothful in business? This is a kingdom of profit. God is never one of failure or lack. He is one of profit and success.

5. Harvest is determined by definite sign and should be done

Release of seed results in profiting and this is evidenced by harvest time. In verse 29, a sign-ripeness is clear to the sower. Growth has happened over a duration of time and now is the time to reap. One of the problems in the harvest time is slothfulness which results in rotting. I believe that some times God has directed us to move from some places, receive a gift, minister a revelation but have given all sorts of answers because of fear or failure to understand the times.

Harvest time is very good time if you sowed the right seed. Remember I said that the seed makes the demand on the ground and not vice versa. When you sow seeds of discord and hate, you will reap that. However, it shall be much more. No one sowed one seed and reaped a single seed. It always comes back in plenty. Look at men who have treated their women with disrespect over time. I have noticed that the times when the women return the mail to the sender, it is in great proportions. On a side note, women are nurturers and whatever you give them will be returned in a higher dimension. So be careful what you sow.

When Jesus died and rose again, God knew it was the time to reap. Now many sons would be received into glory. Jesus said the harvest is ready. Our kingdom is one based on a seed principle.

Release to Profit: What to do

1. Release

In the kingdom, it is not about just knowing that it is good to sow. You must release the seed to have benefit. The seed which I believe must be sown a lot in your and other grounds is the word of God. All the things in the kingdom start with the word being sown. However even it comes to money or kindness or love, you must release it for it to come back to you. I believe some folks are the way they are because at the time of release they never acted and now they are reaping nothing. Others released the wrong seed and they are reaping the fruit thereof. Not good but hey, you reap what you sow.

So please release but make sure it is the right seed for they produce after their kind and in plenty.

2. Understand the time.

This law is one of cause and effect but time is involved. Seedtime is a time of joy even though it requires determination and dedication. I mean, why should one love when there is no sign of reciprocation at the moment. After seedtime, comes the time that most people don’t like. It is the time between seedtime and harvest. Recently, I was meditating on this truth and realised a couple of things.

1. For those who always want to know what is going on, it is a trying period.

2. The seed dies.

3. It is never one of joy but can be endured by faith.

Should you have to have faith that the seed shown shall bring forth fruit? No. All you have to maintain is an attitude of expectation. The only faith exercised was that when I sow I reap and on the basis of that the sower rests.

3. Water and care for.

Maintain a spirit of expectancy and a positive confession even in the face of staggering opposition. It is like conception. At the beginning, you believe God for the harvest to come and after you have planted it turns to expectation because you know God is faithful.