Galatians 6:6-10

You Reap What You Sow

 

Intro: What would happen if I took a nice ripe peach – proceeded to climb up on the roof of this building – hold over the edge – let go?

A) The peach would proceed to fall – 30 ft or so and Splatter on the Pavement  - Why?

 

B) Well God as devised a Law for this universe – Law of Gravity

 

C) Well Just like the Lord has instituted laws for the Universe that we are bound by Physically

1) God has also instituted laws that affect us Spiritually – We see one of those laws in our text this morning

 

D) We see it in v. 7  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap

 

It is the law of sowing & Reaping / Seed time & Harvest – that what a man sows that is what he is going to reap

A) We see this Principle in the very beginning of the Bible – Gen 1:11

11 Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself

 

B) Notice that phrase -  according to its kind : In other words when God created a peach tree He didn’t keep creating Peach trees –

 

C) He created a Peach tree and then allowed that peach tree in a sense to recreate itself –

1)   So that when it’s seed was sown in the Ground it would produce a harvest of Peach trees – not apple / not plums

 

D) Principle is this: what is Harvested is going to resemble that which was Sown { After it’s Kind

 

 

 But the Principle is not just- that what is sown determines what is reaped - that it will be after it’s kind

A)But it also applies to the EXTENT of what is Sown – will be the EXTENT of what is reaped –{ 2 Cor 9:6 gives this insight 

 

B) Sow Sparingly – you will reap sparingly – Sow Bountifully – you will reap bountifully !!!!

1)   In other words Sow only one SEED – small harvest – sow few seeds – that will be the harvest – sow Bountifully …… reap ……..

 

C) So don’t Blame God if the Harvest is small or if the fruit is sparse – the only person to blame is ourselves

 

Now here in Gal 6 Paul gives us 3 areas in which we can apply this Principle 3 areas of Application – we want to consider

A) 1st – In Christian Ministry v.6  Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

 

B) Paul is advocating here – that a teacher of God’s word – one who laborers in the word – in order to give to others

1) should be paid by those he is teaching.

 

C) Now this is a tough verse to teach on as a Pastor today – although it shouldn’t be{Always been God’s design & desire starting w/ Priest ..Israel

 

D) Here is why it is a  Problem – there are those who call themselves ministers who teach on TV – command huge Salaries –

1) They live in Million dollar homes - They wear 2,000 suits – drive expensive cars

 

E) And most people see the Hypocrisy of that – turns them off !!!

1) It has left a bad taste in the mouths of many people – not interested in hearing the gospel – because – “All preachers are after money”

 

F) Because of their abuses every Pastor gets placed in that Category

Listen those guys are fleecing the flock & will pay for their sin greatly when they stand before God – but not the situation in most cases

A) People often ask me – if I have another Job – or is this all you do ?

 

B) I respond – if I had time I probably would – but I work 60 plus hrs a week as it is { My responsibilities here at Calvary keep me very busy.

1) Plus I have a wife I plan on staying married to until I die or the Lord comes back – who needs to see me now & then

 

C) I have 3 kids who need a Dad – So I am quite busy – 60 Plus hrs here and all of that to boot –

 

D) Funny Some people have the perception: That all we do is show up here on Sundays – golf the rest of the week – { Not even close

1) So in order to affectively minister to God’s people throughout the week it helps if a Pastor is paid a Salary – Myself & others are thankful for that

 

E) Paul said it is the right thing to do:  Jesus put it this way: Luke 10:7 The workman is worthy of his wages

1) It is a blessing to be a part of a congregation that believes in supporting those who are ministering

 

Now here is how this relates to this principle of sowing & reaping

A) Every person that comes to Christ here at CCV – thru the teaching of the Word – {those of you who give }– share in that fruit

 

B) That gets credited to your spiritual bank account – Every person that is built up in their faith – credited to your spiritual bank account

1) Every marriage that is saved – thru counseling that takes place – Every life that gets turned around ……. Your Spiritual bank account

 

C) Because You give it opens the door for an abundance of ministry to take place

 

Your giving allows me to travel to Colorado – share at a men’s conference – Families are impacted / Charlie to Peru – Bible students

A) This Church has invested well over 1 million dollars into the mission field – lives impacted around the globe – { Credited to your account

 

B) The giving that occurs that will allow us to Build a new Facility – Minister to more People – { Credited to your Account

1) For every harvest that occurs here at CCV – for any fruit that is born out of this ministry – Those of you who give – Share in that Benefit –

 

C) All of that is a part of your REWARD in heaven – because you have chosen to invest in the kingdom of God !!

 

D) SO first Paul speaks of sowing in the field of Christian Ministry

 

2nd Sowing in the Field of Christian Holiness v.8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

A) Subject your mind to impure images and filthy language and your life will reflect that /

 

B) You will reap a harvest of that influence in your family – affect your kids it will stifle your marriage 

1) You'll wake up one day in bondage to what you thought was just fun and games.

 

C) If you entertain thoughts that oppose God, or preoccupy yourself with thoughts that ignore God –

1) one day you're going to wake up living a life without God.

