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What You Sow, Will Grow
Author : Ann Doupont
In the mid-1980s, I was a member of a Word church for four years. While there, I learned about the principle of sowing and reaping, based on Galatians 6:7.
Although the emphasis was on sowing financially in order to then reap finances, and on the importance of our words, I began to understand other things about this principle (of reaping what we have sown). One of the things that was suggested by the pastor was that “some of you need to pray for crop failure” to some of the words we’d spoken.
Based on that newfound understanding, I did as what had been instructed. I prayed for “crop failure” to every negative word I’d ever spoken. When I did that the first time, I experienced incredible peace. That one prayer made a huge difference in my life.
I thought about what I really wanted out of life. I wanted to be loved and respected. I wanted acceptance. In understanding the principle of sowing and reaping, I realized that these were then things I needed to sow into the lives of others. I began to look for ways to show my love and respect and acceptance, and in time it began to return to me in what could only be described as waves.
There were times when God’s love so flooded me that I could not even get up from my bed. It’s like I was pinned there by the Holy Spirit and all I could do was to lie there and let Him minister to me. I found it rather humorous at times when I understood that I couldn’t get up, even though I kept trying. It was like I told God that I had to get to the mid-week service (as if He didn’t already know my thoughts), but I couldn’t. I couldn’t move. He had arrested my attention and my entire life.
Another time I found it funny was when I was reading the Bible. I was trying to get through a certain portion of Scripture, but the Holy Spirit wanted my attention. I almost wanted to argue with Him. After all, I was trying to read the Bible so that I could get to know Him better, but He wanted me to stop and listen to what He had to say to me at that time.
On another occasion, I told the Lord that I hadn’t read the Bible yet that day, but that a certain preacher was coming on television at 10 a.m., and I could read it after the program. He said that I could watch the television preacher or that He could teach me directly, that I had a choice in the matter. I chose to allow the Holy Spirit to teach me, not turning on that Bible teacher that day and even removing my television set from my home for about 15 years.
In verse 8 of Galatians 6, we find that “he that soweth to the flesh shall reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Someone once said that whichever of the two you feed is the one that will grow. If we feed our flesh, then it’s what will grow. If instead we feed our spirits, it will grow.
There were teachings that were prevalent in the 1980s about learning how to be led by the Holy Spirit, about understanding the inner promptings. I heard them. I learned through them. I did what I was taught to do.
Another teaching I heard was about disciples. Disciples sit on the edge of their chairs, waiting for an instruction to carry out. I’ve been doing that since I first heard that teaching as well. I have no time to waste. None.
There’s a world of lost sinners to be saved. One of the doctrines that perturbs me perhaps more than any other is when I hear that we’re just sinners saved by grace. No way. We were sinners. Then, we were saved by grace, and we’re therefore sinners no more. If I think of myself as a sinner, and say that I am, I become powerless to reach others. If I believe that I’m still a sinner, after I came to believe that Christ Jesus died to save me from my sins, I’m still unsaved. We can’t be both. We’re either sinners, or we’re saved from our sins (and no longer continuing in them).
Is it really possible to be freed from our sins? Isn’t that why Jesus died and was then resurrected from the grave, to provide redemption for us from our sins? We’re called to be overcomers. Jesus lives on the inside of us. As we all learn how to yield to Him, to His Spirit within our hearts, and to follow the inner promptings of His Spirit within us, we will be transformed by his mighty hand.
Knowing that we’re not our own, but that we fully belong to Jesus, and yielding to Him throughout our lives, we will grow. We will learn how to forget the things behind, letting them go, and reach forth toward the things He has for us to do. As we have become new creatures in Christ, old things are passed away and all things are become new. And all things are of God (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).
We will know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren. (See 1 John 3:14.)
As we are willing to allow Him, and His Word, to have free course in our lives, we will be sanctified, set apart, made fit for the Master’s use. We will then be protected from wicked and unreasonable men, for not all men have faith (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2).
Remember that whatever you sow, will grow. It might not happen in the next 10 minutes, or even in the next 10 years. However, it will happen as it’s a spiritual principle that cannot change. God said it and it shall happen. If you’re not happy with your life today, consider what you’re sowing and then amend whatever needs to be amended.
The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil. (Proverbs 19:23.)
Ann Doupont
Author, Intercessor, and Motivational Speaker
www.anndoupont.org
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Ann Doupont is an author, intercessor, and motivational speaker. She will go wherever and whenever she knows that God has opened the door for her. She can be reached by writing to her at adoupont@gmail.com.
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