Sowing The Wind And Reaping The Whirlwind

Sowing The Wind And Reaping The Whirlwind

Hosea 8:7-8  For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up. Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.

Wind – idea of vanity, nothing of substance

Whirlwind – destruction, judgment from God

Main sense: Wind – sowing a storm, playing with lightning (or a lightning rod), if you will.

Whirlwind – tempest, hurricane

Galatians 6:7-8  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Illustration: Deuteronomy 22:9  Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled.

Ecclesiastes 5:16  And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

Proverbs 11:29  He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.

Proverbs 22:8  He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

Negative sowing and reaping:

Hosea 10:13  Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.

Job 4:8  Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

Positive sowing and reaping:

Hosea 10:11-12  And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods. Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

Jeremiah 4:3  For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

Matthew 13:22  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Luke 8:12, 15  Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved… But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

James 3:18  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

2 encouraging promises:

1) Even if/though we have previously sown sin, we can turn back to the Lord and sow righteousness – and that harvest will eventually grow if we persevere in our walks with the Lord.

Psalms 126:5-6  They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

John 4:35-36  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

Proverbs 11:18  The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

2) Jesus can calm all the storms in our lives – even when caused by our sin. We need to repent (turn back to Him), make that area of our lives right, and keep our eyes on Jesus, not on the wind and the waves.

Mark 4:39  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

The Tempest Of The Lord
(Psalm 107:23-32)

The tempest rages sudden,
Cruel winds prevail strong,
Though jagged lightning spears the sky,
The night seems dark and long.

The storm crashes down upon them,
Pounding waves overflow,
All thoughts of mercy fade away
To fear, and anguish below.

Mounting high to heaven then
To the depths, plunging down,
Troubled souls melting, at wits end,
No refuge to be found.

But then out from distressed hearts,
Comes a wretched, ragged cry,
The storm calms down, the waves are still,
The Lord of hosts draws nigh.

Chastening, then conviction,
Turning away from sin,
Praying and seeking forgiveness,
Restored to God again.

Peace floods the trembling soul,
The haven is in sight,
A rainbow pierces through the clouds,
And scatters darkest night.

Bless the Lord for His goodness,
Exalt Him for His grace,
Give Him thanks ye children of men,
Oh give Him love and praise.

Poem written August 11th, 2000
Preached February 17, 2011
Jerry Bouey

Does God Delight In You?

Does God Delight In You?

Psalms 18:19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

If you have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation, you are accepted in Him by the Father - and you therefore become a child that He delights in.

Proverbs 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

We may not like the application of this second verse to ourselves, but He corrects us because He cares for us.

Proverbs 11:20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

The first two verses above state our Heavenly Father takes delight in His children, and verses 3-4 state what He delights in (the way we live before Him, and our prayers to Him). Are you delighting yourself in the Lord - AND are you bringing Him delight day by day?

November 20, 2021
Jerry Bouey

The Shepherd's Rod And Staff

The Shepherd's Rod And Staff

This is actually the second message on the Good Shepherd I preached in this series, but I had the notes already typed up so decided to post it first. I will post the first sermon outline as soon as I get it typed up.

"Well has it been said 'without Psalm 22, there could be no Twenty-third Psalm.' While the former Psalm reveals Christ as the good Shepherd, who gives His life for the sheep, this Psalm makes Him known as the great Shepherd of the sheep, whom the God of Peace hath brought again from the dead, through the blood of the everlasting covenant (Heb 13:20). And all who deny the atoning work of Christ have no claim whatever upon the assurance and comfort of this Psalm... Much has been written devotionally on this Psalm. Hundreds of books have been published, but it has never been exhausted nor ever will be. The assurance of the first three verses belong to every believer on the Lord Jesus. He is individually the Shepherd and each child of God can say, 'Jehovah is my Shepherd, the Shepherd who never fails, who never changeth, the Jehovah-jireh -- the LORD who provides.' He gives pasture, peace and rest, with the never failing waters, the supply of His Spirit. Then He restoreth after failure and leads in paths of righteousness for His Name's sake." (Arno Clement Gaebelein, The Annotated Bible)

Read Psalm 23 - Assurance

A good way to read this Psalm is by asking the question, "What shall I not want?"

I shall not want--
Rest -- for He makes me to lie down in green pastures.
Drink -- for He leadeth me beside the still waters.
Forgiveness -- for He restoreth my soul.
Guidance -- for He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness.
Companionship -- for Thou art with me.
Comfort -- for Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me.
Food -- for Thou preparest a table before me.
Victory -- in the presence of mine enemies.
Joy -- Thou anointest my head with oil.
Overrunning joy -- for my cup runneth over.
Everything in time -- for goodness and mercy shall follow me.
Everything in eternity -- for I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Quoted from The Annotated Bible by Arno Clement Gaebelein

Psalm 23 is probably the most popular Psalm, and one of three most memorized or known passages of the Bible. The other two being John 3:16 and the Lord's Prayer. Many people may never have read the Bible, but most are familiar to some degree with these three passages.

Psalm 23 written about 3000 years ago - probably millions upon millions of sermons or studies preached upon this chapter alone - and yet, each preacher or teacher can always learn and teach something new from it.

To learn more about the Lord, we need to learn about Him and His character - this is often revealed through the various names He gives us about Himself.

9 Compound names of the Lord God (this theme will be developed later): Jehovah-Raah, the Lord my Shepherd. Not just a statement about the Shepherd, but one of His names revealed to His people.

Notice how the Old Testament refers to the Lord God as being the Shepherd, and in the New Testament, Jesus Christ Himself claims to be that Shepherd in John 10. (I Am The Good Shepherd was covered as a separate message.)

Notice how the Psalmist goes from talking about the Shepherd in the first half of this Psalm to speaking with Him.

Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Explain rod and staff - could be one instrument with two uses.

Rod used to defend against wild animals or robbers. Used to count the sheep as they passed under.

Staff used to stop the sheep from wandering away - ie. by placing it next to or in front of them, much like a parent or friend might put out their arm to halt a child from rushing into the street when it is not clear. The Shepherd's crook or the curved hook on the end of the staff is often used to pull a sheep back from danger, such as rescuing it from drowning in the creek or pulling it up from a pit or ledge it had fallen off of.

Give a little of my sister's testimony of raising her children by herself when she was in Canada and unable to go to the States to be with her husband (and vice-versa) - how she had many cares and concerns for her young children; then relate how the following verse brought her comfort.

Isaiah 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Read The Straying Lamb

Preached April 18th/2010
Jerry Bouey