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…Our Bible uses the language of __farming__ to both remind and warn us
that the things we do, whether good or evil, will always produce a __harvest__.
The old pastor put it this way: “ You can choose your sin, but you cannot
choose the consequences.”
…There are __many__ who think otherwise…Ernest Hemmingway and Oscar
Wilde are examples.
…As we enter into a brand new year, it is good for us to take heed to Paul’s
words…so that we might have lives that partake in the harvest that will last
forever.
THERE ARE ONLY TWO KINDS OF
__SEED__
THAT YOU CAN CHOOSE TO PLANT IN YOUR LIFE.
…This law of life warns us to be __careful__ in what we plant in the
field of our lives.
I. YOU
MAY CHOOSE TO SOW TO THE
__FLESH__…IF
YOU DO, YOU CAN EXPECT DESTRUCTION AND DECAY FOR YOUR HARVEST.
A. Paul
begins by telling that God cannot be mocked.
1.
The word for
“mocked” comes from the word for
__nose__
and it means “to turn up the
__nose__
in disdain.” To sneer, to ridicule, to snub, to take advantage of one and
then
__mock__
him.
2.
You may try to
mock God, but
__none__
will get away with any sin…
3.
Stop your
__wrong__
thinking about this. You are self-deceived.
…a
man may fool men, and even get away with evil, but __never__ GOD.
B. To
explain for us why God is
never mocked, Paul
unfolds the
__law__
of farming.
1.
You cannot
plant one type of
__seed__
and harvest another. Impossible!
2.
When you sow a
seed, your future harvest will have a lot
__more__
of what you planted. 1 kernel of corn will produce 100s more…don’t be…
C. The
first kind of seed is called “the flesh.” (v.8)
1.
This is
pandering to your old nature, allowing it to have its way.(5:19)
2.
When you choose
to sin, it is like planting seed which will produce consequences. Pray and
__forgiveness__
will not erase your harvest.
D. The
harvest of sowing to the flesh is destruction…loss. This loss is partially
experienced
__now__
and finally and completely revealed at the judgment.
II. YOU
MAY CHOOSE TO SOW TO THE SPIRIT…IF YOU DO, YOU CAN EXPECT A BLESSED HARVEST
BOTH NOW AND FOREVER.
A. Paul
calls this kind of seed, “the sowing to the Spirit.” This means to allow the
Holy Spirit to have His
__way__
with our lives. It involves choosing your conduct in order to please the
Lord.
…it is called in 5:16 “to __walk__ by the Spirit.” 5:18 calls it “to
be led by the…”
B. This
seed involves the daily hearing of God’s Word and
__yielding__
to it. The evidence of such a life is the
__fruit__
of the Spirit. (5:22-23)
C. The
harvest for this seed-type is fantastic…it is
__life__
evermore! Wow!!!
…In this New Year, make God-honoring choices…and your life will be blessed
both now and in eternity. You will never regret it. Never!
LESSONS FOR OUR LIVES:
1. Be
careful, even if you're saved, you'll continue to reap heartaches, wounds, shame
and pain from your sin.
2. You
cannot sow one thing and harvest another.
3. Do
whatever you have to, to deny the pandering of the sinful bent within you.
Sow seeds that please God in your life. Each one of you decides what kind
of harvest you want to have.
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