Reaping of the Harvest

INTRO:

Oak trees favorite tree - two in the front yard in schulenburg

5 ways to identify a tree

altered trees to give multiple types of fruit

location

overall height and size of the tree

the color and shape of the bark

the leaves

the fruit it produces

For many of us we maybe able to identify a couple of trees by one or two of these characteristics

but no mistaking what type of tree it is by the fruit it bears

Sam Van Aken (Art professor at Syracuse) made a 40 fruit grafted tree

Common person if we plant an apple, banana, or orange tree…we expect to get that same fruit

In the same way others maybe able to identify us as Christians by a few characteristics

but it is undeniable who we follow by the fruit that we bear

What You Sow You Reap

Galatians 6:7–10 ESV

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.

Galatians 6:7-

Vs. 7

Whatever you do you receive the just reward of it

God sees it all and it is His mercy that destruction doesn’t come to you

Does this mean that if I do good things nothing bad will come my way?

NO, why not? Because the Bible

Look at John the Baptist

Matthew 3:4–5 ESV

4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him,

Matthew 3:4 ESV

4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Matthew 3:

Matthew 11:11 ESV

11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Matthew 3

Matthew 11:11 ESV

11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Matthew 11:

If God says no one has been greater than you, you’re doing some things right

Yet, John did not receive a palace

He wasn’t promised long life

He wasn’t guaranteed peace with everyone

Result - Being beheaded for proclaiming holiness

Did he not sow good things? Why wasn’t he rewarded?

Galatians 6:8 ESV

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.

Galatians 6:8

John’s end goal is not the pleasures of this world but to get Christ

Paul puts it this way :

Philippians 4:4–8 ESV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Philippians 4:4-8

Philippians 3:4–8 ESV

4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Philippians 3:

Compared to Christ everything else is garbage, worthless, it won’t satisfy, it can’t fulfill

To sow in the flesh means you reap nothingness

To sow in the Spirit means you reap eternal life

Don’t Grow Weary in Doing Good

Galatians 6:9–10 ESV

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.

Galatians 6:

vs.7 a different way of saying it:

Run with endurance the race that is set before you, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of your faith

STOP

Looking at your life, what would the fruit you have sown look like? Would it be of the flesh or would it be of the Spirit?

What does it look like to sow in the flesh? How / why is this destructive?

How does Christ change the fruit that we produce? What does it look like to sow in the Spirit?

Why should we not grow weary in doing what is good? How do we run our race with endurance?