One of the most important kingdom principles for everyone standing for marriage restoration to understand is the principle of sowing and reaping, because we WILL reap a harvest according to WHAT we sow. And that will happen regardless of whether or not we believe it. In other words, it does not require us to understand and believe it to make it so. And even though the principle of sowing and reaping is spelled out in great detail and reflected throughout the Bible, it’s still very difficult for many Christians, and standers in particular, to fully grasp. Yet, those of us who do grasp it and do our best to live our lives accordingly are indeed blessed, because we understand the vital importance and necessity to ALWAYS consider the seeds we sow with both our words and deeds and the resulting harvest they will reap. However, many of the principles of sowing and reaping spelled out in the Bible don’t use that particular terminology, even though that is the principle behind the message. Luke 6:27-49 is a perfect example of that and reflects many of the principles promoted and supported by the FAM Fellowship, because it says:
Love for Enemies
27 “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.
30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.
31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them.
33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that.
34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full.
35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Judging Others
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
39 He also told them this parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?
40 A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
41 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
A Tree and Its Fruit
43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.
44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.
45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
The Wise and Foolish Builders
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice.
48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.
49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

Managing websites providing a forum for men and women who are hurting and struggling to overcome the pain, disappointment and devastation of separation and divorce, can on occasion be challenging, especially when trying to insure that the principles of sowing and reaping as stated in the above passage are positively reflected in the conversation on the websites; and on very rare occasions, there is no easy or very nice way to do so. However, since that is one of the most important principles behind the supernatural power we’ve seen manifested in our midst, which has brought about the miraculous restorations we’ve already witnessed, it has to be encouraged on all levels, even when unpopular or misunderstood. And as the above passage clearly indicates, God does not want us to concern ourselves with the sin, problems and issues of others (including our spouses; because He’s much more concerned with our willingness to deal with our own issues and make sure we walk and live in a manner that’s pleasing before Him. And it also makes it very clear that hearing and KNOWING that this is what God instructs us to do without DOING it, is totally useless, which is why we don’t allow “venting” on the private websites or use them as a sounding board for expressing our woes or giving voice to the dictates of our flesh. Instead, they are intended to support and encourage men and women who are seeking a closer and more victorious walk with Jesus Christ as we stand in faith and obedience for the restoration of our marriages for HIS glory. And since the goal of the FAM Fellowship is to help each other grow in our walk and relationship with the Lord; that begins with learning to overcome the natural dictates of our flesh by DOING what the Word of God instructs us to do. After all, we all want our restoration and homes to be built on nothing less than the solid foundation of Jesus Christ and His Word! So we do our best to sow seeds of faith, confidence, obedience, encouragement, peace, joy and victory based on the faith and confidence we have in the power of God’s Word, the Holy Spirit, and our resurrected Lord and Savior.

Being ever so faithful, as God ALWAYS is, I shouldn’t have been surprised to receive the following message by email this morning from Elyon Ministries, since it so well addresses what was on my heart last night and today as the result of having to deal with some of these issues. And I have no doubt everyone will appreciate Pastor Eddie Yon’s message, Problems, Positions or Promises, just as much as I did! And there are a lot of other interesting and encouraging messages on his website as well. So let’s all be blessed and encouraged as we carefully consider the seeds we sow!

Posted Friday, April 13th, 2007 at 2:36 pm in Seeds Of Faith.