Transcription downloaded from https://yetanothersermon.host/_/church4u/sermons/85938/sow-in-tears/. Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions. Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt. [0:00] Verse 5, They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. [0:16] It tells us, they that sow in tears.! I want to look at some of the tears that are shed in the Bible. There's various accounts, various instances where people shed tears in the Bible. [0:29] Teardrops of God's people. And the first one we could see, as we're going to flick through a number of passages, you might want to try to follow me or just listen in, because there's a number of passages we're going to touch on. [0:40] But the first one we're going to look at is Mark chapter 9. Mark chapter 9 and verse 23. It's the account of the Lord Jesus speaking to a father of a child. [0:52] And this father was concerned for his child. The child was throwing itself into the fire, wallowing on the ground, this young boy. And Mark 9 verse 23. [1:03] Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out and said with tears, Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief. [1:18] And we see that God had mercy and he was delivered. And the Lord took him by the hand and lifted him up and he arose. The tears of faith in this passage here. [1:30] This father had tears of faith for his young boy. Tears of faith as he cried out to the Lord, Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief. He cried from the very inner depths of his heart. [1:43] And God sees your heart. He sees our hearts. The heart that cries out in times of need. The heart that knows its helplessness and its faithlessness. And when we get serious, when we really get serious with God, we recognise our great lack, our great need of him. [2:00] And when we all cry out with that cry of faith, the heart cry of desperation, the soul's desire, the yearning for God's touch, God will bless your faith. [2:11] As you cry out with those tears of faith, sow in tears, the tears of faith. Believe God, trust him to work in your situation, in your life, in your circumstances, have those tears of faith. [2:26] So he sees, he hears, and he sees also the tears of prayer. If you'd like to turn to Isaiah 38, verse 5, tears of prayer. We see that also, also, as it says also in 2 Kings 20, verse 5. [2:42] But we'll just look at the one, Isaiah 38, and verse 5. Another example of tears. 38, verse 5 in Isaiah. [2:55] And it says there, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears. [3:09] And God blessed him with 15 years, additional life span. God saw the tears of prayer, the tears of prayer. [3:20] Maybe you've had tears in prayer. When you prayed for something that was really deep on your heart, something that was touching your life, something that meant so much to you. What a reassuring passage this is, that God sees the tears of prayer. [3:36] He hears your prayer, and he sees the tears that you cry. He hears the prayer that is made with tears, the prayer from the heart. And Job 16, verse 20, Job says, My friend scorn me, but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. [3:51] Job cried as he prayed too. Have your friends scorned you? Have you had situations where you felt hurt and alone? Does your heart cry out to the Lord? [4:03] He will hear your prayer. He promises too, you can take heart in these passages. He will see the tears of prayer. And the tears we've cried, when we've been longing for answers, when we felt abandoned or burdened, or hurting, lonely, disillusioned, the tears that we've wept, when we don't understand, when we're disappointed, through the circumstances of life, whether through sickness or suffering, or carrying a burden for a loved one. [4:31] The crying out to God is what is commended here, for his hand to touch your situation, the longing of your soul. Pray. Pray with tears. Pray with, as the word tells us, the groanings that cannot be uttered. [4:44] We might not even be able to put it into our own words. We might not be able to express it in our own words. We might just grow up groaning, just an aching of our heart, and just words of groaning, because God's putting that burden upon our heart, the longing of our soul. [5:05] Tears of prayer. Sowing tears. Tears of prayer. And Luke 7, we see another example of tears, as people come, and have an encounter, with the Almighty. [5:16] In Luke 7, verse 37, the context there, is of a woman, who was a sinner, and the Lord was there, in the Pharisees' house. Luke 7, 37, we see tears of worship, and behold a woman in the sitting, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at me, in the Pharisees' house, here was this woman, a sinner woman, a woman with a reputation, she heard that Jesus was there, in the house, in the Pharisees' house, and it says that she brought with her, an alabaster box of ointment, and she stood at his feet behind him, weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them, with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. [6:04] The tears of worship, the tears of worship, of adoration, tears of repentance, as she knew her standing before him, as a woman of ill repute, a woman who was condemned, by the gossip of the community, everyone knew who she was, what she was, but Christ saw her tears, those tears of repentance, those tears of heartbreak, from sin and shame, the tears of guilt, the tears of failure, of humility, of abandonment, of repentance, from her sinfulness, and lostness, the tears of full surrender, and total commitment, and we can sow, in tears of worship, we can sow in tears, of that one, who is due our worship, who is worthy of our worship, who is crying out, for our worship, tears of worship, sow in tears, sow in tears, and then we see in Acts 20, verse 31, tears of warning, tears of warning, as the apostle there, was telling of his ministry, [7:11] Paul's telling how, he's ministered, and he says in Acts 20, 31, therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years, I ceased not, to warn every one of you, night and day, with tears, he ceased not to warn, with tears, and, as God's people, sometimes we need, to warn people, in love, about the danger, of, turning from Christ, of the danger, of not receiving, his gift, of everlasting life, the danger, of those that would be, careless, and, unfaithful, in their, walk with God, friends, there's a need, to warn with tears, and, there's times, when I've, felt broken, for those that, I know, are in danger, for their walk, is not, not right, with God, for those that, reject the gospel, when you, urge them, to trust Christ, there's a, a burden, that you feel, there's a, a weight, that you feel, for them, an ache, that you feel, for them, and, friends, we can have, those tears, you can have, those tears, for loved ones, for those you care, for, you can shed tears, for these ones, that, you want to, see in the family, of God, you want to see, trust Christ, and this could mean, your heart cry, for others, to get saved, to get right, with God, it could mean, the tears you shed, for lost ones, [8:51] I know folk, that are witnessing, I'm sure God's, putting a burden, on your heart, whether it's, witnessing, through giving out, leaflets, or telling others, personally, or through open, witnessing, or whatever the means, whatever the, by all means, save some, whatever the means, you employ, as God puts that, burden for souls, on your heart, that you'll have that, those tears, that you cry, whether they're shed, or not, but that burden, that you feel, that aching, that you feel, for the wandering saints, for the lost ones, that you want, to see them save, the tears shed, when you urge another, to get right with God, even once they curse you, and mock you, as we know, it's commonplace still, and will be, till our Lord comes, people reject, and spurn the gospel, you might get hate letters, you might get, hate calls, as you, deliver the message, but they're not rejecting you, they're rejecting, the one who is despised, and rejected of man still, and it's him, that they are rejecting, we can only be a messenger, as God helps us to, and friends, those tears, that come to our eyes, when we are prompted, to urge people, to beckon them, to lovingly warn, to admonish, to correct, to exhort, to rebuke, as a preacher, at times, my heart goes out, to implore people, to beseech, to beckon to people, to plea, to them, to get right with God, [10:17] I know, on an old time church, I've mentioned it before, an old Salvation Army church, it had a big, in Munter, it said, get right with God, in big brazen letters, that was the message, and that's the message, for our generation, that's the message, for every one of us, get right with God, there's nothing else, that we can, really say, that means anything, more than that, get right with him, get right with him, and I can imagine, Paul, as he had that, kind of a message, warning everyone, night and day, with tears, not just for a few, momentary times, but for three years, day and night, he says, he beckoned, he lovingly warned, with compassion, with heartache, with the urgency, the care for souls, tears of warning, of persevering warning, this is what God, must place upon our hearts, and pull those heart strings, of yours and mine, that we care about, those that are Christless, those that are in danger, of damnation, those that are in danger, of being scarcely saved, that they'll just be saved, sized by fire, that their works will be burnt up, they'll suffer loss, and friends, we don't want people, to be experiencing that, you know, [11:36] I'd like to see, every saint crowned, not just get there, by the skin of your teeth, but to see you, wearing crowns one day, crowns of the rewards, that God promises, to believers, that trust him, to see you, rewarded, for your faithful work, for