And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he puteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
(Mark 4:26-29)

This passage of scripture is almost self-explanatory. Jesus is expounding with clarity just how the kingdom of God works.

This has been a long-sought-after truth. The amazing thing is that it has been right here in the Bible all these years.

Let's look a little closer:

1. Jesus explained that the Kingdom of God is similar to a man planting seed into the ground.
   
2. Then Jesus began to explain how this man was to act while his seed was out of sight (in the ground). He was to leave that seed alone until it sprang up and grew into a plant. What was he to do during this process? Sleep and rise, night and day.
   
   This tells me that he wasn't concerned with the seed that he planted. I also shows us that he didn't necessarily know how all this was going to work. He just had simple faith that the planted seed was going to produce.
   
3. Jesus continued to reveal to His disciples the way that the Kingdom was built. He explained how the earth brought fruit of herself in its proper stages: first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear (a super lesson for us to learn).
   
4. Jesus even explains when to harvest. Beware because this is also what the devil waits for. He hovers around you during the time of harvest and tries to devour all the seed that you put back into the ground.

When people only have a little bit, they watch it very closely. The devil senses this guard. But when they have much, such as at harvest time, they tend to get a little less protective because of the abundance.

Jesus told His disciples that they should thrust in the sickle and reap immediately when the fruit was present on the vine. Many believers don't know how to do this. They forget what they have planted where. They don't recognize their harvest when it comes because they have no memory of what is coming.

Study and meditate more on these passages of scripture until they are very clear to you and you can easily apply them to your life. There are many principles that make people successful and fruitful in life…this is one of them.

Source: How to Always Reap a Harvest by Mark T. Barclay
Excerpt permission granted by Mark Barclay Publications