GALATIANS 6:7-8 | SOWING AND REAPING
Notes
Transcript
TEXT: GALATIANS 6:7-8 | SOWING AND REAPING
TEXT: GALATIANS 6:7-8 | SOWING AND REAPING
INTRO
INTRO
ILLUSTRATION: Have you ever been truly surprised?
ILLUSTRATION: Have you ever been truly surprised?
Every time I walk into our house Tressa is surprised.
I can tell her that I’m coming home and she still will be completely shocked when I turn the corner in our house.
I pride myself on not being easily surprised.
I’m skeptical enough that most of the time I can figure out when something is working in the background that I’m not aware of.
In fact, I can only think back to a few times that I was truly surprised.
2 of them were when Tressa told me we were expecting.
The first time she surprised me with a giant cookie that said “congratulations daddy”
When she told me we were expecting our second baby, we had ordered Chinese food and somehow she had hid the details of our upcoming arrival in one of the fortune cookies.
She got me good… I was truly surprised.
EXPLANATION: As Paul is writing here in chapter 6, he has addressed the church’s need to restore, to bear each others burdens, and then in v.6, to help bear the load of the pastor who is preaching the Word to them.
EXPLANATION: As Paul is writing here in chapter 6, he has addressed the church’s need to restore, to bear each others burdens, and then in v.6, to help bear the load of the pastor who is preaching the Word to them.
So when he comes to v.7, it almost feels like a total change of thought, but in reality it is tied into everything he has said in chapter 6 and the second half of chapter 5
Here says there at the beginning of v.7, Galatians 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Paul says, don’t be deceived…
This wasn’t a happy surprise… a pleasant surprise…
This was a very real reality that some of these believers had willingly deceived themselves with.
And Paul says what it is they were deceiving themselves with… v.7, “God is not mocked.”
The word for “mocked” found here in v.7 is only used once in all of the Bible.
It’s a word that means “to turn up the nose or sneer at”
Paul says that there were some of these believers that were mocking God
Some of them that were sneering at God!
How?
By living however they wanted to live and believing there would be no consequences for it.
And Paul is telling them, there is a simple reality that you shouldn’t be surprised by: You will reap what you sow.
ILLUSTRATION: This is an agricultural illustration that we all understand.
ILLUSTRATION: This is an agricultural illustration that we all understand.
If I plant a seed in the ground, whatever fruit seed it is, that is the kind of fruit I am going to get.
No one here is surprised by this information.
This isn’t some new revelation you have never considered.
This is practical… it just makes sense.
EXPLANATION: But what Paul is dealing with here is something far more important than what kind of seeds you plant in your garden.
EXPLANATION: But what Paul is dealing with here is something far more important than what kind of seeds you plant in your garden.
Paul is dealing with how the works you sow in your life will produce certain fruit from your life… and you shouldn’t be surprised by that reality.
And while everyone will nod their head in agreement… we are so often shocked when it actually comes to pass.
Have you ever thought to yourself, “How did I get here?”
Most of the time the answer is found by turning around and looking at the steps behind you.
You know what you’ll find?
They are your steps… and you brought yourself to the place.
Here in these verses, Paul is reminding these Galatian believers of a very practical reality… you reap what you sow.
This morning, I don’t think anything we cover will surprise you… but I hope for some it will be the reminder that you need of a basic and yet powerful Bible truth.
V.7-8, AN INVOLUNTARY ACTION
V.7-8, AN INVOLUNTARY ACTION
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for 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.
EXPLANATION: As Paul speaks in v.8, there is an assumption that is made… We are going to sow seeds.
EXPLANATION: As Paul speaks in v.8, there is an assumption that is made… We are going to sow seeds.
ILLUSTRATION: I’m thankful that God created us with certain involuntary actions.
ILLUSTRATION: I’m thankful that God created us with certain involuntary actions.
These are things that we do without thinking about it.
Blinking
Breathing
Heart beating
As a guy I am thankful I don’t have to consciously think about these things… because I’m awful at trying to remember to do multiple things at once!
Now for some of those involuntary actions you can intentionally do them.
Have you ever gotten something in your eye?
Have you ever went swimming and tried to hold your breath?
Have you ever sped up your heart beat when exercising?
You are being intentional about an involuntary action.
APPLICATION: Friend, the sowing of seeds in your life is an involuntary actions
APPLICATION: Friend, the sowing of seeds in your life is an involuntary actions
If you are alive this morning, you are sowing seeds today.
There are some who are under the impression that their life is having no impact.
But whether you realize it or not, your life is having an impact!
