As a speaker who both speaks and preaches you come to the realization that much of the work you do is like a farmer. You are constantly planting seeds hoping they will take root in people’s lives and produce for the Kingdom. You don’t always see people respond immediately to a message, altar call, or testimonial. We live in a world that is all about instant results, however, I’m a firm believer that God is always working on hearts even if we don’t see it in the moment. Many people might be surprised by this next statement, but the two biggest battles of depression I fight is normally right before I speak and then directly after I speak. The enemy always wants you to be discouraged at what may look like a dismal crop in the present, but last I checked faith is not just for the present crop; it’s for the future of the crop as well. No matter how many people come forward or step up to respond we must remember that FRUIT IS FRUIT and that every life matters no matter how big the invitation might be. Whether it is 100 or 1, God is at work. As believers we must never give up on the crop God is growing in the moment and throughout eternity.
I was reminded of this lesson as I preached at the Oklahoma Junior Swine Association Show in Cushing. I saw God work in an incredible way! We saw 4 people invite Jesus Christ into the heart as their personal Lord and Savior!! Praise God for His Hand at work in 2020! One of the parents even said, “Sir, I got up this morning praying that God would save at least one person today.” And Jesus answered the prayer!
After the service was over, I was heading out to my car, when I was stopped by a high school student at the barn door. She recognized me and said, “Brandon, thank you for preaching today. I’ve actually heard you before. You preached at one of my first pig shows when I was in 4-H.”
At this point my heart was racing as I couldn’t recall seeing this student before. She then said, “It was back in like 2014 and you asked us to come to the show ring if we wanted to ask Jesus into our hearts.”
Then I remembered that message and doing that particular altar call. I also remembered nobody came forward. “Oh yes, I remember that service.” I said. The Devil was already at work in my mind as he filled me with negative thoughts about what had happened.
Then she replied, “Well, I never told you this, but that day, I heard your sermon and accepted Jesus into my heart. And I’ve never been the same person since! I got baptized, go to church, and love God!”
I was caught off guard and laughed with joy and said, “God is so good. Thanks for sharing this with me.”
With tears in my eyes, I got back in my car and headed to our church home for service. I drove back praising God for the testimony. It’s so easy to give up on the crop when we don’t see it bloom according to our own timing.
God will bring everything into fruition, we just have to be obedient and keep planting the seeds. Where the Spirit is leading, the Spirit is yielding. We just have to have the faith to believe in what God is producing for the Kingdom. Never give up on God’s crop, know that the fields are white, the soil is good, and the harvest will come; even if the harvest consists of only one. Because One always matters. #DontGiveUpOnGodsCrop #Salvation #Testimony #GodIsGood
Brandon Baumgarten 