am ready to take that seed

A quote from Isaiah 55:10-11 reads in the New King James version:

"As the rain come down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
So shall My word be that goes forth from my mouth;
It shall not return to me void,
But shall accomplish what I please,
And shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."

Last Friday, January 12, 2008 during the regular Friday service of Word International Ministries (WIN) Al Ain, I was struck by the aforesaid verses from Isaiah, as if it was a two-edged sword that pierced through my heart. Our dear Pastor Edward Barcial shared his message for that service based on Isaiah 55, but the two verses above kept me pondering over the last couple of days.

Our pastor's message is centered on the month of January's theme, which is the "Word". He explained in his exhortation that the Word of God revealed to each one can be likened to a "seed" and a "bread."

When one is yet new as a believer or those that were coined as a baby in their spiritual walk with Christ, it is but normal that we need nourishment more than anything else. Like a baby who are so dependent on their parents for their food, a new believer is also dependent for their spiritual parents in the form of their pastor, bible study group leader or the other leaders of the church. New believers merely received revelations of the "Word" as a bread, ready to eat for their nourishment.

Of course, nobody stays to become a baby. One should grow older, first learn how to walk, talk, and to do some chores such as cleaning the house or cooking. From being a baby, one should be promoted to becoming a child and then teen. But at this stage, he or she is still considered a minor and civil society classified him or her as dependent to a parent or guardian.

Sad to say, many people in the society, even if their age is already past the minority age, still acts like a minor. Carefree. Happy-go-lucky. Irresponsible. Immature. These people are infected with the "Peter Pan" syndrome; they refuse to grow.

I then started to ask myself if I am having this "Peter Pan" syndrome in the area of my spirituality? At first I refuse to accept, but after a deep and thorough examination of myself, I am about to be infected with the syndrome.

I have been a born again believer for three years and nine months. I am yet to be using the Word of God as a seed where I could produce more bread to the great number of people who are yet to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I do not have a Bible study group to lead or facilitate. I only have a handful of people whom I have led to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In short, I am still lingering at the borderline of this "Peter Pan" syndrome.

God's ways are perfect. He made a way for me as the National head of World International Ministries, Pastor Aaron is coming to Al Ain City (my local church in the UAE) to conduct training for church leaders and potential leaders. It would be a series and conducted every Wednesday starting January 23, 2008.

I do not have any idea how many persons registered for very important important event. What is important for me now is that I have already engraved my name on the registration sheet.

I am no longer content of the bread alone, but I am now ready to take that seed, make the bread for the hungry, and put God's business of saving souls to the forefront of my agenda. As God promised, every effort I will exert on this endeavor will not go void. Prosperity He has promised in His Word.