"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6:7
The principle of sowing and reaping is very simple-- if you sow something, you will reap something in return. "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." (Galatians 6:8) We are either sowing to our flesh or we are sowing to our spirit. If we sow to the flesh we will reap death. If we sow to the spirit we will reap everlasting life.
How do we sow to our flesh? We sow to our flesh by not denying it; by giving it everything it wants, desires, and lusts after; by not withholding anything from it; by not depriving it; by not crucifying it; by pampering it; by promoting it, encouraging it, building it up; by letting it have it's way. When you continue to sow to your flesh, the principle of sowing and reaping will make sure that you reap something from it-- death, destruction, corruption. If this is not what you want to reap, then you need to take note of what you are sowing and stop.
It's the spirit that we want to sow to. How do we sow to the spirit? The same way we sow to the flesh. By not denying it; by giving it everything it wants; by not withholding anything from it; by not depriving it; by not crucifying it; by pampering it; by promoting it, encouraging it, building it up; by letting it have it's way. (Of course, the difference is that the things you don't withhold from your flesh are sinful, and the things you don't withhold from the spirit are godly and righteous.)
If you don't want to reap corruption then don't sow to your flesh- deny it, deprive it, crucify it. If you don't want to reap everlasting life then don't sow to your spirit- deny it, deprive it, crucify it. We each have a choice as to which one we are going to sow into- flesh or spirit. What you want to reap will determine where you sow.
Have a great day. What do you want to reap? Is that where you are sowing?
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
"Jehovahjireh"
"And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen." Genesis 22:14
One of the names that God reveals Himself to us through is Jehovahjireh- God is our provider. It also means that God is the One who sees ahead and makes provision for. But I also heard it means "God will see to it". As I pondered this meaning this morning, I thought about how that it is God who "sees to it" that the righteous aren't forsaken. It's God who "sees to" meeting and supplying all my need. It's God who "sees to it" that I have rain in due season. It's God who "sees to it" that when I cast my bread upon the waters it will return to me. When I give, it's God who "sees to it" that it's given back to me good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
God will "see to it" that you receive the promise when you have met the condition. God will "see to it" that you are taken care of when you commit yourself into His keeping. When you place your faith and trust in Him, He will "see to it" that you won't be ashamed. God will "see to it" that you reap the blessing after you have been obedient. You are God's business. He loves you and cares about you. Therefore, whatever you need, He will "see to it" that you have it. So put your trust in Him as your Jehovahjireh-your provider- because He will "see to it".
Have a great day. Isn't it wonderful to know that God is "seeing to it" that all your need- spirit, soul and body- is met!
One of the names that God reveals Himself to us through is Jehovahjireh- God is our provider. It also means that God is the One who sees ahead and makes provision for. But I also heard it means "God will see to it". As I pondered this meaning this morning, I thought about how that it is God who "sees to it" that the righteous aren't forsaken. It's God who "sees to" meeting and supplying all my need. It's God who "sees to it" that I have rain in due season. It's God who "sees to it" that when I cast my bread upon the waters it will return to me. When I give, it's God who "sees to it" that it's given back to me good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
God will "see to it" that you receive the promise when you have met the condition. God will "see to it" that you are taken care of when you commit yourself into His keeping. When you place your faith and trust in Him, He will "see to it" that you won't be ashamed. God will "see to it" that you reap the blessing after you have been obedient. You are God's business. He loves you and cares about you. Therefore, whatever you need, He will "see to it" that you have it. So put your trust in Him as your Jehovahjireh-your provider- because He will "see to it".
Have a great day. Isn't it wonderful to know that God is "seeing to it" that all your need- spirit, soul and body- is met!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
"Do It God's Way"
"And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean."
2 Kings 5:10
Our text is taken from the story about Naaman the leper who went to the prophet Elisha to be healed. When he got to the home of Elisha, the prophet did not come out and greet him, he did not pray a prayer over him, he did nothing except send his servant out to tell Naaman to go and wash in the Jordan River seven times. Listen to Naaman's response in the next two verse. "But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage."
Naaman needed a healing touch but he wanted to receive it "his" way. Aren't we like that? We'll need a healing, a provision, an answer from the Lord, but we want Him to give it to us in the way that we determine. We know how we want it to happen and expect God to do it that way. The Bible tells us that, "God's ways are not our ways." (Isaiah 55:8,9) They are so much higher and better than anything we can imagine. God doesn't always do things our way or the way we want, but He does do them perfectly in accordance with His own will.
What answer has He given you that you didn't want to hear? What has He instructed you to do but you have put if off because you don't want to do it that way? What is keeping you from obeying what He has said? Is it pride? Fear of man? Intimidation? Fear of failure? Do you think God has made a mistake? If God has told you to do something but you are putting it off, or trying to do it your own way, then your disobedience is what's standing in the way of your receiving. Obedience is better than sacrifice.
Have a great day. Just think, Naaman would have remained a leper the rest of his life if he had not gone ahead and obeyed God's instructions through Elisha.
2 Kings 5:10
Our text is taken from the story about Naaman the leper who went to the prophet Elisha to be healed. When he got to the home of Elisha, the prophet did not come out and greet him, he did not pray a prayer over him, he did nothing except send his servant out to tell Naaman to go and wash in the Jordan River seven times. Listen to Naaman's response in the next two verse. "But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage."
Naaman needed a healing touch but he wanted to receive it "his" way. Aren't we like that? We'll need a healing, a provision, an answer from the Lord, but we want Him to give it to us in the way that we determine. We know how we want it to happen and expect God to do it that way. The Bible tells us that, "God's ways are not our ways." (Isaiah 55:8,9) They are so much higher and better than anything we can imagine. God doesn't always do things our way or the way we want, but He does do them perfectly in accordance with His own will.
