HARVESTING RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH SOWING PEACE by Bishop Dr. J. Akin Atere

PREACHING AT THE CHAPEL OF THE HEALING CROSS IDI-ARABA AT THE ADULT HARVEST INCORPORATED WITH LOVE FEAST AND FUND RAISING ON SUNDAY 23RD NOVEMBER, 2014 AT 9.45AM

 

TEXT: JAMES 3:18

THEME: HARVESTING RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH SOWING PEACE

INTRODUCTION

The metaphor of sowing and harvesting would have been familiar with James’ readers. This was a common picture drawn through the word of the prophets, also Solomon have this to say in Prov.11:18 “The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.” Isaiah who wrote centuries later says “The effect of righteousness will be peace and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.” Isa.32:17.  Hosea put it this way “sow for yourselves righteousness, reap in mercy, Break up your fallow ground., for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you. You have plowed wickedness. You have reaped iniquity; you have eaten the fruit of lies, because you trusted in your own way…”

The law of sowing and reaping is very constant, perfect and true. As it was in the beginning, it’s now and ever shall be “whatever you sow that is what you will reap.”

To Paul, he believes that though you reap what you sow but your harvest will be more than the sowing seed. That is why he said in 2 Cor. 9:6 “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and he who sow bountifully will also reap bountifully.” He continues that train of thought by pointing out that “the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the spirit will from the spirit rap eternal life.” (Gal. 6:7-8)

Every human being on the face of this earth is sowing, planting, and reaping/harvesting. No matter who you are, what you are or where you are. Some of the challenges we are passing through is as a result of what we or our ancestors had sown.

THE MESSAGE OF JAMES

The proper understanding of the translation of the mind and the language of James in our test means “peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.”

James here summarizes the instruction he has provided in the previous five verses. He sought to encourage the people of God to be wise in their work. He has distinguished the wisdom that the world values and the wisdom which reflects the character of God.

To James, the worldly wisdom is attractive and can be easily implemented but most of the  time, the time, the impact is chaos, conflict and spiritual filthiness, but Godly wisdom  among men requires courage because it will be opposed, it’s not attractive BUT its results is divine peace with the community of faith.

Most of the time, our own definition of peace reveals our understanding either of the will of God or worldview. To the mind of many, peace refers to an “absence of conflict”. When we speak of nation at peace, we mean the nation is not currently engaged in an armed conflict or it could be define as the normal state of public order and security.

Paul points to a period of unprecedented peace throughout the entire world. He writes in 1 Thess. 5:1-3. This is embarrassing “when we say now there is peace and security”.

One of our songs raise this question.

When is thy reign of peace

And purity and love?

When shall all hatred cease

As in the realms above

 

When comes the promise time

That war shall be no more

And lust, oppression, crime

Shall flee Thy face before.

 

Throughout the New Testament “PEACE” is often used when speaking of confidence or contentment. Jesus used it while addressing His disciples “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Here Jesus refers to the heritage of each disciple that which the world cannot give. Let us study the context in which Jesus spoke. He has just informed then he will be going away (John 13:33), this information gotten the disciples disturbed. He then encouraged them not to allow their heart to be troubled. “…Believe in God, believe also in me.” (John 14:1) further down the chapter Jesus promise “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you…”  (John 14:18-26) words of comfort and peace and promises of hope.

Obviously, Jesus is speaking neither of an absence of conflict nor of civic order, he had acknowledged that their hearts were troubled. He knew what the world will do to them, they have had the experience when he sent them out in Matt.10:5-15.

He has told them “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before. You are not of the world, but I choose you out of the world, therefore, the world hates you … A servant is not greater than the master… if they persecuted me, they will persecute you … all these they will do to you for my sake … But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their laws “They hated me without a cause.”

Paul also warns in 2 Tim.3:12 “… all who desire to life godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecuton…”

Jesus says “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves … But beware of men for they will deliver you up to the councils and scourge you in their synagogue” appl.

The whole of John 16 talks about the time we shall face in the course of this pilgrimage. In verse 33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in e you may have peace, in the world you will have tribulations but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Though, tribulation and conflict mark the walk of the disciples, they were promised peace in the midst of the conflict. Jesus is here talking about confidence, certainty in the midst of Chaos, contentment regardless of circumstances. This is our heritage.

James in this chapter identify the main organ in the body of man that if not guided can be agent of conflict, disorderliness, chaos, full blown war – “Our Tongue”, but from verse 13 he went into comparison about the wisdom and understanding which connect intimately peace-making and righteousness.

James is urging the Christians, even though they are passing through tribulations must labour at planting seed that holds the promise of a godly harvest. Never do we sow injustice whoever does will reap calamity (Prov. 22:8).

The peaceable seed we are to sow are “acts of mercy, evangelism through presenting the message of life to the lost, support missionary work, offering hospitality to those who are distressed, showing compassion for the vulnerable, counseling for those who are troubled, encouraging the discouraged.

James is saying the church should do everything that make for peace, knowing that God will bless by Giving His peace.

Churches or individuals that invest in pursuit of what the world can give will reap things of the world, when  we allow the world to dictate our ways and system,. But church /individual will reap peace when we do what god commands.

Peace is the soil and the seed planted are the peaceable deed of the people of God. Those who do the planting are those who make peace. The individual or group who are dedicated to the concept of biblical peace.

There are so many NGO’s dedicated to finding peace but get confused because they failed to understand God’s ideal, their aims are usually built on feelings, rather than seeking a relationship founded on doctrinal truth.

In their estimate, the absence of conflict is preferable to doctrinal integrity.

Compromising truth is not a solid foundation on which to build lasting peace. Ignoring error in order to avoid conflict only delays the inevitable conflicts.

For the fact that we are playing game together or worship together does not constitute fellowship and does nothing to bring lasting peace. When John was warning mingling with the antichrist, he says in II John 10 & 11 “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this (teaching of Christ) doctrine does not receive him into your house nor greet him, for he who greet him shares in his evil deeds: There could be no peace when we ignore error. Hymenaous and Philetus were identified as individuals who introduced doctrinal error among the churches and this brought upon themselves condemnation. 2 Tim. 2:17&18. Peace come when we identify error and exposes it as evil. Eph. 5:11-13 “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose them… But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light…”

Yet, James is asking the Church to be peace maker. Jesus said “Blessed are the peacemaker for they shall be called sons of God” Matt. 5:9. Here it is the endeavour and not the successful outcome that is blessed i.e. it is the attitude. If we labour to make peace, God pronounces a blessing on us, whether our efforts are immediately succeeded or not, but there must be a strong and heartfelt desire for godly peace.

Brethren, James has presented an opportunity for us to ensure rich harvest of righteousness according to the wisdom that comes down from above.

Let us strive to be peacemakers, people that follow hard after the Lord, who seek His glory in all things, Lets labour to be a people that are pure, peaceful, gentle, open top reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere, enshrine the wisdom that comes from above. Christ will be enthroned and His will shall prevail in all our efforts.

Members of the chapel of Healing Cross:

What sort of Church shall we be? Shall we have  Godly peace or seek approval of man? Shall we embrace the  word and the will of God, doing what honours him, or shall we seek to ignore sin and compromise with errors in order to accommodate the feelings of fallen people? Shall we  be guided by the word of God or by the feelings of men? You too can be a peacemaker, sowing in peace and living in anticipation of a harvest of righteousness! (appl)