Scripture Reading: Matt. 13:3-9, 19-23

I. According to the Bible, growth equals building; this takes place by the growth of the divine seed of life, the seed of the kingdom within us—1 John 3:9; Col. 2:19; Eph. 4:15-16; Mark 4:26; Luke 17:20-21:

B. The seed is sown into the soil to grow with the nutrients of the soil; as a result, the produce is a
composition of elements from both the seed and the soil—v. 23.

C. We have within us certain nutrients created by God as a preparation for His coming into us to
grow in us; God has created the human spirit with the human nutrients along with the human
heart as the soil for the divine seed—cf. 1 Pet. 3:4.

D. The rate at which we grow in life depends not on the divine seed but on how many nutrients we
afford this seed; the more nutrients we supply, the faster the seed will grow and the more it will flourish—Psa. 78:8; Matt. 5:3, 8:

1. If we remain in our soul, in our natural man, there will not be any nutrients for the growth of
the divine seed, but if we are strengthened with power into our inner man and if we pay attention to our spirit and exercise our spirit, the nutrients will be supplied and Christ will make His home in our hearts—Eph. 3:16-17; Rom. 8:6; 1 Tim. 4:7; cf. Jude 19.

2. If we are going to have the Lord as the seed of life grow within us to be our full enjoyment, we have to open to the Lord absolutely and cooperate with Him to deal thoroughly with our heart.

E. On the one hand, God strengthens us with Himself as the element, and on the other hand, we afford the nutrients; through these two, God in Christ carries out His intrinsic building—the building of His home—in our entire being—Eph. 3:16-19.