Dear Christian friends:

In our text Jesus tells about a secret power, the secret power of a seed. It is a secret because it is silent. It is planted, hidden in the soil and quietly becomes alive and grows to a large plant or tree. When you think about the power in one tiny seed you are surprised, dumbfounded.

Today we have wonderful, powerful machinery and very noisy and much polluted air because of that. We perhaps think that machines are more powerful and more valuable than seeds. When you visit Leo Goll he will show you his wonderful, powerful machines. And we should forgive him if he boasts about his machines. But Leo's real power and most valuable is his seed. All his wonderful machines are worthless without seed. Praise God because He has hidden wonderful power and life in the seed.

So in the Christian Church. God has hidden wonderful power in His Word. In our parable about the farmer Jesus compares God's Word with the seed.


God's Word is the secret power of a Christian.

God's Word has life and power in it, the same as a seed. Jesus said, "The words that I speak, they are spirit and they are life." And Peter said, "We are born again, not by seed that perishes, but by one that cannot perish, God's ever-living Word."

When people hear and learn God's Word about His love and mercy which He has showed to us in Christ Jesus, His Son, our Savior; When people hear that God loves them and forgives all their sins because of Jesus' death and resurrection, His Holy Spirit comes and awakens faith and life in their hearts. God's Word is planted and hidden in their minds and hearts and faith, hope, love, joy, thanksgiving and praise grows in their hearts.

And they do many good works. They worship God in Church, at home and by their daily work and play. They show mercy and kindness to others in need. They forgive those who sin against them. They help support their church and the preaching of the Good News. Like a good plant or tree they produce many fruits, fruits of the Holy Spirit. Like the seed in the parable which fell on good soil, some produce one-hundred times, some sixty, and others thirty.

Therefore the Christian loves and values God's Word. David said, "How I love Thy Word. It is my mediation all day. Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee."

Like David, the Christian hides God's Word in his heart. (Explain) Let not Satan steal God's Word from his heart. (verse 19, Make sure he understands it.) Let God's Word sink in, (root deeply) in his heart, so that in time of trouble or temptation he will not give up faith. (verses 20-21)

Do not let worries, riches and pleasures of this life crowd in and choke their faith. (verse 22) Hear God's Word regularly and keep it in his heart: believes it, and obeys it. (verse 23)

God's Word is also the secret power of a successful church, not a fancy building or organization. Now we have a nice, new church building, and new constitution. But that is worthless if we do not gather there often to hear and learn God's Word. A farmer's beautiful machinery is worthless with no seed to plant. (Tell of he bad habit some members have who go for church dinners, but not for worship services.)

So, remember God's Word has wonderful secret power. Be wise and hide His Word in your heart.

Amen.