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Don't Fear the Reaper

  • Apr 1
  • 2 min read

The Bible says, as long as the earth remains there is a cycle of seed-time and harvest. Everything that is sown must eventually be reaped, and what is not harvested is left to rot. This concept is seen both in the natural world and also the spiritual.


Reapers are harvesters who gather what has been planted. In Matthew 13:39 Jesus tells us that the reapers are angles. Angels are heavenly messengers, carrying out God’s will, whether in unseen spiritual realms or through earthly vessels.


The phrase "Don’t Fear the Reaper" holds a profound truth for believers. The God Factor is what makes all the difference. God and His reapers are not to be feared. Instead, they serve as instruments of His divine will, and divine intervention ensuring the best possible outcome for harvest.

Matthew 13:25 tells us that while we were asleep the enemy came and sowed tares in our field and they have begun to appear. Tares are of uncertain origin and considered false grain. They steal the nutrients from your ground, they take up space. They diminishes your strength, your testimony, and witness because it is false grain. Tares must be separated from the wheat and we should not fear the separation because it is for our benefit.


People can sometimes fear the reaping process. The reality that everything in our life produces something and that something has to be determined as useful or not. One phrase that sums it all up is cut off the dead, beat the head, and get to the heart. Again, the focus is the end goal of harvesting what is useful.


Death is a natural and inevitable aspect of life. Just as crops grow, mature, and are eventually harvested, life follows a similar rhythm. Every living being has its season—you're born, you live, and you die. With the God Factor we do not have to fear this process. There is no "sting" or victory to death with the God Factor. (1 Corinthians 15:55 - 58) God's promise is that we shall never die. (John 11:26  says whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Do you believe this?) I believe this! Do you? If you do, there is no fear.


Here are a few things to discuss:

  1. God was "harvesting" (setting them free) the Israelites and the Egyptians through the process of the plagues. What are you hanging onto that God is trying to set you free from?

  2. What is the significance of separating the wheat from the tares, and how does this process benefit believers?

  3. Why should believers not fear the reaping process, and what role do the reapers play in God's divine plan?


Thank you for your time committed to this blog.

~Rev. Connie



 
 
 

27 Comments


Unknown member
Apr 04

God was "harvesting" (setting them free) the Israelites and the Egyptians through the process of the plagues. What are you hanging onto that God is trying to set you free from?


One of the biggest tares in my life that I have seen recently is that, "I just want to see everyone get saved, and I want to lead them to the LORD." Something that comes to mind to deal with this is, when Bishop's parents got saved, they stopped staying up and waiting for him to get home. The Bible says, some seed, some water, but only God can give the increase. I get frustrated, let down, disappointed, and even ask myself, "Why even bother?", when I try to…


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Unknown member
Apr 05
Replying to

Thanks for your post Andrew!


I completely understand your response to question#1. We all get there, and then we realize the God Factor! Amen!


Whew! Burdens, tares are heavy! Tares can taint our belief system. When our belief system is tainted, it lends itself to the experience "beat the head." 🤣 I'm thankful they are appearing so that we can see what needs to be dealt with to optimize our harvest.

We ought not fear what we see because His ultimate goal is to redeem our lives for His purpose, and the tares in our lives steal that exact thing, His purpose for our lives!

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Unknown member
Apr 03

God was "harvesting" (setting them free) the Israelites and the Egyptians through the process of the plagues. What are you hanging onto that God is trying to set you free from?

I need to be freed from the struggle of putting the knowledge and wisdom that God has deposited me into clear words and sentences. I feel that I have had a block, sort of like writer's block or a brain fog when speaking. It has been hard for me to just starting speaking or praying without some sort of outline for some reason. I think it might have something to do with my analytical brain over analyzing situations causing me to not focus on the words needed to speak…


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Unknown member
Apr 04
Replying to

Great post Hunter! The Spiritual weed (tare) barrier!


I understand the struggle with, as Bishop would say, "wish've, could've, should've." Self-reflecting gives us insight, and that is never a bad thing. Negative self-talk or condemning oneself, on the other hand, is a voice that keeps one focused on the defeat. Insight from self-reflection and being present in the now with the intent of looking forward is where victory exists.


Remember Grace this year!! ... The God given ability to overcome the "thing"... whatever that "thing" is, be it brain fog, etc. 😉 Woot woot! Double Grace and provision!


I love that you mentioned that separating the tares results in a better harvest, which means more wheat to plant next season.


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Unknown member
Apr 02
  1. God was "harvesting" (setting them free) the Israelites and the Egyptians through the process of the plagues. What are you hanging onto that God is trying to set you free from?

There has been a few things that I tried holding on to. But going to church Sunday morning the thing that stood out to me is anger. The way I deal with it does not produce a good harvest. It is like Nate's post, for me, I keep silent and bottle it up to avoid, avoid, avoid conflict. Unless it comes to the kids then talk out of frustration, and we all know that doesn't produce a good harvest. But with this new life that God is giving us,…


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Unknown member
Apr 04
Replying to

Thank you for being transparent! You're right ... you can't escape to the road anymore! 🤣

The beautiful thing is that we can be assured that God is helping us pluck out those things that have appeared and will hinder the harvest.


New Life, new purpose! And ... He is doubling your efforts this year! The principle thing is getting focused on our God-given purpose and being about His business so, in turn, He can be about ours. Yes, the "extra" room in the ground is all for His purpose! Tares steal from God our time, energy, and focus!


Thanks for your post!

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Unknown member
Apr 02

God was "harvesting" (setting them free) the Israelites and the Egyptians through the process of the plagues. What are you hanging onto that God is trying to set you free from?


Fear of the past repeating itself, letting go and beliving for a bonfire. 


What is the significance of separating the wheat from the tares, and how does this process benefit believers?

The tares are removed first in order to allow for a pure harvest. 


Why should believers not fear the reaping process, and what role do the reapers play in God's divine plan?

As the reaper has brought deliverance and a purity to my field I too can be a reaper who helps others get rid of the things…


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Unknown member
Apr 04
Replying to

BAM! That's it! Ultimately, we are to be reapers helping God reap a harvest.( ie bringing people who are consumed with the tares in their life that have stolen their opportunity to know Him as their Father) Tares have a way of hiding the straight path to God.


I understand the the fear of the past repeating itself. I'm glad we can put that where it belongs, in the bonfire!!!!


Thanks for your post!

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Unknown member
Apr 02

God was "harvesting" (setting them free) the Israelites and the Egyptians through the process of the plagues. What are you hanging onto that God is trying to set you free from?


The way I deal with things. Whether that's conflict or something that just needs to be brought up and dealt with. Hanging on to the way I have dealt with things in the past will not produce a good harvest. Which many times is avoid, avoid, avoid or (especially with my kids) get aggravated too fast and over-react. Avoiding can temporarily bury the problem till it rears it's ugly head in a much worse fashion later on. And over-reacting out of frustration and anger is no good for anyone.…


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Unknown member
Apr 04
Replying to

Thank you for your transparency! I know God hears your cry, desire, frustration, all of it! He knows you want to let it go and grow/advance in this area. The God Factor is a real piece to this harvest. I'm thankful He intervenes in life's situations, often doing the seemingly impossible, to help us achieve a harvest we can be proud of.


Remember Grace this year!! ... The God given ability to overcome the "thing!" Double GRACE and provision!


Amen to the opening of our eyes to be vigilant and pay attention to the one who sows the tares!


Great statement! "God reaps in my life and judges my harvest, looking for His fruit and what I've done or not…


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