WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:04.320 I uh bring greetings uh with me from our church plant in Berlin. 00:00:04.320 --> 00:00:07.280 Uh it's the name of our church is uh Leuchturm. 00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:13.599 That means uh lighthouse because we want to be a light for a dark world who needs the gospel. 00:00:13.599 --> 00:00:19.120 And uh they are um praying for you and uh for for us this morning. 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:26.160 Uh we already or they had already their service this morning, uh six years ago, uh six uh hours ago. 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:28.879 And um it's a great joy to be here. 00:00:28.879 --> 00:00:30.480 Thank you for having me here. 00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:46.799 Um I already got uh a few of you to know, and you are such a lovely and uh dear congregation um uh who loves the Lord, who loves his word, um, who loves each other, and um um as a guest I recognize it. 00:00:46.799 --> 00:00:49.039 Thank you so much for your welcoming. 00:00:49.039 --> 00:01:06.000 I want you this morning, this morning to turn to Galatians chapter six, verse six to ten, and we want to see in this morning the unchanging principle of sowing and reaping. 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:10.159 The unchanging principle of sowing and reaping. 00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:14.799 Well, have you ever doubted gravity? 00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:28.719 No, probably you wished to escape gravity the last time you fell down the stairs, or probably you wished you would have fallen in slow motion. 00:01:28.719 --> 00:01:36.079 Um, what would happen if you ignore the law of gravity willfully? 00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:47.359 Well, we see God has built the whole universe on natural laws, like the gravity or the speed of light. 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:55.920 In our physical life, we are so used to these laws and we pay close attention to them. 00:01:55.920 --> 00:02:16.159 But there are also um spiritual principles which we ignore on a regular basis, and this is the reason why we have immature believers, why we have weak churches, uh weak societies, uh, an ailing humanity. 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:27.280 Because there is a spiritual law which is ignored, and this law is the unchanging principle of sowing and reaping. 00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:34.800 And the question is this morning will you apply this principle of sowing and reaping? 00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:44.719 I personally believe when you apply this principle, it will result in keeping you away from sin. 00:02:44.719 --> 00:02:51.919 Applying this principle will increase your spiritual health. 00:02:51.919 --> 00:03:03.360 And not only your personal health, but it will have a huge impact on the unity and the maturity of the whole church. 00:03:03.360 --> 00:03:17.199 It will have an impact not even on your personally, but even beyond that, on your work, on the ministry in the church, on your marriage, on your family, and even on your kids whom you are teaching. 00:03:17.199 --> 00:03:23.520 Now let's turn to Galatians chapter 6, and I want to read the verses 6 to 10. 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:34.000 Paul tells the church there, let the one who is taught in the word share all his good things with the teacher. 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:35.680 Don't be deceived. 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:42.159 God is not mocked, for whatever a person sows, he will also reap. 00:03:42.159 --> 00:03:47.759 Because the one who sows on his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh. 00:03:47.759 --> 00:03:54.400 But the one who sows to the spirit will reap eternal life from the spirit. 00:03:54.400 --> 00:04:02.319 Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don't give up. 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:14.000 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith. 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:19.439 Now, Paul is writing this letter to the Galatians. 00:04:19.439 --> 00:04:24.720 Well, it's not one church, but um they have been many churches, um, it's a whole region. 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:40.319 And the church in Galatia did well until Judaizers who claimed that the gospel was incomplete, came to this region and taught and had a huge impact. 00:04:40.319 --> 00:04:45.920 Well, first they taught that Paul wouldn't be an authorized apostle. 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:52.160 And by this, they tried to discredit his teaching and his message and his gospel. 00:04:52.160 --> 00:04:58.000 And Paul addresses this issue in Galatians 1, chapter and um Galatians 1 and 2. 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:08.720 Well, second, they claimed that salvation comes first through circumcision and only then by faith. 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:19.199 Well, Paul addresses that issue in chapters 3 and 4 and makes clear that salvation comes by faith, not by outward signs. 00:05:19.199 --> 00:05:33.040 And thirdly, these Judaizers who tried to influence the churches, they taught that Christian life required complete observation of the Mosaic law. 00:05:33.040 --> 00:05:38.079 And Paul addresses this issue in chapter 5 and 6 of Galatians. 00:05:38.079 --> 00:05:52.079 So there have been some in the congregations who were caught by this false teaching of the Judaizers, and this created tension within the church. 00:05:52.079 --> 00:06:03.600 So Paul charges the church to bear one another's burden and especially to restore a brother in the fruit of the Spirit. 