Harvest Law
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If you would like to listen to this message, please click this audio link.Date: 28 May, 2020
Text: Galatians 6:7-9
Title: Harvest Law
Introduction:
Harvest time is a fun season.
Going to horicon marsh as a child.
- the canadian geese would be migrating. (1,000's)
- guns would fire to scare them and the sky would be filled with honking geese.
- There would be roadside stands and shops selling autumn decorations.
(put on your porch.)
- corn stalks and pumpkins, gourds, indian corn
- Seeing the farmers with their combines harvesting grain.
- the tractors putting up bales of hay.
I can only imagine what harvest is like to a farmer. This is when they find out the profitability of their labour.
- They have some knowledge of how things have gone.
- how much seed was planted.
- If there has been any crop damage - insects, animals, storms, drought.
- But, now they get to see THE FRUIT OF THEIR LABOURS.
There are many laws that effect the harvest of the farm.
- Laws of reproduction - how much yield for each seed.
- Laws of nutrition - the correct balance of soil and fertilizer.
- Laws of investment - how much has been put in to get how much out.
- Laws of labour - all things being equal - those who work the hardest reap the best.
exp. Famers need to OBEY the laws of the harvest to have a good crop yield.
Spritually - there is one primary harvest law. IT IS FOUND IN OUR TEXT - Galtaians 6:7-9
WE MUST OBEY THE LAW OF THE HARVEST IF WE ARE GOING TO REAP A GOOD HARVEST. Are you going to reap a good harvest?
exp. If you don't know the anwer to that right now, you should be the end of the message this morning.
prayer
We must obey the law of the harvest if we are going to reap a good harvest.
I. Learn the law of the harvest.
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
exp. We're going to consider this verse in reverse - starting with the second phrase.
A. What does the law of the harvest say?
1. The harvest is purposeful.
for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
exp. WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH - You don't sow on accident, you sow on purpose.
ill. I haven't planted a vegetable garden in several years. But, Katie and I had a vegetable garden at our home in Wadhams, Michigan.
- We planted cherry tomatoes.
- We planted corn.
- We planted beans.
- We planted peas.
- We planted carrots. (I think.)
exp. The reason we planted those things, is we wanted to get those things. Before you plant a garden you have to stop and think about what you want to reap. The harvest is purposeful.
note: Imagine me complaining to my wife about the fruit we harvested. She would tell me - YOU SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU PLANTED IT.
app. Are you thinking about what you are planting in your life? No matter what you are planting - it is purposeful. YOU WILL REAP WHAT YOU SOW.
2. The harvest is personal.
for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
exp. We find in the harvest law - "a man" a "he." The harvest is personal.
ill. My little vegetable garden existed because I ambitiously dug up a 3 meter x 3 meter patch in my lawn and made it into a vegetable garden. I couldn't come out some day and complain BECAUSE I WAS THE ONE WHO IN THAT CASE WAS THE FARMER.
ill. Some communities have allotments - little vegetable gardens in a shared area. Each person has their own area to work on. If it is horrible there is no one to blame but the person who planted it. If it is beautiful there is no one to praise but the person who planted it.
app. Nobody is going to be able to blame someone else for what is growing in their life and their family. The man who IS REAPING IT is the man WHO SOWED IT.
transition: The law of the harvest says - the harvest is purposeful, the harvest is personal....
3. The harvest is powerful.
for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
exp. The harvest of farming is incredible multiplying the investment many times over.
ill. Crop yield - Scotland sells millions of pounds (value) of brussel sprouts each year. The most recent statistic that I saw was 2016 - 11.9 Million GBP in brussel sprouts.
note: Other crops in East Scotland - Wheat, Barley, Oats, Other cereals, Oilseeds and linseed, potatoes, fodder crops, vegetables, fruit......
exp. We enjoy seeing these crops as we travel around - we know that the farmer puts in comparatively little seed in comparison with the harvest.
app. The law of the harvest says YOU ARE GOING TO GET MUCH MORE THAN YOU PLANT. Are you prepared to reap a lot of what you are sowing?
transition - the law of the harvest says - the harvest is purposeful, personal, and powerful.
