Harvest Seed

2 Corinthians 9

Introduction: Last weekend I spoke to you about Sabbath rest and how (Labor Day) was one of those days as a day of extra ‘rest’.

Labor Day is also known as the last (unofficial) weekend of the summer. That’s the natural time (God’s time) we are moving into.

The first official day of fall is Sunday, September 22^nd.

When we look at the seasons for reaping (harvest time) we find that the right season for this is in the late summer and fall.

Everyone loves and therefore prepares and attends to needs for that season of Harvest!

• Throughout the Bible, the harvest carries spiritual significance. It is used in parables (Luke 8:4–8) and as a metaphor for spiritual growth and health (2 Corinthians 9:10; James 3:18).
  
  
• The harvest has always been a beautiful and important part of life on earth, when the year’s work bears fruit, and the people are fed.

• It is symbolic of bounty, health, and abundance. Israel celebrated the time of the harvest with a feast, appropriately called the Feast of Harvest (Exodus 23:16).

https://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-harvest.html

Transition: On the front end of a harvest is the planting! Preparation, planting the seed right?

2 Corinthians 9:1-15

1. The Ministry of Giving (Those who give) – v.1-5
   
   Must / Should recognize it as a ‘ministry’ – diakonia = service. Those who help meet needs by either collecting or distributing gifts.

Characteristics:

Faithful –

1. Eager – v.1

1. Dependable –

1. Ready – v.5

1. Willingly –
   
   

II. The Law of Return – v. 6-7

Measure of Seed

1. Fewer seed – smaller return

1. Generous seed – generous return

III. The Supplier – v.8-

‘And God (Himself)’

1. Generously – v.8
   1. All – v.8
   1. For everything you need and plenty left over -v.8
   1. Plenty left over to share with others – v.8
   1. Provide and increase your resources – v. 10
   1. Enriched in every way – v.11
   1. So, you can always be generous – v. 11
   1. Purpose – ‘so they will thank God.’ – v. 11

Two Good Things Will Result from your MINISRY of GIVING:

1. The provision for others.
2. Prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.