Holding The Course During Life's Hurricanes Series

Holding the Course During Life’s Hurricanes

Gal. 6:7-9Sept. 4, 2005 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor

Introduction:

Many of us have been glued to the television with images from the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

A Carnage, destruction of Hurricane Katrina is horrific.

a Some people say that it was God cleaning house, judgment, wrath.

b Others, fluke of nature.

B The Bible tells us that even creation moans and longs for redemption.

[19] The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. [20] For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope [21] that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. RO 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

a Even our personal worlds experience these mounings from time to time.

b Every time I do a funeral, counsel, or stand at a grave of a loved one, I see first hand how personal worlds moan at the seed that Adam & Eve sown at the beginning.

C Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 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. 9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. Gal 6:7-9 (NASB)

ETS: Paul’s original readers were taught to carefully consider the consequences of choosing to live one way or the other.

ESS: What we put in life we get back

OBJ: I hope you’ll be more capable of holding a life course that pleases God.

PQ: How well are you holding the life course that pleases God?

TS: Let’s look at two tips that can help us hold a course that pleases God.

I The first tip that can help us hold a life course that pleases God is...the law of the harvest. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 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.

A Paul told the divided church of Galatia that what goes around, comes around (whatever a man sows, he will also reap). NOT karma.

1 Paul’s telling them to weigh the consequences of the course they chart in their lives.

a They cannot drift or remain neutral (not up to luck, fate-a decision must be made).

b The choice? Walk by the Spirit, or by the sinful nature.

2 Paul clearly tells them that whatever they chase (Spirit/sinful nature), God will deal with accordingly (v.8).

a Farmers understand this law. Corn grow corn; soybeans grow soybeans; whatever is planted grows (law of the harvest).

b Paul is emphatic with the immutability of the law of the harvest when he wrote, "God will not be mocked." "Will it be well when He examines you? Or will you deceive Him as one deceives a man? 10 "He will surely reprove you If you secretly show partiality. Job 13:9-10 (NASB)

B Some believers assume they are above the law of the harvest.

1 They say, "I won’t have to reap a harvest from the seeds I’ve sown."

a Sadly, this happens even to the most seemingly brilliant people.

b These Christians try to rationalize their sin. They try to hide their sin from God.

aa "I’m not harsh, I’m telling the truth out of love." No, you’re mean

bb "I don’t tithe because I’m under grace." Cheap & robbing God.

cc "If God didn’t want me to look at women He wouldn’t have made them so pretty." Lusting

2 If we don’t believe that we will reap what we sow, what are we saying about God & His Word?

a Either the Bible is wrong...or we are.

b We can’t mock God and get away with it.

C (IL.) ILL. Some time ago, Ann Landers published a letter from a prison inmate. It was a pathetic letter that really tugged at your emotions, written by a man whose mother had just died, & he couldn’t attend her funeral because he was in prison.

He wrote, not to complain about the legal system, because he said that he really did deserve what he was getting. But he wrote to tell the story of his life, how his mother’s one wish was that he would be released from prison before she died. And how that one wish was never realized.