00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:11.439 And within this context, Paul teaches the principle of sowing and reaping. 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:17.600 Look again in verse 7, he says, Don't be deceived, God is not mocked. 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:22.879 For whatever a person sows, he will also reap. 00:06:22.879 --> 00:06:28.560 Now, sowing and reaping is a law of farming. 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:34.160 If the farmer sows corn, so what will he harvest? 00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:36.639 Corn, of course. 00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:38.160 Nobody doubts it. 00:06:38.160 --> 00:06:45.279 They will grow, they will, they will not grow tomatoes or apples or potatoes. 00:06:45.279 --> 00:06:48.240 No, just corn will grow. 00:06:48.240 --> 00:06:50.879 Somehow that is clear for everybody. 00:06:50.879 --> 00:07:02.000 And Paul wants to make it clear that this law, which exists in the agriculture, also applies to the spiritual life. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:11.360 This principle applies to all areas of life, as well in the physical realm and also in the spiritual realm. 00:07:11.360 --> 00:07:13.360 Now, of course, everybody knows it. 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:20.480 If you go to school and if you don't learn, you will have bad grades, right? 00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:23.680 Everybody knows this applies to nutrition. 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:28.800 Um, eating too much and too unhealthy, well, it has consequences. 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:35.199 But Paul wants to make it clear that this is also true in spiritual life. 00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:40.720 Your effectiveness is proportional to your prayer life. 00:07:40.720 --> 00:07:46.639 Paul makes clear sowing will have the consequences of reaping. 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:48.959 It applies always. 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:54.959 So we reap today what we have sown in the past, right? 00:07:54.959 --> 00:08:06.000 At the same time, we sow every moment with what we say, what we how we act, how we spend our money, our time. 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:19.759 And what we sow today, we will reap later, sometimes moments later, sometimes a couple of days later, a month later, a year, and sometimes even a whole eternity later. 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:23.519 It will be reaped what a stone today. 00:08:23.519 --> 00:08:31.920 And the principle is the harvest is always greater than the sowing. 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:36.720 From one tomato seed, a whole bush of tomatoes is growing. 00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:47.120 If you sow one grain of wheat, it produces a whole head of wheat with probably 40, 50, 60 grains, depending on the harvest. 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:56.480 So this means that the sowing is so important because the reaping is always greater. 00:08:56.480 --> 00:09:03.840 We cannot escape this law just as we cannot escape the law of gravity. 00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:05.759 It is always there. 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:10.480 And I want you to see in this text, I want that you learn three issues. 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:13.200 First of all, pay attention to the warning. 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:14.799 Pay attention to the warning. 00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:21.679 Second, understand the principle, and third, apply it in a number of ways. 00:09:21.679 --> 00:09:25.279 Now let's focus on pay attention to the warning. 00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:32.240 First seven begins with a strong warning, don't be deceived. 00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:38.320 Well, it is a mistake to think that my action has no consequences. 00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:45.840 The word to be deceived means to be seduced, to be cheated, to be fooled. 00:09:45.840 --> 00:09:57.519 And in the New Testament, we find occasionally such um sharp warning because it is very likely and possible to be deceived. 00:09:57.519 --> 00:10:05.440 We live in the territory of darkness, and we do not always realize when we are fooled. 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:13.120 The error consists in thinking, I can do whatever I want, there is no consequence. 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:15.440 Or it won't be so bad. 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:20.960 Or probably you even thought, God will surely understand me. 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:27.120 No, Satan has done everything to let us believe these lies. 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:33.679 Since the first day he deceived man with this illusion, you will surely not die. 00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:36.080 That have been his words. 00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:40.480 Your action has no bad consequences. 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:51.759 Well, since this moment in the Garden of Eden, this error has ruled our whole world, our society, well, and even ourselves. 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:58.799 In some areas, sowing and reaping is practiced prominently each day. 00:10:58.799 --> 00:11:00.320 Now, probably you know that. 00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:09.840 If you park in a no-parking area, um, or if you drive too fast, well, there are pretty quickly reaping, right? 