NOTES

Corn and Cucumbers

Neil WrightJuly 24, 2016

(Gal 6:7-8 NLT) 7 Don't be misled--you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

So when we sow we need to be mindful of whether we are living to please the Spirit or satisfy our sinful nature.

o WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO EAT?

The above verses are fairly easily understood and you don’t need to be a bible scholar to understand them. However there are some really important principles that if heeded will steer your life in the right direction.

Every field has two types of seed. Seeds that are __________________ and seed that are __________________.

However both types of seed produce exactly the crop they are designed to produce. (Gen 1:11)

Just as seed will produce after its own kind in the plant kingdom we can put this principle to work in our everyday and spiritual lives.

o WHAT ARE THE SEEDS?

Our _____________________ (Rom.8:5)

Our______________________ (Prov.18:21)

Our ________________________ (1 John 3:18,19)

o OUR GOOD INTENTIONS PRODUCE NOTHING

(Isa 28:23-29 NLT) 23 Listen to me; listen, and pay close attention. 24 Does a farmer always plow and never sow? Is he forever cultivating the soil and never planting? 25 Does he not finally plant his seeds--black cumin, cumin, wheat, barley, and emmer wheat--each in its proper way, and each in its proper place? 26 The farmer knows just what to do, for God has given him understanding. 27 A heavy sledge is never used to thresh black cumin; rather, it is beaten with a light stick. A threshing wheel is never rolled on cumin; instead, it is beaten lightly with a flail. 28 Grain for bread is easily crushed, so he doesn't keep on pounding it. He threshes it under the wheels of a cart, but he doesn't pulverize it. 29 The LORD of Heaven's Armies is a wonderful teacher, and he gives the farmer great wisdom.

At some stage the seed must go into the ground.

o WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SOW?

One of the problems we face is the excuses we use not to sow or harvest. Ecclesiastes 11 talks about farmers who are waiting for the perfect time rather than the window of opportunity before they act.

Another problem is our own laziness.

(Pro 20:4 NLT) 4 Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.

The best time to sow is before you are hungry, not after you are hungry. However sometimes we need to sow after the season is already upon us. This is where we see the sowing in tears that leads to reaping in joy. (Ps. 126)

When it comes to sowing into others lives it is selfishness that stops us.

o DON’T BE A SCAB

(2Co 9:6 NLT) 6 Remember this--a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.

There is an old saying that you get out of life what you put into it. This is a good thing to remember as you work out what seeds you are sowing in your life and into life.

(Pro 11:24-26 NKJV) 24 There is [one] who scatters, yet increases more; And there is [one] who withholds more than is right, But it [leads] to poverty. 25 The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself. 26 The people will curse him who withholds grain, But blessing [will be] on the head of him who sells [it].

o GOD GIVES THE GROWTH

The farmer is in control of what seeds are planted and where, but we always need to remember it is God that causes the growth, especially when it comes to the word in our hearts. We have to remember that no matter how much preparation that we do, ultimately the trust must be in God.

(1Co 3:6 NLT) 6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.

o THE ULTIMATE SEED

(Jhn 12:23-24 NLT) 23 Jesus replied, "Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels--a plentiful harvest of new lives.