ILLUSTRATION: I once heard an example of the fact that we all make an impact that I think clearly communicates this truth.
ILLUSTRATION: I once heard an example of the fact that we all make an impact that I think clearly communicates this truth.
You see, everyone brightens a room.
I doesn’t matter who you are this morning, you are someone that brightens a room.
Some of you brighten the room when you enter… and some brighten the room when you leave.
APPLICATION: The point is this, the fact that you have lived and are alive today, by default means you are sowing seeds.
APPLICATION: The point is this, the fact that you have lived and are alive today, by default means you are sowing seeds.
And whether you are being intentional in spreading them or maybe there’s just a hole in your bag, you are spreading seeds… You are making an impact!
I want to encourage you this morning to sow intentionally.
There are some who are just coasting through life.
ILLUSTRATION: Have you ever had to drive somewhere and all of the sudden you arrived?
ILLUSTRATION: Have you ever had to drive somewhere and all of the sudden you arrived?
And you can’t really remember the drive, but clearly you drove because here you are.
APPLICATION: For so many, that is how they are going through life… they are just coasting.
APPLICATION: For so many, that is how they are going through life… they are just coasting.
But God never intended for you to just coast through life.
God desires for you to be intentionally moving forward for Him.
That is why he has given you a bag full of seeds that He desires you to take into the world and make an impact for Him!
I have had days and sometimes weeks that I’ve looked back on and thought, “What did I even do this week?”
And I just feel like I wasted it.
Church, don’t waste your life!
God has put you on this earth with a purpose
You can involuntarily sow seeds, but I want to encourage you this morning to be intentional about this matter of sowing seeds!
IT’S AN INVOLUNTARY ACTION… but it should be intentional.
V.8, AN INTENTIONAL CORRUPTION
V.8, AN INTENTIONAL CORRUPTION
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.
EXPLANATION: Paul says here in the first half of this verse that some people were sowing to their flesh.
EXPLANATION: Paul says here in the first half of this verse that some people were sowing to their flesh.
This is directly in line with what he had said about the works of the flesh back in Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
There is no question that part of Paul’s application had to do with the actions of these fleshly works mentioned in these 3 verses.
But I think Paul may have had another thought as he mentioned the sowing to the flesh.
Thus far in chapter 6, Paul has addressed the need for the church to restore those who had fallen, to bear one another’s burdens, and to help take care of the one preaching to them.
Now clearly there was a reason that Paul mentioned these things specifically.
And the reason must have been that some in the church weren’t doing them.
They weren’t interested in restoring others
They weren’t interested in bearing the burdens of others
They weren’t interested in providing for the needs of the preacher.
And the reason is clear… They were too focused on themselves.
“he that soweth to HIS flesh”
They were living for self.
And Paul tells us what the results of that life looks like… “shall of the flesh reap corruption”
The word Paul uses for “corruption” is a very vivid word.
It pictures the decay of a corpse.
Literally decomposition.
Paul says a person who is living his life to fulfill his own flesh and his fleshly desires will end up will a life of decomposition.
ILLUSTRATION: The home where I grew up was on a busy highway.
ILLUSTRATION: The home where I grew up was on a busy highway.
Because of where we lived, we had a number of dogs that met an unfortunate end on that road.
On a number of occasions my dad had to go into the woods by our house and dig a hole in the ground to bury our beloved family pet.
You know, in all the years and the loss of those animals, I never once went into the garage, grabbed a shovel and went over to the ground where that pet had been buried for a month or two… and dug up that only friend so I could pet him one last time.
I didn’t snuggle up to one of those dogs after they were exhumed and lay my head on it.
Why?
Because it was decomposing and disgusting!
EXPLANATION: Paul is giving his readers a vivid picture of the life they were heading towards if they continued living their life for themselves.
EXPLANATION: Paul is giving his readers a vivid picture of the life they were heading towards if they continued living their life for themselves.
And it wouldn’t be a pretty sight.
It would be a life that led to corruption.
APPLICATION: If I asked you this morning if you wanted a life that would lead to corruption and death and decay… no one would raise their hand
APPLICATION: If I asked you this morning if you wanted a life that would lead to corruption and death and decay… no one would raise their hand
No one wants that life.
But why is it that so many end up with that life?
ILLUSTRATION: Jeremiah gives us a glimpse into why this is true.
ILLUSTRATION: Jeremiah gives us a glimpse into why this is true.
Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.
For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
No one wants to be that cursed man… No one wants the corrupt life.
So why do so many end up with it?
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
APPLICATION: Can we just paint a clear picture here this morning?
APPLICATION: Can we just paint a clear picture here this morning?