your faithful life, not that you earn your salvation, because that's his doing, but that you'll see rewards, for the faithfulness, that you've followed him, in that walk of faith, and so, there's a warning, there's a persevering, a longing, and a caring, with a heart, for believers to grow, and mature in Christ, and for folk to be saved, Christians that weep, that sow in tears, like Paul, he sowed in tears, preachers who care, and yearn, and weep for those, they speak to, I want to be like that, I want to care for you, and care for your soul, as the Bible says, that I must give account, for your souls, and that, when that day comes, that I won't give that account, with tears, with a sense of, something more could have been done, something more could have been said, [12:46] I could have been stronger, perhaps I, perhaps I need to be stronger, to urge you, to urge you, to be an out and out Christian, to be a solid Christian, to be a Christian, with a blameless walk, with a, with a forthright, dedicated walk, with Christ, that, that you are sold out, for Christ, not just going to, saunter along, half-heartedly, friends, I urge you, I want to see you, rewarded, rewarded, and I want to give, that account, with joy, and when the time comes, or whoever, is your pastor here, whoever is your preacher, and your pastor, that they will be able, to give an account, with joy, for the service, for the ministry, for the life you've lived, and not to have, a time of crying then, when it's too late, and Paul, it says he ceased not, literally, he didn't quit, he didn't refrain, he didn't stop, he kept on warning, he kept on going, and too many Christians, are quitters, they're quitters, they haven't got stickability, and preachers too, can be guilty, of not persevering, we need to persevere, tears of warning, warning, cautioning, reproving, it says in Philippians 3, verse 18, the Lord, through Paul says, for many walk of whom, [14:09] I've told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies, of the cross of Christ, his end is destruction, his God is their belly, his glory is their shame, he mind earthly things, Paul warned of some folk, that they weren't really, they were just, toying with Christianity, and they were really, enemies of the cross of Christ, we've got to be fair dinkin, about our faith in Christ, we've got to be full on, and real, dinky die, Aussie Christians, serving the Lord, 100% as God helps us to, by his grace, and tears there, are prompted, as we warn, of the enemies, of the cross of Christ, of wolves, of false teachers, of dangers, of false brethren, this need for warning, it doesn't come easy, and I know, some people don't like me, warning, and saying certain things, and, but there's time to warn, if I don't warn, of the wolves, then you could get gobbled up, and I don't want you, to be gobbled up, I want you to be, safe, and woe betide me, if I don't warn, [15:11] I'd rather warn, and you get upset with me, than for me not to warn, dumb dogs are useless, you need a dog, who's going to bark, and so there's a time, to bark, and say look out, there's danger here, there's something, you've got to look out, there's some wrong teaching, there's some things, that going wrong, there's something, you need to take heed of, dangers of, of false brethren, of false teachers, Paul talked about that, and there's need, for that necessary warning, and I will warn, where it's required, to be delivered, because I must, warn you, at times, and so, there's a need, to sow in tears, of warning, another example, of tears, is John chapter 16, if you'd like, to turn back there, to John chapter 16, tears of birth pains, now this is something, I'm not going to experience, but I know, some of you ladies, have or will, potentially, John 16 verse 21, talks about, the tears of travail, a woman, when she is in travail, have sorrow, because her hour, is come, but as soon, as she is delivered, of the child, she remembereth, no more the anguish, for the joy, that a man, is born into the world, and I know, every time, [16:22] I'm digging in the garden, which is very rarely, I'm digging up those weeds, I think of Adam, I think of what, what a pain he is, literally, and the work, that he's caused me, in my life, and every time, I sweat, I think of Adam, as the Bible says, the sweat of your brow, is all Adam's fault, and the women, can think about Eve, that she had, her pains too, as she gave birth, the pain of travail, it's all part, of Adam's curse, of the sin, that came upon the world, and it says, that she remembereth, no more the anguish, or the pressure, because that joy, of a man, born into the world, but there's a sense, where tears, are shared, there's a tear shed, in reaching out too, in that, labour of, of soul travail too, Paul talked about, of how he ministered, to people, and it was like him, giving birth to them, he was like a, a midwife, bringing people, into new life, as he was