1. Laboring Together with God Session 13

2. Knowledge Objectives  Recognize how the characteristics of the Gambling Farmer are far too common in our culture.  Understand that the danger of the Controlling Farmer is not his discipline but his fleshly self-dependence.  Identify the God-dependent self-denial of the Trusting Farmer that makes him useful to God.

3. Application Objectives  Respond by identifying areas of self- indulgence in your own life.  Respond by turning from areas of fleshly self-control.  Respond by maintaining a faithful, trusting relationship with God that brings great joy to both you and God.

4. Laboring Together with God Session 13

5. I Corinthians 3:6,8-9 “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.... Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God.” “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.... Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God.”

6. I Corinthians 3:6 “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. “ “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. “ Our Part: “Faithful Farmers” God’s Part:“Lord of the Harvest” “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. “ “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. “ Our Part: “Faithful Farmers” God’s Part:“Lord of the Harvest”

7. 3 Kinds of Farmers Undisciplined Farmer Disciplined Farmer Gambling Farmer Controlling Farmer Trusting Farmer Pleases Self Pleases God

8. The Gambling Farmer  He ignores the laws of nature.  He is the Proverb’s sluggard.  He ignores God’s normal ways of provision.

9. Proverbs 10:5 “He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.” “He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.”

10. Proverbs 19:15-16 “Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.” “Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.”

11. Proverbs 24:30-34 “I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. “I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

12. Proverbs 24:30-34 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.” Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.”

13. Proverbs 20:4 “The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.” “The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.”

14. Proverbs 21:25 “The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.” “The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.”

15. Proverbs 26:13-16 “The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets [too dangerous]. As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed [too early]. “The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets [too dangerous]. As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed [too early].

16. Proverbs 26:13-16 The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth [too pushed]. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason [too smart].” The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth [too pushed]. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason [too smart].”

17. Proverbs 13:4 “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.” “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.”

18. Proverbs 12:27 “The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.” “The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.”

19. Proverbs 15:19 (Painful life) “The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain [is a highway].” “The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain [is a highway].”

20. Proverbs 18:9 (Wasteful life) “He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.” “He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.”

21. Proverbs 10:26 (Irritating life) “As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.” “As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.”

22. Hebrews 12:6-7 “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?”

23. Hebrews 12:11 “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

24. Dr. Bob Jones Sr. “The Christian philosophy is a philosophy of self-denial, self-control, and self-restraint. The satanic philosophy is a philosophy of live as you please; have what you want; don’t let anybody tell you what to do; it’s your life, you have got a right to live it.” “The Christian philosophy is a philosophy of self-denial, self-control, and self-restraint. The satanic philosophy is a philosophy of live as you please; have what you want; don’t let anybody tell you what to do; it’s your life, you have got a right to live it.”

25. The Controlling Farmer  He keeps the laws of nature.  He is driven and controlling  even perfectionistic.  He is intense.  Pleasing self is at the heart of legalism and of slothfulness.

26. The Trusting Farmer  He keeps the laws of nature.  He can become dependent upon his own disciplined habits.  His outstanding characteristic is the fruit of God’s Spirit in his life.

27. John 12:24-25 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat [his own ambitions] fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat [his own ambitions] fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”

28. What Do I Do Now? Wrap-up

29.  Take Time to Change  I Timothy 4:15,16  Prepare your soil (Luke 8:15).  Stay in the sun (II Cor. 3:18).  Remember, God “writes out the checks” (Phil. 2:13).

30. What Do I Do Now?  Take Time to Change  Take Time to Teach Others  II Timothy 2:2  Small groups  One-on-one discipleship  Become a God-loving, Word- filled, ministry-minded disciple- maker.