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:11.759 And it costs you something. 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:16.559 But at the same time, this principle, it is. 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:26.000 At the same time, this principle is ignored in very, very important areas in our life. 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:34.879 Well, even our society, on the other hand, on one hand, sowing and reaping is pretty close, yeah, especially in no parking areas. 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:43.519 But in other areas, our society teaches teenagers you can have fun whenever you want with whomever you want, and there are no consequences. 00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:51.360 Or rather, we will take care of the consequences and drive them away or eliminate them. 00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:58.480 Now, as a society, we are reaping today what we have sown, and it will become even worse. 00:11:58.480 --> 00:12:06.240 Proverbs 22, verse 8 says, the one who is sowing injustice will reap disaster. 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:15.440 Psychology wants us to believe that you should not be responsible for all your failures. 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:17.679 But you could blame everybody else. 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:24.320 You could blame your parents, you could blame your genetics, you can blame your environment. 00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:26.080 But you know what? 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:31.840 This is a frontal attack on the principle of sowing and reaping. 00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:36.399 Because God says you have a responsibility. 00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:43.679 It has come so far, at least in Germany, that some politicians want to abolish consequences. 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:47.440 They say, let's abolish grades at school. 00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:49.039 We don't need them. 00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:51.120 Grades are so cruel. 00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:55.120 Um, it is it just puts kids under pressure. 00:12:55.120 --> 00:12:58.720 They can't endure it, they can't handle this pressure. 00:12:58.720 --> 00:13:00.559 Now, of course, what are kids learning? 00:13:00.559 --> 00:13:02.240 Nothing. 00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:11.440 Um, it teaches the kids you don't need to try hard, you still achieve everything you want. 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:15.039 Well, that's not what the word of God is teaching us. 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:21.600 But it's bad enough that you and me, we can be deceived. 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:26.000 But there is one issue which is even worse than being deceived. 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:29.120 Now you may think, what is worse than being deceived? 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:30.720 Let's look in verse 7. 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:33.679 Don't be deceived. 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:36.639 God is not mocked. 00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:44.720 So, what is even worse than being deceived is to make fun of God, to mock God. 00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:55.600 So, if you think that your action has no consequence, then you are not only deceiving yourself, but you are mocking God. 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:57.039 Can you imagine that? 00:13:57.039 --> 00:13:58.960 You are mocking God. 00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:03.600 When we reject our responsibility, we are mocking God. 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:06.159 This is exactly what the wicked person is doing. 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:14.960 Psalm 10 verse 4 is saying the wicked person arrogantly thinks there is no accountability since there is no God. 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:20.559 In other words, I can do whatever I want, it has no consequences. 00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:22.559 But it has consequences. 00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:37.519 Now, even if this general principle applies to all people in all situations, at all times, Paul has a special focus on the believer because he's writing to the believers. 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:38.799 Now, why? 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:46.639 Because even as believers, we can fall into this trap to think it has no consequences. 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:51.759 Our heart is still deceitful as long as we are not yet glorified. 00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:57.840 So probably there is someone who thinks the consequence won't be that bad. 00:14:57.840 --> 00:15:01.919 Or probably God will surely understand me. 00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:04.879 Or probably, I couldn't help me. 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:10.080 Or probably somebody else is saying, My circumstances are to blame. 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:16.960 They are the reason I made this or that bad decision, or my circumstances are the reason I sinned. 