The Five Laws of Sowing and Reaping, Part 2

Today on Summit life with Jeannie Greer is on for you to start showing different seeds or you can reap different harvest 41.5 years, and I will see your kids what he wants in your heart and your marriage what you want to see what the body of God is giving you whatever you want to see tomorrow.

You gotta start doing it today.

I'm your host Molly made a batch okay any monopoly fans out there. One of the most valuable cards when you're playing Monopoly as they get out of jail free card mean who wants to set for turn after turn, desperately trying to roll doubles to get out can amass wealth usually while sitting in the corner jail cell right well it's Christians. We know that the blood of Jesus has completely washed away all of our sense, but sometimes when we hear that we might start thinking of God's grace, kind of like that get out of jail free card like there's no real consequence because Christ died for all that stuff right but today Pastor Jenny reminds us that forgiveness percent doesn't mean that we won't face consequences for our actions here on earth he titled his message.

The five laws of selling and reaping. It is the conclusion of our study in Galatians called freedom in the in between.

Let's return to Galatians 1 last time he was castigating boys and sex will be in verse seven looks like a look. Don't be deceived. Also, as God is not mocked, for whatever me a person shows that he will also reap. Because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh water search of the Spirit will reap eternal life. From the spirit. Let us therefore not grow tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time.

If we don't give up all simply reminded us of something we all know to be true. A principal old wall if you will, that God has built into the very fabric of the universe and that wall is what you so you are going to write this principle is explicitly stated more than 66 times in the Bible will be here in Galatians 6, Paul picks up on that principal and he applies it to our life in the spirit and he says what you sow to the spirit you're gonna reap from the spirit that's true regarding, for example, what you put into your mind and heart, if you so the word of God in your mind and heart the fruit of righteousness will grow in you.

The principle is true regarding what we do with our habits. When you participate in the sand you are sowing into your life.

The appetite for sin that results in a greater craving for that said that's good to be true for lying. Every time you lie gets easier and easier to be dishonest. It's true about pride every time you act on pride, it feels more natural. It's true friendship and act on it and it becomes part of you.

Righteousness also works that way.

The more you act on righteousness, the more it becomes a part of you.

Now, here in Galatians 6 calls you to think about this principle, specifically in regards to money and in our attitude toward money.

The reason I say that as we look at the verses around versus $70 number six is about money and burst him. It's about money.

To this principle in 79, applies to a lot of places in the Christian life.

But Paul was specifically thinking about it. In regards to her attitude toward money. So Paul is is going to introduce to us the law of the harvest and how it applies in our lives what I want to do is using those verses in Galatians 6 and will been second Caribbean going to give you.

I will call the five biblical laws of the harvest right number one. The harvest is limited.

Paul says to the planting, you can only harvest what you plant right.

Some of you think God multiplies what I have. I'll give some to his kingdom and guts, as you put in the wrong order.

It's not going to multiply until you give it to my kingdom loan number two we see that the harvest comes later. The Midlantic this is the hard part of harvesting is that it takes a lot of time to see your efforts pay off.

It takes weeks, months, sometimes even years for us to see the harvest equally as important to the law of later.

His law number three the law of greater the harvest is greater than the planting. If you plant a wheat seed it will turn into a wheat start that will produce hundreds of wheat seed planted corn. It will turn into an oak tree that can produce thousands of acorns.

By the way, was Scripture applies is the money it teaches us of the harvest is greater than the planting at least two different ways. First, the magnitude of what you read is greater than what you so anything about that verse. We look at in Proverbs that if you give God the first and the best of your crops. The middle, multiply, and so your barging overflow and your vats be the will it's repeated and things like him malarkey three to March is the only Italian prophet bring the full ties. Divers always in first fruit means the first of the bed. The first, the best the first 10% of what God gives you.

You get back to him with a ready food in my house and thereby put me to the test. So the Lord of hosts Levi will not open the windows of heaven.

I love this phrase but which thereby put me to the desk to test me. I will draw a line in the sand.

I'm up to you to cross that line. Watch what I do. If you do this, see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need test me and watch what I do. You cannot out give me when you get to God. He just multiplies it, and he pours it back on use of the magnitude of what is. So it is greater, but the kind of fruits are also great regrettably to six per minute our passage.

Here Paul says the one who sows the Spirit will reap eternal life. From the strict eternal life is a gift that is better than money is not talking about just going to heaven. Talk about eternal life in your heart so that spiritual fruits when you sow generosity God uses that to produce spiritual fruit in your heart. Second Caribbean skulls that the harvest of righteousness. God often uses generosity to give us gifts far greater the money is an issue little thought experiment grade 9 women genie in a bottle appears to you and says I will give you a wish to choose between two things.

