Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, Aug. 13, 2000, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

GET THE SEED OUT OF THE BARN!

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Haggai 2:10-19

Text: Haggai 2:19

Haggai 2:19 Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.

Introduction: My text tonight is a question: “Is the seed yet in the barn?” The implication is that the seed should have already been taken out of the barn and been planted.

Notice what the Bible says is the true seed:

Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

The Bible compares itself to seed that is planted in human hearts. This seed produces the new birth:

1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Why did God give us the King James Bible? We Christian people are to be continually sowing the seed, the word of God. In particular, we should be sowing the seed of the gospel of Christ, found in 1 Cor. 15:3-4.

This morning I referred to the fact that most of us have several Bibles in our homes. Why do we have them? Are you sowing the seed? or is the seed yet in the barn?

When the seed is left in the barn, two bad things are happening:

CHRISTIAN SERVICE IS DETERIORATING. If the word of God is not going out into the world, then Christians are just fooling themselves. They are not serving God. Their mission is to get the gospel out to the world! If a church is not putting out the gospel, it is a church in name only. It is not serving God.
CORRUPT SEED IS DISTRIBUTED. False “bibles” are being distributed by the cults and the compromisers. False religions are distributing their literature — the Jehovah’s False Witnesses, the Mormons, the Seventh Day Adventists, etc. False believers are getting into churches without getting born again because they are joining without having heard and believed the gospel of Christ. They are tares sowed among the wheat, as the Lord mentioned in Matt. 13:24-25.

LET’S GET THE SEED OUT OF THE BARN!

IN ORDER TO GET THE SEED OUT OF THE BARN,

I. LET’S SPEND MONEY ON EVANGELISM

Not only is sowing compared to putting out the word of God, but it is also compared to giving to God’s work:

2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

A. Let’s donate our treasure

Tithes and offerings
Designated gifts
Love offerings and sacrifices — bonuses, savings, wills, income tax returns

B. Let’s duplicate tapes

C. Let’s distribute tracts and other literature

Tracts with the gospel
Tracts on other Bible subjects — baptism, church membership
Church newspaper
Flyers
Signs
Bumper stickes

D. Let’s disseminate the truth!

If we don’t put the true gospel out, the only gospel received by unbelievers will be the FALSE gospels of the CULTS!
Use every means that we can — television, radio, the Internet, etc.
The most fruitful means by which we have reached men, women, boys, and girls locally has been the bus ministry. Let’s keep running the buses! Pray about working on a bus route! If I were a “preacher boy” or any other worker wanting to reach people for Christ, I would ask my pastor if I could have a bus route!

IN ORDER TO GET THE SEED OUT OF THE BARN,

II. LET’S SUPPORT MISSIONS

Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Philippians 4:15-17 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. 17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

A. Let’s go to the field if God calls us

B. Let’s groan over our missionaries in prayer

C. Let’s give to the support of home and foreign missions

IN ORDER TO GET THE SEED OUT OF THE BARN,

III. LET’S SPREAD THE MESSAGE OURSELVES

1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

This is not a reference to a man standing behind a pulpit and preaching to a bunch of Christians at church. It is taking the gospel to people publicly and one-on-one:

Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

A. Let’s live to win souls – Ps. 126:5-6; Prov. 11:30

Why are you here?
Christ left us here to be His ambassadors – 2 Cor. 5:18-20

B. Let’s learn to win souls

Come out Thursday night and we will place you with an experienced soul-winner.
Sign up for the next session of our soul-winning training program!

C. Let’s look to win souls

Go soul-winning weekly on purpose.
Look at people as God does — sinners on the road to hell!
Witness daily! Keep a New Testament with you at all times! Keep tracts in your pocket, your purse, your notebook, your car!
Let’s get the seed out of the barn!!!