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:18.960 Well, actually, no. 00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:26.879 If you say this, so you are not only deceiving yourself, but actually you are mocking God. 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:30.000 Because you think it has no impact. 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:32.240 Now I want to do a little test with you. 00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:37.919 Um, probably you remember Achan, right from the Old Testament. 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:47.120 Um, during the destruction of Jericho, um he lusted and he took a Babylonian cloak, 200 shekels of silver, a bar of gold. 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:49.360 So why did he do that? 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:51.440 So what is he thinking about? 00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:55.840 Well, he thought the thing will be destroyed anyway. 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:59.919 It won't hurt anybody if I take something with me. 00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:03.440 And no one will notice what I what I did. 00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:07.679 So how would you judge this issue? 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:09.440 Was it trivial? 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:11.759 Was it stealing? 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:17.600 Now take this verse again and apply it to Achan's sin. 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:19.360 What would it be? 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:26.559 It would be blasphemy because he thinks it has no consequences to disobey. 00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:34.320 So if this is not the same what happens, is this not the same what happens often in our hearts? 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:37.519 We think, yes, God is omniscient. 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:44.799 Yes, nothing escaped his notice, but there will be no consequences. 00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:46.799 Well, another test. 00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:53.519 Probably just remember your last sin, probably an outburst of anger. 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:58.480 What were the thoughts you thought about your anger? 00:16:58.480 --> 00:17:05.519 Probably it wasn't quite okay, but actually everybody is angry at some times. 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:07.920 It was a good reason to be angry. 00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:12.400 Um, the kids have been disobedient, or whatever it was. 00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:14.880 So what is the reason? 00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:16.079 What is the outcome? 00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:18.319 Actually, this mocking God. 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:22.240 Because I think it has no consequences. 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:29.599 Maybe it were impure images you saw and you enjoyed them and you lusted for them. 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:32.559 Why did you risk a second chance? 00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:37.200 Because you thought it wasn't that bad, right? 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:43.440 One look wouldn't certainly would not lead you to commit adultery, right? 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:50.160 If you downplay sin, you think it's not that bad. 00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:56.000 If you downplay sin, then actually you are mocking God. 00:17:56.000 --> 00:18:05.119 Now escaping this principle of sowing and reaping is just as to try to escape gravity. 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:10.559 Now I'm sure you don't try ever in your life to escape gravity because you know it's always there. 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:16.079 But we want to ascribe this principle of sowing and reaping. 00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:19.920 And I want you to pay attention to the warning. 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:23.680 Now let's take a look at the principle and understand it. 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:26.960 Uh just see in verse 7 once again. 00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:40.319 Verse 7 is saying, Don't be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a person sows, he will also reap, because the one who is sowing to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh. 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:43.759 Now understand the principle here. 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:48.319 Why is this principle, why does it exist at all? 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:53.839 Why are there at all consequences for my doing? 00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:59.920 Well, the reason is God equipped man with reason, with willpower, and with strength. 00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:05.440 Adam and likewise you and me had an intellect. 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:06.960 He understood his task. 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:14.000 God gave Adam as well as like you and me, willpower, understanding, strength. 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:16.880 And this makes man responsible. 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:22.720 And this means you have your actions have consequences. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:24.880 You cannot blame somebody else. 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:30.000 Because God equipped you with a mind, with willpower, and with strength. 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:35.599 We see the principle of sowing and reaping for the first time in the Garden of Eden. 00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:49.200 Uh, in Genesis 2, verse 17, God tells to Adam, um, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die. 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:53.119 Now, this is actually sowing and reaping. 00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:56.720 So what you do has consequences. 00:19:56.720 --> 00:20:02.160 Now, what did the harvest of Genesis 3 look like? 00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:11.440 I mean, Adam he ate of the fruit and he reaped what he had sown. 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:17.200 Adam was sowing, so Paul would say Adam was sowing on the flesh. 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:24.480 Paul understood this term flesh in the whole context of Galatians 5 and 6 as the disposition to sin. 00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:30.240 And Paul is speaking of the lust of the flesh, um, 5.16, the sinful desires. 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:43.920 Paul speaks of the works of the flesh, 5.19 to 21, sinful actions like disobedience, envy, selfishness, anger, partiality, self-indulgence, sexual sins, and so on. 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:50.079 Now, Adam was sowing on his flesh by disobedience. 00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:52.559 Now, what did Adam reap? 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:56.559 Corruption. 00:20:56.559 --> 00:21:01.839 Adam reaped corruption on different levels. 00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:11.839 So, first of all, his relationship with God was ruined, he was separated, he was now fleeing from the presence of God. 00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:17.039 While second, he reaped the corruption in the relationship with his wife Eve. 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:24.079 Then we see he um he reaped corruption within the physical realm. 00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:36.400 So his body began to die, his work became laborous and exhausting, but he also reaped eternal consequences, separation from God. 00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:46.480 So one single action had consequences on different levels, destruction on every level. 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:54.799 So the Bible calls this the wages of sin, corruption of sin on every level. 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:59.839 And exactly the same applies to your sowing and reaping. 00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:05.920 The harvest is always greater and takes place on different levels. 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:11.839 Now, probably you don't take time for prayer and devotion. 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:18.640 Probably you don't bath yourself in grace. 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:21.519 And you expect grace for the day, right? 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:27.279 So you are reaping what you you want to reap what you didn't sow. 00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:32.240 We need to sow the grace of God in our lives. 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:37.920 We need the closeness, the nearness to God in our personal day-by-day walk. 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:40.960 So we want to reap it, but we don't sow it. 00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:42.400 And this doesn't work. 00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:50.559 We need to be close to God, to be at the throne of God, to receive grace for everyday labor. 00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:53.920 Probably you hang out around place a place week. 00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:55.119 You shouldn't visit. 00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:58.480 Probably you are too busy to build your own kingdom. 00:22:58.480 --> 00:23:05.599 And then you sit in church on Sunday and you wonder why your heart is so hard and cold. 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:09.359 The songs and the sermon leaves you cold. 00:23:09.359 --> 00:23:10.880 You cannot rejoice. 00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:12.559 You have no inner peace. 00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:16.480 You feel like the prayer or just get stuck with the ceiling. 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:25.680 Well, the effects is not only on your personal life, but it affects all the relationships you are in. 00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:31.519 The relationship within your marriage, within the family, the relationship within the church. 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:33.440 It has consequences. 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:38.000 The harvest is always greater than the sowing. 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:43.759 Reaping has more consequences, multiple effects, multiple levels. 00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:47.359 Maybe you think, what about salvation? 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:51.839 Doesn't salvation eliminate the eternal consequences? 00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:54.480 Oh, yes, it does, of course. 