B. What does the Lord of the harvest say?
1. You are deceived if you think God's harvest law doesn't apply to you.
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked:
ill. Jack and the Beanstalk is a fun fable. Jack trades the family cow for magic beans. It's a fun story because Jack's folly turns into a big profitable adventure.
exp. But, in real life, if you think you've got magic beans that bypass the laws of the harvest, you are SADLY DECEIVED.
question: How can I know if I am decieved?
If you think you aren't going to reap what you sow - you are deceived.
The harvest is purposeful.
If you think you aren't the one sowing and reaping - you are deceived.
The harvest is personal.
If you think you aren't going to reap more than you sow - you are deceived.
The harvest is powerful.
app. If you were actually farming and you were deceived - we'd tell you to stop what you are doing (root out what has been planted) and start over. It would be better to stop you before you started.
2. You will not ridicule God by overcoming his law.
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
exp. I've pastored long enough to know that there are people well along in their spiritual life who begin reaping a bad harvest in their children, in their marriage, in their home WHO WONDER WHAT IS HAPPENING. They thought they could sow carnality and NOT REAP WHAT THEY WERE SOWING.
app. You are seeking to make a mock of God if you THINK you can sow wickedness and reap God's blessing. GOD WILL NOT BE MOCKED - THE HARVEST LAW WILL STAND.
transition: We need to obey the law of the harvest.
1.) Learn the law of the harvest - it is purposeful, personal, powerful.
II. Watch the law of the harvest.
exp. Paul taught us the law of the harvest in v.7. In verse 8 he demonstrates it.
ill. The law of the harvest is neither good nor bad of itself.
- It is purposeful. (Nothing wrong with this - what is sown is a choice.)
- It is personal. (Nothing wrong with this - we are the ones who chose.)
- It is powerful. (Nothing wrong with this - sowing reaps much more than what was sown.)
exp. But now - Paul is going to take a law - which is neither good or bad of itself and demonstrate it postively and negatively. (He's going to beging with the negative.)
A. A sad demonstration. (Sowing to the flesh.)
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption;...
ill. Aunt Terry working as secretary for an exterminator. She received a phone call from a woman who had mice in her basement. She thought if she fed them they would stay in the basement.
app. If you sow to the flesh - you of the flesh reap corruption.
1. A purposeful sowing of sin.
8 For he that soweth....
exp. First - What is being sown? If your sowing - you are planting something.
ill. Paul has already considered sowing to the flesh in chapter 5.
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication (harlotry), uncleanness (moral impurity), lasciviousness (unprincipled in sexual matters),
20 Idolatry (worshipping idols), witchcraft (wigi board, tarot cards, wica), hatred, variance (quarreling), emulations (jealous envy), wrath (fierce passion), strife (being factious), seditions (causing division), heresies (falsehood that divides),
21 Envyings (jealous ill will), murders, drunkenness (intoxicated), revellings (rioting), and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
note: These are the characteristics of someone who is not a saved person.
HOWEVER A BELIEVER CAN GO BACK TO WHAT HE HAS BEEN SET FREE FROM.
Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
app. Whether someone is a believer or an unbeliever - this is very bad seed to sow in one's life.
2. Planting in the field of his flesh.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh....
exp. Interestingly - there are only two fields where you are planting. You are either sowing TO THE FLESH or SOWING TO THE SPIRIT. The field is determined by what you are sowing.
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
ill. Do you remember when recycling came out? I remember thinking - this is crazy - sorting our rubbish. Now we've got 4 or 5 bins and rules about what can go in each.
app. God has rules about what goes in which field. If you are sowing fleshly things, you are only allowed to sow that in the field of the flesh. The only harvest you can expect from that field is corruption.
3. Harvesting from his flesh corruption.
He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption;
exp. The field of the flesh is fertile soil for the seed of sin.
a. A little pornography can reap adultery.
b. A little theft can reap grand larceny.
c. A little lie can reap embezzlement.
d. A little bitterness can reap divorce.
e. A little anger can reap murder.
g. A little unbelief can reap atheism.
ill. Israel - Hosea 8:7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind:
app. If you don't want to reap a great harvest of sin, don't plant in the field of the flesh. (The sad demonstration is a warning.)
