you’ll reap what you sow

Luke 6:38. Give, and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom (pocket). For with the same measure that ye mete (use) withal it shall be measured to you again.

Awright friends, it’s the first day of the week; the best day of the week; the most restful and peaceful day of the week; the day when we choose to gather most in praise and fellowship to Almighty God! And if you haven’t figured out what day it is as yet, well it’s Sunday! Glory Be! The Lord’s Day; the Sabbath; the day the Lord rested…after a week of hard labour. (smile) And that’s what He requires of us; a day of rest, where we spend most of our time and energy concentrating on Him. And today is that day!

So let’s open the proceedings as always with a song of praise, that old hymn, ‘Rise up O men of God,’ written by William Pierson Merrill in the early 20^th century. But have you ever noticed that the old hymns sound more powerful and sacred than the newer ones? Perhaps because they were written in a time when we were holier and more righteous, had more time for God; more reverence, more respect, and we weren’t trying to remove Him from our society.

Anyway, let’s burst out in song, in sacrificial praise, sing these words like we truly mean them, because Christ’s church badly needs to rise up in these amoral and sinful times. Let’s raise the roof with harmonious voices: ‘Rise up, O men of God! Have done with lesser things. Give heart and mind and soul and strength to serve the King of kings.

Rise up, O men of God! The kingdom tarries long. Bring in the day of brotherhood and end the night of wrong. Rise up, O men of God! The church for you doth wait, her strength unequal to her task; rise up, and make her great! Lift high the cross of Christ! Tread where his feet have trod. As brothers of the Son of Man, rise up, O men of God!’

Ah mih people, I don’t know if there has been any other time in the church’s history that it’s members have needed to rise up and show the true colours of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ more than now nuh! The church is filled with too many divisions, too many religions which also have too many denominations and/or sects, too many bad leaders, false prophets and con-men, and everybody is teaching their own brand or slant, or scam of Christ’s supposed message. And the evil ones are just laughing their heads off as they divide and conquer us.

Oh my fellow believers, until Christians come together and get rid of the distrust and petty discord that separates us, until we truly ‘Lift high the cross of Christ,’ and ‘Tread where He has trod,’ we will never retake the world for Christ. But that’s a sermon for another day. (smile)

Today’s sermon is based on the God-like attitude of GIVING as described in our Bit. ‘Give, and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom (pocket). For with the same measure that ye mete (use) withal it shall be measured to you again.’

And before we try to dissect Jesus’ words, let’s look at how the Lord gave to us nuh. First it was the breath of life, then LOVE, the sinless life of his Son Jesus Christ, while we were yet sinners, mercy, grace, salvation, eternal life etc. etc. All those things that we did not and could never deserve, the Lord gave to us out of the generosity of His wonderful heart. Wow!

So I don’t see how in all reason, common sense, devotion and LOVE for Him we can afford to be selfish, ungrateful, unkind, greedy and not wanting to give with a generous heart; one supposedly made in the image of His heart. And it’s not rocket science friends. All Jesus is saying, is that the same way you give, it will be given back to you. As you sow, so shall you reap. If you give out of a generous heart, you will be rewarded with generosity. Out of a grudging and greedy heart, you’ll receive grudgingly.

And one of the best illustrations of this in the Good book is Bruh Paul’s exhortation to the Corinthians, re God LOVES a cheerful giver. Read with me: ‘Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before (on ahead) unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty (beautiful gift), whereof ye had notice (promised) before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty (generosity), and not as of covetousness (grudging obligation).

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully (generously) shall also reap bountifully (generously). Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity (compulsion): for God LOVETH a cheerful (joyful) giver.’ (2 Cor.9:5-8)

It couldn’t get any clearer than that my brethren! Remember, it’s all based on attitude and motive; ‘a willing heart and a sincere desire to participate in the offering.’ Your giving must not be done because of what you think you’ll receive in return, or you are compelled to give.

And please note, as the scholars point out, Bruh Paul is not advocating “prosperity theology,” that is, that every generous believer will be financially wealthy.’ If you read the rest of the chapter you’ll see that it only promises that you will prosper by all your needs being met financially, so that you can keep on giving (vs.8), and spiritually, that you’ll increase in everything (vs.12)

Anyway friends, let’s just remember that the Lord looks at the state of our hearts and not just our talk or outward actions before He makes any decision pertaining to us. So let’s try and clean up our hearts nuh. That’s wisdom for the ages! Much LOVE!