Troy someone is a $10 million. Choice number two is to give you the ability to be really truly truly happy overflowing with joy with what you already have. You can only choose one of the two which one would you choose to think about. Only a fool would choose the money because the reason we won the money is as we think the monies will make us happy and joyful and satisfied that the only reason you want more money. So if there is a better way to get that in the money why when you choose that way to get to the image you want to use for to get my thinking to them except one is what God says there's a better way to get to that place. This is such an important principle of Scripture one most important passages in the Bible that talks about money. Matthew chapter 6 Jesus said be generous with your money. Here's reason watch this because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I normally think about in reverse. I'm only thinking where your heart is what were you treasure your church. Follow your heart. And that's true. Your where your treasure shows regardless. But it's also true in reverse. Watch that where you place your treasure, your heart will always follow which means one of the ways that you can train your heart to love God and not the world is to give money in a way that transfers your treasure from the world to the kingdom of heaven. CS Lewis always said that wealth has a way of knitting a man's heart to this world and Jesus said there is nothing more dangerous than having a heart that is meant to this world.

First of all, you will always be miserable and unhappy. Second of all, he says listen this thing out. You can't love God and money.

If you love one like the other and so if you love money and you cherish money you're going to find your love for God really begin to down and one of the ways you could actually train your heart to love God is to give away some of the things that train your heart or tie your heart to the world again. Generosity is an invitation for God to use blessing into your finances heard a great example of this Tom man Monahan was the founder, CEO of Domino's Pizza shared that what drove him to succeed in life was a desire to have more than everybody else in the be better than everybody else, but after succeeding after winning the top of the chain. He said that he looked around and realize how miserable he actually was and he said I decided to take a whole new approach is that I doubt that a very simple lifestyle. I set a spending limit while you live is a very simple lifestyle.

He called it a millionaire is very valid poverty cinema set a limit to what I live on and I want to commit to give away everything else of the kingdom of God. He said that latter approach, filled me with so much more joy and meaning and purpose than all the cars on the close of the vacation. I used to lavishly spent all that money on generosity is an invitation for God to infuse happiness and blessing and joy into this area of your finances and so those of you who are wise or thinking about how you can invest the fortune of your life is a seed that is given to you to create a harvest of righteousness and others and in you and your kids is a very wealthy man at our church. You told me that my dog Jenny my goal is on my deathbed to balance my last check I just want to get the BN have given all the way hopefully will right out of the summer church. But when I do for them, but this is Michael's about my last check I want to go out having the best of what I did for his kingdom.

Some of you that you like, well not really a problem for me because I'm bounced checks all the time so not a problem on a bigger question is cardiology like how can I afford to give. When I have so little despair was what I'm telling you is one of the ways of God infuses blessing a multiplication in your finances is free to give them your first in your best is your attitude is well God I'll give to you.

Once you multiply the God says I'm not telling you to give to me because I multiplied it.

I'm not Tony to give to me because you can afford it until you give to me even though you know you can't afford it and watch me multiply. I blog greater log before the harvest is proportional to the planting don't hit theaters in contradiction to the previous one. It means that the proportion of generosity that God shares to you is directly proportionate in this area to the generosity that you showed to him and to others look at this. I know some of you are like you're already forming little theological argument and read. I get them the argument argue the Bible, whoever is kind to the poor is lending to the Lord. The benefit of his gift will return to him an abundance what times you borrow money you get it at an interest rate and you have to make it worthwhile. The person is barred you are you my thoughts as I give a tremendous ROI and things are given to me. I return those things with abundance right or other places on proper three nonattainment. You looked at a bunch already first fruit you give me your first bridge, and will multiply the return on investment I give is better than anything else. I give you one of the biblical example that hopefully that you'll recall Solomon we studied his eyes a few months ago someone's life at this amazing event, and it were God appears to him and says asked me anything, literally anything I give you all the riches in the world.

That's what you want give me any asked me anything. Now what we also know was true about Solomon was in this. We also have the Solomon was himself a man of extraordinaire generosity really know that many examples. One is when Solomon was inaugurated as King.

When Solomon gets inaugurated as King.

The tradition was the law was you had to sacrifice one bull became favorable. His advice and you're not in operation member first Kings eight.

How many Solomon sacrificed a thousand now because he had to, not because God made them do that.

He did it of his own free choice. He was a man of extreme generosity. Is there any coincidence that the only person in the Bible, to whom God said asked me anything and I'll give it to you was himself a man of extreme generosity to the excessively generous God is excessively generous. It's like we often say right here.

