What’s in a Seed?

Howard Sands (c) 2010

What’s in a Seed?
Great Oaks from Little Acorns Grow.

     Discover how this principle has, is, and will, apply in your life.

re discover the journey of your life, and how, where you are now is just a part of the journey to where you are going. Small beginnings, cold winters, hard times, refreshing rains and summer joys are all part ofg the journey to where you are going. 

Life is In Stages

Seeds

Genesis 1:12

The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:29

Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.

The right kind of seed – every seed produces

The seed of the Holy Spirit was planted in you – keep that seed only growing

Leviticus 19:19

" 'Keep my decrees. " 'Do not mate different kinds of animals. " 'Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. " 'Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.

Deuteronomy 22:9

Do not plant two kinds of seed in your vineyard; if you do, not only the crops you plant but also the fruit of the vineyard will be defiled.

Planting  - theres a death to self

John 12:24

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

Underground growth,  - the seasons –winter necessary

Genesis 8:22

"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."

Shooting – there’s extreme joy with new birth – natural and spiritual -

Mark 4:27

Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.

Isaiah 61:11

For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

Seedling

Young tree – beauty and strength in a growing young tree = this is just the early phase not its destiny. 

It is still has a valid ministry – provides shade and beauty,

Birds still rest on it and make nests in it

Leaves still exchange carbon di oxide for oxygen to give life

Binds the ground together with its roots so rains don‘t destroy & degrade the land

But this is not its destiny. 

Hosea 14:5-6

I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of   Lebanon he will send down his roots; his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon

Must survive the Weather/ elements – storms of life

Young trees are supple – know how to take the battering winds

Tall mature tree  

Matthew 13:32

Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."

Luke 13:19

It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches."

1 Corinthians 3:6

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.

Cut down

Isaiah 6:13

And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land."

1 Kings 5:6

"So give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My men will work with yours, and I will pay you for your men whatever wages you set. You know that we have no one so skilled in felling timber as the Sidonians."

To the saw mill to be cut to lengths

1 Kings 5:18

The craftsmen of Solomon and Hiram and the men of Gebal cut and prepared the timber and stone for the building of the temple.

Endure the pain – stay securely anchored in Him

Hebrews 6:19-20

19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

2 Timothy 2:3

Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Stored in the timber yard

1 Chronicles 22:14

"I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the LORD a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them.

Sold to the builder

Cut shaved shaped nailed

2 Kings 22:6

the carpenters, the builders and the masons. Also have them purchase timber and dressed stone to repair the temple.

House – a great house – a palace – a temple – a city

This is the destiny of the seed

2 Chronicles 2:3

Solomon sent this message to Hiram king of Tyre: "Send me cedar logs as you did for my father David when you sent him cedar to build a palace to live in.

Hebrews 11:10

For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God

You’ve been working towards it

Don't lose heart in the winter. 

Don't stop growing through the storms of life. 

Don't give up when you're cut down.

Don't say I can't when you're being cut and shaped. 

Don't think your time will never come when you seem to be forgotten when you're lying in the timber yard,

because everything you do is determining

how your palace will work out.

36 saved in village ministry in 2 days in Tamil Nadu, India

India mission 1-12 Oct
Stage 1. 1-2 Oct 2014. Village ministry near Rajapalayam, 2+ hours drive from Madurai in TN. Invitation by Nidy Durairaj from NHCC Australia.  
He has helped pioneer and build 5 churches in this area.

We began the ministry with a morning meeting in a Hindu family home in the small village of Sivilingapuram where Ps Arul (local pastor) has been ministering, this family has shown him kindness and interest in his message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Howard spoke on personal testimonies of healing and the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.

The home owner and his wife received Jesus as their saviour along with the son of a late Hindu swami and others. Eleven in total received Christ in that tiny village tiny home, we visited other homes in the village and returned to the home of the meeting for beautiful lunch, Indian hospitality is clearly seen here even though these people have very little materially they are so happy to receive Jesus and share their homes and lives with us.

