Sunday Sermon: Lesson of Sowing and Reaping, January 31, 2021
Sunday Sermon at Grateful Church (UPCI) in Phoenix
Lesson of Sowing and Reaping
The primary lesson of the law of sowing and reaping is that success requires: (a) Good planning that drives and directs our actions or behaviors in line with God’s purpose, and (b) Prayers for God to establish our plans according to His purpose for our lives. God promises to grant our plans when they align with His purpose for us. While prayers will not compensate for the lack of planning or bad planning, neither will good planning compensate for the lack of prayers to seek God’s guidance. We need both to prosper in our endeavors. We sow in planning, water the plans with prayers, and reap the results in the harvest. Reading from the text,
Luke 16:19-23
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died and was buried.
23 And in hell he lifts up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Planning is to sow, developing strategies to achieve an end or our objectives. There are good and bad ways to plan.
Bad Planning is to rely on our strategies without seeking guidance from God. A plan that is not driven by God’s purpose is a bad and empty plan or imagination. The rich man was a shrewd businessman, but the lack of prayer life affected his end. It is a huge loss if we gain the word and lose our life in return; life is much more than worldly success.
Rom 1:21, 22, & 25
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Good Planning is to commit our plan to God in prayers. This approach recognizes that God created us for purposes unbeknown to us, ready to be revealed to us if we seek for them. God has the plans or blueprints to guide how we build our values, behaviors, or success in life.
Prov 3:5-10
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord and depart from evil.
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9 Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase:
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
Jesus Model. He was intentional in His planning to (a) Sow the word, (b) pray for God’s purpose to be done, and (c) reap a great harvest in transforming lives.
Luke 6:17-19
17 And he came down with them and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases.
18 And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.
19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him and healed them all.
Ps 107:20
20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Like Jesus, we should be intentional in our faith when we plan and pray for God’s will. His word is transformative and powerful to heal all health conditions and change lives for good - Rom 1:16.
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