Reap what you Sow

Galations 6:7-10

Introduction and looking at where we are now and how we got here.

America. A nation founded upon and standing throughout the centuries by the involvement and guidance of the Christian Church. Its Biblically-based moral values and absolute truths, especially the Ten Commandments, have provided the standard of morality that, at one time, was accepted by the federal government, the public school systems, and the American society at large.

As a result, the laws enacted by the United States government were fair and just. Also, the leaders who enacted them were believers in the Lord God Jehovah and His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, who sacrificed His life to save all mankind. They also read the Bible, which they believed was the Infallible Word of God, prayed to God for His blessings on America, and then permitted the Holy Ghost to guide and to direct their governmental decisions. As far as public school systems in America are concerned, they incorporated the Biblically-based moral values and absolute truths taught by the Christian Church, too. As a result, students would graduate from the best public schools in the world fifty years ago with a traditional education degree and also with a keen knowledge of Jesus Christ and His plan of Salvation. Therefore, there were very few major problems that occurred in public schools on a regular basis. Of course, the obvious presence of the Holy Ghost in the halls of public schools and the daily routine of Bible-reading and prayer influenced students to act much better than many students do today. Also, most principals and teachers had a deep religious background that was responsible for the promotion of Jesus Christ to their students. In fact, they were apt to openly witness to their students, too. The Christian standards that were promoted by the government and America’s public school systems were seen society at large. As a result, since conservatism and conformity was the acceptable norm, society in general condemned subcultural standards and mores, such as homosexuality and abortion.

In fact, anyone who got pregnant prior to marriage or anyone who lived a homosexual lifestyle was looked down upon. It was not to be celebrated but was called what it was- SIN.

Also, the murder of innocent babies at birth would not be permitted. Of course, the Christian Church condemned the sin, but it loved the sinner, just as Jesus would have done. However, the persons who violated the teachings in the Holy Bible were not permitted to join the Christian Church and receive its blessings and still live their sinful lifestyles, which included violating the Ten Commandments. Unfortunately, in the 1960s, satan began an all out attack against Christianity and the Christian Church.

YOU SEE THE CHURCH YOU AND I ARE TO BE SALT- WE ARE TO SEASON TO PRESERVE AND TO CHANGE THE SOCIETY AND GOVERNMENTS AROUND US… BUT WE HAVE FAILED MISERABLY SINCE THE 60’S AND HAVE FALLEN INTO THE LIES OF SATAN AND UNDER DELUSION THAT WE ARE POWERLESS TO DO ANYTHING. WE HAVE SOWED TO OUR FLESH AND THE WORLD AND ARE SEEING THE HARVEST OF DESTRUCTION THAT IS THE RESULT.

As a result, America’s fundamental belief system changed. Simply, in the 1960s, Americans began a paradigm shift from one value system to another. It started on college campuses and spread to the media.

It was an era that accepted every act of defiance as permissible as long as the cause was just. New value systems rejected authority, tradition, God, and absolute standards. It was also during this period that Christianity was attacked severely from the Supreme Court to the public schools.

It was the time that prayer and Bible reading were taken out of public schools, too. Hostility toward the Christian religion in society and public schools became acceptable. Reports on Jesus Christ and Christianity became unacceptable at the same time.

Simply put the worship of man moved from God to self. This led to the denunciation of what was once considered pure and holy and good and the elevation and promotion of that which once was regarded universally as vile and decadent. GOOD IS NOW CALLED EVIL AND EVIL IS NOW CALLED GOOD

OUR WORLD IS ALL MIXED UP. AND WE CANNOT LAY THE BLAME ON SINNERS BECAUSE SINNERS WILL SIN. THE BLAME IS FULLY UPON THE CHURCH! A CHURCH OF COMPROMISE, A CHURCH THAT IS LUKEWARM WITH APATHY AND THAT HAS LEFT ITS FIRST LOVE. A CHURCH THAT THINKS ALL THAT IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A SAVING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST IT SO SPEND AN HOUR IN CHURCH A WEEK OR TO SAY A BLESSING BEFORE A MEAL. NO HUNGER FOR HIS WORD, NO WALK WITH CHRIST, NO ABIDING IN HIM, NO SACRIFICE, NO FRUIT BEING PRODUCED..... SIMPLY WALKING IN THE FLESH PURSUING THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH AND FULFILLING THE WANTS OF THE WORLD AND OUR WORLDLINESS. MISSING CHURCH FOR ANY REASON AND FAILING MISERABLY TO BE THE CHURCH. Christianity and the Christian Church have digressed to an “institution in crisis.” In fact, the federal government, the public schools, and society at large have developed a negative attitude toward America’s Judeo-Christian heritage, but, at the same time, they have developed a positive attitude toward ungodly, false religions and ideologies. But, what has caused this new paradigm shift?