After returning home for a little rest in the afternoon, it's hot here, we needed it, it's amazing how easy it is to sleep on these camp stretchers, we headed off to the church where the anniversary meetings are to be conducted, this is a church in Thumbombakullam village where Nidy from NHCC who has invited me, along with his aunty in Chennai and supporters from Mission Fellowship in Australia have constructed a church building and dedicated it 5 years ago.

Although scheduled to start at 6pm and only about 6 people present, Nidy was not concerned, the people will only come when they get back from the work in the fields or cotton mill factories, this is an agricultural area. We started the meeting about 7pm with maybe 50+ people but by 7.30 the numbers had grown to about 100. The first heavy rain in 7 years fell last week so everyone is busy planting crops. Howard preached on "what can you see," a message about seeing the spiritual side of life as well as the natural.

The rain came again during the service, a great downpour, the people are very happy for the rain. Another guest preacher from within the state also spoke after  Howard, unfortunately, even though he was asked to finish with an altar call for salvation he failed to do this and the meetings was dismissed. Apparently he is only accustomed to preach in churches and assumed everyone in church is born again. We should never make this mistake, especially when it is a special occasion. Nevertheless the people were encouraged and will return the next night.

Howard prayed for several that came forward for prayer for healing after the meeting was closed including one older lady who had hip pain that she was completely healed from and a young boy that had bad hearing in one ear that said he could now hear properly in that ear. Both gave testimony to those around them of their healing.

Thursday morning we went to another village and another meeting in tiny home, about 30 people (about 25 of them children) crammed into a small living space about 10 feet by 10 feet. Howard told them stories about the healing of his son Joshua., how God spared Howard's son but did not spare his own son. How when he was 3 years old his older sister Kyle at the tender age of 6 led him to Ask Jesus into his life.  We made a salvation appeal and 15. Children asked Jesus into their life.  We called in several more villages and met the people and prayed in their homes on the way back to pastor Arul's home. 

The evening service started by 7.20pm and by 7.40pm the place was packed tight with about 200+ people for the anniversary service. After local preacher preached. Howard was invited to share the word of God and spoke about the woman in e bible that pressed through the crowd to receive her. Oracle of healing.  7 more asked. Christ to be Lord of their life and many committed themselves to press through the crowd to receive something from God they were desiring. 

After a community dinner we drove back to Ps Arul's home, packed, said goodbye to Ps Arul and family (son Vinod has been helpful in taking photos) and left about 11.30 pm for the 2 hour drive to the major city of Madurai where Howard will spend the next several days. 

Goodbye Rajapalayam, it's been great meeting the beautiful people of your villages.

BFTF in India

I just wanted to share with you our vision and passion to help the Indian church. 
India is- 
- over 1250 million people
- the birthplace of four of the world's major religions. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism
- Worshiping over 600 million gods

In the 35 years since BFTF first went to India the population has more than doubled, 
The 3 largest indigenous groups of Christians that we have consistently worked with have planted in excess of 11,800 new churches during that time. 

 

BFTF has been going to India since its inception in Jan 1980, 
over the years we have:-

Taken dozens of Aussies on a short term missions trip that have changed their lives;

Conducted dozens of crusade meetings across all parts of India where thousands have given their lives to Christ and churches have been planted;

Seen hundreds receive physical healing in their bodies in response to believing prayer;

Taught thousands of pastors and leaders on many and varied topics relating to leadership, church growth, church planting, church administration and pastoral care, 

Delivered hundreds of leadership resources by way of magazines, books, videos etc. 

Sponsored church planting pastors, donated bicycles, church buildings and resources in times of great need. 

WE ARE GOING AGAIN AND WOULD VALUE YOUR SUPPORT & PRAYER 

From 1- 12 October 2014

We will be in 4 different centres conducting 

• church anniversary meetings
• ministering in village settings
• speaking at major city churches and Bible Colleges
• conducting pastors training conferences. 

