Stand with me and hold up your Bible and repeat after me.
This my Bible.
I am what it says I am.
I can do what it says I can do.
I am going to learn how to be what it says I can be.
Today I will learn more of the word of God.
The indestructible, never ending, living word Of God.
I will never be the same.
I will never be the same.
In Jesus Name
Amen?
Before you sit down, say good morning to your brothers and sisters.
"Don't Give Up: The Promise of the Harvest in God’s Perfect Timing"
Turn with me in your Bible to Galatians 6:9 and say, "Amen" when you are there.
Let's read together.
- "And let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
The Struggle of Weariness and the Hope of a Harvest
Life is a journey, and the road can be long and challenging.
We face discouragement, doubt, and weariness. Whether it's in relationships, ministry, or our personal walks with God, it’s easy to get tired and want to quit.
But God has a word for us today: Don’t give up. The harvest is coming.
Paul’s words in Galatians 6:9 are a powerful reminder that the work we do today is not in vain.
Even in seasons of silence and struggle, there’s a promise of fruitfulness ahead. The key is perseverance.
Let’s take a deeper look into why God calls us to keep pressing on and how we can trust in His perfect timing for the harvest.
1. The Reality of Weariness and the Promise to Endure
Paul doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges of doing good. He acknowledges the very real temptation to grow weary when we don't see immediate results. It’s exhausting to give and give, to pray and pray, and not see the changes we desire.
The weariness can be emotional, physical, and spiritual. It’s in these moments, when we feel like throwing in the towel, that God’s promise shines the brightest.
There’s a well-known story of a man who planted a small orchard of fruit trees in a dry, rocky soil. For years, he tended those trees with care. He watered them, pruned them, and did everything he could, but no fruit came. His friends mocked him, saying, "Why are you wasting your time on those trees? They’ll never produce anything." But the man kept tending them. After ten years, the trees suddenly bloomed with abundance, and soon the orchard produced more fruit than he could have imagined. His patience and persistence paid off.
The fruit came at the right time, not when he expected it, but when God had prepared the soil and the season for it.
What is it that you are growing weary in today?
A relationship that feels strained?
A ministry that seems fruitless?
A prayer that feels unanswered?
Know this: God has not forgotten the good you are doing. The seeds of love, kindness, and faithfulness you are planting will bear fruit in His time.
2. The Promise of a Harvest in God’s Timing
Paul promises a harvest if we do not give up. Notice that he doesn’t say if we will reap, but when. There’s a certainty in God’s Word—the harvest will come. But we must be willing to trust in God’s timing, even when it feels like we’re sowing into barren soil.
I remember hearing the story of a woman named Clara, who prayed fervently for her son, who had gone astray. For years, she faced rejection, silence, and even bitterness from her son. People told her to give up, that he would never change. But Clara continued praying, day after day, year after year, and trusting in God’s promises. One day, after 20 years of persistent prayer, her son called her, broken and repentant, saying he had encountered Jesus. Clara’s prayers, though unanswered for so long, were finally answered in God’s perfect timing.
Application:
There is nothing more powerful than a persistent prayer in the face of difficulty. The Bible reminds us that God’s timing is always perfect. Our job is to continue to sow seeds of faith, love, and perseverance, knowing that He will bring the harvest at the proper time.
3. The Power of Perseverance: Active Faith
Perseverance isn’t passive. It’s active. To persevere is to keep doing good even when we don’t see results. To press on when the road gets rough, to love when it’s difficult, to pray when it feels like heaven is silent.
Story of Inspiration:
Hudson Taylor, the pioneering missionary to China, spent years struggling in what seemed like failure. He faced rejection, poverty, illness, and even death among his own loved ones. Yet, Taylor continued in faith. He saw few converts in the early years, and many questioned whether his ministry would ever succeed. But he persevered. Over time, God brought a great harvest, and today, millions of Chinese believers trace their faith back to the work Hudson Taylor began.
What area of your life requires perseverance today?
Is it in your ministry? Your marriage? Your prayer life?
Don’t give up. Keep loving, keep sowing, and keep praying. God is faithful to bring the harvest in His perfect timing.
4. The Altar Call: Responding to God’s Call to Perseverance
As we come to a close, I believe that God is calling many of us to take a step of faith. Some of us are standing at the brink of quitting—whether in ministry, relationships, or our personal walks with Him. But God is here today, reminding us that our labor is not in vain. The harvest is near. Don’t give up.
For those who are weary—come to the altar and lay your burdens before the Lord. Allow Him to renew your strength, just as He promised in Isaiah 40:31: "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength."
For those struggling to see the fruit of your labor, whether in ministry or personal relationships, come forward and place your trust in God’s perfect timing.
For anyone who has yet to commit their life to Christ, now is the time to begin this journey of faith, where you can trust in His promise of eternal life and the joy of the harvest in His Kingdom.
Prayer of Renewal:
Father, we thank You for the power of Your promises. We confess that we are weary, and some of us are struggling to press on. But we trust in Your Word that in due season, we will reap a harvest. Help us to endure and to remain faithful, knowing that You are with us every step of the way. For those who need to know Your grace today, we pray that they would find new life in You. May Your Spirit strengthen us to keep sowing in faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As we leave today, let’s carry this truth in our hearts: The harvest is coming. You may not see it today, but if you keep sowing in faith, in love, and in service, God will bring the fruit in His time. Stay the course. Keep trusting in His faithfulness.
Let us leave this place determined to keep sowing, knowing that we will reap in due season if we do not give up.
