Hello Everyone,
Welcome to Part 6 of our series, “The Sower’s Seed”, where we will explore the scriptures of Genesis 2:7-9, 15-17.
The seed is a powerful symbol throughout the Bible, representing God’s plan for salvation, growth, and transformation. From the very beginning in the garden of Eden, when God promised a seed to bruise the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15), to the parables of Jesus, the seed holds deep meaning for the believer’s journey.
In this article, we explore the profound connection between the seed and the Church. We highlight how Jesus Christ, the seed, is the foundation of our faith. He is the key to building a faithful and loving Church. Through the lens of Scripture, we’ll uncover the significance of the mustard seed. We will see how it relates to the Kingdom of God. It teaches us valuable lessons about love, growth, and the true source of our power. Join us as we dig into the powerful story of the seed and its transformative impact on the Church and our lives today.
In our previous post, we discussed the profound nature of the seed sown within mankind. We discovered that the seed represents more than just a symbol. It is a call to love deeply and selflessly. We are called to love just as Christ loved us. This seed of love, once planted in our hearts, has the power to transform our lives. It can also change the world around us. When we embrace Christ’s love and let it grow within us, we become living testimonies of His Kingdom. We share His message of hope, redemption, and eternal life. Love is the essence of the seed, and through it, we fulfil God’s purpose.
Today, we turn our focus to “The Seed and the Church.” What is the relationship between the seed and the Church, and how does it impact our collective mission? Let’s explore this deeper.
Scripture Reference:
Genesis 2:7-9, 15-17
Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:7-9)
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die. (Genesis 2:15-17)
The Mystery of the Mustard Seed
What exactly is the mystery of the mustard seed?
The parable of the mustard seed appears in Mark 4:31 and Luke 13:19, alongside its place in Matthew. This parable comes between the interpretation of the Parable of the Sower (Mt. 13:18-23) and the Parable of the Weeds (Mt. 13:36-43). It was shared to help us distinguish between the Word of God and the lies of the enemy. This was provided to help us understand the true nature of the Kingdom of God. It shares its borders with the Word of God and the mysteries of the world.
The mustard seed parable highlights how God’s Kingdom operates differently from the world. It’s important to remember that the Kingdom of God is not like the kingdoms of this world. Its principles, power, and purpose stand apart.
We are called to reflect the attributes of God, not the world. Our divine nature is rooted in God, not in the patterns of this world. This distinction marks the difference between the world and the Kingdom of God. As believers, we share the attributes of God—His character and His Kingdom—through the fruits of the Spirit. The world cannot offer the same. We must learn to distinguish between the truth of God’s Word and the mysteries of this world.
Jesus, in His wisdom, gave us a clear picture of what the Kingdom of God is truly like. He revealed not only who He is to the world but also what the world means to Him. As John 3:16 reminds us, God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son. Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Distinguishing the Two Worlds:
By placing the description of the Kingdom of God between the two worlds, we gain a clearer understanding of the Word of God. These two worlds, though similar in some ways, cannot be merged. Each world hold a distinct definition in terms of their divination. God does not exist in this world; He is eternal. As a Spirit, God is beyond the confines of earthly existence. In order to enter our world, He took on human form.
Jesus Christ was born into this world to rescue us from the hands of the enemy. He brought with Him the law of love. Through His love, we are given the opportunity to redeem ourselves from the power of sin. Jesus exchanged hatred for love. He planted the seed of love in our hearts, so that we might reflect His love in our lives and spread it to others.
The Parable of the Weeds teaches us how God’s Word was stolen from us. It was replaced with the ways of the world while mankind slept. Both seeds—the Word of God and the word of the world—were sown in the same environment. Without knowing the Word of God, you cannot distinguish between the two worlds. To do so, you must view the world through the lens of divine vision. This is the mystery within the parable. It involves seeing the world through the lens of vision. It also involves understanding the difference between God’s Kingdom and the world’s kingdom.
The Relationship Between the Seed and the Church
What is the relationship between the Seed and the Church?
Building a Church within the church:
The seed is meant to bring forth the Church by planting God’s love deep within our hearts. In the Parable of the Sower, the Sower sowed the seed of love into our hearts. This was done so that we might love as God loves. This act of sowing is a re-incarnation of God’s love in us. It represents the love that was lost when mankind fell in the Garden of Eden due to disobedience. Through this re-incarnation, we are called to nurture God’s love within ourselves. We are also called to nurture God’s love within His Church. This leads to the birth of the Church. The Church is rooted in the love of God. It is built through the Word of God—Jesus Christ. This brings forth the Kingdom of God.
