Introduction

Good morning, dear family of believers. It is always a joy to gather together, to share in the warmth of fellowship and to bask in the illuminating light of God's Word. Today, we turn our hearts and minds towards an enriching passage from the book of Galatians, a message from the apostle Paul that paints a vivid picture of our spiritual lives using the timeless metaphor of sowing and reaping.

Our text today is Galatians 6:7-10:

"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. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Principle of Planting

As we consider the wisdom of the Apostle Paul in this passage, we find ourselves drawn to the imagery of sowing and reaping. It's a picture that would have been intimately familiar to the Galatians, many of whom were farmers and shepherds. They understood that the act of planting a seed was not a guarantee of a harvest. It required care, attention, and patience. It required a deep understanding of the seasons, of the soil, and of the seed itself.

In the same way, our spiritual lives require the same level of care and attention. We cannot simply plant a seed of faith and expect it to grow without nurturing it, without understanding the seasons of our lives, and without a deep understanding of the seed itself - the Word of God.

Just as a farmer must understand the nature of the seed he is planting, so too must we understand the nature of the spiritual seeds we are sowing. Are they seeds of righteousness, sown in obedience to God's Word? Or are they seeds of sin, sown in disobedience and rebellion? The nature of the seed determines the nature of the harvest.

We must also understand the seasons of our lives. Just as a farmer knows that there is a time to sow and a time to reap, so too must we understand the seasons of our spiritual lives. There are times of spiritual growth, where we are sowing seeds of faith and righteousness. And there are times of spiritual harvest, where we reap the fruits of our faith and obedience.

The soil in which we sow our seeds is also crucial. Just as a farmer must prepare the soil before planting, so too must we prepare our hearts before sowing the seeds of faith. Our hearts must be soft and receptive, ready to receive the Word of God. If our hearts are hard and unresponsive, the seeds of faith will not take root and grow.

Finally, we must be patient. Just as a farmer must wait for the harvest, so too must we wait for the fruits of our faith to grow. We cannot rush the process. We cannot force the seeds to grow faster than they are meant to. We must trust in God's timing, knowing that He is faithful to bring about a harvest in His perfect time.

In all of this, we see that the act of planting is not a passive one. It requires action, it requires intentionality, it requires faith. We cannot simply sit back and expect a harvest without first sowing the seeds.

But we also see that the act of planting is not a solitary one. We are not alone in this process. God is with us, guiding us, nurturing us, and helping us to grow. He is the one who provides the seed, the soil, the seasons, and the harvest. He is the one who brings about the growth.

So as we consider the principle of planting, let us remember that we are not alone. Let us remember that we are co-laborers with God, sowing the seeds of faith and righteousness in our lives. And let us remember that the harvest is not ours to control, but God's to provide.

And so, we find ourselves standing on the fertile ground of faith, with seeds of righteousness in our hands, ready to sow. We understand the nature of the seeds, the seasons of our lives, the condition of our hearts, and the patience required for the harvest. And we know that we are not alone, but that God is with us, guiding us, nurturing us, and bringing about the growth.

Perils of Poor Sowing

The act of sowing is not without its perils ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO