The two sons of Abraham pt.2
by Ivan Ho 18 Aug 2021
If you sow in the flesh, you will reap in the flesh. If you sow in the spirit, you will reap in the spirit. Both the flesh and the spirit bear fruits but their natures are totally different. One cannot sow in the flesh and expect to bear spiritual fruits and vice versa.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Galatians 6:7-8 KJV
Sarah, when she was still full of the flesh, advised her husband to sleep with Hagar and gave birth to Ishmael, the son who was born in the flesh. She was unable to understand the promise given to Abraham because she was impatient and used her natural thinking to try to fulfill God’s promise. Her maid Hagar was close by her and that’s all she could see in the immediate future, so she reckoned: Hagar + Abraham = child.
Spiritual matters are spiritually discerned but her natural mind could not comprehend it. Abraham was a “supportive” husband and went along with his wife’s idea and birthed his son in the flesh.
It was not until Faith arose in both Abraham and Sarah that Issac was born, the son of promise who was birthed in the spirit. That which is born in the flesh gives rise to strife, confusion and bondage. That which is born according to God’s word gives rise to life, freedom and kingdom purpose fulfillment.
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians 5:24-26 KJV
There are two types of leadership who give rise to two types of followers: the natural (soulish) and the spiritual. The soulish leaders appeal to their followers’ soulish needs for self ambitions, self fulfillment and accomplishments. The spiritual leaders are concerned with people’s spiritual need for God above self fulfillment. They are focused on fulfilling kingdom purpose revealed in the word of God. Both types of leadership bear fruits but God only rewards fruits that are born in the spirit.
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Galatians 4:22-23 KJV