The Law of Sowing and Reaping

When speaking of the reign of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the whole world, the prophet Isaiah said, “Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice. A man shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a cover from the tempest (or violent storm), as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. The eyes of those who see will not be dim, and the ears of those who hear will listen.” Isaiah 32:1-3. (NKJV).

When I was fifteen years old, as an act of faith and out of obedience to Christ, I was baptized in water by full immersion. One of the men present at my baptism at that time was given a picture from God of a camel drinking. The Lord was encouraging me I believe, to drink in freely, to drink in of His Spirit, and to drink in of His word, so that I would be well prepared to face any times of difficulty that may lie ahead. This picture of a camel drinking that he was given I believe, referred to the camel’s innate or inbuilt ability to drink in and carry large amounts of water in order to sustain it, because of the arid (or very dry) conditions around it.

As if to confirm this, it was many years later that in a similar manner the Lord also gave me a dream. In this dream I saw two very good friends of mine who belonged to the Salvation Army (The Salvation Army Church in New Zealand, and I believe in other parts of the world, is a Christ believing Church that helps poor, needy and displaced persons). In this dream the husband was digging a large hole in the inside wall of what appeared to be an outdoor carport or garage (normally a place where people park their cars). We then began hiding as many Bibles as possible into this hole before it was to be sealed up again. The Lord then said to me, “Store up the word. Store up the word of God in your heart.” There seemed to be an urgency for me to do this.

When speaking of his own thirst for the Lord in a ‘dry and thirsty land’, King David said, “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water” Psalm 63:1 (NKJV).

It was again this morning, as I was spending my time with the Lord, that I felt the Lord say to me, “Keep sowing in times of plenty, so that when famine comes there is food to sustain you.”  The Lord has again reminded me, that this is very, very important concerning the words that we speak. For many years previously He had also warned me,

Make your confession good for you will have what you say!

Paul the Apostle in his letter to the Galatians said, “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life” Galatians 6:8 (NIV).

Keep On Sowing to Please the Father

Hebrews 11 (known as the faith chapter in the New Testament of the Bible) tells us that it is our faiththat pleases God. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him (speaking of God), for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV).

For without faith there is no increase!

We see this same faith principle of sowing and reaping at work in the story of Joseph, who was given the ability to interpret dreams (See the book of Genesis in the Old Testament of the Bible, in chapters 40 and 41).
The source of welfare that was given to Joseph in the revelation knowledge that came from God and the resultant obedience that followed, sustained not only Joseph and his own family through times of famine, but the lives of probably many other hundreds of thousands as well. So that Joseph was able to say to his brothers, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” Genesis 50:20 (NKJV). – For a more, full version of the story of Joseph, please also read my previous article “The Life of Joseph”.

When we sow to please the Spirit (Galatians 6:8) we help to meet the needs of others as well. By faith we sow of our time, we sow of our finances and we sow of His word. We continue to sow in fasting and prayer and in supplication before the Lord. We sow in praise and in worship and in service to God and to others, and we sow by continuing to read and speak out His word. All of these things are sowing into an eternal Kingdom that will not fade. Jesus said, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” Matthew 6:20 (NKJV).

The Apostle Paul also reminds us, that if we keep on doing these things and do not lose heart, in due time we will reap a harvest. “Let us not become weary in doing good, or at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” Galatians 6:9&10 (NIV).

Let Your Gentleness be Evident to All

There is undoubtedly a harvest of faith and righteousness being reaped in the heart of many nations right now. Even in the midst of great turmoil, God is continually raising up an increasing measure of a standard of faith! 

God promises, if we do not give up, we will reap a harvest!

The Apostle Paul instructs us, “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near” Philippians 4:5 (NIV).

Can I encourage you today, to be one who is faithful, no matter what the circumstances may be around you, and to not lose heart? Continue to do those things that you did at the first. Be faithful in giving. Give of your finances, give of yourself and give of His word. Be faithful in prayer, faithful in encouraging others, faithful in brotherly kindness, faithful in continuing to love and serve the ‘unlovely’, faithful in worship and in reading His word. Keep allowing God to minister times of healing and refreshing into your own hearts and lives, so that in due time you can minister hope and healing into the lives of many others as well.

Again, the prophet Isaiah foretold, that after the Holy Spirit had been poured out from on high, and the wilderness had become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field counted as a forest, that both blessing and peace would reside. “Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places, though hail comes down on the forest, and the city is brought low in humiliation. Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, who send out freely the feet of the ox and the donkey” Isaiah 32:16-20 (NKJV).

Here is a final word of encouragement from the Apostle Peter for those who continue to shepherd and to meet the needs of His Church.

“To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed. Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders (The word ‘elder’ here when used as a noun, is also translated ‘a senior’ – See Strongs concordance). All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, Who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen” 1 Peter 5:1-11 (NIV).