evangelising, and witnessing, that he was like a midwife, bringing people, into the new birth, as they were born again, and we see here, the tears of birth pains, and we can have those tears, as we extend the hand, as we reach out, to touch others, for the master, as we go and witness, to people, we might have the tears, of birth pains, as sometimes, it can take some time, to witness to people, and to see them, saved, and like that physically too, of course, in the physical too, but there's a blessing, at the end, because the baby is born, so think about those tears, the tears of, are like drops of love, of care, of witness, the labour, of birth pains, of birth pains, the tears from a heart, that cares, you can have those tears, as you are a witness, for Christ, the compassion, for the lost ones, the stumbling ones, the little ones, the strained lambs, the babes in Christ, the pains of childbirth, tears shed, sowing tears, the tears, of birth pains, in Acts 20 verse 19, serving the Lord, with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, tears of service, tears of service, sometimes, if you serve the Lord, you will have tears, it says, many tears, tears of service, as you serve the Lord, you will find at times, testing, and difficulties, and discouragements, as a pastor, it's very discouraging, oftentimes, and for the pastor's wife too, as you see people, at times, come and go, and you feel a loss, when people leave, and you feel a sense, of personal feeling, as people come and go, but you know, that you mustn't take it personally, that you just must deliver, what you can, and as a Christian too, when you go about your life, you might be offended, or hurt, as you might minister, for the Lord, in different ways, people might, get upset with you, or say hurtful things to you, but, as a minister, as a servant, of the gospel, you mustn't take that personally, you must just, deliver, deliver what you can, and be faithful to the Lord, serving the Lord, and tears of hard work, of exhaustion, of physical strain, of mental strain, of effort and commitment, [19:34] God is looking for labourers, and we know that, sometimes, when you're working hard, it's a strain, it's an effort, it's a testing, it's a, it's a, a wrenching of labour, of your muscles, and brain, of your, of your body, and your spirit, at times, it's arduous, and strenuous, as you might serve the Lord, I'm sure, even like this, as the Sunday school, workers, as children's workers, as youth workers, as, as people that are, are helping in, in different ways, in the church, that it's an effort, sometimes, it's a, it's a dedication, it's strenuous, sometimes, but God is looking, for labourers, for workers, who are humble, everyday workers, to play a part, in his plan, and you know, some people, you think about, hey, there's something to do, and they use the, the Christian cop-out phrase, the Christian cop-out phrase, I have to pray about it, I just have to pray about it, you know, ask me in a, in a year or two, I just have to pray about it, no, God says, just do it, you know, the Nike phrase, it's almost a spiritual thing, [20:39] I think, that just do it, just serve the Lord, be obedient, and serve him, take the opportunity, to shed those tears of service, and to live for Christ, there's a psychiatrist, Menninger, who was asked, what someone should do, who feels on the verge, of a nervous breakdown, his advice was, lock your house, go across the railroad tracks, find someone in need, and do something for him, just step out in faith, and sow, you don't have to feel like it, just use your faith, and do it, you know, sometimes when you give to others, God can help you, to overcome, your own feelings, of inadequacy, inadequacy, and your own feelings, of your own shortcomings, and so on, so sow in tears, and just lastly, with the tears, tears of compassion, it says in Romans 12, 15, rejoice with them, that do rejoice, and weep with them, that weep, weep with them, that weep, as you go through life, you're going to encounter, folk, go through tests, and trials, and sadness, the Bible says, weep with those, who weep, tears shed, with the weeping ones, [21:46] God exhorts us here, in the word, that we should have that compassion, for those who weep, the sad, the wounded, the bruised, the rejected, the heartbroken, tears of love, of care, of compassion, of concern, to share the pain, to help carry the hurt, we know the Lord Jesus, when he saw the city, he wept, he saw the lostness, he saw the darkness, he saw the hell bound state, of mankind, when he saw the city, he wept over it, sow in tears, tears of compassion, tears of soul love, of Christ love, sow in tears, do the good things, you know to do, sow, it doesn't have to be, very complicated, sowing, is quite a simple thing, to do, even when you're feeling low, and the tear drops flow, just do it, step out in faith, so we've seen, how to sow in tears, just to recap