The Law Of The Harvest

Trans: But if we don’t lose heart and turn to the flesh then we get the promise…

Word: grow weary (ekluomenoi) to become exhausted and become physically and morally weak.

Idea: If I don’t give in; if I don’t lose heart; if I run the race set before me with endurance; if I keep the faith remaining steadfast and immoveable… then I will reap the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. I will win the prize for which God has called me heavenward.

D The Privilege

Verse: So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

Word: opportunity (kairos) every time we have a distinct opportunity to do good. The idea is while we have the opportunity (in this life for such a time is this)

Word: Let us do (ergazomai) to be active and to work efficiently and effectively – to intentionally do the work of the Lord.

Word: Good (agathos) Paul is speaking of a particular good (preceded by an article). He is speaking of the moral and spiritual goodness that is the fruit of the Spirit. This is internal goodness produced by the Holy Spirit in the obedient believers life. It is unqualified and unrestricted given to all men but especially to fellow believers.

Idea: This is Christianity actively living the life of Christ. Caring for all men equally and benevolently so that everyone can experience the person and the nature of God. It is salvation for everyone.

Summary: Stop allowing yourselves to be led astray by false teachings and misleading doctrines espoused in God’s name but not of God, because God will not allow you to turn your nose up towards Him and treat Him with contempt just because you think with your new philosophy that you know better than God. This is a tried and true law, whatever you plant intentionally or unintentionally, you will harvest whether you want to or not.

There are but two fields in which we all plant. We either sow to the flesh or we sow to the Spirit. For the person who plants a seed in the soil of his natural, human, self-gratifying, sinful desires pandering to its evil inclinations rather than submitting to the leading of God’s Spirit through His Word, he will strap a degenerative disease to himself that will bring a rotting decay that will ultimately bring forth death upon himself. But to the one who invests his seed in the things of God led and tested by His Holy Spirit, he will reap an abundant harvest measured by both quality and quantity that begins at the inception of spiritual life and continue into eternity with God.

Since you have been rescued from sin and it’s penalty and have been given a new heart with heavenly and spiritual desires, don’t exchange God’s eternal economy for the immediate gratification of your human desires. If you do, then you will lose heart, become a coward, give into your evil desires, and turn back to the flesh strapping death to yourself. But if you do not become exhausted and if you refuse to give in physically and morally, then you will fight the good fight, finish the race and receive the upward call of God that is found in Christ Jesus. You will win the prize for which God has called you heavenward.