Reaping What We Sow
Reaping What We Sow • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Good morning everyone, can you imagine we are a week away from VBS? It seems hard to believe, and I hope you will not sit home, but I pray you will come out and join us even, the smallest amount of help is wonderful and will be a blessing to the children.
So with that being said, I hope you will plan on helping.
VBS is still the number one way that children come to faith in Christ in the church.
Come and see what God will do in their lives..
Now this morning we are going to address something so practical yet so important in our lives. It’s a law....
Now I don’t mean … don’t speed, don’t steal.. don't bare false witness… like the 10 commandments....
It is not like those laws, .... this is a law that applies to everyone, whether, Jew, Christian, even for the person that says ..... I don’t believe any of this religion stuff...
It applies to all.
There is a law in place that humanity, starting with the Adam and Eve have experienced since the first day here on planet earth.
It is the law of sowing and reaping.
What does that mean exactly? What is sowing and reaping?
Well it is an agricultural term.. it says what you plant or don't plant is what you will have at the appointed time...
Marci and I put some bushy beans out in our raised garden box… there are little beans on the plants right now.... we are excited because we went to all the trouble (sowing) and now we will have fresh beans soon, (reaping).
The word of God speaks, in fact it is very candid about the topic of sowing and reaping.
Now lets get our Bibles out .....
Lets look at the book of Galatians, chapter 6
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Man a powerful text....
Why is Paul addressing this to the church at Galatia…???
Well there are a couple thoughts that fit that question… The people of Galatia were taught, instructed in the teaching of Christ as they believed and followed the message. But somewhere along the way, they began to follow a different message… a different gospel.
Paul is calling them to return, they cannot live for themselves and they cannot forsake the grace of God.
Essentially Paul was calling them to look at how they were living and make an assessment.. Where they living for God or for self..
BTW: There is no pretending in the kingdom of God. A person might hid their heart from others, but not from God.
So lets begin with this thought....
1. God Knows All....
1. God Knows All....
There is a theological point we need to make about God.
When we consider the attributes of God, we know there are several things about His nature, presence and work that are important.
We believe God is Omnipresent, He is everywhere at all times.
He is Omnipotent meaning he is all powerful
And Omniscient meaning that he is all knowing...
And there are others as well, but this last one I mentioned is important for us to know. God is all knowing, He has a perfect knowledge of all things....
David shares one of the best teaching of this in the Old Testament book in Psalms.
if you want, look at , verses 2-4 and 16. I think what David says here illustrates it perfectly.
A. Look there… Verse 2
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
He is completely aware of our thoughts… what are thinking about right now? Someone here might be thinking, man I wish he was done…
He knows your thoughts.....
B. Then consider our steps each day, do we walk in his ways or our own? He knows the rules whereby we walk. He know us, to our inmost being… Honestly God knows us better than we know ourselves…
Then consider our steps each day, do we walk in his ways or our own? He knows the rules whereby we walk. He know us, to our inmost being… Honestly God knows us better than we know ourselves…
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
C. Consider your mouth, what you say or don’t say, God knows!
Consider your mouth, what you say or don’t say, God knows!
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
God knows the words whether good or bad that will come out of our mouth. Have you ever had someone just get on your last nerve and suddenly you shot your mouth off and you find yourself surprised by what you said in a poor moment.... and then your sad… you feel the need to apologize…
Listen my friends, God was not surprised, He know our words before we did....
Man that is harsh for us to here.. but it is important.... God knows us, our ways and days… from before we were born until we see Him
What a great truth for us to here.. it is important.... God knows us, our ways and days… from before we were born until we see Him.
There is nothing in this life or in any person that escapes His watchful daze....
Now here is a question, should that impact how we live?
It should.....
Our Heavenly Father knows all.....
And then we move to the next thought......
2. Reaping and Sowing.....
2. Reaping and Sowing.....
Consider the idea of reaping and sowing....
We might normally consider agriculture when thinking of “reaping and sowing.” And rightly so, to reap what one sows implies a reward for what has been done… ie.. a harvest after planting and a good growing season.
