Key Scripture: Psa 126:5-6
Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
Apostle Paul exhorts us in Galatians 6:9
‘And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.’
I believe, in the coming year and onward, all we have been patiently sowing will begin to bear fruit. We will begin to reap the seeds we have sown. We can even expect some surprises with regards to some of the deep, silent prayers (with tears) we have been praying.
However, Psalm 126 does set a condition to reaping.
The question to ask is: How do we reap?
Then, based on Psalm 126:
Do we rejoice because we are reaping, or reap because we are rejoicing?
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
- As a people of faith, we must rejoice in order to reap. ‘Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.’
Isa 12:3 ‘Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.’ We will reap if we remain in a spirit of thanksgiving, praise and worship.
I believe YHWH is calling upon His people to pull back (slow down) and spend more time in worship.
Psa 50:9-15, 23 ‘I will not take a bull from your house, nor goats out of your folds. For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills......"If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and all its fullness. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me."....Whoever offers praise glorifies Me...’
Isa 40:31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
As we mature in the Lord, we are to do less but allow God to do more. Instead of flying, we should run; instead of running, we should walk; instead of walking, we are to be still.Our power and might must decrease, but the work of His Spirit in and through us must increase. And that will only happen when we are willing to stand still and allow Him to go before us.
‘And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD,
which He will accomplish for you today.”’ (Exo 14:13)
Psa 149:1-9Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song,And His praise in the assembly of saints. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise His name with the dance;Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.For the LORD takes pleasure in His people;He will beautify the humble with salvation.Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds.Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,And a two-edged sword in their hand,To execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples;To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;To execute on them the written judgment—This honor have ALL HIS SAINTS.
Praise the LORD! We will see victory by the ‘high praises of God’ – Worship, and ‘a two-edged sword’ - the Word. The coming year is a year of reaping. Not by own strengths, plans or strategies but by the Spirit of the Lord through an increased ministry of worship and proclamation of His word.
My exhortation to all of us, brothers, is to reduce our busy-ness (even ministries) in the coming year and to come away more and more into the courts of the King.
Songs 2:10-14
My beloved spoke, and said to me: "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.The fig tree puts forth her green figs,And the vines with the tender grapes Give a good smell.Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away!"O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the secret places of the cliff,Let me see your face, Let me hear your voice;For your voice is sweet, And your face is lovely."
Heavenly Father, Your Son Jesus made a way for us to come boldly into Your throne of grace. Move us by Your Spirit to come and to remain behind the veil, offering up the sacrifices of praise to You, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to Your name. For this is the sacrifice that You desire, the offering that glorifies You. In Jesus name we ask and pray, amen. May you be blessed with the manifested presence of YHWH in your life this coming year 2011. SHALOM.
