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.
He said, "The reason I am in prison is because I thought I could take shortcuts, that somehow I could ignore the rules & regulations, & get away with it completely." But he didn’t, & you really never do.
3 Adam & Eve tried to get around the whole law of the harvest, too.
a Tree of life rule
aa Sinned, and then went & hid in the bushes
bb Used skimpy clothes & even skimpier excuses
b They reaped what they sowed.
aa The law never changes
bb Live by the Spirit , and you get what the Spirit brings...life.
cc Live by the flesh, you get what the flesh brings...death.
TS: The best course is led by the Spirit, and the next tip shows us how to stay on course.
II The second tip that can help us hold a life course that pleases God is...the Velcro factor. 9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
A Paul encouraged believers to keep sowing good seed.
1 What Paul’s talking about is hard work.
a Loving your enemies, rebuilding problem relationships is TOUGH.
b Paul struggled with it, too. I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain. Gal 4:11 (NASB)
2 He told them to stay the course because it will pay off (in due time we shall reap IF we don’t grow weary).
B Once you’ve decided to sow good (God) seeds, stick to it no matter what ! It’s hard work!
1 I see four major reasons why people grow weary/lose heart.
a Lack of devotion. You also say, ’My, how tiresome it is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it," says the LORD of hosts, "and you bring what was taken by robbery and what is lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I receive that from your hand?" says the LORD. Mal 1:13 (NASB) Priests were serving, but complaining.
b Lack of prayer Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart Luke 18:1 (NASB)
c Tired from doing nothing (spiritual laziness is often misdiagnosed as spiritual weariness).
d Spiritual hypocrisy (talk about/hear about serving the Lord, but doing very little of it). Any of these things can steer you off course.
2 If we stick to sowing seeds of the Spirit, we get rewarded!
a Sometimes we get rewarded now, but not always.
aa There are rewards/blessings on the back end, too.
bb Stay the course, for "in due time..."
b Just as God punished sin, He’ll also reward the good works of the believer.
aa I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Tim 4:7-8 (NASB)
bb (IL) Tomatoes & Lake expecting fresh tomatoes the next day.
c God is not a vending machine, we’re talking about a lifestyle. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Heb 13:16 (NASB)
d We get back more than we sow, too.
(IL.) Mr. Ralph will plant 15/20 bushels but never expects to only get 15/20 bushels. He expects trailers and trailers full in return.
3 What does the Velcro factor look like? So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. Gal 6:10 (NASB)
a You’re nice to people (love).
aa Living sinful nature...please ourselves
bb Living in the Spirit...pleasing others
b Be nice especially to other Christians
aa We often think, "They don’t deserve for me to be nice/kind to them."
bb What did you & I do to deserve God’s kindness/favor through Christ?
Conclusion:
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
We’ve looked at two tips that can help us hold a course that pleases God.
A Law of the Harvest
B Velcro Factor
OBJ: I hope you’ll be more capable of holding a life course that pleases God.
A Sowing seeds of the sinful nature or the Spirit.
B Sticking with it or slipping away from it.
PQ: How well are you holding the life course that pleases God?
There was a man who once owned a mine in Nevada. He had worked the mine for many years only to eek out a mere existence for himself. One day while at the trading post in town, he ask if anyone knew someone who wanted to buy an old silver mine. The owner assured him that there was always someone who was looking for property to buy. Less than a month passed when someone made this man an offer for his mine. The price that was settled upon was 30,000 dollars. In just two weeks after buying the mine the owner hit the largest silver vein on the planet, and the mine surpassed the price he paid multiplied thousands of times over. It to this day has produced over a million dollars of silver for the owner. The old miner went crazy over his loss of the wealth he had sought for all those years, and was committed to an asylum for the insane. He gave up his hunt for the precious metal only days before the silver was uncovered. He quit just before the harvest!
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