Jesus told his disciples that he had come to teach them the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. He explained that he taught in parables because his followers were granted this knowledge, but those who did not have faith in him would be unable to grasp it. In one of these parables, he said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows. He does not know how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

Here Jesus explained the growth and the power of God’s kingdom, and how the word of God operates in the lives of believers and in the unfolding of God’s purposes on earth. The farmer in this parable is a simple figure. He scatters seed and goes about his days, rising and resting, watching over his field without an understanding of the intricate processes at work beneath the soil. He lacks detailed knowledge of germination, photosynthesis, and growth. He does not need to grasp any of these complexities, for his role is simply to sow the seed. The work of transformation, of turning a dormant grain into a lush harvest, belongs not to the farmer but to the earth, or more precisely, to God who causes the growth.

This is an apt analogy for how God’s kingdom grows and how spiritual life and power manifest in our world. As followers of Christ, we are called to scatter the seed, or the word of God. The process of transformation is unseen, but it is real. It happens beyond our perception, and we do not know everything about how it happens, but it leads inexorably to a full and glorious harvest. Although the farmer is an active participant in the sowing, he is a mere observer of the growth. And he is thankful for the life that God brings forth without his direct effort and knowledge.

This dynamic applies to the word of God in all its operations. Whether it is the preaching of the gospel that brings someone to salvation or the promises of Scripture that produce righteousness and development in a believer, the power is not in human skill or effort. The power lies in the word of God. It is a living seed with the capacity for growth and abundance. The word of God contains within itself the principle of life. The farmer sleeps, but the seed does not sleep. The word of God is constantly working and growing.

The expansion of the kingdom is a process. First the blade, then the ear, then the full grain. This is an ordered progression, and the wise farmer respects this progression. He does not rush the blade to become the full ear prematurely, nor does he despair when he sees no immediate results. He waits patiently. He knows that the seed, when planted in good soil, is sure to bring forth its fruit in due time. The process may be hidden and gradual, but it is always moving toward fulfillment. In the same way, when the word of God is sown into the hearts of men, it is always at work, always moving toward the manifestation of God’s purpose. The kingdom of God advances not through human striving but through divine power. Nevertheless, things often happen instantly, because after all, it is a miracle seed.

Since the parable of the seed describes how the things of the kingdom and the word of God work in general, we can apply it to the matter of healing. Jesus spoke of the seed and the harvest. This can guide our thinking about the supernatural work of healing in our lives and in the lives of those to whom we minister. Whether we are trusting God for healing in our own bodies or ministering to others, we can understand the dynamic of planting and nurturing the seed of God’s word.

When seeking healing from God, some people fall into the error of straining and striving, as if the healing were something we could produce by our own willpower or concentration. But just as the farmer cannot make the seed grow by force of will, we cannot produce healing by human effort. Our part is to sow the seed, to nurture it, to confess the word of God and to trust in its power. The seed that we are called to sow is the word of God, and specifically, the teachings and promises on healing found in Scripture.

We can scatter these seeds in our own hearts, and we can scatter them in the hearts of those who listen to us. When we speak the word of God concerning healing, we are planting seeds of faith. The Bible says, “He forgives all your sins, and heals all your diseases,” and it says, “He himself took our infirmities and carried our sicknesses.” And it says many other things about healing. These are seeds. When planted in the soil of a receptive heart, they have the power to produce a harvest of healing.

The farmer does not exert effort to force the seed to grow. He simply plants it and nurtures it. The growth happens by the power of God. The word of God is doing the work. We do not have to understand all the mechanics of how healing comes, just as the farmer does not understand how the seed sprouts and grows. What we must understand is that the word of God itself contains the power. It is God who exerts the effort. It is his word that is active and living. There is no strain, no exhaustion, no burden on our part. The healing does not come from our willpower or fleshly energy. We are merely the sowers and caretakers of the seed.

Many seeds of healing will come to full harvest instantly, but there might be nothing wrong even if it seems to be a process. When that happens, undergird your faith with patience. Do not let your faith falter. Do not assume that the seed is dead. Keep nurturing the seed by talking and thinking about the word of God. The farmer does not plant the seed and panic if there is not a full harvest the next hour. He allows time for the growth. He is confident in the unseen life and power of the seed. We can expect healing to come quickly, even instantly. As I said, it is a miracle seed after all. But if for some reason it does not happen as you wanted, do not panic. That would only make it worse, or even choke the seed altogether. Continue to nourish the seed with the word of God.

Patience is not to be underestimated. It can lead to great miracles. Refuse to be swayed by appearances or delays. The farmer does not dig up the seed every day to check if it is growing. He trusts the seed and the process. Likewise, we must not uproot the seed of God’s word with words of doubt or fear. And we must not give up and walk away. We must hold fast to our confession of faith, knowing that God is faithful, and his word will not fail. Nevertheless, do not allow patience to become an excuse. If the seed is alive, it must bring forth fruit. Healing must happen.

The word of God carries within it the divine power to bring itself to pass. This is the chief principle in the ministry of healing. Even if you forget everything about the gifts of the Spirit and the laying on of hands, if you will preach the word of God, you can have the most effective, the most effortless, and the most enduring harvest of miracles. Preach the word, then water it with explanation and encouragement, and it will produce in those who believe. No further effort is required from you. This is one of the secrets of the kingdom. It is the key to a ministry of miracles.