here, tears of faith, tears of faith, tears of prayer, tears of worship, tears of warning, tears of birth pains, tears of service, tears of compassion, and thanks be to God, one day, we'll see tears removed, in Revelation 7, it says, one day God shall wipe away, all tears, from their eyes, and in heaven's glory, in the light of his face, we'll see joy beyond compare, and burdens lifted forever, grief replaced with gladness, and sorrow replaced with joy, sadness with eternal hope, and peace, and there's the wonderful promise here, they that sow in tears, will reap in joy, and we sang earlier, happiness is, to know the Saviour, now of course, the word happiness, you could argue, is based on happenings, we've got something even greater, than happiness, as the world would know it, not based on happenstance, or happenings, as the word has its origin, but our joy, is the joy of Christ, it's the joy of his salvation, it's the joy that comes from Christ, from his salvation, not from the circumstances about us, and so they that sow in tears, will reap in joy, think of the joy, just for a moment, to cover a few examples of joy, as a Christian, you could have joy tonight, it says in Psalm 30 verse 5, weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning, the word of God is full, of examples of passages, of texts that speak of joy, for example, it talks of sing for joy, of shout for joy, of jump for joy, you could see, that kind of expression, in many of the passages of the Bible, joy cometh in the morning, so it says tears might come at night, but joy comes in the morning, morning will come, here's a little poem, someone wrote, morning will come, morning will come, broken hearted, how can I bear the pain, so many plans, permanently interrupted, so many dreams, shattered, so many hopes, dashed, all gone, why, why us, why me, helplessness, hopelessness, life will never be the same again, is it ever worth living, where are you God, [25:06] I'm right here, beside you, my child, even though you may not feel my presence, I'm holding you close, under the shadow of my wings, I'll walk with you through this dark night, do not shrink from weeping, I gave you tears, for emotional release, don't try to hide your grief, let it become for you, a source of healing, a process of restoration, for I have planned it so, those who mourn, shall be blessed, I will be holding on to you, even when you feel, you can't hold on to me, seek my face, child of mine, receive my promise, impossible, as it may seem now, that joy will come, in the morning, it may take much time, but I will heal, your broken heart, I know the night, seems endless, but morning will come, I have promised, it's something we can take heart in, that he is with you, he is with you, we will reap in joy, think of the joy of worship, in Isaiah 61, verse 3, it talks about, they that mourn in Zion, will give the beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the oil of joy, it's the sense of, [26:22] I suppose, an application of joy, of an oil, upon someone's face, to make it shine, the oil of joy, for mourning, the garment of praise, for the spirit, of heaviness, that they might be called, trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified, the joy of worship, there's joy in worship, as we worship him, as we exalt him, as we praise him, as we give him the glory, that is due unto him, in his presence, there is fullness of joy, not a part, an incomplete joy, there is fullness of joy, if you're lacking joy, in your life, then in his presence, there is fullness of joy, come into his presence, seek his face, and you can experience, the joy, that is beyond measure, our joy may be full, joy in pleasing him, in blessing him, in giving him the honour, and glory, he is due, the joy of worship, the joy of the word, it says in 1 Thessalonians, 1 verse 6, that you've become followers, of us, and of the Lord, having received the word, in much affliction, with joy, of the Holy Ghost, received the word, with joy, of Holy Ghost, the joy of the word, our joy can be full, because of the word, because of his promises, because we believe it, and we've received it, we've got a joy, a true joy, that cannot be taken, from us, and lastly, the joy of reward, in Luke 6, verse 22, the Lord Jesus speaks, to the disciples, and he says, blessed, or happy, blessed, are you, when men shall hate you, that sounds a bit odd, doesn't it, did he get that right, blessed are you, when men shall hate you, and when they shall, separate you, from their company, and shall, reproach you, that may say, nasty things about you, and cast out your name, as evil, for the son of man's sake, blessed are you, [28:27] Ian, you know, you can have joy, joy, David, Pablo, Kelly, when people, criticise you, or pick on you, because you're a Christian, and I know that happens, to young people too, when they make a stand, on principle, when they say, no I'm not going to do that, because