You cannot out give God. I'm not trying to create some rich get rich name, a claimant scheme or somehow manipulation.

I'm just saying you understand Scripture you can ask yourself a question. How much do I want God to bless and multiply me.

That is going to be proportional to what I offer God measures are giving, not by how much we put in the measures like giving, but what kind of sacrifice. It represents for us is why Jesus when he watched the people making the offer.

You look at the woman you gave to have finished you might as she gave more than everybody else. That's not because it was more money.

It's just talking about her sacrifice. He was saying.

I can do more with that at the end of the day.

I told me money. I'm not looking for your money. I'm not trying to get you up on my mission. What I choose to work through is a group of people who offer their first in their best of me. That's why we said that that multiply things like that for us are never primarily about meeting the financial goal is our God does not have financial need primarily. Our goal is that 100% of you call this church home be involved. Given your first in your best because even if we had all the money in the world that still what God wants and still what he deserves./Said if if if if Bill Gates is secretly started to attend the downtown Durham campus right and he decides almost right check and take care of all the sum is financial made for the next 20 years. Even if that personal bill for their love ever comes as much or even if that were true with the note. We would still do this because were not trying to meet financial needs of� Impressive Bill Gates because I am governmental good trauma team I could do so might you not doing I get Bill Gates created the Internet God created the universe is not that impressed God.

God wants his people to say here is my first of my best because he there's no telling what God can do with a group of people there like that only jump to the summit in the long number 515 is we can't do anything about this year's harvest pitching change next year's beginning.

What is your sourcing change next year's you read today what you said yesterday, you can't change to listen all you can change what you are sleeping today. Even if you pray about it. Even if you asked for forgiveness. Some of you right now today are experiencing the bad harvest that comes from an ungenerous life dissatisfaction in your heart. For example, brother says the righteous eats to the satisfying of the soul with a stomach of the selfish will always be hungry.

Some of you are experiencing them in your life no matter how much you get a matter what sour you get to your slight man 10,000 more dollars and I would be set. You just never have a severe experiencing financial difficulties in your marriage. Your wife and not your wife and you, you might look at that your money but yes, a major social problem in your marriage.

What's happening is both of you have a problem with money and both of you are reaping the harvest of unrighteousness that have come from living a life or you put yourself and not the kingdom of God first, you receive a disturbing amount of materialism developing your kids and all your scene is the harvest of unrighteousness, because there take a little bit your materialism and it's growing in them.

Some of you had this feeling that you're wasting your life, your man, for example, you're in your late 50s early 60s and you're looking at your life and I feel like I just haven't done anything that significant. And that's that result of dissatisfaction is coming from just having soda in an ungenerous life never feeling like you have enough maybe are born right now through genuine financial hardship right now may that's all the harvest of unrighteousness and you can't change what your expansion today, but you can change what you can experience tomorrow is the gospel. Listen the gospel that God will forgive your sin, but in this way will want to make everything go away. He can forgive your sin and what he teaches you do is start to sow the seeds of the spirit and sow the seeds of grace in your heart and that brings next year's harvest of righteousness, like the old proverb states the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time to plant trees today. It is time for you to start sowing different seeds or you can reap a different harvest. What you want to write next year we will read five years, and I what you want to see your kids what you want to see in your heart and your marriage what you want to see what the finances God is giving you whatever you want to see tomorrow. You gotta start doing it today which is why this is so pressing for me. Recent study shows that one more than one out of four American evangelicals, which is the God of Christians, a label assess more than 14 American evangelicals gave away zero dollars last year to the kingdom of God. The median annual income 88 meeting annual giving for a Christian evangelical Christian is about $200 a year which is just over half a percent of after-tax income. Christians give less on average. Now than they did in the Great Depression, percentagewise in the Great Depression. Evangelicals gave an average of 3.5% of the kingdom of God today when I do the present time in the Great Depression, giving us 2.4%. That's the average know this is such an indictment on us because her money. Jesus said in validly reveals what we worship you can deceive yourself Jesus, and you can trick yourself as to what you really love. What's most important to you. You can deceive yourself, but the one thing that will never lie Jesus as your wallet, your wallet will always demonstrate what you love most. What you treasure most what you trust most, and what kingdom you are living for its an indictment on us and it's a tragedy because your God's promise to bless us in this we honor him and if we don't to curse. We don't give the daughter first in our best is like robbing him she is not the God is saying give me some of your money. Gotta say, and I give it all you begin with, it's all mine and I'm telling you to demonstrate that you understand that by giving me back the first and the best and when you do that I will still multiply it and give it back to you greater the Davidson want the best examples of this effort is a story attributed out in the great Antonovich would not have a way to verify it, but come out into the great was coming into a city in his empire. There was a beggar sent by the gates. The beggar has hands out and out in her motion was treasure the treasure took out a ladle full of rice grains, but in the man's hand.

