You Can Reap A Great Harvest By Never Giving Up

The King's Church International Audio Podcast

You can experience many blessings in your life. But to reap the best results you must be careful to sow the right seeds with your words and actions.

Just as with William Wilberforce who had sowed so many good seeds, it was only by persevering that he was able to finally come to a great moment of reaping. (See the story of William Wilberforce from the podcast/online programme).

In Galatians 6:9, the apostle Paul emphasises that persevering is one of the great secrets of reaping. You must never ever give up, no matter how hard or discouraging are the trials you face, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

1. The Certainty of Reaping (Galatians 6:7-8; Galatians 5:19-21; Romans 8:6; 2 Corinthians 6:9-11)

2. The Timing of Reaping (Galatians 6:9; Ecclesiastes 3:1; James 5:7-8; Romans 4:18-21)

3. The Terms and Conditions of Reaping (Galatians 6:9-10; Hebrews 10:35-36 and 12:1-3)

Apply

1. The Certainty of Reaping. The Bible teaches that whatever we sow in life we will reap (Galatians 6:7-8). The apostle Paul is making the point that that for every action there will be a consequence. What you sow, you will reap. This principle applies in every area of our lives. You cannot live without consequences. Just as a farmer knows that if they sow potatoes, they’ll reap potatoes, as verse 8 says: Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction (Galatians 5:19-21). If you have hatred, anger, jealousy, selfishness, sexual impurity in your life, you will suffer the consequences. That is not just about judgement from God, it’s a law of life. How many marriages have been destroyed because of a spouse wanting to please their flesh through adultery. How many homes broken through a parent wanting to take the easy way out and walk away? If you don’t want to see bad results in your life, then stop now living the wrong way and sowing bad seeds. But if you are sowing to please God then you should be very encouraged, for this verse also says that whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. And you will also reap many good blessings in this life (Romans 8:6). When you live in close fellowship with the Holy Spirit you will enjoy life and have great peace of mind. When we give generously, we will reap generously (2 Corinthians 6:9-11). When you have faithfully shared your faith and prayed with tears you can be sure that you will reap joy (Psalm 126:5-6). Many have sown so much good seed in so many ways over so many years. Now you must expect to reap many blessings, in your finances, in your family, in your ministry, in this church. This is a time of reaping. This verse is very clear: we will reap a harvest.

2. The Timing of Reaping (Galatians 6:9). We want everything in our time. But there is a time for harvest. There is a moment to receive your blessings (Ecclesiastes 3:1; James 5:7-8). Patience is one of the great keys to perseverance. To reap you must accept God’s timing and give up your impatience. In the Old Testament Abraham demonstrates what it means to persevere (Romans 4:18-21). No matter how negative the circumstances looked, Abraham was patiently waiting for God’s time to fulfil His word. And we must always do the same.

3. The Terms and Conditions of Reaping (Galatians 6:9-10). Our blessings will come in the right moment, but we must not miss out by getting tired and giving up. To reap you must never give up (Hebrews 10:35-36; Hebrews 12:1-3). We too need to follow the example of Jesus. He went through far more than we will ever be called to endure. He never lost heart. He focused on the joy of blessings to come. We also must throw off everything that would stop us reaping all that God has for us. Throw off discouragement, self-pity, worry and weariness. Don’t give up after all you have sown. Don’t give up because you are struggling right now. Don’t give up when so many blessings are coming your way. As Thomas Edison, inventor of the light bulb said, ‘Many of life's failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up.’ The apostle Paul, a man who himself went through so many troubles, encourages with these verses to not focus just on what you are going through, but help others with all they are facing, starting with your own Christian brothers and sisters. This is how you will make it through every challenge. Just keep going then. Never, ever give up. For you who have sown much good seed are going to reap much good fruit. Your harvest is coming. And this church’s harvest is coming. Get ready for a lot of reaping.