The Dream of King Nebuchadnezzar:
The relationship between the seed and the Church is beautifully illustrated in Daniel 4. In this passage, King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream of a great tree.
In this chapter, Nebuchadnezzar dreams of a massive tree. It grew tall and strong, reaching to the heavens. Its branches provided shelter and food to all living creatures. However, in his dream, the tree is eventually cut down, symbolizing a time of judgment. The tree represents the king himself. The dream signifies his coming fall from power. It also signifies the humbling of his pride. This dream, interpreted by the prophet Daniel, shows that although Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom was vast and strong, it will eventually be brought down.
King Nebuchadnezzar’s letter was sent to all nations and peoples of every language on earth. It is an invitation to recognize God’s sovereignty. At the time, Nebuchadnezzar was the powerful king of Babylon. He was a man who had conquered Jerusalem. He destroyed the temple and took its people into exile. His dream and subsequent transformation illustrate the relationship between earthly kingdoms and God’s eternal Kingdom. They teach us that, even in the midst of worldly power, God’s purposes remain sovereign.
The Babylonians did not worship the one true God. In fact, King Nebuchadnezzar believed that he himself was like a god. However, through his encounters with the true God, particularly through Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Nebuchadnezzar came to understand that there is only one true God. He realized that this God is the ultimate authority over all things. The lessons he learned from these experiences humbled him. They opened his eyes to the reality that God alone is in control of the world and everything in it.
In the first four chapters of the Book of Daniel, we see God revealing Himself to King Nebuchadnezzar. He does this through His servants, dreams, and visions. God made Himself known to the king through His faithful followers. God allowed His people to be captured by the king. He then used their captivity to reveal Himself to Nebuchadnezzar as the King of kings and the Sovereign LORD.
Does this imply that God will allow the Church to open its doors to the world? Could this act be used to humble the pride of the world? Through the Church’s engagement with the world, is God possibly revealing His power and authority? He may reveal Himself just as He did through His servants in Babylon.
There’s a lot happening within the Church, the body of Christ, right now. Many people are struggling to understand why. Is God allowing these things to unfold for His glory to be revealed in the end? The Church appears to be opening its doors to the principles of the world. These influences are gradually changing the foundation of God’s Word within the Church. Could God be allowing this shift to happen as part of His greater plan to save the world? Is the Church, in its openness, playing a role in God’s ultimate purpose of salvation? Is everything unfolding for a specific reason, one that we may not fully comprehend yet?
Why did God allow King Nebuchadnezzar to destroy Jerusalem and capture His people? What made them so vulnerable to capture?
In Matthew 13:24-25, Jesus tells another parable. He says, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.” This parable speaks to how, while God’s people were complacent or unaware, the enemy came in and sowed corruption. Just as the enemy sowed weeds among the wheat while the man slept, God’s people became vulnerable when they strayed from their faith and allowed spiritual complacency to take root. This vulnerability paved the way for their capture and exile. They were not actively guarding the integrity of their relationship with God.
From the first four chapters of the Book of Daniel, we learn how God revealed Himself to King Nebuchadnezzar. He did this in profound ways. The lessons Nebuchadnezzar learned were ones that only God could teach. Through these encounters, God made it clear to the king that He alone is the Creator. God also showed that whatever He decrees will surely come to pass. God showed Nebuchadnezzar that He is the Supreme God, and no one can take His glory. Despite having everything, King Nebuchadnezzar was humbled and made to understand that God is in control of all things. Nothing exists without God. He revealed Himself to the king through dreams and visions, demonstrating His sovereignty and power.
God revealed to King Nebuchadnezzar through his visions that He alone is the true God. There is no other beside Him. He is the Beginning and the End. Through these visions, God taught the king about His own identity. He humbled Nebuchadnezzar’s understanding and showed him the vast power of the Almighty. In his dream, the king saw the coming of the Messiah into the world, as well as the retribution that would follow. The dream revealed how the kingdom Nebuchadnezzar had built for himself would be diminished by the arrival of the Messiah. The Messiah’s power would surpass all earthly rulers.
The king saw the coming of Christ into this world and the events that would follow His arrival. This revelation shocked Nebuchadnezzar to his core, yet it did not lead to immediate change in his heart. God spoke directly to his soul, allowing his spirit to grapple with the meaning of the visions. The king struggled within himself, trying to understand the significance of what he had seen. He was filled with unease as the weight of the dreams and visions lingered.