The man turned to walk away. Go back to his home feed his family, and I'll get her said son stop got turns around Elgin is a given.

Arise back in service or you give it to me.

It's all that I have the feed my family said and Mel Gibson on the community like you have to obey it, but I'm just telling you I'm going to give Gina begin with, give it back to me so that the that the beggar, look at the Risa looked about him and took two little brains in hand and Alexander Elgin motion was treasure again is treasure took two gold coins, and threw it to the man at which point the man was like you just dries off all of it to it by the point Alexander turnaround moved on.

See the same way. What God does. He gives us everything and he says I want to show that you really trust me by giving me back the first of the best even when you feel like you really can't afford and what you watch how I will multiply that not just in terms of greater provision how multiply with a harvest of righteousness in your hearts.

You see, I believe that God is saying to us as a church summit church. I believe God is saying, you will not believe what I will do in the generation when it is filled with people who give me the first in the past. You just won't believe it.

Give me back what I gave to you and watch me multiply the reason you're not making a bigger impact in your family the reason you're making a bigger impact in your circle of friends.

The reason were not making a bigger impact in the world has not been to do with the generosity and the power of God.

It's because we are not giving our first in our best to God and say God use it here it is. Take it multiply to George use it for your kingdom and by the way, every time I talk like this. I always say this and some of you are sick of hearing it, but I will keep saying it because I mean it. If you feel like me saying all this is just a trick to get money out of your pocket into mine. Then I want you, I implore you to obey this teaching, which is true and obey it by giving it somewhere else because the JEE many were open up they had a bad experience made using is really abuse in Uruguay generally trust that okay you know what I accept that that's fine but I'm telling you that you cannot be a follower Jesus and not be extravagantly generous and do not use this as an excuse for living an ungenerous lifestyle sort that is the one obstacle stated between you and becoming generous. The need to find someone you can trust and give it to them now will say I will say you need to be absurd for you trust what going on.

We would invite you to call me and ask whatever questions you ask him will do whatever you want to look through and we want you to feel good about it.

We want to be a church is very transparent. Gotta be a church. We trust you feel good about it but it just is not that placement and go somewhere where you can feel that good about it and God give the God's kingdom through his instrument of doing his work in the world, which is a local church so I want you to hear that. I mean that I want you to become somebody who obeys this principle of all the harvest that is how God does his work in the world takes what we do not do his institution adjourned you doing it's time to start selling different seats that we can experience a different harvest and with that we've wrapped up our teaching series called freedom in the in between your listening to summit life with pastor Jeannie Greer if you enjoyed this theory and want to share with a friend.

You can find all the messages available free of charge online Jeannie Greer.com well as yesterday was talking about the importance of generosity and giving to God's mission, reminding me to take a minute to remind you that your first investigation always go to your local church but above and beyond the gift we would let if you would partner with us in furthering that same mission by bringing the gospel message to the radio, TV and ran, and as a token of our thanks. We have a brand-new resource to help you decide deeper into Scripture that Jenny, what can we expect to take away from your new study titled believe in the last two years.

This is been the most difficult two years of ministry that I've ever had a time like this a lot when I was supposed to be doing. You know like what what's life supposed to be what success you want want one dollar that mentored me said if you want to be successful in life can look at it from the in backwards and then reverse engineer your life. Our mission in the church ought to be shaped by what Jesus said, success is like to at the summit church we try to do that you would prioritize the gospel above all that's big thing your summer life. I use it literally every time around that everything on the program. The Gospels above everything we do whatever it takes to reach all people because that's the heart of Jesus. We want to make disciples, not converts. That's why when I do try to get people to check a box and move on where we want to dive deep in the gospel and then we send every member goes on to define a church for us. Literally, the summit church. They had you do define a church but it also wanted the finer individual lives and so what we wanted to do three thought well you know it's works so well her church and can increase it is movement here let's let's let's create something that would enable people to live that out on a project basis actually think this will help coming out of the life chaos of the last two years. I think this will help people get a bearing on what they should be doing and then reverse engineering your life and start again member to ask for your copy of our newest resource title when you give us a call 863-3520 8665 24 given request to study the online I'm only inviting you to join us again tomorrow and the kickoff unscented light Greer ministry