…a truly generous heart…begets true generosity in return…Christianity 101…

Isaiah 9:16. For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.

Ah Friends, it was a shock; physical, emotional and mental shock, at having to get dressed in several layers of clothing last evening to go out in the minus 12 Celsius temperature, get in a cold car and drive around salt encrusted streets bordered by high snow banks, with my windows tightly closed to keep out the bone-chilling cold.

And just consider that some 24 or 30 hours before, I was running around half-naked, in the bright and hot sunshine, getting into cars that were steaming hot, hurrying to open the windows to let some cool air in. Hn! No wonder I was in a state of shock! (smile)

But that’s the reality of life, and we just have to hope and pray in faith that the Lord will enable us to bear anything that comes against us, as He has so faithfully promised. And that doesn’t pertain to just the weather, but to all walks and aspects of our earthly lives. Yes my people, we have to be very careful and cognisant of all that’s happening around us these days, for life’s not as innocent and carefree as it used to be.

As our Bit so wisely draws to our attention: ‘ For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.’ And many of us will recognize that as indisputable truth in these rough, evil and trying times.

Ah mih people, our leaders are failing us terribly; catering to the rich and powerful, as well as lining their own pockets, while oppressing the poor and needy, and above all, taking God out of our societies. That’s why our world is so fragile and in so much turmoil.

But as Isaiah continues after our Bit: ‘Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is a hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly (foolishness). For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still (in judgement).’ (Is.9:17)

Yeh Friends, the Lord’s wrath is still in place, still stretched out to punish us. And it will remain there until we repent of our evil ways and turn back to truly serving and worshipping Him.

As the scholars say of that last verse. ‘The leaders are specifically condemned for misleading the people. Isaiah’s words here are reminiscent of his message in chapter 3.

And this is what he says there, re the judgement of Judah. ‘For Jerusalem is ruined (has stumbled), and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of (rebel against) his glory. The show of their countenance (look on their faces) doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded (brought) evil unto themselves.’ (Is.3:8-9)

Oh Friends, doesn’t that sound just like our current society? It surely does!

But Isaiah continues to give the Lord’s message. ‘Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given (done to him).’ (Is.3:11-12)

Oh my fellow believers, per God’s faithful promise, the righteous will be saved, but the wicked shall receive their just reward of destruction, for our God is a God of absolute and perfect justice!

And we’ll end with the verse following those above. ‘As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err (lead thee astray), and destroy the way of thy paths.’ (Is.3:12) And those words are living truth my brethren!

For as the scholars explain it: ‘Children are their oppressors, and women rule over them indicates the utter failure of male leadership in their society.’

Oh Friends, the failure of male run societies has been an ongoing tragedy from the beginning of time, and ours today is certainly no different! But as serious believers in Jesus Christ, we have to stand steadfast and strong and try to improve the wrong that’s constantly and cruelly being done. That’s the task Jesus allotted to His followers.

It’s not easy, but if we persist and persevere, and resist the advances of the evildoers around us, while standing steadfastly on God’s promises to always help us and never leave or forsake us, we will be able to successfully battle the disgraceful leaders of today. That includes voting in all elections, and even more importantly, putting righteous people in office.

But my brethren, in order to do all that, we also have to be unified under the banner of Christ’s church. For until we begin coming together, instead of drifting further apart, nothing much will change for the better, but just get worse. I guess to a certain extent our problem is fear of human repercussions. But which do you think is worse, or which do you fear most; the wrath of man, or the wrath of God?

I’ll leave us to ponder that question. And when you’ve come to a conclusion, please act seriously on it. And a good guide is to remember that from day one, the Lord has built His universe on the irrefutable and wise principle of whatever you sow, that’s exactly what you will reap. So please be careful of the seeds you sow, for they will either come back to harm or help you. Much LOVE!

…you can’t sow corn and reap peas…or sow destruction and reap prosperity…neither war and reap peace…or hate and harvest LOVE…

SCRIP-BITS

Today’s Scrip-Bit 29 October 2017 Luke 6:38.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 8 February 2014 Isaiah 9:16

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