B. A glad demonstration. (Sowing to the Spirit)
...but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
exp. If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour - you have no access to this field.
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his
app. But, if you are saved, GOD'S FIELD IS OPEN AND THE LAW OF THE HARVEST IS READY TO WORK IN YOUR FAVOUR.
1. A purposeful sowing of righteousness.
...but he that soweth....
exp. Again - what is being sown?
Galatian 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
note: There is no law against it - because it keeps the law. This is genuine seed to plant!
1.) Are you planting love? (genuine concern)
2.) Are you planting Joy? (genuine happiness)
3.) Are you planting peace? (genuine kindness)
4.) Are you planting longsuffering? (genuine patience)
5.) Are you planting gentleness? (genuine graciousness)
6.) Are you planting goodness? (genuine righteousness)
7.) Are you planting faith? (genuine belief)
8.) Are you planting meekness? (genuine control of spirit)
9.) Are you planting temperance? (genuine control of desires)
app. If you are like me, you want the Spirit of God to make you do these things - instead of planting them yourself WITH HIS HELP. These are seeds of righteousness which we can plant.
2. Planting in the field of God's Spirit.
He that soweth to the Spirit....
exp. Here is that other field. Not the field of the flesh - but the field of God's Spirit.
ill. I love a beautiful garden - our garden is coming in nicely. We love botanical gardens and look forward to Edinburgh's being open again. It's refreshing to walk in a lovely gardn.
note: The garden or field of God's Spirit is a joy to walk through.
Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
app. What field are you walking in? It all has to do with what you are sowing and reaping.
3. Reaping from God's Spirit incorruption.
...shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
exp. This isn't speaking of earning salvation by what we do. We can't sow to God's Spirit if we aren't born again. HOWEVER, there is an eternal harvest of which the Bible does speak.
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
exp. We can add to or diminish that incorruptible inheritance -
1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
app. What kind of a spiritual harvest are you going to reap - in life and in eternity? Are you sowing to the Spirit?
transition: We need to obey the law of the harvest.
1.) Learn the law of the harvest - it is purposeful, personal, powerful.
2.) Watch the law of the harvest - it is sad or glad.
Now having stated the law of the harvest and demonstrated the law of the harvest, Paul would have us appropriate THE BENEFIT OF IT TO OURSELVES.
III. Harness the law of the harvest.
exp. The law of the harvest appropriated for our good.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
note: In my personal study - this is the verse I started on. Like much Scripture we forget the context. THIS GREAT PROMISE IS IN THE CONTEXT OF SOWING TO THE SPIRIT.
- We tend to apply it to evangelism. (Keep giving the Gospel - people will get saved.)
- We tend to apply it to ministry. (Don't give up - the church will grow.)
- HOWEVER, the over riding application is sowing to the Spirit.
A. Be Clear.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
exp. Paul didn't just demonstrate the law of the harvest without encouraging us to clearly decide to do what is right. He wants us to be CLEARLY PLANTING IN GOD'S FIELD. "And let us....
ill. If this was a meeting on farming and we were all getting ready to go to our fields. Paul would say....
- You have heard the warning - get rid of the bad seed and don't go to the bad field.
- You've heard the promise - get the good seed adn go to the good field.
now - Let's do this.
app. I'd say to you today with Paul - LET'S DO THIS. What seed do you need to get rid of and what good seed do you need to get ahold of.
1.) Do you know you have good seed? (Questionable things need to go.)
2.) Have you really examined what you are planting?
3.) Will you make a conscious decision to obey God's Spirit?
B. Be Congregated.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
exp. It was a blessing to me as I studied this to see Paul including himself. He's encouraging them as He is encouraging himself. PAUL KNEW WHAT IT WAS TO FIGHT AGAIST HIS FLESH.
ill. One of the difficulties facing the church right now is not congregating. We are an "us." We are a congregation that needs to join together to work in the field of God's Spirit.
app. I say to us as a church "let us." Don't cease to be congregated. This is a group effort.