political correctness is attempting to change the values of America from within and to insure that all people are equal in conditions and outcome. Therefore, the negativism of the federal government, the Supreme Court, and society at large toward Christianity has caused the Christian Church to flounder as it attempts to become a viable and acceptable postmodern institution. But, how could the Christian Church become a viable and acceptable postmodern institution? Basically, the Christian Church would have to develop a workable program to attract more people to increase the number of members and to increase the tithes and offerings for operational expenses. Unfortunately, the Christian Church bought into the stealth plan of satan. As a result, the postmodern Christian Church has bought into a plan that has a form of godliness but denies the power of God.

Also, this new plan would permit sinners to keep their sins and still belong to the Christian Church. This meant that it would have to remove anything related to the true gospel of Jesus Christ from its pulpits, such as the blood of Jesus that was shed on the Cross of Calvary for the sins of all mankind. Also, the Christian Church would adopt a policy of preaching super-sensitive sermons that would not offend those who were sinners. Therefore, much of the Christian Church now condones sin instead of condemning sin, which is an abomination to God and His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ. Also, the ministers that adopted satan’s diabolical plot preach a new type of gospel that does not promote the spiritual side of Christianity. Instead, they preach a social gospel. A social gospel emphasizes social reform and political action and deemphasizes the salvation of individual man through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. As a result, social improvement becomes more important to mankind instead of a spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ. THERE IS NO MENTION OR CALL FOR TRUE REPENTANCE AND A CHANGE IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH SIN, WITH THE FLESH AND WITH THE WORLD. WE CANNOT BE FRIENDS WITH THE WORLD OR WE ARE AN ENEMY OF GOD! Of course, as a result of ministers preaching a social gospel, it is obvious that the Christian Church has become partners with the “world” instead of separating from it. Ultimately, how has the Christian Church united itself with the “world?” 1. Homosexuality, which is an abomination to God, has been condoned. 2. Abortion, which is murder in the eyes of God, has been condoned.

3. Idolatry has been openly accepted and celebrated- sports starts, the American dream and prosperity 4. Biblical commands have been disregarded and watered down/compromised

Church Attendance

Church Participation

Personal Evangelism

5. Worldly living is rampant within the church- in our speech, in the movies we watch and places we go. We are very simply put sowing to the world and the flesh and will reap what we sow!

Therefore, the Christian Church has established new ungodly standards and has failed to promote God’s absolute truths. As a result, the Christian Church has replaced the Spirit of God with MAN MADE FLESHLY methods to deal with the sins of mankind. Basically, the Christian Church today is using psychology as an escape mechanism for sinners who do not want to be told that their sins will carry them to hell. They want to continue to sin and still go to Heaven. In fact, this is the reason that many Christians believe and purport that there are many ways to get to Heaven, even though the Bible clearly states that there is only one way (John 14:6). WE ARE INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON GOD WALKING AROUND NUMB AND DISTRACTED AND IF THE SPIRIT STARTS TO AWAKEN US WE IMMEDIATELY RUN TO OUR PHONES OR WORLDLY THINGS TO DISTRACT US FROM DEALING WITH IT WHILE OUR HEARTS GROWER HARDER AND ARE FALL FROM FAITH AND GRACE ACCELERATED EACH DAY. GALATIONS 5:4

Galatians 5:4 In conclusion, since the Christian Church apparently condones sin, it will be easier then for the government, public schools, and society at large to condone and promote sin, just as they are doing now in postmodern America. The Christian Church has just become lethargic to sin in America. They do not possess the zeal that the Christian Church had over sixty years ago. Of course, this is the same reason that many extinct civilizations, like Sodom and Gomorrah and Rome, fell. Unfortunately, it could possibly happen in the United States. This could very well happen when God’s judgment finally destroys the greatest postmodern nation because it has forgotten its first love, the Lord Jesus Christ. Sadly, many members of America’s Christian Church have replaced their love for Jesus Christ with the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Needless to say, though, the only hope for America to survive and to return to its number one status is for the Christian Church and its members to heed the words written in the Holy Bible in

II Chronicles 7:14. As the Lord God Jehovah said to King Solomon, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Therefore, the Christian Church must realize that this scripture is an ultimatum for a dying church and a dying nation. However, if the Christian Church does not submit to this spiritual ultimatum, America as a nation will never submit to it either, since “As the Church Goes, So Goes the Nation.”

