Becoming God’s Grain of Wheat

If I would be God’s grain of wheat…

1. I must fall to the ground = humility
   1. Deuteronomy 8:2-3 – God will put us to the test
      1. Everything in this world is in subjection to the voice of God
         1. Sickness & Storms – Matthew 8
         2. Angels – Luke 1:19
         3. Demons – Mark 1:23-27; Luke 10:17-20
         4. Death – Luke 8:54
      2. Only man refuses to submit himself to God – Jer 6:16; Mt 23:37
   2. Psalm 51:16-17 – the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit
   3. Matthew 5:3 – blessed are the poor in spirit
2. I must die = fatality
   1. To self
      1. Luke 9:23 – I must take up my cross daily
      2. 1 Corinthians 15:31 – I die daily
      3. Galatians 2:20 – I am crucified with Christ
   2. To sin = repentance
      1. Romans 6:11-12
      2. Galatians 6:14 – I am crucified to the world
   3. To the will of the Savior
      1. We appear to die to ourselves in many ways:
         1. Many die to themselves and their jobs
         2. Many die to themselves and their children
      2. Will I die to self for Jesus and His kingdom?
      3. Am I willing to be inconvenienced for the sake of the kingdom?
3. I must bear fruit = maturity
   1. John 15:8 – bearing fruit is how we glorify God.
   2. Luke 8:14 – the cares of this life hinder fruit bearing
   3. John 15:6 – failure to bear fruit will bring Divine rejection
   4. Look at the text again! If it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
   5. 2 Corinthians 13:5 – Examine and ask yourself… Am I producing fruit? If not, here are at least three possible reasons why…
      1. You are not dead – Romans 6:1-5
      2. You have too many distractions – Luke 8:14
      3. You are not mature. – 1 Corinthians 3:1-4; Hebrews 5:12-14
   6. f. Luke 13:6-9 – the Master will come expecting fruit