Are You Farming?

Good morning.

Before we start the message I would like you to know that I’m not sure whether I’ll be able to place this link on Facebook during the next four mornings, but you know where to find us.

When we sow any form of crops, such as wheat, we know that each one seed will end up as multiple seeds. That is obviously how farmers make their money and how we get enough food to feed our people.

This is a principle the Lord uses at various occasions in the Bible. According to the Bible we can sow in many ways.

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life,” (Galatians 6:7-8).

“Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness,” (James 3:18).

Then Jesus told the parable of the sower where he compared the sowing of seed to the spreading of His word, the Bible (Matthew 13:1-23 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2013:1-23&version=NIV1984).  

We can therefore sow anything, whether positive or negative, and will reap abundantly. Many of us ask why we have so much trouble. What did you sow? If we sow gossip, it will be gossiped about us and we will even get trouble because we gossip, if we sow criticism, criticism is what we reap, if we sow hatred, hatred towards us is what we will reap. Have you noticed how little peace such people have? If you live by the sword, you will die by the sword, inclusive of the sword of the tongue, which could kill relationships, emotions, joy and so on.  “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you,” (Matthew 7:1-2).

In whichever way we give, the following will apply to us: “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:

‘He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.’

“Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God,” (2 Corinthians 9:6-11).

The more we give, the more we will have in order to give. We need to be careful not to be caught up in the wrong spiral. Those positive skills can also be used negatively, for example the prophets who are able to hear from God are equally able to hear from the devil, and if they are not careful to discern they can easily be deceived to subtly destroy rather than building up.

Sowing is also linked to our gifts as per Romans 12:6-8. The more we teach, the more revelation we will receive from the Lord to teach and will we learn ourselves. The more we encourage, the more we will be encouraged, the more we show mercy, the more mercy will be shown to us, the more we give financially, the more we will receive to give again and the more unselfishly we lead, the better the Holy Spirit will lead us to lead. In the end we will receive a harvest of righteousness and our generosity will result in thanksgiving to the Lord.

We therefore have a choice. Do we want to live for ourselves and reap a little carnal fulfilment, but much sorrow in this world and little in eternity, or do we want to sow generously into the Kingdom of God from whatever we have to give, and harvest abundant righteousness.

Lord, help me to sow generously, even if it is only love and encouragement.

Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.

Please pass this on if you think others may benefit by it.