Galatians 5:4 KJV 1900

4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

The Message: We are reaping what we have sown and will continue to do so.

Galatians 6:7-10

Each choice that you make brings with it a consequence. If you make wise, God honoring choices then you will experience positive consequences. If you make sinful, disobedient choices then you will experience negative consequences. The way our selected text puts it... YOU WILL REAP WHAT YOU SOW! - ...whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:7-8)

This principle is easy to understand:

If i plant or sow watermelon seeds what will I harvest?

Corn seeds?

Etc...

Seeds of the flesh? destruction

Seeds of worldliness? destruction

and the fruit that is produced will affect not only myself but my family and society around me!

Sowing and Reaping has both positive and negative connotations.

If you sow good things, you will reap good things!

If you sow honesty, you will reap trust.

If you sow goodness, you will reap friends.

If you sow humility, you will reap greatness.

If you sow perseverance, you will reap victory.

If you sow consideration, you will reap harmony.

If you sow hard work, you will reap success.

If you sow forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation.

If you sow openness, you will reap intimacy.

If you sow patience, you will reap improvements.

If you sow faith, you will reap miracles.

If you sow to the Spirit, you will reap life everlasting

On the other hand, if you sow bad things, you will reap bad things.

If you sow dishonesty, you will reap distrust.

If you sow selfishness, you will reap loneliness.

If you sow pride, you will reap destruction.

If you sow jealousy, you will reap trouble.

If you sow laziness, you will reap stagnation.

If you sow bitterness, you will reap isolation.

If you sow greed, you will reap loss.

If you sow gossip, you will reap enemies.

If you sow worries, you will reap wrinkles.

If you sow sin, you will reap CONSEQUENCES

If you sow to the flesh, you will reap corruption

Not only do you reap what you sow, YOU WILL REAP MORE THAN YOU SOW! - Take for instance a farmer who plants a kernel of corn. That one kernel has the potential to produce a stalk with several ears that contain many kernels of corn. If the stalk produces 2 ears of Corn that would be approximately 1600 kernels.

With that in mind... it is imperative that we sow the RIGHT SEEDS! I would like to look to these verses this evening and preach on this thought "You Will Reap What You Sow! Let's begin by looking at:

I. Reaping the Harvest - v7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

We begin with an important warning... When you live as if your rebellion against God has no consequences you acting in a very foolish manner. Paul says that you cannot mock the justice of God. No one will ever disobey God’s commands and escape divine consequences!

He goes on to say "for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."The harvest must be the focus of your mind from the beginning.

Take the local farmer for example: Before the soil is prepared... Before the seed is planted... Before the fields are worked ... he has in mind what it is he needs to harvest. A certain time of year he prepares for a harvest of corn. Another time of year he prepares for a soy bean crop. He plants what he needs and he reaps what he plants.

Friends, we must have our eyes on the harvest. You have heard about those people who "spend their time sowing their wild oats and then pray for crop failure" - Friend, it doesn't work that way!

If you plant corn you are not going to get a watermelon... YOU ARE GOING TO GET CORN!! And if you sow seeds of evil you are not going to reap good! If you sow seeds of the flesh you are not going to reap the fruits of the Spirit! — If you sow seeds of worldliness you are not going to reap the fruits of the Spirit- BUT INSTEAD WILL REAP DESTRUCTION IN THE FIERCENESS OF GOD’S WINE PRESS OF WRATH Revelation 16 and Isaiah 63

II. Planting Seeds v8

A. The Flesh - v8a For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption;

The flesh is the natural part of us that wants to live life on our own terms. Even though the believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit the flesh still puts up a fight. THE FLESH IS FLESH AND IT WANTS TO BE FLESHY (DR. TONY EVANS) When we sow to the flesh we are yielding to its sinful desires. We are failing to "walk in the Spirit" and instead we are fulfilling the lusts of the flesh.

This goes beyond just fleshly desires such as lust of the flesh or sexual desires, or vanity, but into worldliness and pursuing the things of the world. This including putting anything before God to fulfill OUR DESIRES, such as going to a ball game or some form of entertainment instead of Church. Staying up to watch a movie instead of prayer and Bible study. Listening to secular music instead of music that draws us to God.

simply put it is not living out and applying God’s Word

Ephesians 5:11 NKJV

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

Titus 1:16 NKJV

16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

1 John 3:8–10 NKJV

8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. 10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

John R. Stott has written, "Every time we allow our mind to harbor a grudge, nurse a grievance, entertain an impure fancy, wallow in self-pity, we are sowing to the flesh. Every time we linger in bad company whose insidious influence we know we cannot resist, every time we lie in bed when we ought to be up and praying, every time we read pornographic literature, every time we take a risk that strains our self-control we are sowing, sowing, sowing, to the flesh" [The Message of Galatians. London: Inter-Varsity, 1968, p. 170].

