Investing in a relationship with God through genuine, faith-driven sowing is not only reasonable but ultimately enriches our lives, making us conduits of His grace and love in a world that deeply needs it.
[00:00:00] Let us pray, bread together on our knees
[00:00:07] Let us pray, bread together on our knees
[00:00:14] When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun
[00:00:21] Oh Lord, never see all the need
[00:00:27] Welcome to the Bible Speaks with Elgin Carelock
[00:00:30] The Bible Speaks is a weekly ministry of Harvest International
[00:00:33] Our prayer is that the Bible Speaks will encourage you in your study of God's Word
[00:00:38] You will be able to contact Elgin at the address given at the end of this broadcast
[00:00:44] And now, here's Elgin
[00:00:46] Brothers and sisters, I welcome you in the name of our risen Savior, Jesus the Christ
[00:00:52] As we continue to celebrate this season of Pentecost
[00:00:56] I wanted to make sure we understand the power we receive with Jesus' resurrection
[00:01:03] And the arrival of the Holy Spirit as our on-board guide to God's will
[00:01:09] Today, I wanted to speak on the subject of
[00:01:14] You must sow in order to reap
[00:01:18] Our inspirational scripture is Ephesians 3 v. 20
[00:01:25] Reading from the King James Version, it reads
[00:01:29] Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think
[00:01:37] According to the power that worketh in us
[00:01:42] I also wanted to share it from the New International Version
[00:01:46] And that will be the version that we'll use for the remainder of this discussion
[00:01:53] And it reads
[00:01:55] Now unto him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine
[00:02:02] According to his power that is at work within us
[00:02:08] Scripture is a powerful encouragement in the life of the believer, but there are conditions
[00:02:15] 2 Corinthians 9 v. 6-7 takes it a little further where Paul states
[00:02:23] Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously
[00:02:32] Christians are taught that when we give, whether it s tithes, offering, charity or other forms of support
[00:02:40] They are sowing seeds that God promises will yield a rich harvest
[00:02:47] This isn t merely about financial gain. The broader understanding includes blessings of increased faith, spiritual growth
[00:02:56] And greater opportunities to bless others
[00:02:59] The act of giving is seen as a tangible expression of trust in God s provision and faithfulness
[00:03:08] It reflects a belief in the economy of God s kingdom where selfless generosity is rewarded
[00:03:15] Not just in kind, but often in greater measure
[00:03:20] Fostering a cycle of blessings that enhances the giver s capacity to give even more
[00:03:27] Luke 6 v. 38 tells us
[00:03:31] Give, and it shall be given unto you
[00:03:34] Good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over
[00:03:39] Shall men give into your bosom
[00:03:42] For with the same measure that ye meet with all it shall be measured to you again
[00:03:49] This isn t to suggest that God is a quid pro quo system
[00:03:54] One that causes one to give only for the prospect of gaining in return
[00:04:00] But encourages believers to adopt a mindset of abundance and gratitude
[00:04:05] Moving away from scarcity and fear
[00:04:08] And towards a life characterized by generosity and reliance on God s infinite resources
[00:04:16] An example of what I m describing is a week or so ago I was thinking of a friend of mine
[00:04:23] And as I was driving down the street, she was standing at the corner across from her office heading towards her building
[00:04:31] This confirmed to me that it was the Holy Spirit urging me to contact her
[00:04:37] So I did
[00:04:39] And we met for lunch shortly thereafter and had a great conversation catching up on business and personal matters
[00:04:46] And then I shared something with her I believe would be very beneficial for her career
[00:04:52] And relationship with one of the larger players in her industry
[00:04:56] She agreed and introduced me to the person who would be a connection to getting my idea accomplished
[00:05:04] As it turns out that connection was also one that could take the project onto a national level
[00:05:11] For my effort of improving the life of my friend, God made provisions for a significant
[00:05:19] I would dare say overflowing connection for me and my company
[00:05:24] Because my effort was from my heart, it was rewarded
[00:05:29] Galatians chapter 6 verses 7 through 8 states
[00:05:33] Do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked, a man reaps what he sows
[00:05:39] The one who sows to please his sinful nature from that nature will reap destruction
[00:05:46] The one who sows to please the spirit from the spirit will reap eternal life
[00:05:53] Actions aligned with selfish desires lead to negative outcomes
[00:05:58] While actions influenced by the Holy Spirit lead to positive, life-giving results
[00:06:04] Living your best life therefore involves making choices that are spiritually and morally sound