00:23:54.480 --> 00:24:03.039 The grace of God saved us and eliminates our eternal separation from the Lord. 00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:07.680 But still, our doing has eternal consequences, right? 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:10.400 Paul tells it in 1 Corinthians 3. 00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:12.160 What about forgiveness? 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:17.839 God forgave us all the sins and doesn't throw us into hell, right? 00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:18.960 Absolutely. 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:20.400 What about grace? 00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:29.839 Grace means that God is not dealing according to our sins with us, according to with wrath and judgment, right? 00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:31.680 Absolutely, right. 00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:36.000 Are we not saved by grace without works? 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:37.279 Absolutely. 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:42.960 Works cannot add and cannot take away anything to our salvation. 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:45.759 What about the security of salvation? 00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:49.279 Well, scripture teaches that our salvation is sure. 00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:54.240 Whoever is saved, whoever is born again, will not perish. 00:24:54.240 --> 00:25:04.400 But we must be we must never play off these principles against each other. 00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:10.720 These principles, we are not allowed to play them against each other. 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:22.559 Um it this principle never may lead us to think that God will always eliminate all negative consequences of our sinning. 00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:30.400 This principle may never lead us to think we are immune against sin and the consequences of sin. 00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:32.799 There is always forgiveness. 00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:42.720 And if you just find out right by hearing God's word, that probably you think I haven't sown rightly in this and this and this area of my life. 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:44.079 Praise the Lord. 00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:47.359 Today is time for repentance. 00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:52.720 Just come bring it to the Lord and confess the sin to Him that you didn't sow. 00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:58.799 You sow on the flesh, and there is grace for your life, there is grace for everyday life. 00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:02.880 But we are not allowed to play this principles against each other. 00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:05.920 Now, what about the application? 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:09.519 Where should we apply this principle? 00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:14.000 Let's go, let's turn to verse six, and we come to the third point. 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:17.200 Apply this principle in a number of ways. 00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:19.839 Now look into verse six. 00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:29.759 Paul is saying, Don't be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a person sows, he will also reap. 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:35.599 And Paul here has three specific applications in mind. 00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:43.119 So in this context, Paul is addressing is addressing three specific applications. 00:26:43.119 --> 00:26:46.720 Of course, this principle has a lot of applications. 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:54.079 But in verse 6, he is applying this principle to the support of preacher and teacher. 00:26:54.079 --> 00:27:00.799 In verse 8, he is applying this principle to personal sanctification. 00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:09.359 And in verse 8 uh and verse 9 to 10, he is applying this principle to doing good to one another. 00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:12.480 Let's start with the first, um, verse 6. 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:19.440 Paul applies this principle to the support of those who preach and teach, to the pastors, actually. 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:27.039 Um, let the one who is taught the word share all his good things with the teacher. 00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:31.279 Now, this means to share all the good things. 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:35.839 The word is used for moral goods, for goods, for possessions. 00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:41.759 Now, what can the one who is taught give the one who is teaching? 00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:45.200 We could so what should he share? 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:48.960 Paul is saying, share every good thing. 00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:52.240 Just he says every good thing. 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:54.240 He should share in every good. 00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:59.759 So it could mean financial provision, but also moral good. 00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:09.920 For example, the one who is taught should share to the one who is teaching, hey, rejoice with me, for I am making progress. 