We are told that "when we sow to the flesh we will reap corruption". - Corruption speaks of decay, ruin, and destruction. Over time, rebellion against God destroys a person, just as a fatal disease slowly takes a life. Are you sowing seeds of the flesh? Maybe you just need to get saved and Jesus take full control of your life. Or maybe you would say "I know that I am saved preacher but if I am honest, I have sown some seeds of corruption" you need to return to the Lord today and get a new bag of seeds!

As I mentioned earlier, this whole sowing and reaping thing isn't all bad. There is a positive side as well. There is another seed that can be sown, it is the seed of:

B. The Spirit - v8b but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

To sow to the Spirit means to do things that please the Lord. When we do this it will continually increase the Spirit's influence in your life. Simply put. sowing to the Spirit means allowing the Holy Spirit to have His way. (Notice what John Macarthur says in his NT. commentary on Galatians)

Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Fill our minds with these things, focus on these things, pursue these things they are EVERLASTING, ETERNAL AND WILL NOT LEAD TO DESTRUCTION. ALL ELSE WILL!

 "To sow to the Spirit" is the same as to "walk by the Spirit" (5:16)

 "To sow to the Spirit" is the same as to "be led by the Spirit" (5:18)

 "To sow to the Spirit" is the same as to be "filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18).

 "To sow to the Spirit" is the same as "abiding in Christ" (John 15:7)

 "To sow to the Spirit" is the same as "continuing in Christ's Word" (John 8:31).

 "To sow to the Spirit" is the same as "walking in Christ" (Col. 2:6)

 "To sow to the Spirit" is the same as "setting one’s "mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth" (Col3:2).

 "To sow to the Spirit" is the same as "giving one’s body as "a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God," and not being "conformed to this world, but [being] transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect" (Rom. 12:1–2)." [MacArthur, NT Com. Gal. ]

We are told that when we do sow to the Sprit that we will reap everlasting life. Everlasting life speaks of eternity. Keep in mind, our eternal life doesn't begin after we die, it begins at salvation. By sowing the seeds of the Spirit we will also enhance the quality of our life here and now. Another great benefit of sowing to the Spirit is that you will have an impact on the Kingdom of Christ. Consider:

III. The Farmer v9

This refers to the one who is sowing the seeds. S

The Laborer Must Endure - v9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

If you continue to sow to the Spirit there will be an eventual reward. There are times when the work is difficult! There are times when we get weary! There are times when we want to quit! But we must follow the directive given in 1 Corinthians 15:58 “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord”

This is no guarantee that you will have all that you want in this life. It is no promise of material possessions.- Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 6:19 ¶Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

You may never even get any type of recognition down here.It is no guarantee that you will not face danger, trouble or trials.

*Paul was faithful in his labor for the Lord and he was beheaded

*Peter was faithful in his labor for the Lord and he was crucified upside down

*James was faithful in his labor for the Lord and he was beheaded

*John the Baptist was faithful in his labor for the Lord and he was beheaded

*John the Apostle was faithful in his labor for the Lord and he was exiled to the isle of Patmos.

*The remainder of the Apostles were faithful in their labor and they all died as a result.

- There are people all over this world who:

- Faithfully read their bible

- They pray diligently

- They are devoted to the Church

- They give back to the Lord

- They witness to the Lost

- They seek to restore the fallen Christian

The world may not know their name but they are sowing seeds of the Spirit! There are many people in this very assembly who fit that description. And if you are honest, there are times when you grow weary! Remember what Paul says here in verse 9 "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." - Look also at - Psalms 126:5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

IV. Sowing Season Is Now -

v10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

When it comes to a harvest, there are certain times of the year that you harvest certain types of crops. But when the time does come to prepare for a harvest you will see activity at the local farm 7 days a week until the job is done. When it is time to prepare the soil there will be tractors moving all over the place. When it is time to plant the seed there will be people in the field... When it comes time to work the fields there will be people out there doing just that. When it comes time to bring in the harvest there will be people working until the harvest is complete.

NOW IS THE SEASON FOR US TO SOW TO THE SPIRIT! Notice that Paul uses the word "Opportunity”. This speaks of a distinct, fixed time period, rather than occasional moments.

We are sowing seeds each and every day! The question is are they seeds of the flesh, or seeds of the Spirit? Always remember, YOU WILL REAP WHAT YOU SOW!