[00:06:11] Leading to beneficial manifestations for our lives and the lives of others
[00:06:16] Additionally, understanding, sowing and reaping provides a guideline for living wisely and well
[00:06:24] It encourages making decisions that align with God s purposes
[00:06:29] Investing in what brings lasting joy and satisfaction and taking responsibility for our lives trajectory
[00:06:38] By stating that God can do far beyond what we can ask or even think
[00:06:44] Paul highlights the infinite nature of God s capabilities which surpasses human understanding and expectations
[00:06:53] This serves as a reminder of the omnipotence of God reassuring us that no prayer is too big
[00:07:01] And no situation is beyond God s ability to intervene
[00:07:06] However, we have a role
[00:07:10] And that role encompasses several key responsibilities that reflect both spiritual and practical dimensions of our lives
[00:07:20] Sowing seeds is widely used in the Bible to describe the actions and contributions of individuals
[00:07:27] That lead to future outcomes based on the nature of what was sown
[00:07:33] Here are a few examples of the type of sowing God requires of us
[00:07:39] Evangelism, discipling others
[00:07:43] And being a living testament to the grace of God through our actions, words and choices
[00:07:51] Sowing to the spirit
[00:07:53] As mentioned in Galatians 6 chapter 8
[00:07:58] Sowing into the spirit implies that we have a personal investment in our spiritual growth and character development
[00:08:07] Giving generously
[00:08:09] Believers are encouraged to give generously to the church, charities and individuals in need
[00:08:17] Sowing seeds through prayer
[00:08:21] Intercessory prayer for others needs, the church, communities and global issues
[00:08:27] Plant seeds that God can water and grow in his timing and manner
[00:08:33] Sowing seeds of kindness, forgiveness and love in our relationships
[00:08:39] Which can lead to healing, reconciliation and strong community bonds
[00:08:46] Our role in sowing is multifaceted
[00:08:49] Involving an intentional approach to life that seeks to plant seeds which will bear fruit for the kingdom of God
[00:08:58] Reflecting Christ's love and redemption for the world
[00:09:04] The phrase, according to his power that is at work within us indicates the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in believers
[00:09:14] This is a recurring theme in Paul's letters where he often speaks of the Holy Spirit as residing within us
[00:09:21] The Holy Spirit empowers us to live out our faith
[00:09:26] Manifesting God's kingdom through our lives by transforming them from inside out
[00:09:33] Guiding, comforting and granting spiritual gifts for the building up of the church
[00:09:38] It also challenges believers to expect great things from God
[00:09:43] It is a call to faith and action based not on human capacity but on divine power
[00:09:51] We are encouraged to pray boldly and live out the faith with the expectation that God can and will do extraordinary things through us
[00:10:02] Did you hear that? I said God will do extraordinary things through us, not to us
[00:10:10] You are blessed to be a blessing so your sowing is evidence of your understanding of that truth
[00:10:17] It is essential for believers to examine our actions and attitudes ensuring that we align with what God has commanded
[00:10:27] Sowing to his expectations means engaging deeply in prayer, worship, service and love both towards God and towards one another
[00:10:38] It involves nurturing our spirit life with the word of God and allowing it to transform our actions and decisions
[00:10:47] Only by doing so can we truly expect to reap the blessings and promises that God has made
[00:10:54] As followers of Christ, we have assurances that our efforts when aligned with God's will are never in vain
[00:11:01] God honors and multiplies the efforts made in faith
[00:11:07] And while the blessings we receive may not always align with our expectations, they are always what we truly need and are often greater than what we can imagine
[00:11:18] Therefore investing in a relationship with God through genuine faith driven sowing is not only reasonable but ultimately enriches our lives
[00:11:28] Making us conduits of His grace and love in a world that deeply needs it
[00:11:36] Brothers and sisters, I thank you once again for spending time with me and I look forward to our discussion on tomorrow
[00:11:43] Until then, God bless
[00:11:46] I've wandered far away from God
[00:11:55] This program is cared for by listeners who care
[00:11:59] Your prayers and financial investment in this ministry helps to keep the good news on the air
[00:12:05] We look forward to hearing from you and invite you to write us at Harvest International
[00:12:10] Post Office Box 6690 Ocala, Florida 34478
[00:12:15] Again, that's Harvest International Post Office Box 6690 Ocala, Florida 34478
[00:12:45] Open wide and honor the love
[00:12:54] Lord, I'm coming home