There will be preparation for future team visits which you may be interested to be part of. 
Stay tuned. Sign up below.

We would value your prayers for:- 

• the director and team members from Australia
• the ministries that we are going to visit
• for fruitfulness in all the ministry
• for financial provision
• for physical protection. 

You can support BFTF in these ways. 
PRAY - SEND - GO - FOLLOW


PRAY especially on days of international mission
SEND support these missions with your gifts
GO join a team whenever a team is going. 
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Two ways to contribute

direct deposit to Beautiful Feet Task Force

Commonwealth Bank of Australia
BSB 062 614  Account number 0094 0442   

or with your credit card or PayPal account. 

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Another BFTF Living Water Well project

Another faith venture of Beautiful Feet Task Force 

draws close to completion. 

Well Progress at Gitugi, Kenya and Preparations for Opening Ceremony.
See the launch details here. 

The drilling rig has arrived on site and commenced drilling for water.
 


The report from Bishop Gerishon is that at 130m deep they have hit water but not of sufficient quality for drinking and will continue drilling, it is expected that they will probably have to drill up to 200m or more.

    

The arrival of the drilling rig creates quite stir in the Gitugi community. 

• The recommendations of the Hydrogeological report.  

8.0 Conclusions and recommendations:
The summarized conclusions and recommendations from the hydro geological investigations undertaken within Gitugi area are described in the following sections.

8.1 Localized Hydrogeology of Investigated Area

1. The area is situated in a zone with moderate groundwater potential: The study concludes that based on geological evidence, groundwater prospects for medium-scale abstractions are good.
2. The available data indicates that shallow water strikes often occur between 54 and 159metres, within the fractured Basalts.
3. The Targeted main deep aquifer in this study which is more productive is found at depths greater than 96 m within the fractured volcanic rocks.

Location of Gitugi BFTF Living Water Well 
   
View Larger Map

WHATS NEXT ?
Sending International Director of BFTF Ps Howard Sands and his wife Joy to inaugurate the well and conduct the Living Water Crusade at the site to share the life giving word of God with the 7000 locals of Gitugi township and also conduct ministers training and a Womens conference.

Already, Bishop Gerishon of Wings of Life Churches has been to the site and shared with the locals the profound impact this well is going to have on their community and the reason that BFTF  wants to invest in water wells in Kenya. 

  

Bishop Gerishon takes advantage of the moment to share the Gospel

BFTF believes that life giving water wells strategically located is likened to the gospel and changes lives; therefore water wells are placed on cooperating churches property where they can bring life giving water to many villagers where they would normally have to walk long distances to get clean water. This way the churches  (who charge a minimal amount for the water) are able to maintain and repair the well continually, rather than let them decay from disuse because no one has collected sufficient funds to maintain the well; as happens in many places with large charity projects. The church is seen as benefiting its community and then becomes a focal point for the community.

PLANS FOR JANUARY 2014

On 1 January it is expected to officially open the well and start a 3 day Living Water crusade in the area. 

BFTF has been conducting evangelistic crusades in developing nations for over 30 years and expects to bring many to make a decision for Christ, see them healed, delivered and set free. 

Water well costs, bank transfer fees and local costs have not yet been fully met and we are believing the balance of $2,000 Australian dollars will be realised before Christmas to conclude the well on time. 

Donations for water water wells do not cover travel and evangelistic costs and  BFTF is still looking for the remaining $5,200 to cover airfares, land costs, crusade and ministry costs. 

Two ways to contribute

direct deposit to 

Beautiful Feet Task Force
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
BSB 062 614
Account number 0094 0442

PAYPAL OPTION

UPDATE 

To see the video on the trip to inspect the water well progress mentioned above, (Jan 2014), view our YouTube account here. 

The God of Provision

Thank God that He provides.
Today we have finalised the payment process and sent the money for the downpayment on the first BFTF Living Water Well for Kenya.

