Untitled Sermon (3)

Galatians 6-10. Sowing and reaping. Don’t give up.

Ever wanted to give up?

My friend Catalin, was struggling in one of his runs, - and was should I give up? – Well, nothing will change I will still be in the middle of nowhere, - so he continued, and made it before the cut off… for the 2 time. I have been in the same place, man this is taking so long should I give up? Well, no one is picking me up, I walk it will take me longer, oh I might try to jog again. I know this is the world of sports. But in your world, ever wanted to give up? Ever felt like it was too hard, - If you have not, you are properly going to feel like it at some point, that is why it is so good to be reminded by the scripture to keep going to not give up or loose heart, to not stop doing good to keep sowing to the Spirt, as Paul will say the reward is more than a medal – it is eternal life with Jesus.

Did you plant a garden? How did that go? Did you get anything with out sowing? What did you reap?

What should be our attitude about others that serve? Form last time, - Paul mentions that a generous attitude towards the teachers of the word. Like himself and his team of people, - not jet plains, - but provision for the daily life, as they serve the people and build them up in the word. Don’t take advangate of people.

Invest in people that bring the gospel to others and so sow and spread the word about Jesus to others, use your wealth to serve Jesus and others. How we use our wealth does have implications, for what we reap and sow.

God will not be mocked, so don’t be lead astray and treat God with contempt, what ever ones sows that is what he will reap. (Sowing and reaping, - much – much – little – little good – good – bad - bad). If you spend it all on your flesh, you will reap corruption, - have you ever tried that? You get something, use time on something that you think will make you rest, happy, thankful, something you are looking for, but it leaves you tired, frustrated, angry, sad, annoyed wasted your time, - it did not deliver what ever it was, - I think that is reaping corruption. A failure to steward what we have well. Time, money talent, skills. It was for the flesh, not for the Spirt.

What a difference the reward, corruption or eternal life with Jesus, the goal the prize, the joy, that is what Paul it writing that sowing to the Spirt will bring, - have you tired that? You served, you gave, you prayed, you worshiped, the Lord for who God is, and something happened, something that is showing you what eternal life is like, - rest, joy, love, - a state – not just a feeling, wow, you saw the Spirt working, answered prayer, love of others, - Both we can and do experience in this world, as we start our eternal life with Christ here, when we know who Jesus is, we can walk in the Spirt and sow to the Spirt for the worship of Jesus and to the glory of God to by the Holy Spirt. – Paul is inviting us in to live like that, - walking in the Spirt, - sowing a lot, reaping the eternal life with Jesus’ day by day, different that all other living, and we desperately need that or like Paul was saying in the introduction we may give up… Life is hard, many troubles come, will we give up, or will we keep walking sowing in the Spirt, and keep doing good, even when we don’t think it makes a difference. (But we know it dose because how many times have, we been encouraged by the word of God, from a friend pastor, song, it always makes a difference). Sometimes when I thank people for helping; they say, “det var så lidt”, it was nothing, - I then try to explain, you know it may not have been for you, but all you did of you did not do it, I would have done it after what I have done, an that makes it a very big help. What might seem small for some, could be huge help and encouragement for others.

Therefore, don’t give up when it gets hard, and it will get hard. Like I said life is hard for most people, they and we need Jesus. So, do good, when you have the opptuinty, Paul writes.

Even more to the people of faith, the ones you have joined your life with, the ones that serve you, bear your burdens, love you care and pray for you, especial them. Why. – Again that is what Jesus said, the law of Christ that is how they will who Jesus is by the love the beliers have for Jesus and one another.

BUT:

What Paul wrote that we don’t save our self with good works, how can he then expect us to do good works. We that was alyas the case, - we don’t save our self or get right standing with God, by our works, but if we have right standing, by Jesus works, then we are expected to walk in the spirt, in the works that God has prepared before hand for us to walk in.

Will we do that perfectly, no, we will fail, we will want to give up, we will want to be selfish, and so on, but because of Jesus Christ, life, death, gospel. – We can go to Jesus everyday, and ask for forgiveness, and in get right standing because of him, we can look to Jesus and others before us, that life can be lived for Jesus Christ, will it be easy, no, will it be possible yes, eternal life with Jesus starts, when you get to know Jesus and walk with him. And that will be the reward for our eunduce in walking in the Spirt.