What answer has He given you that you didn't want to hear? What has He instructed you to do but you have put if off because you don't want to do it that way? What is keeping you from obeying what He has said? Is it pride? Fear of man? Intimidation? Fear of failure? Do you think God has made a mistake? If God has told you to do something but you are putting it off, or trying to do it your own way, then your disobedience is what's standing in the way of your receiving. Obedience is better than sacrifice.
Have a great day. Just think, Naaman would have remained a leper the rest of his life if he had not gone ahead and obeyed God's instructions through Elisha.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
"Deep Waters"
"Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins." Ezekiel 47:4
It's time we move out into deeper waters in our Christianity and stop wading in the shallows. It's time we move out of the shallow waters called comfort zones and go on into the deeper waters of faith. It's time we stop praying "microwave" prayers and go deeper in our times of prayer- ask, seek, knock, intercede, travail. We need to stop being shallow concerning our time in the word- go beyond reading just enough to say you read your Bible- search the scriptures, study them, hide them in your heart, live by them. It's time to move out in deeper waters of commitment and surrender- surrender your will to His will, commit all things into His keeping. It's time to stop visiting the Lord when in need only and dwell in His presence. It's time to move into a deeper more intimate relationship with the Lord instead of every once in a while. It's time to mover from shallow praise given only at church and praise Him at all times- His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Far too long we have stayed in the "safe" area of "shallow" Christianity. It's time we make it our personal goal to move out deeper. There is a whole new world that awaits you in the deeper waters. Once you "launch out" into the deep you will find that it holds whole new experiences, you will find abundance, you will find healing, you will find sustenance, you will find life. (Ezekiel 47:5-12) The Lord never intended for us to stay in the shallow waters at the shore. He intended for us to follow Him into the deeper waters where the "fish" are, where you can walk on water, and where you can get to the other side.
Have a great day. The days of wading around in shallow water are over- you can't live there any longer. It's time to move out into the deep.
It's time we move out into deeper waters in our Christianity and stop wading in the shallows. It's time we move out of the shallow waters called comfort zones and go on into the deeper waters of faith. It's time we stop praying "microwave" prayers and go deeper in our times of prayer- ask, seek, knock, intercede, travail. We need to stop being shallow concerning our time in the word- go beyond reading just enough to say you read your Bible- search the scriptures, study them, hide them in your heart, live by them. It's time to move out in deeper waters of commitment and surrender- surrender your will to His will, commit all things into His keeping. It's time to stop visiting the Lord when in need only and dwell in His presence. It's time to move into a deeper more intimate relationship with the Lord instead of every once in a while. It's time to mover from shallow praise given only at church and praise Him at all times- His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Far too long we have stayed in the "safe" area of "shallow" Christianity. It's time we make it our personal goal to move out deeper. There is a whole new world that awaits you in the deeper waters. Once you "launch out" into the deep you will find that it holds whole new experiences, you will find abundance, you will find healing, you will find sustenance, you will find life. (Ezekiel 47:5-12) The Lord never intended for us to stay in the shallow waters at the shore. He intended for us to follow Him into the deeper waters where the "fish" are, where you can walk on water, and where you can get to the other side.
Have a great day. The days of wading around in shallow water are over- you can't live there any longer. It's time to move out into the deep.
Monday, May 26, 2008
"Memorial Day"
"And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever." Exodus 12:14
Today in America we are celebrating Memorial Day. It's a time when we give honor to those who laid down their lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have in this nation. As we remember the sacrifice they made we must also remember the greatest sacrifice that was made for us. We must remember that Jesus paid the supreme sacrifice for our freedom when He laid down His life on the cross for our sins.
Memorial Day is an American holiday- we honor the brave men and women throughout our history who fought and died in wars past to help preserve this nation's freedom. But what Jesus did for us through His death is not just an "American" observation. He died for the sins of the whole world. He died for everyone- no one is excluded. ("For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son."- John 3:16a)
It has taken many men and women throughout history to obtain our nation's freedoms, but it only took one to obtain our freedom from sin. ("For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." Romans 5:19)
It was with great joy that Jesus laid down His life to give us freedom from sin. What He did for us is not a once a year observance. It is a daily recognition. Daily we should remember the price that He paid for our sins. Daily we should thank Him for taking our place on the cross and for taking the punishment for our sins that we so rightfully deserved. Daily we should acknowledge that without Him we would still be held in bondage to sin. Daily we should thank Him for laying down His life for us. ("Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself." John 10:17,18a; "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2)
Have a great day. Every day should be a memorial day to Jesus.
Today in America we are celebrating Memorial Day. It's a time when we give honor to those who laid down their lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have in this nation. As we remember the sacrifice they made we must also remember the greatest sacrifice that was made for us. We must remember that Jesus paid the supreme sacrifice for our freedom when He laid down His life on the cross for our sins.
Memorial Day is an American holiday- we honor the brave men and women throughout our history who fought and died in wars past to help preserve this nation's freedom. But what Jesus did for us through His death is not just an "American" observation. He died for the sins of the whole world. He died for everyone- no one is excluded. ("For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son."- John 3:16a)
It has taken many men and women throughout history to obtain our nation's freedoms, but it only took one to obtain our freedom from sin. ("For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." Romans 5:19)
It was with great joy that Jesus laid down His life to give us freedom from sin. What He did for us is not a once a year observance. It is a daily recognition. Daily we should remember the price that He paid for our sins. Daily we should thank Him for taking our place on the cross and for taking the punishment for our sins that we so rightfully deserved. Daily we should acknowledge that without Him we would still be held in bondage to sin. Daily we should thank Him for laying down His life for us. ("Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself." John 10:17,18a; "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2)
Have a great day. Every day should be a memorial day to Jesus.
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