C. Be Courageous.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
exp. "Not be weary" - has the idea of cowardice or failing in heart.
ill. Cabin pride was a big thing at the Wilds. We would seek to build good relationships in our cabin and encourage our campers to achieve. The Wilds has incredible waterfalls. Forth falls was a very steep return holding onto ropes. For cabin spirit, I once carried a camper on my back all the way up. He wanted to quit - (he was losing heart and courage) the other camper encouraged him for cabin honour to keep going and we achieved.
question: Are you going to stand for Jesus and HONOUR GOD'S SPIRIT or stand down to serve the flesh.
app. If you are a coward, you aren't going to take a stand in your family, in your church, in your community. DON'T BE WEAR - (DON'T LET YOUR HEART FAIL.) STAND FOR JESUS.
D. Be Committed.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
note: Strongs concordance - allows you to see the meaning of the original greek word. It also shows you how else it was translated.
def. well - means good - like the word translated "good" seed in the parable of the sower.
def. doing - was also translated - "None of these things move me."
ill. Paul has been told that bonds and afflictions are in front of him - but he is going to keep doing well.
app. Are you committed - do you have GOOD NONE OF THESE THINGS MOVE ME?
E. Be Confident.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
exp. We could despair if we didn't know that the LAW OF THE HARVEST was at work. If we just put in the GOOD SEED. We are going to have a great incorruptible harvest in life and in eternity.
ill. Adonirum Judson, was confident, "The Future is as bright as the promises of God."
He went to Burma - spent 12 years reaching 18 converts. He translated the Bible into Burmese. His wife and baby died. He was imprisoned.
"When Judson began his mission in Burma, he set a goal of translating the Bible and founding a church of 100 members before his death. By the time of his death, he had accomplished those goals and more: leaving the translated Bible as well as a half-completed Burmese-English dictionary (discussed below), 100 churches, and over 8,000 believers. In large part due to his influence, Myanmar has the third largest number of Baptists worldwide, behind the United States and India."
app. Be confident - if you sow the Spirit IN DUE SEASON YOU WILL REAP.
G. Be Colabouring.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
exp. We've already considered congregating. We aren't in this alone. But, as we join together WE ARE TO WORK TOGETHER.
note: Farming is TOUGH work.
- On call 24/7. If something needs doing, you've got to do it.
- Up early and out late
- Out in all kinds of weather.
- When it is harvest time - you have to work around the clock.
def. if we faint not: To relax
Pro 24:10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
exp. to slacken, abate, to be feeble, abate, forsake....
app. Nobody is going to reep a great spiritual harvest in their life, their family, their church, their community, their country - WITHOUT HAVING A GOOD SPIRITUAL WORK ETHIC.
conclusion:
Harvest season is a wonderful season - seeing the fields being reaped.
It is even more wonderful for the farmer who has followed the laws of the harvest.
Spiritually - We must obey the law of the harvest if we are going to reap a good harvest.
1.) Learn the law of the harvest
- it is purposeful - what you sow is what you reap.
- personal - you are sowing
- powerful. - you will reap far more than you sow.
2.) Watch the law of the harvest
- it is sad if you sow sin in the field of the flesh.
Are you saved? You can't sow to the Spirit if you are an unforgiven sinner.
Believer - You can't mock God - if you sow to the flesh - you'll reap it.
- it is glad if you sow righteousness in the field of the Spirit of God.
(Do you practice the fruit of the Spirit - sowing love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance?)
3.) Harness the law of the harvest.
Be clear - make a decision to sow to the Spirit "and let us"
Be congregated. - join with Paul and other belivers "let us"
Be courageous - "not be weary" not be cowards
Be committed - "in well doing" good - none of these things move me.
Be confident - "For in due season, you shall reap" - it will be worth it.
Be colabouring - "If ye faint not" - don't relax - work - harvest is coming.
DO YOU HAVE A GOOD HARVEST COMING?
If you OBEY THE LAW OF THE HARVEST - YOU KNOW THAT A GOOD HARVEST IS COMING.
If not, be assured, you will reap what you sow.