Paul continues the teaching Jesus shared about sowing and reaping in the gospels, look with me at our text...
Lets go back to our text again
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Gal
So what does it all mean........ Pay attention to that first part…
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
Paul says for you, me to not be tricked or led astray in our thinking. We think we can get by with so much, we think we can succeed in our own plans…
But Paul says here God is not mocked… What does that really mean… ? God is not mocked...
You cannot fool God..... Listen you cannot fool God my friends.
ut Paul says here God is not mocked… What does that really mean…
Why?
Remember a persons true nature, true desires and true ways will come out when squeezed..
Remember “....and be sure your sin will find you out.”
23 But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.
Numbers
Listen again to Paul in verses 7-8
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
What ever you sow, is what you will reap.....
So there are two choices, one of two decisions that can be made my friends...
You can live and sow to the flesh or you can live and sow of the Spirit.
Consider these two paths...
If you live to the flesh you will reap of the flesh....
Now someone
You see the flesh was our former way of life, Paul says in that in that former way of life, we were sold under sin, literally a slave to sin.
As such, the sinful nature of the flesh desired the flesh. tells us the flesh is what is earthly in us, sexual immorality, impurity , evil desires , covertness, idolatry, malice, slander, and obscene talk… the list can go on...
In truth, it is everything that opposes Christ.... His ways, His life, that is of the flesh.
The life a person lives that is apart from Christ is a life lived in the flesh and it glorifies the Devil.
But a life lived for the Lord, is a life that is lived by the Spirit and a life lived by the Spirit has eternal life.
Sowing good seed, reaps good … and following
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Listen my friends....
“Satan seeking whom he may devour is no match for a Savior seeking whom he may deliver.”
We have a great choice my friends, we can live right or we can live wrong. We can live for self, or we can live for God. we can pursue death or we can pursue life.... the choice and the pathway is your choice… what will you do!!!
How do you want to live...
Self or Spirit....
Now there is just one last thought my friends for us to consider.....
3. Let Us Not Stop Doing Good...
3. Let Us Not Stop Doing Good...
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
76yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
Now the Apostle Paul, he knows these people in Galatia, he has walked with them and taught them. And He has seen their life and devotion, He knows where they once where… and while some have tried to lead them astray, and some have wandered away.
Paul knows there is a faithful group of believers there and he is reaching out to them.
He encourages the church at Galatia in two ways.... to push forward and no matter what.... Do not stop doing good.
Do not live Like there are no consequences
But also, Paul is telling the church.... Treat everyone well, but especially the household of the faith.
Let us not stop Doing Good
Friends, we here at this church, and other people from other churches are brothers and sister in Christ. we’re under an obligation to do well and to want the best for each other.
All in Christ are brothers and sisters no matter who they are....
Go back and look at verses 9 -10
Gal
9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Paul has encouraged many in this way… believers should treat each other well, and do good. One such case is the believers in Thessalonica.... listen to this passage from 2 Thessalonians.... chapter 3, verse 13.
Gal
13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.
Do good for each other… strive to serve the Lord with goodness and gladness to all whom God leads before our faces...
No matter what we face, push forward to do good… for in the proper season we will reap the reward of our service.
No matter what we face, push forward to do good… for in the proper season we will reap the reward of our service, our time or our sowing...
Friends, God blesses those who serve, those who love and those who seek to do good… And we are blessed because of the love we share… and friends you cannot out give God. when you extend yourself to Him and serve through Him man He gives back...
It is the biblical principle of sowing and reaping.... sow until good things, love one another, care for those around us and we will reap a bountiful blessing of Gods love.
No matter what we face, push forward to do good… for in the proper season we will reap the reward of our service, our time or our sowing...
You see we are called to do good things!
not evil.
In fact if a child of God is caught doing evil, something is a miss....
Are you doing good for yourself, living for self or are you living for God and reaping His rewards...
Don’t stop doing good.
6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.