God, however, had a plan. He sent His servants to Babylon to bring restoration. Though His people were in the land, God’s purpose was for them to infiltrate the system. They were to influence the world around them. In this way, God’s people would not only remain in Babylon but would eventually help lead the way for their deliverance.
The Beauty of Nebuchadnezzar’s Tree
These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. The tree grew large and strong, and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed. (Daniel 4:10-12)
In his dream, Nebuchadnezzar described the world he had built for himself, portraying it as a massive tree. This tree, visible to the ends of the earth, symbolized his far-reaching influence. Its leaves were beautiful, and its fruits were abundant, much like the mustard seed tree. The tree provided food for all, and under its branches, the wild animals found shelter. In this vision, Nebuchadnezzar saw himself as the father of all, establishing himself as a powerful ruler. This was a challenge to the sovereignty of the one true God.
The tree in the middle of the garden of Eden was pleasing to the eyes. This is just as described also in Genesis 3: 3–6. Its fruit was good for food and also desirable for gaining wisdom.Â
In Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, we see the love of God revealed to us. He saw a holy messenger coming down from heaven—a profound image. What is the meaning of this? The vision represents God releasing His Son into the world, entering the very system that humanity had recreated for itself. Christ was born into this world to save us. In his dream, Nebuchadnezzar witnessed the seed that the Sower had planted in the field. This seed was meant to crush the head of the enemy. This seed—Christ—was sown into our lives to fulfil God’s ultimate plan of redemption.
Nebuchadnezzar grew so great that he forgot the God who created him and made him who he was. He lost sight of God and instead turned to self-acclamation, attributing his power and success to himself. Self-acclamation strips away the power and purpose that belong to the one true God.
In the space between the world we’ve built for ourselves and the world that God designed for us, God gave us His only Son. Christ came into the world to save it from its own destruction. To remind Nebuchadnezzar of his place and the sovereignty of God, He commanded that the great tree be cut down.
In Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, God revealed His Son to him as the holy messenger sent from heaven. This underscores the truth that God alone is in control.
The Giant Tree in Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
In his dream, Nebuchadnezzar saw himself as a giant tree. Its branches reached to the ends of the earth, not just the world. His tree was visible to all, symbolizing his influence across the earth. His language, like his tree, spoke to all people and nations, transcending boundaries and reaching every race. His words were dominant. He spoke to the ears of all generations across all languages. Through this vision, God showed Nebuchadnezzar the extent of his influence over the people on earth. It also revealed God’s dominance over them. While everyone could see the size and power he had achieved, no one recognized the pride that lay within him.
Can one grow so powerful that they forget the God who planted them in the field? If everyone on earth could see his tree, it speaks to the immense influence he had over all people. This was the identity of King Nebuchadnezzar—he lived large, prosperous, and in control. But despite his power, the king had to eventually face the undeniable power of God in his life.
We may experience success and victories in our own lives. However, we must remember that the God of the universe oversees everything that happens on earth. God is the one who governs the actions and outcomes of this world. So, while we may claim our achievements as our own, it is ultimately God who allows certain things to unfold on earth for His glory.
So, Nebuchadnezzar was to face the wrath of God on earth. God revealed His true nature to him through the lives of His people. The king learned the lesson of humility by having his wealth and power stripped away. God took him to the lowest point. He took him away from the glory he had known. This was so he could learn to appreciate God’s sovereignty in his life. It was in the depths, at the bottom of the pit, that God began to raise him up again. In this process, God showed him his ways and revealed the truth of His Word to the king.
Nebuchadnezzar lived in a world where everything seemed to happen by his own will. He brought people into and out of his world at his discretion. He considered himself the master of his field, yet the field itself belonged to God, the Master of the universe. You cannot live on earth and ignore God, the Creator. He is the true Master of the world. He allows things to happen and controls everything that takes place in the earth.
In Daniel 2:21, we are reminded of God’s ultimate authority. “He controls the times and seasons. He removes rulers and establishes new ones. He bestows wisdom on the wise and gives knowledge to those who seek understanding.”
Imagine walking through life with all the power and control. Then, suddenly, the Lord calls you to the lowest point. How do you lose all your earthly possessions and be reduced to nothing? How do you go from commanding others to being told what to do? That was the fate of King Nebuchadnezzar. He was brought down to the lowest of lows, stripped of all his authority. He had no control over anything. He was left to live as a wild animal, with no say in what he ate or how he lived.
