Sowing to the Spirit

For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:8) Pauls statement to the Galatians is typical in the way that his direct approach to teaching truth is either yes or no in Christ. In the noted verse one can either sow (to themselves) in from either a carnal or spiritual way. To sow (speirn) is used 11 times in the New Testament of which we see references to predominantly the parable of the sower and that he that sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly. The initiative in all cases is on the believer on two counts on either choosing where they will sow (spirit or flesh) and how much they intend on sowing (much or sparingly). One must then ask the question how do I sow into the Spirit and is it my personal Spirit or is it the Spiritual world that I bring with me as a representative of Christ and a vessel of the Holy Spirit? I believe the answer is both. How do I then start to sow into the Spirit? To sow into the Spirit the context of Galatians 6 gives us some keys. 1. Benevolent acts of the reflect Gods goodness is sowing to the Spirit (let us not be weary in well doing) Gal 6:9 (let us do good to all men) Gal 6:10. When we act out of Gods goodness and bless others that curse us. Believe the best in others instead of the worst and do good to all men especially those of the household of faith we are sowing to ourselves in the Spirit and are sure to reap a sure reward. Blessed is the one who simply hands over a cup of water how much those who lay down their lives for the brethren. Great courage is seen in the acts of goodness that come from a spiritual motive that wants to do good to the one who is less fortunate than ourselves. The good Samaritan is our parable of significance to sow to the Spirit in loving others and so fulfil all that Christ would ask of us. 2. Speaking the Word of God into situations is sowing to the Spirit. The word sperion is used in Mark 4:14 The sower sows the word It is apparent here that when we speak Gods word we sow it into what we speak it into. Giving voice and speaking life and breakthrough into situations that seem impossible are ways to sow to the Spirit. You are in effect speaking from your own spirit via the power of the Holy Spirit to create and turn around people and circumstances. Speaking into peoples lives, over your own familys lives and into situations and scenarios are sowing to the spirit. Little wonder James states that you have not (not yet reaped) because you have not yet spoken into the situation ( ). 3. Choosing the Spirit over the Flesh is sowing to the Spirit. Paul continues in Galatians 6 and speaks of those who want to make a fair show in the flesh (Gal 6:12) As those who live crucified to the flesh and this world we must choose to sow to the Spirit in areas of practical everyday choice. The soul being the a moral mechanism that acts as our decider being most popularly noted by authors as being the center of mans (mind, will and intellect) must strengthen his soul by making Spiritual decisions and not one made by the carnal mind that satiate the flesh. (Galatians 6:1) The Apostle desires that the Galatians make decisions as spiritual governed and driven people who were to not only live in the Spirit but to also walk in the Spirit. Surely to sow to ourselves in the Spirit we must make the right (spiritual)

choices in our daily lives to choose right over wrong, Christ over the World and others over self. This kind of selfless behaviour is one of sowing to the Spirit and will return for us life everlasting. 4. If you have sown to the Spirit you will see fruit from your endeavours Previous to Pauls encouragement to live, walk and sow to the Spirit he lists the fruits of the Spirit. One who has successfully sown something can expect some kind of fruit. Right? He lists them as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control. If you have these fruits it is because you have deliberately sown the word of God into your life. Fruits are not a means but an end product so to analyse each of the fruits we must look at the means (sowing end of the process) When we make Spirit Led decisions and initiate the appropriate actions we reap the fruit of being self controlled. It is in the process of longsuffering that we indeed are sowing to ourselves in the Spirit. Showing gentleness when a reaction would have felt better is another example of sowing to the Spirit. Conclusion Let us endeavour to do all we can to each day sow to ourselves in bountiful measure the things of the Spirit. Speaking the Word of God in and out of season, doing good to all and making the spiritual choices in the pressure times. Doesnt this typify the life of Christ who came as the living word of God doing good to all men and honouring the Spirits will in his life over the temptations of the flesh. What a wonderful Saviour we have as example and inspiration for us to sow to ourselves in the Spirit. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts (Romans 13:14). Wayne Harrison