Two Organizing Principles Deceive led astray God is not mocked - PDF document

2019-10-22 We are prone to judge success by the index of our salaries or the size of our automobiles, Sowing and Reaping rather than by the quality of our service and relationship to humanity . Galatians 6 : 7 - 10 Martin Luther King, Jr. 1 . God is not Mocked Two Organizing Principles • Deceive – led astray • ‘God is not mocked’ – tricked; Do not be deceived; God is not manipulated; turn up the nose/snout mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. • God sees all; knows all; no hiding from God Galatians 6:7 2 . You Reap what you Sow The Challenge • An agricultural metaphor which speaks to the impact of our actions • We rationalize our behaviour to deny the sowing/reaping truth • Reaping 4x in passage • We fail to recognize the time-shift • A universal principle connecting between reaping and sowing sowing & reaping – sowing potatoes does not reap carrots 1

2019-10-22 The flesh Sowing and Reaping • Sowing to the flesh reaps Two examples corruption If you sow to your own flesh, you • The field of flesh – one’s ego; will reap corruption from the flesh; a mindset of focusing on self but if you sow to the Spirit, you will and living apart from God reap eternal life from the Spirit. • Galatians 5:19-21 Galatians 6:8 The Spirit Reaps Life • Sowing to the Spirit reaps life • The word ‘life’=zoe which speaks of eternal life • The field of the Spirit – living in a manner where the God of love is • A transformed life devoted to God honoured (Romans 12:2) • Galatians 5:22-23 – the fruit of the • Not just future life but eternal life Spirit now The Power of our Choice Sowing Deeds • Rather than half-choosing or non- Of Goodness choosing Three Sets of T wo • The opposite of being indifferent Galatians 6 : 9 - 10 2

2019-10-22 First Set So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at • “Do what is right” (v9) harvest time, if we do not give up. “Work for the good of all” (v10) So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the • Use your strength for the wellbeing good of all, and especially for of all – especially the household of those of the family of faith. faith Galatians 6:9-10 Second Set Third Set • ‘At harvest time’ (v9) • ‘Do not grow weary’ (v9) The time of ‘opportunity’ (v10) ‘Do not give up’ (v9) • T wo references to time (Kairos) • Do not become fatigued in doing good; not disheartened; not • Goodness will bear fruit for which we lax/discouraged; not angry will be rewarded – assurance of a good return • We are invited to participate in God’s great work Going Forward • T o act/choose/be engaged for God’s kingdom 3

2019-10-22 Change Agents It is still one of the tragedies of • Come alongside others and human history that the ‘children be influential for good of darkness’ are frequently more determined and zealous than the • Not self-centred ‘children of light.’ • Change agents for good – Martin Luther King, Jr. ambassadors of light 4