Building a Spiritual Life is a process which demands faithfulness. If we are steadfast, the answer always comes eventually. It had to because the scriptures say:
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not”. Galatians 6:6-9
When you sow the word of faith you will always get a harvest. But I will confess to you, there were times when I got weary in well doing because my due season took so long to arrive, but even then I kept the faith.
We should learn from all our experiences. What I have discovered is that although we live by faith there is always a time of patiently waiting for God’s promises to materialise in our lives. It is possible to speed things up a great deal. If you are a wise and spiritual farmer, you can shorten the times between seed time and harvest.
How? By carefully tending the soil of your heart.
That natural farmer who wants a great harvest will fertilize the ground, water it and keep the weeds out.
The same thing is true in the realm of the spirit. There are some things you have to do if you want your faith to produce effectively.
What are these things?
Today I am determined to use two words
1. Sanctify yourself, “Sanctified” is a spiritual word that means “to separate yourself” in two ways
• From the things of this world
• To the things of God
Yet this is not what many of wants. We want the things the world is chasing; we want to do the things they do, to live the way they live.
Things we would not say or do 20-30 years ago are now being said and done every night and even days on our television.
Paul in his writings to timothy warned these days would come. 2 Timothy 2:1-4 (amp bible)
Back to our text
Paul tells us what he gave up and remained steadfast
What Paul gave up
1. Health and Comfort
Paul felt hard pressed v.8 but never crushed
2. Calm and Uncertainty
Paul felt perplexed v.8 but he never fell into despair
3. Peace and Acceptance
Paul was persecuted v.9 but he was never forsaken
4. Strength and Poise
Paul was struck down v.9 but he was never destroyed
5. Paul gave up his own life and in his body he bore the mark of Christ’s death. He received the life of Jesus.
What does this mean?
Remember we are not of this world, since we are born again we are not to conform to the image of this world, but rather we are to conform to the image of Jesus.
Whatever you give your attention to is what is going to be inside you either fertilizing or depleting the soil of your heart. Hebrews 12:1-14
