A sermon on Psalm 126:5 about persevering through hardship and incomplete seasons. Using stories of Steve Jobs, Beethoven, and Airbnb's founders, the speakers argue that what feels like failure often contains seeds of future success. Sow with tears now, they say, and you will reap with rejoicing.
Chapters
That's an exegetical invitation I want to extend to you. I pray that you accept. You've been invited to fellowship with me this morning in the 126th Psalm. In the 126th Song. There you go, Sister. There you go. Proud. Show them how it's done. Everybody else waiting on me to get through. She ready for me to preach.— say the rest of y'all. Psalms 126. I want to just simply lift up the 5th verse in that 126th Psalm. We going to see what God say through this. Word of God reads Those who sow with tears shall reap with, with joy. You may be seated. Those who sow with tears shall reap with rejoicing. I want to halfway help you this morning to lift up the subject: never quit in the not quite. Never quit in the not quite. Steve Jobs, the main owner of Apple— story we know is that he was the owner of Apple CEO from the time of his passing. However, what many people do not know, that before this moment, Dr. Mason, Apple company which he founded, they fired— they fired Jobs. But thankfully, he was able to find employment with some other agency One of those agencies in which he found employment with, animation company by the name of Pixar. And while in this time of exile, and while with Pixar, Steve Jobs developed a lot of intuitive and innovative ideas in imagery. During this time, Apple suffered, revenue suffered, but while in exile, Jobs was thriving and learning new information. The story goes that after Apple suffered, they hired Jobs back. When Jobs came back this time, he came back with a more persuasive and a more creative idea for how to use cellular devices and for computers. And the irony of this story about Steve Jobs is that it is what he learned in his time while being exiled from Apple, the stuff that he learned with Pixar, he brought it back to Apple and took Apple to a new level.
You missed the whole setup of that because it was in the time in which he was exiled and banned, or in captivity, that he did not give up. And while in captivity, he found something that he can use when he came out. That's where we are this morning, since y'all don't want to have fun with me.
In this 126th Psalm, it is a Psalm of ascent, meaning that it is a Psalm that they went up to Jerusalem singing on their way to worship.
And they started this Psalm focusing on the time and smiling about a time when God delivered them from captivity. But in that same song, while they were rejoicing for God bringing them out, they also found themselves faced with the harsh reality that God has brought us out of captivity, but what he's brought us back to is in ruins. What a dichotomy, sweet children. It's the picture of God delivering them from Babylon, but when they come to Jerusalem, Jerusalem is messed up. And if you're not careful in this time of dichotomy and tension, it will make us ask the question: if God, you're going to bring us to something that looks bad, what was the point of you bringing us out anyway? And I know I'm not preaching this sermon for some vain reason, because many of us today are caught in the middle of that conflict. We're on one end, we're thankful for how far God has brought us, but when we look and see where we are, there are still some issues that we have that make us go into a state of depression. Is that you this morning? You're thankful that God brought you to this day, but when you come to this day, there are still some areas of sadness that you have to deal with. You thank God for the job, but on that same job, some days you want to slap everybody in there, and you're caught in the middle of realities where you're thanking God for deliverance, but you're asking God, God, I know that there's more in store post-deliverance. And I came to give you a challenge, and I came to give you a proposition this morning that God is challenging us, that in those moments where it's not quite where it needs to be God's word to you is that if you don't quit in the not quite, God is giving you something right now that can take your next to a new level. Now I really hope, sweet children, that you believe that by faith, because if you really believe that, it makes you want to stay right now. God, thank you. Because I know that you did not bring me this far to leave me. Because if you wanted to, God, you could have left me in Babylon. But since you brought me out, I'm going to tell you thank you for that and say that, God, if you brought me this far, if I don't quit, there is more that I can do after this moment. Child of God, I don't know who this message is for, but you've been wondering if life is going to get better than this. You're thankful for what God has done, but you're still not quite there yet. And if you're not careful, you will stay in that not quite and go into a place of sadness. You will go into a place of depression. You will go into a place where you want to throw in the towel, but God says pick your towel back up because God knew what he was doing when he brought you to this point. And if he brought you to this point, that means God is not through with you yet. And I dare somebody today to make up in their mind that I'm gonna sow in a moment where it seems like it's not quite there yet. Is there anybody today who wants to accept that challenge? Who wants to make up in their mind that I'm not gonna let the devil fool me? I'm not ignorant of his devices. I know that God has brought me to this moment. And if he brought me to this moment, if I just put my hand in his hand, There is no telling how far God will take me. Get yourself back in the game, child of God. He did not leave you right here to leave you, but God brought you here, and there's something right now that God is developing in you that eyes have not seen and ears have not heard, and neither has it entered into the heart of man. The good things that God has in store. I want to know, in Pilgrim Rest today, is there anybody crazy enough to still believe it? You see what's going on in the government, but you're gonna sow with your tears. You look and see what's in your bank account, but you're gonna sow in your tears. You see what's going on in your family, but you're still gonna sow with your tears. You don't know how the story is gonna end,. But while you're here today, you made up in your mind that I'm going to sow anyway. And here is God's promise: if you sow with tears, you're gonna reap with rejoicing. Lord have mercy, y'all missed all that. I'll say it one more time, that if you sow in tears, if you sow with your pain, if you stay faithful with your doubts, if you stay committed with your concerns. God said, I got more for you after this. Don't forget that God has brought you out of Babylon. Don't forget that he could have kept you where he had you, but since he brought you this far, and if God has not given up on you Who are you to make up in your mind that you gonna give up on God? But God says, just as I have not forgiven— given up on you, don't you give up on me. Because you're just one effort away from God blowing your mind. And here's what I came to preach today. What God has finished before should fuel our faith to fix what we're facing now. Say it one more time, Gavin. What God has finished before— that's Babylon. Should fuel our faith to stay faithful despite what you're facing now. In other words, he done already saved me, so I'm inspired by that, and I'm not gonna let sickness stop me from going forward with God. God's brought me through financial trouble before, so I'm not gonna next this next bill stop me from going far with God now. And I want to look back and say that, God, what you've done already is put enough gas in my tank to see what you have next in my life. I'm anxious to share with you some things that God has shared with me. I'm going to unpack them as some homologous highlights. And once I do that, I'm gonna decide which way I'm going up once it's done. This text, entire song, shows us the impact of residual composition.
Residual composition.
In other words, something that we're made of that God kept us with, it's going to be the fuel for our next.
If you read verse 5, put it in context, go back and read verse 4.
Verse 4, the psalmist, who's anonymous, asked this question of God. He said, God, restore our fortune like the streams of the Negev.
Y'all want to study for a little while?
The psalmist makes a request. Let me walk through this. That God will not just restore your faithfulness and not just restore your blessings, but restore their fortune like that of the Negev? I see the question. I came prepared to answer it for you. Hails, what is the significance of the Negev? The Negev was a body of water that was dry for the majority of the year. So the psalmist says, God, restore our fortunes just like you do that body of water that's dry most of the year. If y'all hear me, I'm saying most of the year, which means that the, the Negev is a body of water where the dry season lingers. Uh, uh, any Negev saints in the house this morning who at this very moment Your testimony is that me and the Negev have a lot in common, because not only am I in a dry season, but it seems like all of 2025 I've been in a dry season. And sweet children, Do not be discouraged by seasons of dryness that seem to linger longer than you intended. This is why it's important as children of God that we don't put God on a time clock, because in God's sovereignty God moves in timing that he sees necessary, and many people today are not here. And the reason that you see so much bargaining in the church—
let's interview—
the reason that you see so much bargaining is that you have some saints who are in the gab seasons, and they thought that the dryness would have ended a long time ago because you prayed about it and you know that he's an on-time God. And you thought that he was an on-time God based upon your clock, but God says, I'm not an on-time God based upon your clock, but since I am God, whenever I get good and ready, that's when I move. But the psalmist says— I'm having fun, excuse me for a little while while I have fun by myself— the psalmist says, restore our fortunes like the Negev. I told you that the Negev stays dry for the majority of the year. However, stay calm, Gavin Roberts. However, even though it stays dry for the majority of the season, in just one rain, that dry body of water is fortune is changed to where even though it had been dry for a long time, one act of nature, one act of God causes that which was dry to then become flooded. You miss your shot right there because God's word to you today is that even though your season of dryness may have lasted a long time, you may just be one piece of rain away from God changing everything concerning your life. I don't know why God gave me this word today, but I believe today that there's somebody— shout— that yes, I've been going through for 11 months now, and I don't know if God gonna do something different in month 12. But whenever God get good and ready, it's just gonna take one rain for him to just overflow. It's gonna take one blessing for him to do exceeding abundantly above all you can ask or think. I know you tired of the dry season. I know you're tired of going through this. I know you're tired of the pain. But can somebody lift their hand and say, God, I believe that I'm just one rain away, I'm just one breakthrough away, I'm just one praise away, I'm just one prayer away. I'm gonna keep on waking up in the morning and saying, God, is it today? And if it's not that day, I'm gonna see what God got the next day, because I believe that God has me here until my one moment. The devil is a liar. Your life will not end in dryness, but God has brought you too far. He brought you through too much. He's blessed you too, too much. He saved you from too much. He saved you in so much. And God said, I didn't save you for a vain purpose. Oh, I feel like having fun now because God said make sure that your faith lingers longer than a dry season that you're going through. Mils, they didn't hear what I just said, so let me say it one more time. Make sure that your faith lingers longer than your dry season. Say it one more time, Gavin, and say it real slow. The dry season may last long, but make sure your faith lasts longer than your dry season. Because if your faith lasts longer than the dry season, that means that when the dry season is gone, you still there clothed in your right mind. When the dry season is gone, you're able to lift up your hand and say, God, it tried to take me out, it tried to end me, it tried to send me to the nuthouse, but by your grace and by your mercy, look at me right now.
