Sow What?!

Thomas Hanks

A.C.T.S • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

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Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman is the television series about an early frontier doctor (played by Jane Seymour) and her devotion to medicine, her patients, her family, and her friends. In one particular episode, Dr. Quinn's best friend, Dorothy, has breast cancer. She doesn't know how bad it is and is worried she may not have long to live. As she walks somberly among the townspeople, who are enjoying a picnic in a large clearing, a 10-year-old boy named Brian runs up to her. "Hey, Miss Dorothy, look what I found."

"Acorns."

"Sully says if I plant one, it'll grow to be as big as that oak."

"None of us will live to see it get that big, Brian," says Miss Dorothy. "That oak is a hundred years old."

"Oh," Brian replies. Dejected, he puts the acorns in his pocket and walks back to his family, who are seated on a blanket. He tells his mother, Dr. Quinn, "Miss Dorothy says there's no use in planting it. She says none of us will get to see it grow that big."

Dr. Quinn takes an acorn from him and says, "Brian, you must plant it, because by next year it will have grown up to your knees. The year after that, it will be taller than you. When it's time to go courting, you can take your young lady for a picnic under it. Then, when you have children, they could build a tree-house in it. And some day you can tell your grandchildren about how you planted it. When that tree gets to be a hundred, it doesn't matter that you're not here to see it." She places the acorn back in his hand. "All that matters is today. Today, you hold a hundred years in your hand."

He looks at the acorn thoughtfully, then asks Sully to help him find a place to plant it.

Of course, this is just a small story from a mid 90’s tv show… but this morning, I want us to focus on the importance of what we are planting in life.

You see, just like this acorn that has the potential to turn into a massive oak tree, every day our actions, in their own rights are like that of the acorn, that although we might not see it grow day-to-day, although we might not even see it’s long-term impact, every decision that we make in life is so critical. Everything we sow, whether in our actions or in our words, will automatly grow into something. The question is… what are you sowing?

You see, many of you this morning are farmers or have family or friends that serve in this industry, in fact 1 out of 7 Ohioans work in some for of agriculture… and while you may be able to teach me how to operate a combine or a plow, together this morning, we’re going to as a church, look at the principles of planting and specifically of seeds.

And so for today and next week, we’re going to look at farming principles, or gardening principles as we consider roots, planting, the fruit that we’re growing, and weeds that get in the way of life.

So with this in mind, If you have your bibles with you this morning, turn with me to the book of Hebrews 12. And our message this morning is entitled Sow What?... Reaping what you sow. As your turning to Hebrews 12, there are 3 sermon principles we’ll dig up together as we look at things that we plant. I want us to see that a Godly life is 1. Sown (or planted) in discipline. 2. Sown in Holiness. 3. Sown (ultimately) in Christ. \

1. A Godly life is Sown in discipline

As your turning to Hebrews 12 this morning, I want to briefly unpack the book of Hebrews and the occasion for why it was written.

A couple things to know. To start, Hebrews is a book in the bible that we don’t specifically know who wrote the human author is. Some have clamed Paul, others Appolos or Peter, but non one conclusively knows. But ultimately, it’s fitting that we don’t know who the exact author is, because the primary purpose for the book of is to Exalt Christ, and furthermore, we do recognize that all Scripture is God-breathed and so the fact that we don’t know the exact author is not a problem, because ultimatly the author is God.

But the recipients of this book are primarily a Jewish people in the early church who are part of a relatively small congregation. And much of the book talks about that the superiority of Christ. That Christ is better than anything. And ultimatly, because of Christ, there is a new covenant.

Now, in Hebrews chapter 12, we get to the point where the Author begins to transition to the point of Holiness and maturing through discipline. Which, at first glance, discipline doesn’t sound like anything fun or appealing, and yet, we see that this is what’s best.

Hebrews 12: 1-13 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

So, if we stop for a second, we see ultimately that Christ is our example,that we are to consider him, and keep our eyes on him. Interestly enough, the scripture says that he endured opposition from Sinners, and then in verse 4, it includes us as part of this group of those who sin. It Continues:

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. (listen to this key verse)

11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

So if we stop for a second, I want us to consider the fact that discipline, is not pleasant. It’s not something feels good. In fact, growing up I’m sure many of us have stories that we can look back on where we acted up, and we were spanked or disciplined because of our poor choices.

In fact, I remember being right around Carter’s age, and I was still in pull ups at the time… but I remember I had done something that I was supposed to do, in all likelihood I was fighting with my older sister. And my dad came home one day, and spanked me… Now to this day, he probably didn’t know that I decided to put one of those little pull ups on to cover my rear end… because Guys… getting spanked hurts! Right?! I mean no one this morning would say looking back at life that spanking was one of the highlights of early years, no one enjoys spanking or discipline, and yet… this is the very thing that God has designed for us.

The question then becomes, why does God discipline His Children? If God is so good, why would he allow things to happen to us that feel so bad? And certainly for the early church, this letter was written them, to show them ultimately, it may not feel good at the time, but it’s ultimately what’s best.

John MacArthur puts it this way regarding discipline. He states: “When we discipline our children, even for something serious, we do not put them out of the family. No, We discipline them to correct their behavior, not to disown them.”

You see ultimately discipline is used by God for our own good. Discipline 1. CORRECT our behavior, 2. PROTECTS us from repeating the same sin and facing the consequences, 3. TEACHE us boundaries, and 4. causes us to draw closer to God. (ALWAYS OUT OF LOVE)

You see I think of my daughter Jordyn this morning . Who’s facing the terrible 2’s as we call them (can anyone relate with that age?) The funny part of this age is she’s testing me, as her father, to see what her boundaries are (what she can, and can’t get away with…) but as she crosses the boundaries, and disobeys her mom and I, even though she gets spanked… in her emotional state, in her sadness and in her pain, this somehow, causes her to come seeking comfort. It’s almost at the end of her emotional exhaustion, at the end of herself, she comes seeking her father.