 

There are many men in the Bible who illustrate this point – One is Lot

A) Plains of Sodom – because reminded him of Egypt

 

B) Goes from the plains to the city itself – and loses his whole family as a result – lost to the world

C) Samson is another example: He Constantly was categoring to his flesh – the result ? Attracted to pagan women / Prostitutes

 

D) What did it get him: Philistines captured him { Saddest pictures in the bible – Judges 16:21

21 Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison.

 

E) That is what Sin always does: It Blinds / It binds / It leaves you grinding

 

 

What's deceptive is you don't always reap in the same season that you sow. ECCLES. 3:2 There is a time to sow and a time to pluck up that which has been sown

A)Solomon wrote: there is a season to sow and there is a season to reap – but they are different

 

B)Those seasons are not simultaneous – we don’t sow one hr and reap the next hr. Sow one day & reap the next

1) If we got fruit the day after we planted the seed it would be easy. But The problem is you sow in the spring, and don't reap until the fall.

 

C) The same is true spiritually - you seldom reap in the season you sow. So For a while the damage goes undetected.

1) You're enjoying your sin. You're ringing up the charges, but you haven't been hit with the bill - but trust me, YOU WILL!

 

Its like the guy who denied the law of gravity - just didn't believe it applied to him and so he decided to prove it.

He climbed to the top of a twenty-story building and dove off. His last words were heard as he sailed past a guy on the third floor, "Hey, nothing's happened yet!"                Paul says God is not mocked!

 

So if we are sowing to the Flesh – feeding our flesh – coddling our flesh we can be assured that we will reap Corruption

A) Paul put it this way in Romans 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death,

 

B) Carnally minded = fleshly minded – pre-occupied w/ the flesh = Death to your spirit – death to your relationship w/ God – Death to a Marriage –

1) It boils down to this how can we expect to reap the fruit of the spirit if we are not sowing in the field of the spirit

 

C) But Paul also said there in Rom 8 but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

1) See this principle of sowing and reaping also has a positive spin. You can sow to the spirit & reap everlasting life

 

D) Not talking about Salvation – Talking – QUALITY OF LIFE

1) Life marked by blessing from God – Includes inheritance

 

If you want to grow stronger in your faith - walk more intimately with the Lord - then just start sowing to your spirit .

A) Set your mind on the things of the Spirit Listen to teaching tapes, and Christian music.

 

B) When you have a free moment talk to the Lord , and practice the presence of God throughout the day.

1) The more you sow spiritually the more you'll reap!

 

C) The old adage is true – Sow a thought reap an act – sow an act reap a habit sow a habit reap a Character – sow Character – reap a destiny

 

 

So we can sow in the field of Christian ministry / Sow in the field of Christian Holiness / 3rd Sow in the field of Christian well doing

9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

A) Note this: Sowing is tiring & our biggest obstacle is weariness

 

B) Paul says – Don’t grow weary in well doing – doing good !!!

         Sowing seeds of Goodness and Kindness toward others

 

C) Why is it easy to lose heart : Several reasons

1) We don’t see QUICK  results { Biggest concern for Missionaries

2) We don’t get any thanks or recognition

3) Satan dupes us into thinking – not making any impact

 

It is easy to grow weary & to lose heart – but it is also dangerous

A) In the ancient world, this phrase translated lose heart was used for the

kind of fear & weariness a woman experiences during labor  before delivery.

 

B) It describes a time when the work is hard and painful, but also unfinished and unrewarded. { Everyone experiences that

1) In those moments It’s easy to lose heart, but that is exactly when we must hang on and not grow weary while doing good.

 

C) Like the mother to be keeps pushing because she is anticipating that Baby 

1) Or The farmer who stays in the field because he's focused on the harvest.

 

D) Paul is encouraging us to Keep sowing good seed and God will bless you with a wonderful bounty.

1) We often forget that the giant OAK TREE – started off as a Little ACORN

 

Another thing to realize is that we can’t see what is going on behind the scenes –

A) You don’t know / you can’t tell right away – the impact that act of ministry is having on your life – personally

 

B) It might be yrs later that you look back at one of those times & think when I was going thru it – it was hard – looked hopeless

1) But look at the fruit now { First in my own life – then in others

C) You also don’t know the impact deep down that your good works – your ministry to others is having on them

1) Devil often times – tries to get me to think – that standing up here preaching is a waste of time – { Cards & emails –

 

D) What is sad to me is how many people who serve quit before they see the harvest – Some I know –right on the Brink –

1) They are right there – Lose heart

 

Paul encourages us Keep sowing those seeds of Goodness & Kindness to all – Includes Unbelievers

Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

 

A)Sometimes the biggest impact that a Christian can make on an unbeliever is to show him Kindness –

 

B) Being a good neighbor – speaks more than sharing the gospel / and often opens the door to share the gospel

 

B) Guy saw his neighbor struggling w/ a Frig – Offered to help –

1) Result neighbor got saved

 

C) Do good to all – Especially the household of Faith

1) Love that – House hold of Faith = Family

 

D) Blood is thicker than water – We are connected to the Blood line of Christ -