I'm a Christian, and I commend you for that, blessed are you, God says you're blessed, when you make a stand, for that which is right, when you make a stand, for Christ, for faith, blessed are you, for the son of man's sake, he says, rejoice ye, in that day, and leap for joy, you know, you can do a, a Toyota jump, you know, leap for joy, okay, you know, how does it go, oh what a feeling, oh what a feeling, leap for joy, in that day, I don't mean to be, too, irreverent here, but you can leap for joy, it says you can jump for joy, for behold, your reward is great, in heaven, for in the like manner, did their fathers unto the prophets, so if you're doing something, to merit some criticism, from the world around you, some mocking, some scorn, some ridicule, from your friends, your family, the community at large, leap for joy, your reward is great, in heaven, for so they did to the prophets, and in difficult times even, we can rejoice, because Christ is in you, the hope of glory, and all of these things, around about, that come and go, they're temporary, they're temporary, and heaven's reward, is forever, it's forever, it's eternal, it awaits us, the earth's woes, are but for a season, but there is a tremendous joy for you, if you're a Christian tonight, there's a tremendous joy, a tremendous joy, and blessing, in belonging to him, in being his, in being his, in belonging to his family, so friends, just to wrap it up here now, tears may come, tears may come, the man's joy for a night, but joy comes in the morning, and we're called to sow faithfully, [30:31] God promises a reaping, a harvest, a harvest in joy, it says sow in tears, sow in tears, as you might cry out in faith, like that man for his boy, sow in tears of faith, sow in tears of prayer, crying out, trusting him, sow in tears of worship, as the woman, with the alabaster box, sow in tears of worship, sow in tears of warning, if you must exhort, a believer, or a lost one, of their need, to get right with God, sow in tears of warning, sow in tears of birth pains, and you might see, some born into the kingdom of God, because of your witness, what a joy, it might take some birth pains though, and sow with tears of service, sow with tears of compassion, as Christ saw the city, and he wept over it, sow in tears, and you're going to reap in joy, that means there's going to be a harvest, a joyful harvest, a joy of heaven, a joy of the Saviour's blessed face, the joy of worship, the joy of the word, as you receive it, these promises are for you, it's got your name in here, when it's saying, [31:46] God's promising something, many of these promises, you can apply personally, you know sometimes people read, the Bible, without thinking, this is what God is speaking to me, to you, this is real, this is first person, you can't get more personal from God, than this, you know, some sit under trees, and go, om, and stare into the darkness, or try to blank their minds, or have all kinds of funny, wacky ideas, to try to get some kind of spiritual feeling, this is the message from God, it's 100% guaranteed, from cover to cover, you can take this as read, it's the word of God to you, and you can have joy, in the word, and you can have joy, and that reward, in that sense of your eternal destiny, and have that reward, even though, it might mean some suffering, some persecution, in the meantime, you can jump for joy, you can leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great, in heaven, for in the like manner, did their fathers, unto the prophets, let us pray, [32:57] Lord, we thank you tonight, for the wonderful joy, that salvation brings, Lord, the joy, of knowing Christ, the joy, of knowing sins forgiven, the joy, of knowing, our hearts washed, cleansed, by faith, and the joy, of knowing, Lord, that you've reserved, something for us, you've reserved a place for us, and it's waiting, Lord, help us to be faithful, meantime, to sow in tears, and we know, one day, whilst we may, take some time, to get there, there may be that, reaping time, that harvest time, that wonderful reward, that you grant, as we faithfully serve, but Lord, if there's any present here, tonight, we pray, dear God, that each heart, might find that peace with God, that each one, might know, what it means, to have, that assurance, that absolute, watertight, 100% guarantee, from heaven, that they know, they're saved, [34:01] Lord, that they might have, that knowledge tonight, as they put their whole heart's trust, in what you have done, in dying on the cross, for our sins, rising from the dead, as our, now ever living saviour, that we can put our trust in you, and know that heart cleansed, from all our guilt, and shame, as we repent, and turn from our sin, and turn, as you turn our lives around, to you, and have that, new walk, that new life, in heaven's, purpose, and life, Lord, we pray, that you would get, all the glory, and all the praise, in Jesus name, Amen.