Plow in Hope

"...because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop." 1 Corinthians 9:10

Plow in hope. I've been hearing this phrase again and again in my spirit. The Christian life while not always easy is to be a life full of hope. It's going to require plowing at times. Plowing requires work. We break up hard ground by cutting through, overturning, and softening the ground that is unprepared to receive seed. Once we've finished plowing we plant seeds, water, and prune in order to reap our harvest.

Many in the Church today are in the fields plowing without hope. They're breaking up hard ground, and sowing seeds but seeing no results. A hopeless gospel is no gospel at all. I pray that this post will breathe hope into you again.

"And this hope will not disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." Romans 5:5

The Christian hope is such that it shall be fulfilled. We have an expectant hope that what we have plowed, sown into and threshed will bring forth much fruit.

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6:7

This Scripture has been used many times to scare the Saints into right behavior. While I do believe in the principle of sowing and reaping we have to recognize that in Christ we haven't reaped everything we've ever sown. Knowing this we have no excuse to sow bad seed. Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase? By no means. Grace is a teacher. It teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts so that we can live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world (Titus 2:11,12). You sow good seed, you're going to reap a good harvest. To whom much is given much is required.

Whatever A MAN sows, that shall he reap. There are really only two types of men on the earth. There are those who are in Adam and those who are in Christ. Adam sowed to the flesh and for 4000 years we have reaped corruption. Jesus sowed to the Spirit and we have received life everlasting. As Brother Lynn Hiles says, "He took what I had coming so I could receive what He had coming."

'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." John 12:24

The death of Christ was a sowing into the earth with the promise of a great harvest to come. He became poor so that through His poverty you could be made rich (2 Cor 8:9). He took our sickness so that we can have His health (Isaiah 53:4). He was bruised for our iniquities and chastised so we could have peace. He who knew no sin became sin for us so that we could be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor 5:21)! Christian you have a harvest coming that you don't even know about! In Luke 6 Jesus and His disciples enter the Sabbath field and pick the heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat them. As a Church we have entered into a season of rest where we have ceased from our own labors (Hebrews 4). When we enter into Christ we enter into His rest. Jesus and His disciples were picking the grain because a harvest has come. Keep plowing in hope as your harvest is coming on this Sabbath day.

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

You aren't alone in the fields. The Lord is with you. Where you go He goes. He is working with you and will confirm the word you preach with signs following (Mark 16:20). Be strong and don't become weary in well doing. You will reap a harvest if you don't give up.

Plow in hope. This year be daring and plant seeds you haven't planted before. Sow into places you haven't sowed into before. If you believe the Lord has given you a dream pursue it with all your heart. Most of all pursue Him. He will not deny the hunger He has put inside of you.

The dreams that have died in the past let the Lord breathe fresh life into them again. The tears you have sown will be turned into joy (Psalm 126:5). God is giving you new ground. There's grace for this in this season.

Thresh in hope. Threshing is where the worthless stalk is removed from the valuable grain. Every branch that bears fruit is pruned in order to bring forth much fruit (John 15:2). Pruning is never fun but you can rest assured that in it the Father has a purpose. He is preparing you for much fruit and is going to bring you forth as pure gold. Threshing in hope also speaks of having a "culture of honor." It's where we choose to see people after the spirit as God sees them and not after the flesh. Things don't always look nice when refinement is taking place. Rest assured that He who has begun a good work in you (and your brothers) will carry it to completion (Phil 1:6).

Don't be afraid to put your hand to the plow in 2012. Keep your eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of your faith and the fallow ground will be broken up. Plant seeds of righteousness, water, prune and you will see your harvest!

I pray that hope surprises you in 2012! Let HOPE be the banner over you and your Church. May hope infuse your relationships with others in the body of Christ locally and universal. May your eschatology turn from fear to one of hope. The Lord has HOPE stored up for you.... and this hope does not disappoint. Blessings!