Sowing and Reaping: Eternal Life

Intro:
There is real life waiting for you today. You can choose to see through your eyes and not just with them. You can choose to hear with your heart not just your ears. You can choose to see God at work or miss it.

You have a choice to make.

"A city full of churches
Great preacher, lettered men,
Grand music, choirs and organs;
If all these fail, what then?
Good workers, eager, earnest,
Who labour hour by hour:
But where, oh where, my brother,
Is God's Almighty power?

It is the Holy Spirit,
That quickeneth the soul.
God will not take man-worship,
Nor bow to man's control.
No human innovation,
No skill, or worldly art,
Can give a true repentance,
Or break the sinner's heart.

Great God, revive us truly!
And keep us every day;
That men may all acknowledge,
We live just as we pray.
The Lord's hand is not shortened,
He still delights to bless;
If we depart from evil,
And all our sins confess."

Samuel Stevenson

Read: Galatians 6:7-10
7 Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.

Think:
If we sow to the Holy Spirit we WILL reap eternal life. This is a life that exists on heaven but also on earth. It is the life we are meant to know in part here and fully in heaven.

The one who is continually sowing to the Spirit is experiencing life everlasting as he/she sows ... here ... now! That is a great promise.

The word for life, zoe, refers to life at its core. It is not a reference to physical life, there is a different word for that (bios). It is a word that refers to the "principle of life", the essence of things, the soulishness of us. This is life as it is meant to be.

We get to experience this if we sow to the Spirit consistently.

I want to rescue this verse from the negative light it is always cast in. Normally when we hear sermons on "You reap what you sow" it is focused on the negative. I do not think I have heard a sermon in over 20 years as a Christian talking about the positive in this verse.

Sure, if you sow to your flesh you will reap corruption BUT there remains a verse right after this one! If you sow to the Spirit you will reap eternal life! Both are available to me. I want to hear a sermon on that! I want to hear the preacher say there is a real opportunity to know the Spirit of God in power and intimacy. There is a real likelihood of knowing some of heaven on earth. There is a way to know real life and purpose through the Holy Spirit today.

Do:
Do you walk in newness of life? Are you experiencing the fruit of that life? It is easy to test and see:

1. How loving are you toward others?

2. How's your joy? Not happiness, joy!

3. Are you at peace with God, yourself, others?

4. Do you have an abundance of patience for others?

See Galatians 5:22-23 for more!

Yesterday we looked at what it means to sow to the Spirit. You might want to check that out if you missed it.

DevoLink: Devotions to help you Link with God.

Sowing and Reaping: The Spirit

Intro:
Relationships are dynamic and require investment. You cannot expect to have a close relationship with your spouse or kids if you do not spend time with them.

Specialists talk about quality time vs. quantity time. Most say quality time is what matters most. I would argue that you need to have both.

It is hard to think of giving God 1 minute a day and expect to grow even if that is a quality, highly-focused minute!

Read: Galatians 6:7-10
7 Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.

Think:
Sowing to the Spirit sounds mystical. How do you plant seeds into the Spirit? How do you cultivate a garden of Spirit? What does that fruit look like?

It seems pretty clear that I have a choice to make every day as to my orientation. I choose to acknowledge my God and His lordship in my life or I don't. I choose surrender or I won't.

Earlier in Galatians Paul reminded the people that he had been crucified with Christ and that he no longer lived but Christ was now living His life in Paul. Paul's calling was to trust in the Lord and live by faith (Gal. 2:20). He invited them to live like this. The Holy Spirit invited us to live like this as well.

Sowing to the Spirit will mean at least a couple of things:
1. Being in His Word - read what is important to Him. Listen for His voice in the pages.
2. Being in prayer - talk with Him but listen too.
3. Being obedient to His twinge - you know, the Holy Spirit twinge you feel when you are about to do something you shouldn't? When you get the twinge, obey it! Listen to Him and obey.

This is a relationship with a PERSON not a power. The Holy Spirit can be grieved and quenched by our choices. Be careful to seek Him out and obey Him.

Do:
Are you willing to take the time necessary to know God the Holy Spirit? Are you willing to give God your best, quality time? Talk with Him about it .... He already knows the answer anyway.

Listen to Holy Spirit Rain Down in the DevoLink Worship Center.

DevoLink: Devotions to help you Link with God.

Sowing and Reaping: In Time

Intro:
Walk with me into a garden. Look around at some carrots, squash, tomatoes. There is a key to knowing God in this place. What goes in the ground comes up. Carrot seeds produce carrots. Really!

What goes in the ground comes up the same. The Bible calls this principle sowing and reaping. What you sow (plant) you will reap (comes up). Have you ever thought about the reaping part? You always reap in kind, you always reap later and you always reap more. Stop and think through that. Really, stop and think.

Knowing God is the same. We sow into our relationship with Him and we reap … RELATIONSHIP back …. in kind, later and more than we sowed. I trust you want a close relationship with God but beware it might take a little time … the seed planted dies and then grows over time … it comes up “later”.