00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:15.839 Yeah, and he gives thanks, he gives appreciation to the one who is teaching. 00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:23.599 Now, sowing and reaping is God's unchanging principle. 00:28:23.599 --> 00:28:29.119 And at first glance, it looks like this verse is fully out of context. 00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:32.640 Paul, this verse hasn't to do anything with this principle. 00:28:32.640 --> 00:28:34.400 But actually, look exactly here. 00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:44.400 Paul is pointing, is directing, he's making the first application of this principle to the support of the preachers and teachers. 00:28:44.400 --> 00:28:53.200 Now, just remember for one moment what was the state, the spiritual state and the condition of the churches in Galatia. 00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:55.519 I just mentioned it. 00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:57.599 It was catastrophic. 00:28:57.599 --> 00:29:00.240 It was bad, worse. 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:04.000 Paul feared for these churches like for none other. 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:07.200 Now, what could have been the reason? 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:09.599 Actually, this could have been the reason. 00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:18.960 They harvested so poor in investing into their preacher and teacher, and they reaped poorly. 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:26.000 They had no, they had neither appreciation nor thank, nor didn't they support their teachers. 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:32.480 And the result was just an unhealthy church open for um false doctrine. 00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:36.160 Oh, in Germany, actually, it's a bad example. 00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:39.359 Um many churches don't, I know you do. 00:29:39.359 --> 00:29:40.480 That's good. 00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:44.400 But in Germany, many churches don't support a pastor, their pastor. 00:29:44.400 --> 00:29:48.640 Now, probably you you can't even imagine that that's really, really the case. 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:53.440 They even would pay um a facility manager, but not their pastor. 00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:58.400 Now, can you imagine how the spiritual condition would look like? 00:29:58.400 --> 00:30:01.359 That's exactly the condition. 00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:04.240 It's bad, it's worse. 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:05.119 Why? 00:30:05.119 --> 00:30:08.720 Because they don't appreciate the word of God. 00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:14.559 So they don't teach the word of God, they don't have time to study the word of God. 00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:20.079 So you see, the churches they reap what they have sown. 00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:24.240 And they have sown poorly, and they reap poorly. 00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:26.960 That's exactly what happened to the Galatian churches. 00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:33.440 Now, the second area Paul applies this principle is personal sanctification. 00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:38.319 Um, just look to first uh verse uh seven and eight. 00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:51.359 For a person sows, he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the spirit will reap eternal life from the spirit. 00:30:51.359 --> 00:30:57.599 So this is Paul's second application, and it relates to personal sanctification. 00:30:57.599 --> 00:31:08.559 Some believers sow daily to the field of the flesh, and they wonder why there is nothing to reap from the Holy Spirit. 00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:17.599 They are sowing to the flesh, that means giving in to sinful desires instead of crucifying those desires. 00:31:17.599 --> 00:31:22.240 It means feeding those desires instead of killing those desires. 00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:29.359 Romans 13, verse 14, Paul says, make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires. 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:38.960 So he says, pay no attention to the flesh with regard to the lust, to indulge the flesh, to pamper and to spoil it. 00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:56.880 John Stott says, every time we allow our mind to harbor a grunge, to nurse a grievance, entertain an impure fantasy, or wallow in self-pity, we are sowing into the flesh. 00:31:56.880 --> 00:32:19.119 Every time we linger in bad company, whose influence we cannot resist, every time we lie in bed when we ought to be up and praying, every time we pursue pornography, every time we take a risk which strains our self-control, we are sowing, sowing, sowing to the flesh. 00:32:19.119 --> 00:32:22.079 He says, holiness is a harvest. 00:32:22.079 --> 00:32:27.920 Whether we reap it or not depends almost entirely on what and where we sow. 00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:29.200 Well, really good. 00:32:29.200 --> 00:32:30.480 He put it really good. 00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:54.559 So if we sow to the spirit through the books we read, the time we invest into the close fellowship with the Lord, the company we keep, the real relations and the recreation we pursue, the disciplined habits we have in daily prayer and Bible reading and worship, then we reap the fruit of the spirit. 