A Time For Harvest

Intro

Illustration- garden in the back

o all around us you see the results of dedicated farmers who sow seeds and reap harvest. I know that there are even some in here that have been part of that industry that functions on the basic principle of planting something in the ground, waiting a certain amount of time, and then harvesting the produce (I realize there’s a lot more that goes into it).

o But I want us this morning to realize that, regardless of our occupation, we are all farmers.

o Through our actions and decisions in life, we are sowing the seeds of our destiny, and we must be ready for the harvest, the results of our choices and actions in life

- Last week we talked about bearing one another’s burdens- how the church is meant to be unified, a place of restoration and love and care for one another.

- Now Paul continues that same thought of selfless love towards others into the reality that our actions produce consequences. How we use our time, how we treat others, how we prioritize the unity of the church, all our decisions in life shape the path that find ourselves on

o We know the bottom line, the underlying truth that we may continually rest in, that we are sinners saved by grace. That we have the Spirit of God living in us and a sure hope of eternal life.

o but that reality does not remove us from this cycle of sowing and reaping, actions and consequences

- As Christians we must not only be aware of this truth, but we must seek to live in a way that pleases God and gives us the best platform to point others to Jesus

- Read Gal. 6:6-10

- Paul begins here with a basic principle in v. 6 that highlights…

The Importance of a Giving Heart (v. 6)

A. Sharing with those who minister

1. Share- partnership, Fellowship- unity- it goes both ways

a. Teacher shares, digs into, explains, and applies God’s Word, those being taught share good gifts

b. 1 Tim. 5:17-18 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.

2. Giving, not just to a pastor, but to the church in general, for all of us, me included, is an act of worship

a. We are guided by this question; how does this financial support reach more people with the gospel?

(1) You see, money is simply a tool, and it is our desire to see it used to make joyful, passionate disciples of Jesus Christ

b. It benefits the church and the gospel and discipleship of this body of believers that this is my only job- I love what I do!

c. So grateful to be able to be fully supported by the church

3. It benefits the church and the gospel and discipleship that this is my only job- I love what I do!

a. Validation for full time ministry positions

b. There are times when pastors have to do both, but it should always be the goal of the church to make the church a pastors primary concern so that he can give all of himself to the ministry that God has called him too.

c. We even see this principle in the appointing of deacons- so that the elders could give their time to prayer and the ministry of the Word.

- But we also see here…

B. The importance of teaching sound biblical doctrine

1. The expectation is to teach the Word, not just a feel good, self-help pep talk

2. We need men committed to teaching God's truth in its entirety

- But sadly, and why this is such a difficult and awkward topic today is…

C. The abuse of this principle

1. Prosperity gospel

2. Taking advantage of those seeking after God and truth

- but the focus here in this verse is not on the teacher, but on the giver, and this principle leads into what we have been discussing

Sowing and Reaping

- Now some people have tied this principle back to verse six and used it for their own personal gain. This was not Paul’s intention. Although it does apply to pastoral support, there is much broader principle here.

A. This is a natural law but one we often forget

1. "you reap what you sow"- often framed in negative terms- but it also has a very positive connotation

a. It all depends on what you are sowing

2. Choices have consequences

a. Parenting- we create artificial consequences to teach them principle because when they get older, the consequences are very real

- But we have a problem, and adults just as much as kids. Sometimes we live like this principle doesn’t exist

B. We mock God when we live as if it is not true

1. We may be fooling others, but God knows our hearts.

2. In the end, we will face the consequences because God cannot be mocked- he knows. We cannot get away with it. there will be repercussions

3. But we think things will be different for us. That somehow the rules don't apply to us

4. But Paul makes it clear, we will reap what we sow

C. Two types of seeds we can sow

1. Seeds of the flesh

a. Self-indulgence- what I want

b. We saw an example of this in chapter 5- sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.

c. The result- destruction

d. As Christians we must own the consequences of our sin

(1) There is forgiveness at the cross, but the scars remain

2. Seeds of the Spirit

a. Instead of a self-focus, this is an other’s focus

b. Loving others- relationships- humility- selflessness

c. Results in eternal life

3. The seeds we sow- how we spend this life determine our character- who we become

a. When we look at our lives and see ourselves becoming more Christ, we can be confident we are sowing to the Spirit

b. What we give our time to reveals the seeds that we am sowing

(1) We shouldn’t be surprised when the harvest mirrors the choices we make

- It’s a simple principle, you reap what you sow, but it is difficult to live out because of our sinful flesh. That is why Paul ends with this exhortation…

Don't give up!

A. Sowing to the Spirit can be tiring (loving others, putting them first, living with integrity, sacrificing leisure time to fulfil my God given mission) these things can wear us out!

1. “let us not grow weary in doing good”

a. How can we get tired of doing good?

b. Illustration- kids getting tired of their toys

(1) It has lost its appeal

c. We can’t allow this to happen in our spiritual lives

(1) There is an initial excitement, and then we get tired of it, maybe we don’t see the results we hoped for, maybe we see others around us quitting or pursuing other things

(a) And we think, “Why am I doing this?”

(2) Don’t grow weary

d. What is good?

(1) Christianity is not about doing good- it is about the incredible grace of God that has saved us through faith in Jesus Christ

(2) But we talked about what happens when we are made right with God through faith. He gives us the Holy Spirit to live in us.

(a) It is the Spirit who strengthens us and guides us

(b) And it is the Spirit who produces in us the fruit that we talked about in chapter 5 verse 22- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control- all of these thing- evidence of what God has already done in us

(c) So we pursue these things in the Spirits power- we keep in step with him- and do not give up!

2. It can seem like the harvest will never come

a. Illustration- walnut seed takes 10-13 years before it produces anything you can harvest

b. William Carey- no one accepted Christ for 7 years!

c. discouragement

3. We must persevere

a. Stick with it!

b. Jesus’s example- the woman at the well

c. 1 Cor. 15:56-58 “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

B. The harvest will come in God’s timing

1. Again, this is not a prosperity gospel- do good and God will give you immediate blessing in the form of health and wealth

2. God’s timing is so much better than our own, but it is hard for us to see it at times

3. Sometimes we may not see the harvest until we stand before God and our life on earth is complete

C. Make the most of every opportunity

1. It's so easy to miss opportunities to serve others when God puts them right in from of us.

2. We become too focused on ourselves

3. Those around us

4. Especially those in the church

Conclusion

- So What?

o Cultivate a giving heart

o Evaluate your life, do your actions and the things that occupy your time reveal seeds sown in the Spirit, or the flesh?

o Don’t give up. Don’t grow weary. Persevere in the power of the Spirit!

o Love and do good to those around you, especially your brothers and sisters in Christ. This is a reflection of what God has shown you!

- There will be a time when we will reap the harvest for what we have planted- the question is, what will you be reaping?