Paul tells these believers if you sow seeds of the flesh in your life you will end up with a corrupted life.
So why do they do it?
Because the heart is deceitful!
And when you spend your life trying to fulfill the desires of your heart you will end up empty!
Friend, are you sowing seeds of the flesh?
Are you selfish in your actions?
Are you just concerned with what is going to make you happy?
We just went to the marriage retreat and I’m reminded every time we go to one of the reality that most of the problems we have can be traced to a common source: selfishness… And no I’m not talking about her selfishness, I’m talking about my own!
I have no doubt in this room that there are couples whose marriages are struggling and the biggest problem isn’t your spouse… it’s you and your selfishness!
I’ve seen churches be destroyed by the selfishness of a congregation or of the pastor.
ILLUSTRATION: When we planted a garden this year, one of the boxes was dedicated to tomatoes.
ILLUSTRATION: When we planted a garden this year, one of the boxes was dedicated to tomatoes.
Now Tressa likes them on things and the kids like them in things, but can I tell you the only reason we really planted them… because I wanted them!
Because I like tomatoes!
So we planted tomatoes and guess what we got… tomatoes.
APPLICATION: And there are some here this morning and you are shocked at the problems in your relationship with your spouse
APPLICATION: And there are some here this morning and you are shocked at the problems in your relationship with your spouse
You are stunned at the condition of your relationship with family
You are surprised by the turmoil in your work place.
It’s all decaying around you and you can’t figure out why…
Maybe it’s because you are just reaping the seeds you have sown… so don’t be surprised!
“Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap”
AN INVOLUNTARY ACTION
AN INTENTIONAL CORRUPTION
V.8b, AN INCREDIBLE ANTICIPATION
V.8b, AN INCREDIBLE ANTICIPATION
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.
EXPLANATION: Paul follows up the bad news in the first half of the verse with incredible news in the second half.
EXPLANATION: Paul follows up the bad news in the first half of the verse with incredible news in the second half.
One of the things that is hard for us to understand and wrap our minds around is the reality that, as someone who has trusted in Christ, we have eternal life.
But that eternal life doesn’t start someday… you have eternal life today!
You have been given life today that will never end… So start living for that life!
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
How do you sow to the Spirit, and lay up treasures in heaven, and seek first the kingdom of God?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
It’s living selfless for Christ!
It’s restoring the fallen
It’s bearing one another’s burdens
It’s serving others!
Oftentimes when you sow those seeds on this earth you do see the harvest here.
But even if you don’t… you can mark it down there is a God in heaven who is keeping tally and He will be faithful to the principles of these verses.
There will be no one who can turn up their nose at God…
You can be sure, one day in this world or the one to come, you will reap what you sow!
And you will be so thankful that you laid up those treasures.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
Paul, in the book of 1 Corinthians, gives us a glimpse into that day.
He reminds them first about the foundation we have:
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
And then he challenges them about what it is they are building in their life.
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
Our works will be tried by the fire of God to determine what was sowed in our flesh and what was sowed in the Spirit
If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
There will be some who stand before God someday, and they will be empty handed…
Because they spent their life sowing to their flesh
Sure they are saved and will spend eternity in heaven, praise God for that.
But all they lived for decayed and corrupted.
But there will be others… probably many that no one really knew their name on this earth
They didn’t receive any notoriety or recognition
No one clapped their hands for them.
They didn’t get a trophy or a plaque
They were just faithful to serve God
They were faithful in restoring those who had fallen
They were faithful to bear the burdens of others
They were faithful to tell others about Christ
They were faithful to demonstrate love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.
And when the flames die down, the Bible says it will be turned into gold and silver and precious stones
Those treasures that were laid up in heaven
ILLUSTRATION: There is a song called “The Cause of Christ” that I love the lyrics to.
ILLUSTRATION: There is a song called “The Cause of Christ” that I love the lyrics to.
It says this:
“The only thing
I want in life
Is to be known
for loving Christ.”
“To build His church
to love His bride
And make His name
known far and wide.”
“For this cause I live
For this cause I'd die
I surrender all
For the cause of Christ”
“All I once held dear
I will leave behind
For my joy is this
Oh, the cause of Christ”
The final verse says this:
“It is not fame
That I desire
Nor stature
In my brother's eye”
“I pray it's said
About my life
That I lived more to build
Your name than mine”
APPLICATION: Friend, what are you sowing today?
APPLICATION: Friend, what are you sowing today?
You can mark it down, you will reap what you sow!
Let’s get busy sowing to the Spirit
I can promise you, it will be worth it!
