Galatians 6:7-8 (NKJV) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
The Apostle Paul contrasts the lifestyles of those who sow in the flesh and those who sow in the Spirit to tell us that it is possible to sow and walk in the Spirit based on the new creation. In fact, this is the way to obtain the promises of being able to act and live differently after we have been saved in order to enjoy the abundant life!
The flesh is the sum of appetites, desires and needs whose purpose is the satisfaction of self. Individualism is the deathbed of every marriage and relationship because of its self-centredness, which causes us to demand our rights, entitlements and privileges and disregard the feelings and opinions of others. Therefore, in order to enjoy the abundant life, we have to renew our mind to walk in the Spirit and sow in the Spirit.
For example, if an insecure person likes to control their spouse, it will trigger a reaction from the spouse who despises being controlled, and if a person with a sharp tongue has nothing good or edifying to say, their words might hurt the person whom they profess to love. The emotional reservoir will soon dry up because there isn’t any input of love. Meanwhile, someone might struggle with jealousy caused by the insecurity or emotional baggage while growing up, and therefore causes a toxic environment in the home or marriage. We find it hard to love because we’ve never been loved, and we hurt others because we don’t want to be hurt! Since we have built a shield around us and hardened our hearts, we are not reaping love from those around us because we’ve been sowing hurtful and condescending words, and we are not prospering in our emotions as Christians.
However, once we have our security and identity established in Jesus Christ, we don’t need to constantly look for affirmation and acceptance from man. Instead, we will begin to live out of our being in Christ, allowing love, grace and mercy to flow out of us and bless our spouse and those around us. Therefore, we need to change and claim these promises that we are a new creation, secure in Jesus Christ, our words can be seasoned with salt, and we can speak blessings, and words of edification and affirmation.
Just like God calls those things that are not as though they are, so you will also say things, see things and address things differently! Once we begin to practise and claim these promises, we will see our marriage, relationships and home environment begin to turn around for good!
Sermon Series: You Are in the Hall of Faith! (Part 4)
收获永生
加拉太书6：7-8（NKJV）不要自欺、 神是轻慢不得的．人种的是甚么、收的也是甚么。 顺着情欲撒种的、必从情欲收败坏．顺着圣灵撒种的、必从圣灵收永生。
使徒保罗通过对比那些在情欲中撒种和在圣灵中撒种的人们的生活方式告诉我们，我们可以在新造的基础上在圣灵中撒种及行走。神给我们的应许是：我们在得救后能够活出不一样的生命，以享受那丰盛的生命。而遵循撒种与收获的律正是得着这应许的方法！
情欲是食欲，欲望和需求的总和，其目的是满足自我。由于个人主义的自我中心性，它是每一个婚姻和关系的卧死之榻，个人主义使我们只主张自己的权益及特权，而无视他人的感觉和想法。因此，为了享受丰盛的生命，我们必须心意更新，好叫我们在圣灵中行走，在圣灵中撒种。
例如，如果一个没有安全感的人喜欢控制自己的配偶，它将引起不喜欢被控制的对方的反应；如果一个说话很刻薄的人说不出什么好话或有教养的话，他们的言语可能会伤到他们自称所爱之人。因为没有任何爱的投入，情感的水库很快会枯竭。同时，某些人在成长过程中可能因不安全感或情感上的包袱而产生嫉妒情绪，从而在日后家庭或婚姻中营造出有毒的环境。我们发现很难去爱别人，因为我们从未被爱过；而我们伤害别人，是因为我们不想受到伤害！自从我们给自己建了保护墙并硬起心肠，我们便无法从周围的人那里收获爱，因为我们一直在播种伤害和蔑视的言语，我们的情绪也无法获得作为基督徒应有的亨通。
但是，一旦我们在耶稣基督中建立了自己的安全感和身分认同，我们就不需要不断地寻求他人的肯定和接受。取而代之的是，我们将开始活出基督里的本我，让爱，恩典和怜悯汩汩而出，福泽我们的配偶和周围的人。因此，我们需要作出改变并声索这些应许：即我们是一个新造的人，笃定在耶稣基督里我们的言语以盐调和，我们能够口出祝福、造就和肯定的话语。
就像上帝的呼召不凭其当下的光景，你也将以别样的言语、独具的眼光和全新的称呼对待各事各物。一旦我们开始实践并声索这些应许，我们将看到我们的婚姻，人际关系和家庭环境开始好转！
讲章系列：你在信心的殿中！ （第4部分）