Here it is.
Here is— I told you that it's residual composition, right? You know the blessing in this?
The Nagel remain eligible for a season of overflow, because here it is, even though Tony The Negev was dry.
The Negev wasn't dead. How come they don't like it on this side over here? I'm gonna have to rearrange y'all seats. Say it one more time, Gavin. Even though the Negev was dry, the Negev wasn't dead. Is there somebody shout this morning? I may be in a dry season, but I got breath in my body. And let everything that have breath praise the Lord, because even though I may be dry, I ain't dead. And if I ain't dead, that means I can still be delivered.
Can I show it to you?
Like, I don't plan on sweating today.
Let me dab one extra time to make sure I'm extra smooth on my forehead.
Beethoven, who y'all know for his main composition, this musical genius at one point in his life went there.
He lost his hearing. His entire body of work predicated upon him composing music for other people to hear.
However, thank you. Beethoven is teaching me something this morning. Beethoven says Kevin, you know that part about my history, but tell them my whole story.
I'm gonna tell it for you, Beethoven.
Beethoven wanted me to tell y'all that when he went deaf, he still wrote music. And matter of factly, one of the most famous pieces of work that he wrote while deaf was a song called— a composition called "Ode to Joy." So while going through deafness, he didn't go through deafness. And since he was not dead, and what only death— he was still able to produce joy. Who am I talking to today? That you may be going through some limitations, but God still got something on the inside of you that you're able to still get a prayer through while you're going through. You're still able to talk to God with your pain. You're still able to lift up a praise while you're going through, because even though you're dry, you still ain't dead.
I'm done. That's residual composition. This text also teaches us about a regenerative content, something in us also that regenerates.
Verse 6, after the verse I read today, if you hear it, talks about how they're gonna go out with tears carrying a bag of seed.
Go read verse 6.
The psalmist is very honest. Cause on their way to worship, he says, I got tears, but I also got a bag of seed. I told you that exegetically, hermeneutically, this is a moment of them going up to worship. They're reflecting on them being back from captivity but still looking at a dry, barren Jerusalem. So the psalmist is honest and says, I'm going with tears, but I also have a bag of seeds. Tony, if they are just now coming from captivity, meaning they were exiled and slaves. Tony, my critical question: where did y'all get seeds from? Y'all just coming from captivity. They took things from you. They robbed you of your identity. They robbed you of your possession. But you are here to tell me that you still have tears, but yet you have a bag of seeds. Can we just investigate, as I quote, some possibility of where these seeds come come from. It's possible that even though they were in a land that they did not desire, that in that undesirable place God made a provision for them in the undesirable that would be something they could— they can use later on. Come here. How many of you are in exile this morning? You ain't got to lift your hand. I don't want to get in your business, but let me tell you a secret about what to do if you are in an undesirable location in life. If you're in an undesirable location in life, don't look with sadness, look for seeds. Y'all gonna appreciate my preaching before this year out. That's because I'm telling you this morning that just because you're in an undesirable place does not mean that you're out of the presence of God. And when you're in an undesirable place but still in the presence of God, God has a way of giving you provision even in bad places. Is there anybody this morning who's been in a bad place, but God gave you a blessed seed in a bad place? And the reason you're able to still lift your hands is because with the tears in your eyes, you say, God gave me something even in a bad place. I was in a hurry to get out of it, but I looked around and say, God just still gave me blessings. You still put food on my table. You still got clothes on my back. You still got breath in my body. And if you've given me that, God, then I know I can take that and start over. It's possible. It's possible that they had succeeded in the bad place that God let them come back with. I got one more argument. Tony, you still with me, right? As long as you here, I'mma preach. The seeds could have come from Babylon. However, they're back in Jerusalem now, right? So perhaps the seed could have been something that they found as leftovers from dead produce. It's possible that some produce could have died while they were in captivity, but when they came back— preach, Gabby! They found some things that were dead, but in the midst of the death and chaos, there was still a seed left over. Can I tell somebody today? Don't you bury something that God ain't buried, because it could be some seeds in something that looks dead that can be the resurrection for your new life. Can I tell you what I'm talking about? On a Friday on a hill called Calvary, there was a seed that died and they tried to bury that seed, but Sunday morning something dead got up again with power in his hand. Don't you give up on dead stuff. Y'all better be glad I came. 