00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:56.319 Then you will reap. 00:32:56.319 --> 00:33:09.599 So not only what Paul is saying in chapter 5, verse 22, the fruit of the spirit, like joy and love and peace and patience and kindness and goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in your life. 00:33:09.599 --> 00:33:18.079 But Paul continues actually here the fruit of the spirit, and he says, You will reap eternal life from the spirit. 00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:27.359 Now let's go on to the third area Paul applies this principle, and um, this we will find in verses 9 to 10. 00:33:27.359 --> 00:33:29.279 It is doing good to one another. 00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:39.359 Paul is saying, Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don't give up. 00:33:39.359 --> 00:33:48.319 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith. 00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:54.400 So this is the third application of Paul to do good to one another. 00:33:54.400 --> 00:34:03.279 So it looks like if it would be a completely new topic, but actually Paul is continuing with um sowing and reaping. 00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:16.400 Paul picks out really strange areas to make it clear, yes, this principle of sowing, reaping also applies to spiritual matters, especially within the church. 00:34:16.400 --> 00:34:18.079 So, what is Paul saying? 00:34:18.079 --> 00:34:18.960 What should we do? 00:34:18.960 --> 00:34:31.920 He says, good deeds, doing good, invest into the church, and not bringing fraction to the church, not bringing slandering into the church, but doing good. 00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:34.239 So when should we do good? 00:34:34.239 --> 00:34:35.280 What is Paul saying? 00:34:35.280 --> 00:34:37.760 At every opportunity. 00:34:37.760 --> 00:34:40.320 And whom should we do good? 00:34:40.320 --> 00:34:47.679 Well, to all, but especially to those who belong to the household of faith, so the believers. 00:34:47.679 --> 00:34:54.800 And Paul's emphasis in this verse is do not grow weary. 00:34:54.800 --> 00:35:02.239 So your sacrificial service can become tiresome. 00:35:02.239 --> 00:35:04.960 It can become discouraging. 00:35:04.960 --> 00:35:09.199 You may even think about quitting the ministry of the church. 00:35:09.199 --> 00:35:15.039 Sowing is hard work. 00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:17.599 Sowing is exhausting. 00:35:17.599 --> 00:35:20.960 Usually we don't see the harvest yet. 00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:24.480 But we have to sow like a farmer. 00:35:24.480 --> 00:35:27.760 We shouldn't stop if we are halfway through the field. 00:35:27.760 --> 00:35:30.400 We should continue until the end. 00:35:30.400 --> 00:35:36.880 That's what James is um uh telling his uh recipients in James 5, 7 to 8. 00:35:36.880 --> 00:35:42.320 He says, Therefore, brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord's coming. 00:35:42.320 --> 00:35:53.599 See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rain. 00:35:53.599 --> 00:36:00.400 You also must be patient, strengthen your hearts, because the Lord's coming is near. 00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:04.800 Sometimes we are so impatient like little children, right? 00:36:04.800 --> 00:36:09.119 We want to sow now and we want to reap right now away. 00:36:09.119 --> 00:36:12.480 Sowing is doing good. 00:36:12.480 --> 00:36:16.239 If sowing is doing good, was Paul is saying here, what is reaping? 00:36:16.239 --> 00:36:20.400 So if I have to sow, which is doing good, what is the harvest? 00:36:20.400 --> 00:36:23.440 Well, Paul leaves it open. 00:36:23.440 --> 00:36:25.840 He doesn't say what the harvest is. 00:36:25.840 --> 00:36:30.639 He only says, We will reap in time. 00:36:30.639 --> 00:36:32.639 He doesn't mention it. 00:36:32.639 --> 00:36:36.079 And he, well, in Greek you have two words for time. 00:36:36.079 --> 00:36:58.559 The one is chronos, that means chronological passing time, and the other one is kairos, which which means um a period, a moment, a point of time, and Paul is using this one to make clear there may be a point of time, probably even in this in this time or even when the Lord returns, when you will be reaping. 00:36:58.559 --> 00:37:02.320 Paul wants to make this point clear. 00:37:02.320 --> 00:37:12.000 If you sow in this area and doing good, especially to the household of the faith, you will reap. 00:37:12.000 --> 00:37:15.920 He doesn't say what, but you will reap. 00:37:15.920 --> 00:37:20.000 And you must be patient and not be discouraged. 00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:28.239 Sowing in your ministry can be sacrificial, it can be exhausting, it can be draining. 00:37:28.239 --> 00:37:33.039 Sowing can even involve tears. 00:37:33.039 --> 00:37:39.199 Psalm 126, verse 5 says, Those who sow in tears. 00:37:39.199 --> 00:37:43.039 So sowing is sometimes connected to tears. 00:37:43.039 --> 00:37:45.199 But it doesn't finish there. 00:37:45.199 --> 00:37:49.679 It goes on and says, They will reap with shout of joy. 00:37:49.679 --> 00:37:56.000 So the principle is applicable in many areas. 00:37:56.000 --> 00:38:02.800 Ask yourself during the next week in your quiet times, where do I sow poorly? 00:38:02.800 --> 00:38:08.079 And where do I expect a rich harvest, and probably I don't sow right? 00:38:08.079 --> 00:38:15.920 Do I expect the grace of God, the nearness of God in my life, and I don't sow it? 00:38:15.920 --> 00:38:22.719 Maybe it applies to the to your relationship with the Lord, to your sanctification. 00:38:22.719 --> 00:38:27.440 It applies to your marriage, your child, your children, your parenting. 00:38:27.440 --> 00:38:29.119 It applies to your church. 00:38:29.119 --> 00:38:37.119