A Season of Sowing
Introduction
The traditional story goes that "Tabasco Sauce" was created by Edmund McIlhenny. McIlhenny was from Maryland originally, but he moved to New Orleans, Louisiana to seek his fortune in about 1840. He found his fortune by going into the banking business. By the time of the War Between The States, he was a successful banker. However, the war and its aftermath destroyed his business. He went to Texas for a while, then moved in with his wife's family on Avery Island, Louisiana. He had acquired some tabasco pepper seeds from some source, and he planted them in his garden there on Avery Island. Sometime around 1867, McIlhenny began experimenting with a sauce made from the peppers. He crushed the red peppers from his plants, mixed them with the salt found naturally on Avery Island and aged the mixture for a month in crocks and jars and barrels. Finally, he mixed this with white wine vinegar and aged the result for another month. Thus was born Tabasco Sauce. In 1870 McIlhenny was granted a patent for his invention. (https://www.thespruceeats.com/tabasco-sauce-history-and-lore-3050514)
Genesis 26:1-3; 12-13
1Now there was a famine in the land—besides the previous famine in Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelek king of the Philistines in Gerar. 2The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. 3Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you.
12 Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him. 13 The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy.
2 Corinthians 9:6-10 KJV
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
1. We Reap What We Sow (Usually)
Galatians 6:7-8 NIV
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Why is it that we so often focus on the negative when we read this verse? This is the law of harvest we are most familiar with. It says that what you plant is what comes up.
If you give mercy, mercy you will receive. If you give to the poor, you are lending to the LORD and He will repay you! When you give, God will cause men to give to you pressed down, shaken up, and overflowing! But, you get what you give.
You cannot plant strawberries and expect avocados. You cannot plant
You have not because you ask not! I am encouraging you to ask God for the biggest things you possibly can. Plant big!
John 4:38 NIV
I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”
"All life comes from antecedent life: from the labor and sowing of others. What we reap was planted either naturally or purposely, either by God or by man, and for either positive or for negative results. We reap the fruit of much for which we have extended no labor because we enter into the labors of others either for good or for bad. In other words, this law of the harvest, We Reap Only What Has Been Sown, has both a positive and a negative side" (J. Hampton Keathy III).
Leviticus 23:22 NIV
“’When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the LORD your God.’”
Leviticus 19:9 NIV
“’When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest."
At the end of the day, it is God's grace.
There are moments when we don't have enough to give. We find ourselves unable to plow, or plant, or harvest. God has made provision.
Some used to decry what they called the splash-over blessing. God is into them.
Boaz knew Ruth did not have enough and so he told his reapers to allow some of the bundles that they had gathered to fall so that Ruth could gather them.
The Scripture called him righteous. As you are reaping remember those who do not have enough!
Grace! If you will be generous, God will be generous to you!
2. We Reap More Than We Sow
Psalm 126:6 NIV
Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.
Psalm 126:6 NLT
They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.
We always reap in proportion to the amount that we sow.
There was grain that was set aside for seed (Gen). There are moments when we have to plant more and eat less if we want to have a harvest. The amazing thing is that the little that we plant will bring forth an abundance if we will plant it.
Isaac planted during the famine. God knows what you have and do not have. Plant what you have in prayer these first few weeks of this year. It may be rough, but you will not regret building a habit at the beginning of this year.
You can reap a harvest this year in your family, finances, health, education, you fill in the blank. But in order to reap the harvest, you've got to plant the seed.
Sow in prayer the things that you want to see change in yourself this year.
Sow in prayer the things that you want to see in your relationships this year.
Sow in prayer the things that you want to see in our church this year.
Is it rough? Yes! Sow anyway!
Is there a famine? Yes! Sow anyway!
Have you faced what seems like a losing streak over the past few years? Yes! Sow anyway!
Isaac sowed in that same year and received a hundredfold. How does that work?
He stayed where God told him to stay. He needed some food and he was willing to do his part!
Sow anyway!
3. We Reap Later Than We Sow
Galatians 6:9 KJV
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