'Cause I would have hooped out right there. Don't give up in dead places because dead places have divine provision. Say it one more time, write this down. I want you to put this in refrigerator and warm it up tomorrow and eat it again. Don't give up on dead places because sometimes Dead places have divine provisions. In other words, God know how to handle the dead. And what you can't resurrect, it just takes one word from God to take that and make something new in your life. You better start expecting, child of God. Don't just keep going through life expecting the ordinary, because God can do something in what you thought was dead.
I didn't preach too long today. No, I didn't.
Y'all, y'all sung extra songs on me this morning, so I owe y'all 4 more minutes. So give me these 4 minutes. In the 2008 recession—
recession out of faith. Everybody globally, especially in this country, were going— people off— people were struggling to make because the economy was getting into recession.
I remember being in Dr. Cadet's, uh, economics class.
Bridget, I don't know if you cheated on me in that class, but, but, but, but in this class, I remember he talked about the recession and what that meant.
People lost a lot. Something I discovered that shouted me, I wanna pause right now to clean my glasses to see if it's gonna shout y'all too.
I'm gonna keep my glasses dirty as I tell y'all this, see how you like it. There were two gentlemen during this recession in 2008. They were struggling to pay their rent.
They lost things, they sold things, they felt as if they had nothing left.
How are they going to pay their rent?
They came up with this idea. Since I'm preaching, I may say that it's by divine intervention that they developed this idea. Even though they lost a lot, they had two air mattresses, and so they came up with a plan to take their two air mattresses and rent the two air mattresses and rent that, and in conjunction with their air mattresses also rent bed and breakfast. So they are in a dead place, but they had two air mattresses. They rented the air Mattresses and put it together with Bed and Breakfast. And they got the two air mattresses, put it with Bed and Breakfast, and they found another friend who knew how to develop websites and knew how to develop businesses. So from those two air mattresses and bed and breakfast, and their friend who knew something, they came up with Air B&B. Good night, may the Lord God bless you real good. But I want to let somebody know today, maybe God may have allowed some stuff to leave you, but look for your two air mattresses, look for your friends, look for whatever you got, and God can take the simple things you got left and use that to change not only your life, but to change each heart's life, to change this church's life, to change your family's life, to break some curses, to set your family up for generational wealth. You don't know what God can do with what you got left, but you will never understand this I'm done. All right, if— unless you make up your mind to never quit in the not quite. Never quit in the not quite. Not quite moment, it's frustrating because you in between two places. You see the blessings of God and you feel like you unappreciative when you talk about the things that are wrong. But God says it's okay, cause the one you talking to, the one you're thanking, is the one that can fix it. And God says if you continue to sow with them tears in your eyes, tears of sadness, come tears of joy. Give God praise if you receive that today.
We offer the seed to you this morning. Jesus is the author. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Yeah, yeah, thank you, Holy Spirit. I've been dealing with me on this for a few days now. Dealing with this done cost me some sleep, so I know it's for somebody. It's for somebody. God brought somebody— you're here today because you needed to hear this. Never quit in that moment of not quite. My goodness, my goodness, my goodness. My goodness, today. Thank you, Holy Spirit. He thought— the devil thought he won. He thought he won. He thought you were going to forfeit your victory. You celebrating the locker room. But you tell them, I'm on the court, I'm back on the field. I'm not fighting for victory, I'm fighting from victory. Let's give God praise as we prepare to receive the Lord tonight.
