Topic: Sowing and Reaping
We must come to understand the concept of sowing and
reaping. This is a very crucial concept
in the spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:42-44:
So also is the resurrection of the dead.
It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in
power: It is sown a natural body; it Is
raised a spiritual body. There is a
natural body and there is a spiritual body.
So when you sow the soul you will reap the spirit. This is mortification. Let me give you a couple of seeds that you
sow and what you can reap.
1. Prayer reaps Intimacy with God
2. Praise reaps Power
3. Repentance reaps Revelation
4. Obedience reaps Rest
5. Unity reaps Credibility
6. Integrity reaps Deliverance
7. Gathering of the Body reaps Safety
8. Honor reaps Grace
9. Nothing reaps Deterioration
Yes, when you sow nothing you reap deterioration due to
laziness. Let me now bring in this
Scripture that many of us have read and then expound on it:
Galatians 6:7,8: Be
not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he
also reap. For he that soweth to his
flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit reap life (zoe)
everlasting.
Many have read this and stopped at verse 7 and we whip
people with this but verse 8 brings us the purpose of why we should sow. When you sow to your flesh you will reap
corruption. How do we sow to the
flesh? When we chase after the world,
the people of the world (famous celebrities and carnal people) and the things
of the world. Let me take it a step
further, when you reap deception and evil you will reap deception and evil and
it may not come immediately but you can rest assure it will come. Let me show you:
Ecclesiastes 8:11: Because sentence against an evil work is
not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in
them to do evil.
But Paul admonishes us to sow to the Spirit and when we do that
we will reap, Zoe life! Now I do not
know about you but I want to know how to sow to the Spirit! This is how you sow to the Spirit:
1. Restoration of a Overtaken Man
Galatians 6:1: Brethern if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye
which are spiritual, restore such one in the spirit of meekness; considering
thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
When we restore a fallen brother or sister in Christ we reap
Zoe life. But notice it says to do it in
spirit of meekness, humility with strength.
This should be the standard ministry of the sons of God and let me show
you:
2 Corinthians 5:18,19:
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus
Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God
was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their
trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation
In this passage of Scripture, the Lord is telling us that we
are giving the ministry (service) of reconciliation and the word (testimony) on
reconciliation. So those who are
spiritual should be able to restore one back who has been overtaken in a
fault. Those who do so, reap eternal
life.
2. Bear One Another’s Burdens
Galatians 6:2: Bear ye one another’s burdens and so fulfill
the law of Christ
When the strong bears the infirmities of the weak one reaps
zoe life. We cannot walk this life alone
and if you think you can the devil has deceived you. You need Christ and with Christ is His
Body. He has given us each other to help
one another out. When we do that we
express zoe life.
3. Think of Yourself as Nothing
Galatians 6:3: For if
a man think of himself to be something, when he is nothing he deceiveth
himself.
You can quote so many scriptures for this but let me simply
sum it up in these few phrases. Jesus
tells us to deny ourselves and then Paul tells us this about Jesus!
Philippians 2:7: But made himself of no reputation and took
upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of man.
Jesus laid down his very life and divinity so that we may
live but in doing so the Son manifests the zoe life as a example for us to
follow. We can do nothing of ourselves,
let us live this way and when we do, we then live by the grace of the Lord to
meet our every need.
4. Examine Your Work
Galatians 6:4: But
let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself
alone and not in another
When your purpose and motive for work and what you do is for
Christ then you can rejoice because when we do the work of the One who sends
us, we manifest His glory and Zoe life.
5. Bear Your Own Burden
Galatians 6:5: For
every man shall bear his own burden
Listen this is not a contradiction of verse 2. What it does say is that everyone has a
burden to carry. Jesus said, any man
that comes after me must first deny himself then pick up his cross and follow
me. All of us have a burden to
carry. You can’t throw all your burdens
on someone else and you walk with nothing.
It does not work that way, the burden should draw you closer to the Lord
but also manifest the desire to work and live for the Lord.
6. Care for Those Who Teach the Word
Galatians 6:6: Let him
that is taught in the word, communicate unto him that teacheth in all good
things.
This is a doozy for many of us. But if we desire to reap Zoe life we must
follow the Word and the principles that unlock this life for us. The Scripture says that those who are taught
the word of God should “communicate” unto the teacher. This can be but not limited to
financial. This principle repeats itself
in Scripture where it says those that labor in the Word are worthy of double
honor. In as much as the teacher labors
in the Word of God for you, you should show some support back. We need to learn how to give but let me say
this here.
The Scripture here says give to the
teacher, not the institution!
No one
should have to preach about curses and tithes all the time. If you have been fed by someone who labors
in the word, if you sow into them, you will reap Zoe life.
This is why
in the end Paul tells us “Do not be weary in well doing; for in due season we
shall reap, if we faint not.
Peace, Love and Grace,
Calvin Calhoun, Jr.