Through some difficulties of administration  earlier this year we have emerged with a new partner for the Living Water Well projects and are pleased to announce that the funds for the basic well to drill up to 110 metres at Gitugi, Muranga, Kenya have been received and sent. Over the next month or so we should be able to post some progress pictures.

We want to thank all those that have contributed, stood with us, believed in the ability to make a difference and been a part of this ministry and our lives. Today we begin a new chapter in changing lives for good in Kenya.

The village of Gitugi with a population of about 7000 has many needs, amongst them the need for fresh clean water. Let Bishop Gerishon tell the story of the need here in his own words.

Dear Pastor Howard,

I write to request you to consider digging a water well at our church in Gitugi, Muranga..

The Wings of Life Gospel Church International, Gitugi Branch is situated on Gitugi -Nyangiti, Road. It is in Muranga County, Gtugi Division. The population of this village is about 7,000 people translating to about 1330 families .

Kenya's people are, according to the United Nations, one of the most struggling populations in the world. With a population of approximately 36.6 million and an annual population growth of approximately 2.6%, the country's poverty index has also continued to steadily rise.

Water scarcity in Kenya has been an issue for decades, as only a small percentage of the country's land is optimal for agriculture, and the year-round climate is predominantly arid.

Water shortage in Gitugi,Muranga  means that a large population of women and children spend up to one-third of their day fetching water in the hot sun from the nearest fresh water source. This backbreaking work leaves roughly half of the  inhabitants vulnerable to serious dangers. In addition to exposure to the elements and risk of attack by predators, the primary water gatherers are also the most susceptible to water-borne diseases.

Water pathogens are a huge health problem here, as the people have been left unprotected against sporadic epidemics such as cholera and parasitic worms. The rate of exposure is extremely high because the water is not only contaminated at the basins and pumps where water is collected but the containers are almost always "found," second-hand objects, often previously used for oil, fertilizer or wastes.

Location of BFTF Living Water Well to be constructed on
Wings of Life Church at Gitugi ,Kenya

The land where the church stands wholly owned by Wings of Life Gospel Church International and has a freehold title deed. The property is solely use for church affairs.

This property is within a semi arid area where there is scarcity rainfall and getting clean water for human consumptions and for livestock is a tall order. Women and school going children walk for many miles to fact the rare commodity. The nearest clean water river is over 20km from this area Many families depend on harvested rain water which is do not last for long as many families can not afford to buy water tanks due to poverty levels. Women's, life in this area is defined by the burden of collecting water. For the old and the young, the sick and the healthy, it is a chore with no relief. Even when pregnant, women must trek over long distances in order to provide their families with water.

The strain of this arduous task has terrible health consequences for women. Often alone, some give birth on the journey to or from water points

It is women ’s duty to fetch water using their back even when pregnant

About 66 percent of Africa is arid or semi-arid dry lands like Gitugi, Muranga. More than 70 percent of people living in these dry lands suffer with water insecurity – meaning that they have less than 1,000 m3 per capita and do not have a reliable source of clean water close to home.

For women and children this mean walking up to 19 km carrying 20kg of water on their back each day. It is estimated that more than 152 million hours of women and girls’ time is consumed every day in the same way — collecting water to meet their families’ basic needs. Because of this, millions of women are inhibited from accomplishing little more than survival.

If by the grace of God this well is sunk here, l believe it will be a beg blessing to the surrounding community at large and mostly the church for the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Hoping this project will go through soon.

Bishop Gerishon K, Njoroge

WINGS OF LIFE GOSPEL CHURCH INTERNATIONAL

Other costs will be involved and if you would like to contribute to this project please consider
direct deposit to Beautiful Feet Task Force
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
BSB 062 614
Account number 0094 0442

Ps Howard Sands at official opening of
BFTF Living Water Well in Tanzania 2012


UPDATES ON THIS PROJECT

or by Paypal to assist BFTF International Director Ps Howard Sands to conduct an evangelistic crusade there with the opening of the well to share the message of the Living Water spoken about by Jesus, bringing life to those dry and thirsty souls.