Our microwave society doesn’t like to wait for anything no less a God we cannot see, touch or feel. But there is good news if we sow time with him and are patient we will see get a return greater than expected in time.

Read: Galatians 6:7-10
7 Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.

Think:
Paul warns the Christians about the risk of being deceived? Apparently they were at rick of believing that God would not make them pay for thier sins ... oh and conversly that God would not give them a greater measure of Himself if they'd invest the time.

The risk in the equation is always time. We can grow impatient and desire God to act quickly. Some times He will move swiftly but most of the time he does not.

Two types of seeds are mentioned in v.8. What does this tell us about possible outcomes for my life? If I do not see the results of my choices today, what can I know for sure about the future? How can I be deceived in this (v.7)?

The newspaper is full of stories about people that appeared to have it all together on the outside until ……………… Can you think of any examples? David Letterman comes to mind this past week.

Do:
What one seed can you give over to God right now that is “corrupting” you? Take time and talk with Him about it. Confess any known seeds that do not please the Lord.

Make a commitment to continue planting seeds in God’s Word and prayer. Tell yourself not to get discouraged and give up. You will reap relationship with God in time. You will grow. God said so.

DevoLink: Devotions to help you Link with God.

Devotional: In Season

Intro:
To everything, turn, turn, turn … there is a season, turn, turn, turn and a time for everything under heaven.

There is a season when that which is planted comes up. It takes time to see the fruit of our choices. It requires patience and vision. Patience in that I must wait and not lose heart. Vision in that I must keep a vision of a preferred future when the fruit comes in the house.

I am not sure we are better off in an information age vs. an agriculture age. The further we get from the soil the more we forget that things take time. Fruits and veggies take time. Relationships take time. Spiritual growth takes time. Good things take time.

The clear temptation in doing what it good and right is losing sight of the outcome and thus losing heart.

Hold on, there is a season and we will reap if we do not give up. Hold on.

As you read this morning, pray for ears to hear the Scripture. You’ve read this passage possibly 3x now. Meditate on the words. See what you missed the first couple of times. Enjoy it like a good cup of coffee or a hot tea.

Read: Galatians 6:7-10
7Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up. 10So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.

Think:
Do you have any people you have given up on? Every gotten weary in loving someone?

Why do we lose heart and give up? What causes that? How would a clear picture of the end help set your priorities?

How long range is your vision of what God is doing in your life right now? Specifically, can you see how your actions today are producing an eternal weight of glory when you stand before Jesus? Can you see Him commending you with, “Well done good and faithful servant”?

Think through that. Picture it. Him on his throne, you at His feet, Him giving you a crown and you entering eternity with him and other believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Do:
Picture it.

Are you weary in the fight? Do you need encouragement? Reach out to another believer today and ask for prayer and encouragement.

Has God put anyone in your mind that needs you to continue to do good toward? A parent, a child, a friend, co-worker, fellow believer, pastor, neighbor or enemy? Commit that person to the Lord in prayer. What 1 thing will you do for 1 person this 1 week?

DevoLink: Devotions to help you Link with God.

Devotional: The Brown Thumb

Intro:
The curse of the “brown thumb” has invaded my home. From plants and flowers to trees and the lawn … I leave carnage in my wake. Compare a picture of my house when I bought vs. now and it is obvious that I have not done a great job. Green and lush has been replaced with brown and spotty. My choices (and lack of skill) have contributed to the carnage.

Do you know someone with a brown thumb? How about a “brown soul”? Seems out there, doesn’t it? A brown soul? Sure, why not? How else do you describe those dry times with God? And what causes them? You see, spiritually I can be green and lush (full of life and purpose) or brown and spotty ….. and brown and spotty seems the norm sometimes.

If the world revolves around ME, if every decision is centered in my comfort, if I am always demanding my rights then I am dying as I live! If, however, the world revolves around God and others, if I am allowing the Spirit of God to direct me then I am living as I die! That is the reap what you sow principle.

Read: Galatians 6:7-10
7Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up. 10So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.

Think:
The word “mocked” (v.7) means to “turn the nose up at, to sneer”. An “in your face” attitude. It is sinning and thinking God will not hold us accountable nor make us feel the effects of the sin. Remember, seed grows up later. Are you involved in any activities that you think God will overlook?

How gracious is God not to give us what we deserve nor let the seeds we plant destroy us. Think of some of the dumb things you have done and marvel that you have not received punishment equal to the offense. God is kind and worthy of our praise!

Flesh vs. Spirit. These represent life orientations. Who am I living to please? See Galatians 5:16-24 for a list of fruits of the “flesh” and fruits of the Spirit. Which looks like your life today?

Do:
What has God called you to do today?

Would you get on your knees and offer yourself to God right now?

DevoLink: Devotions to help you Link with God.