GOD CAUSES INCREASE "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God GAVE THE INCREASE. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that GIVETH THE INCREASE. " (1 Corinthians 3:6-7) Clarifying the Truth The Seed is also watered when truth is clarified, or opened to the understanding of the people. The crying need of the hour is not for people to understand the centrality of the home or the importance of the nation. The role of the church is important to know, but it is not man's central need. The delineation of the human personality and all of its complexities may make for interesting dialog, but that will not water the Seed! When God the Father, Jesus the Christ, and God's "eternal purpose" are clarified, the Seed is watered. Exposition Exposition is one of the ways of watering the Seed. In Scripture, the Person's of God and Christ are the primary subjects of exposition. In academic circles, expository preaching is generally viewed as the opening up of a specific section of Scripture. This is, indeed, a form of exposition, but certainly not the only one. When Philip watered the Seed already sown in the heart of the Ethiopian, he "preached Jesus" unto him (Acts 8:35). He "began" at the same Scripture being considered by the eunuch, and explained Jesus. Synonyms for "exposition" are explanation, clarification, elucidation, exegesis, and commentary. The eunuch asked for clarification of a text, and the faithful evangelist watered the Seed by illuminating Christ Jesus. -- Tomorrow:
Paul states that Apollos "watered." What did Apollos do? The Word of God provides some information on this point. "Now a certain Jew named Apollos . . . was mighty in the Scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus . . . and when he had arrived, he helped greatly those who had believed through grace; for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ" (Acts 18:24 28). Apollos watered the Seed by affirming the fulfillment of Divine promise in Christ Jesus.
The proclamation of Christ waters the Seed! Taking the Scriptures, Apollos proclaimed a message that "helped greatly those who had believed through grace." The Seed is watered when those who have "believed through grace" are "helped greatly." They thus strengthen their hands for "the good fight of faith."
The contemporary trend of religious entertainment knows nothing of helping "greatly." This is help that renders advantage in the good fight of faith. It helps the believer in laying hold on eternal life. If spiritual virtues are not strengthened, the flame of hope is not kindled, and faith is not made strong, the Seed has not been watered! There may have been large crowds. The souls of the people may have been exhilarated, and there may have been public decisions of some sort. However, if the people were not enabled to put their roots down further, and to reach higher, it was nothing more than an exercise in futility.
It is lamentable that countless thousands "attend" services every Sunday who experience no measurable increase of the grace of God. Their faith is not made stronger, their hope continues to be like a wounded dove, and spiritual virtues remain weak and feeble, if present at all.
Just as Jesus is the Expositor of God the Father (Matt 11:27; Luke 10:22; John 14:6), so faithful men are expositors of Jesus. As it is written, "For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bondservants for Jesus' sake" (2 Cor 4:5). Do not think of this as a narrow approach. Remember, " . . . Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col 2:2- 3). The proper exposition of Jesus opens the door to all valid wisdom and knowledge! All such proclamation waters the Seed. The result is that the Word itself becomes dominate in the thoughts of the hearers. Earth, with its trials, pales in light of a greater glory. True perspectives are developed in the hearts of those receiving the Seed. That condition is the prelude to increase -- the increase God gives.
PRAYER POINT: Father, for the glory of Your Son, and the edifying of Your people, send forth laborers who will faithfully water the Seed Your ministers have planted.