Friends, many of us can relate with that this morning. Many can relate with times where we have been disciplined, and although it didn’t feel good at the time… it was ultimately for our good.

You see, if we look back to Hebrews 12:11, it says: No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

You see, when we talk about planting seeds, the fruit isn’t evident right away… but ultimately, the fruit comes… the vegetables grow. Your struggle this morning with sin, perhaps that you’ve been disciplined for, or perhaps your struggle in righteousness, where you haven’t done anything wrong… but yet your enduring hardship for the sake of Christ, it’s ultimately leading to harvest. Although there’s pain now, the ultimate result is righteousness and peace.

2. A Godly life is Sown in Holiness

We continue reading in the text this morning. Hebrews 12:14-17 says: 14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.

I want to camp out on a couple thoughts for a brief moment. First, we see that the scripture tells us that we… on ourend… are to make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy.

Now you can’t control how other people treat you, some people in this world are just difficult (AMEN?) , and as we know, so many are not saved, they don’t know Christ… and so they don’t act like Christians, but should we expect them to?

But regardless of how others treat us, our job is to 1. make every effort to live in peace with everyone, and… 2. To be holy.

In the text, the word peace is the greek word eirēnē which means: 1. peace between individuals and 2. exemption from the rage and havoc of war.

So here’s the question, what sort of seeds are we planting in our interaction with others?

I knew a pastor once, who you don’t know and I won’t mention him by name… but I was out to lunch with him after service one day, and he had a number of bridges with other people, that quite frankly he had burnt… The bible talks about having a good reputation with outsiders, and I I will say, that he didn’t exactly have such a reputation…

But anyway, during this lunch, there was a table full of people that at one time attended the church he pastored, and the truth is, in these moments, he completely avoided this group… there was an awkwardness there, there was tension…

Here’s the point, his actions, had repercussions. Yes, Jesus love him, and yes he’s still even the pastor, but there was no peace between him and those seated at the other table.

Friends, we can’t control how others act, but we must be mindful of how we treat others.

James 3:1-18 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

You see, here’s the point this morning friends… what you say, and what you do, is planting seeds…

Even myself, guys, you know that I’m not perfect, my wife will tell you that… But we must be mindful, that what we say, it’s just like a seed going in the ground, and everything we do, it’s the same way… it’s a seed… we’re walking along, we say something… we’re planting a seed. We continue through our day, we say something, we’re planting a seed…

You see, the bible is very clear… we’re told: “7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 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. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Friends, it’s the idea this morning that you make the bed you lay in. The person you are today, is the reflection of the decisions you made yesterday, and the person you are tomorrow, is a reflection of what you do today… Friend… what types of seeds are you planting?

The bible says: 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

You see, the problem is, when we have a bitter root. We have a bitter fruit… and the word bitter here by the way is closely tied to the idea of poison and so here’s point… if we’re not careful, when things happen in life, when we don’t go our way, or when we get upset, if we’re not careful, a bitter root will spout up that ultiamtly the fruit that it produces toxic effect,not only for ourselves, which ultimatly replaces our own peace, but also, for everyone around us…

Finally, we read in verse 16: 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.

Friends, here’s the point like Esau who sold his birthright, his actions had already taken place… he couldn’t undo what was done, the bible says he could not change what he had done, friends… Good or bad, you can’t undo what you’ve done…

The question is are we pursuing holiness? Are we planting seeds of life, or seeds of death? Are we tending to our garden so to speak, and are we loving others to Jesus?

3. A Godly life is Sown in Christ (inseparable.)

Our final point this morning that we’ll touch base on and then enter into communion is that A Godly life is sown In Christ.

In Colossians 2:6-7 Paul writes: 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

You see, for a moment, I would like us to stop and consider, that although life is difficult… and that sin is a reality, that we must not forget that the Lord is causing all things to work out for our good and his glory. That ultimately, to live is Christ and to die is gain and therefore, anything that we do, Is not separate from Christ… instead it is christ living through us.

You see, there is freedom in that reality this morning. That although we sin, that although we get it wrong, that although we don’t always say what we should or that we sometimes “plant” weeds or sow bad seeds, that ultimatly, we have grace.

You see friends, Hebrews 12:18-24 continues and states: 18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”[c] 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”[d]

22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Friends I’m encouraged this morning, because of Jesus. I’m encouraged because of the new covenant… because of the blood that was shed for our sins.

You see ultimately, sin has always been a reality and yet, what has been sown ultimately has yet to be fully realized. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

I’m going to call the elders back forward at this time as we prepare for a time of communion together. You see ultimatly, I’m encouraged that we are new in Christ. Ultimatly, despite the things that we sow that aren’t right, that God gives us grace upon grace. That God is forgiving, and loving and merciful this morning.

Still the question remains, am I living for Christ this day? In my relationship with others, does the love of Jesus come out?

And so here’s what we’re going to do, in the next couple of moments. The elements will come by, and we will take communion together. And if you’ve accepted Jesus as the Lord and savior of your life, be encouraged to take the elements as they come by…

But in these moments before hand. Let us prepare our hearts for what God wants to say…

For as 1 Cor 11:27-29 says: 27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.

So im going to pray, and as the elements come by… take a moment, right where you are and spend time with the father.

Pray

1 Cor 11:23-24 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

Pray

1 Cor 11: 25-26

25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grap how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. Eph 3:17-19

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