Everything we are building for ourselves today will one day be brought down. This will happen for the glory of God to be revealed. All that we are eagerly collecting on earth will eventually vanish in the blink of an eye. We will lose everything for the sake of God’s glory. We are constructing mansions to satisfy our own desires, but these too will one day be taken away. Much of what we build in our world comes from a place of greed. In the end, it will all be stripped away.
The tree of King Nebuchadnezzar was cut down by God. In the face of his power, wealth, and pride, God brought his kingdom to its knees. Before the fall of his kingdom, God reached out to him through His servants, dreams, and visions. He revealed Himself to the king, but Nebuchadnezzar refused to change his ways. He turned a blind eye to God’s calling.
The tree of Nebuchadnezzar represents those who:
- Have turned away from the one true God
- Do not believe in God
- Deny the existence of the one true God
- Attribute their existence and well-being solely to themselves (self-righteousness)
- Live in self-indulgence, ignoring the sovereignty of God
We can continue to hold on to our ideas or ideologies about the non-existence of the one true God. However, a day will come when He reveals Himself to us. This is the Day of the Lord, the time of tribulation. It will be the day when God makes His existence undeniable.
He sets up kings and deposes them. He is the Lord of lords and the King of kings, the Sovereign God. In Him, His Kingdom will endure forever and ever. The Kingdom of God is like the mustard seed sown in the field—small, yet powerful, destined to grow and flourish.
The word of God came to King Nebuchadnezzar through his dream, urging him to repent from his sins. Yet, he refused. Despite the warning, he continued living the life he had created for himself, disregarding the call for repentance. He saw himself as a powerful god, above all.
The seeds of the world were embedded within King Nebuchadnezzar’s tree—his pride, his self-reliance, and his refusal to acknowledge God.
Christ, however, brought down the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar to humble him and raise him up again at the appointed time. God restored Nebuchadnezzar to his previous position, but only after he recognized God as the one true God.
The Tree of the Mustard Seed
The tree of the mustard seed represents the Kingdom of God.
Though it begins as a small seed, the mustard seed grows into a large tree. Its branches provide a place for the birds of the air to find rest. This tree symbolizes peace—a place where we can find shelter and rest. The seed within us carries this promise. The Church itself is within the seed that the Sower planted in His field. This seed is meant to bring us peace. It offers us a place of refuge and tranquillity in the Kingdom of God.
The love of God is within this seed, and within the seed lies the Kingdom of God. The seed is meant to share God’s love with us. As it grows, it will become the mighty tree that God intended it to be. The Church represents God’s Kingdom, and within this Kingdom are His people. In the branches of the mustard seed is our place of resurrection. It is a tree of life, where we draw life to ourselves.
God offered us this tree from the beginning. However, we chose the tree of the knowledge of good and evil instead. We made our home in the branches of that tree, rejecting the life God had originally intended for us.
We have arrived at a point where we place our trust in our own strength, power, and wisdom. We attribute our success to our abilities, forgetting that God is the true source of all that we have. We have come to a place where we’ve excluded the one true God from our walk. We rely on our own power and strength. Our walk is driven by self, not by acknowledging God as our ultimate source.
The cutting down of the tree by the holy messenger symbolizes the downfall of kingdoms, or individuals. It happens to those who fail to recognize God as their true source of strength and power.
The mustard seed is meant to build our home. In this home, God will dwell with us and grant us the peace we truly deserve. The mustard seed represents our life. It signifies our understanding of who God is in our lives. It also symbolizes the faith we place in Him. Through the mustard seed, the Church of God will be built, and it is through this seed that the Lord God will hear our voices. The Church will be birthed from this seed, making the seed the foundation and generation of the Church.
The seed that was sown will be the path through which today’s church will rise from its flaws. The seed is the way, the truth, and the life—just as Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus came to establish the Church, just as the seed was sown in the field. Jesus is the seed, and His love for us is immeasurable. He is the tree of life, and in Him, we find peace. Born to us as a child and given to us as a son, Jesus is the embodiment of the tree of life. He offers us the peace that only He can provide.
The relationship between the seed and the Church is that the seed brought forth the Church—a Church rooted in love. The love of God is embedded within this seed sown into the world.
