Mensa Otabil - Reaping the Harvest (10/27/2025)
Welcome to day number 35 of our 40 days of power. It’s been a glorious time being in the presence of the Lord, reading the word of God, meditating on the word of God, and praying. Fasting is also important as we nurture our spiritual life and get closer to the Lord. I trust that if you’ve participated, it’s been a glorious moment for you.
We are talking about gathering throughout this last week of our spiritual exercise, and so we look at Mark chapter 4, verses 28 to 30. «For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head; after that, the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle because the harvest has come.»
Jesus is teaching, using the way a crop, probably corn or wheat, grows, and he is applying that to the spiritual life of believers. Everything Jesus Christ taught has a double application. In other words, you can use it in two ways. First is specific application; this refers to what he was addressing immediately. Then there is general application, meaning you can apply it to other areas of your life. Part of what Jesus says applies directly to our spiritual life and then to other areas of our lives-our financial life, our marriages, and so on.
This principle cuts through every teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ; there is immediate specific application and then general application. He says when the word of God is sown, it goes through four processes. First, he says, is the blade. The blade is when you sow a seed and it germinates right under the ground; it’s a very tiny thing that shows you something is going to grow. But you don’t harvest the blade. After the blade, he says that the plant will grow and the head will develop. The head shows that a person who has had the gospel is making a commitment, but he hasn' t made a full commitment yet.
Then he talks about the full grain in the head, which means the person is getting closer. Finally, he discusses the ripened grain, indicating that at that time the farmer goes to harvest the crop. Spiritually, it applies to us. Sometimes you preach the gospel to people, and they show little signs; they pay a bit of attention but haven’t made a full decision. Sometimes we get very impatient with people, but if we are patient, they will grow into the head. In other words, they are now able to intellectually understand what you’re saying; it makes sense to them, but they have not yet made a commitment.
Then it gets to the full grain in the head, meaning they are getting closer, and eventually, they reach the point where they make a full commitment and say, «I want Jesus Christ in my heart.» At that time, you lead them to Christ. In leading people to Christ, we don’t rush them; we allow the Lord and the Holy Spirit to guide them through the process of the blade, the head, the full grain in the head, and the ripened grain.
It’s the same with everything we do. You may see signs that something is going to work, but don’t get too excited and think everything is sorted out; it’s going to be a process. When the process is complete, that is when you enjoy what you have invested in. This is what Jesus teaches us about our spiritual life and how things grow in other areas of our lives. Don’t get impatient; don’t get frustrated when people show little signs or something shows little signs, but you haven’t seen the full harvest. There will be a gathering. Trust the Lord, stay on track, and keep praying because the full grain and the ripened grain are going to happen, and your miracle will land right in the place God has designed it to be.
Let us pray. Heavenly Father, lead me into a full salvation in Christ. Help me also to lead others with a message of salvation. In Jesus' name, Amen and Amen. Well, I’ll catch you again tomorrow. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.