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

If a Believer could not be deceived, the Apostle Paul would not have warned us to “Be not deceived…”.  Whatsoever a man sows, he shall indeed reap.  If one sows to the flesh and rebels against the precepts of God, they will reap the curse which they have sowed, namely corruption.

What many fail to understand is the rebellion in the heart of man began long before the fruit is realized.  Just as the prodigal son’s rebellion began the moment he desired His Father’s goods without His Father’s presence and the fruit of this rebellion ended in him not only feeding the swine but eating with them as well (Luke 15:11-32), so too does man’s rebellion today begin the moment we seek God’s blessing through sowing to the flesh and we quickly reap corruption.

“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” Romans 8:5

Sowing to the flesh and minding the things of the flesh result in the Believer stepping out of the Will of God and into their own personal or religious philosophies regarding God’s Prescribed Order for victory in the Believer’s life.  These philosophies will often involve “our part” in gaining  (not maintaining) life everlasting.  Our faith is then directed to “our part” and hence the rebellion begins in our heart. Without realizing, our consecration is replaced with ambition and we are deceived.

Please understand, the modern church does not understand the difference in ambition and consecration.  Their “purpose” IS the exaltation of ambition in the professed Christian…not consecration.  Consecration is a fruit of sowing to the Spirit.  Ambition is a fruit of minding the things of the flesh and results in dining with swine.  This corruption of our faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ for maintaining victory over sin leads to spiritual death…not life everlasting.

God’s Prescribed Order of victory requires faith in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross.  The power of sin was broken on Calvary’s Cross for whosoever will believe (Romans 6:14).  Our faith in Jesus’ finished work gives the Holy Spirit latitude to do that which He is commissioned to do in the Believer’s life, free us from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).  To be frank and honest, there is no other way to sow to the Spirit other than faith in the Cross of Christ.  It is this faith that reaps life everlasting and gives the Believer dominion over sin.  This faith produces fruit unto God and is not corrupted by vain philosophies rooted in feelings, thoughts and opinions.

Fight the good fight of faith…faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto you are also called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12

Be not deceived by vain philosophies.

-Donna Clark Warren