The tree of Nebuchadnezzar, which grew large and strong, was ordered by God to be cut down and destroyed. Only the stump was left, bound with iron and bronze, with its roots remaining in the ground. This serves as a reminder that you cannot dissociate yourself from God. To separate from God is like cutting yourself off from life itself. You cannot survive without Him. If God chooses to cut you off, only His grace can sustain you. Living apart from God is impossible.
This is the message in the letter from King Nebuchadnezzar: We need God in our lives. God is in control of everything, and we cannot accomplish anything without Him. We are not our own; we belong to the LORD.
God brought down the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar because He does not share His glory with anyone. Nor does He allow anyone to take His glory (Isaiah 42:8).
The tree of life is our source of survival (Genesis 2-3 and Revelation 22). We are the inheritors of the tree of life. Nebuchadnezzar planted a tree for himself, and it grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky. However, it was not the tree of life. He attributed its growth to his own strength, but God spoke a different language to him. With one command, God brought down all his achievements—his pride. Nebuchadnezzar’s tree, built on pride, was brought down at God’s command. He lost everything except the root of his kingdom. God did not cut him off completely, but allowed the root to remain, receiving the dew of heaven.
Do not sow a seed that will destroy your future. Bear the right fruit.
This Word of God will surpass all others and bring salvation to our world. Until that day, we wander through our wants and desires, searching for the faith God has spoken about. We search high and low, but still cannot find it, because the faith is not out there—it’s within us. God has planted His faith in our hearts, not outside of us. He has given us the seed to grow and nurture.
The peace we are seeking is not in the world, but within us. We must look inward to find the love of God. It’s time to stop, reflect, and recognize the treasures God has hidden within us. Through reflection, we will uncover His peace. The Kingdom of God was established through this Word, creating a chain reaction of transformation.
Conclusion: The Seed of Salvation
The journey from the garden of Eden to the resurrection of the Church is deeply intertwined. It is connected with the seed of salvation God planted for us. When mankind fell in the Garden of Eden due to disobedience, they lost their place in the Kingdom of God. However, God, in His mercy, provided a sacrifice to bridge the gap between us and Him. This sacrifice is the seed that He sowed in His field.
From the moment God promised the seed that would bruise the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15), it became central to His plan for redemption. This seed of resurrection, passed down through generations, carries God’s love and brings us closer to Him. It acts as a bridge that reconnects us to the Father.
Our Lord God sent His son, Jesus Christ, into the world to demonstrate His love for us. Jesus sowed the seed of love in every heart, as He taught through His life and ministry. Through His incarnation, God planted the Word in our hearts so that it would grow and transform us.
Jesus Christ, as the mustard seed, symbolizes the love of God that grows within us and establishes His Kingdom. Through the seed, we are drawn closer to God, finding peace, salvation, and life in Him. He brought the Kingdom of God to the earth. Let Jesus Christ be the centre of your focus, for He is the Seed that brings life, salvation, and transformation.
What are we building today for God’s Kingdom?
As we reflect on the powerful symbolism of the seed in the story of Nebuchadnezzar’s tree, we are reminded to root our lives in God’s truth rather than our own pride and achievements. May we always seek the love of God, which lives in us. Let it guide us toward building a faithful and loving Church.
Call to Action:
Is your life rooted in the love of God, the seed that brings salvation? Reflect on the message of the seed within your own heart and allow it to transform you. Share the love of Christ with others and build a faithful Church that reflects His Kingdom.
Leave a comment below. Share this post with those in your circle. Together, we can grow in faith and love. Let’s build God’s Kingdom, one seed at a time.
Join us next week as we delve into the next post, “The Power of the Seed.” Stay connected, stay inspired, and let’s continue to grow in faith together.
Now that we’ve explored “The Seed and the Church” and their profound connection, I’ll be sharing insights about “The Power of the Seed” in the next post
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Written by Eunice Forson
Be sure to check out post #7 in our series next week!
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If you missed any of the previous posts in this series, here’s a quick recap:
Over the past couple of weeks in our “The Sower’s Seed” blog series, we’ve discussed…
Introduction to the Series – The Sower’s Seed
Blog Post #1 – The Sower’s Seed: Exploring the Purpose of Parables
Blog Post #2 – Understanding the Scattered Seed in the Parable of the Sower
Blog Post #3 – The Mustard Seed: A Journey of Faith and Transformation
Blog Post #4 – The Fruit that House the Seed
The seed 