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Sowing and
Reaping -- Part 2, Sowing to the Spirit Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever
a man sows, this he will also reap. The Nature of Seeds
After the Seed is
Sown Goes from a hidden seed to a visible
plant In time the plant produces
fruit Fruit is in greater numbers & a different
form Each fruit has one to thousands of
seeds Each seed can take on a life of its
own Galatians 6:7‑8
Good News and Bad
News Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever
a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the
flesh reap corruption (the bad news), but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the
Spirit reap eternal life (the good news). Paraphrase of Galatians 6:8
Interpretation 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. Indulging our natural desires results in an
earthly, temporary reward and perhaps death and decay, but obeying the will of God results in life and
fellowship with God forever. Sowing to the Spirit
Interpretation Sowing to the Spirit
=
Doing what God desires
=
Loving one another
= Active Gracious Compassion What is God’s Desire?
Sowing to the Spirit = Doing
what God desires "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I
have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are
my disciples, if you love one another."
John 13:34‑35 Love is Active
Christian Love is more than a
Feeling This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid
down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
If anyone has material possessions and sees his
brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in
him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue
but with actions and in truth. ‑- 1John 3:16‑18 Jesus on Sowing and Reaping
If we reap what we sow, then
what will we reap if . . . 1. If you give money or
possessions? 2. If you give forgiveness? 3. If you give your self, your
life? Sowing Wealth
If you give money or possessions, what
will you reap? “Sell your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven
that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth
destroys. For where your treasure
is, there your heart will be also.”
Luke 12:33‑34 Sowing Wealth -- Example:
Apostles LK 18:28 Peter said to him, "We have left all we had to
follow you!" LK 18:29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no
one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake
of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in
this age and, in the age to come, eternal life." Sowing Forgiveness
If you give forgiveness, what
will you reap? “For if you forgive men when they sin against you,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their
sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” -- Matthew
6:14‑15 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not
condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down,
shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the
measure you use, it will be measured to you." -- Luke 6:37‑38 Sowing Forgiveness -- Example: Stephen
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord
Jesus, receive my spirit." Then
he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them."
When he had said this, he fell asleep.
And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. ‑- Acts 7:59‑8:1 Sowing Yourself
If you give your self, your
life, what will you receive? Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come
after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life
will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” --
Luke 9:23‑24 “The man who loves his life will lose it, while the
man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” -- John 12:25 Sowing Yourself -- Example: Jesus
Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of
Man to be glorified. I tell you
the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains
only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose
it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal
life. Whoever serves me must
follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the
one who serves me. ‑- John 12:23‑26 In Summary - Jesus on Sowing and
Reaping Sow your treasure, reap heavenly
treasure Sow your forgiveness, reap God’s
forgiveness Sow your life, reap eternal life |