Seed, Time, & Harvest:
The Lord has been reminding and dealing with us on provision. Specifically on finances and having enough in the day and hour in which we are living. The enemy is slick and if he can’t get us down, he’ll get us extreme. If he can’t get us extreme, he’ll get us distracted. Now, first and foremost whenever a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to teach on or share specifics on biblical provision (which is connected to our giving), it should 100% be to bring encouragement and to give you something, never to take. Our giving is always between us and God, ALWAYS. So, what I mean about the enemy getting us down is worried about having enough. What I mean about getting us extreme is giving out of necessity or to get. The distraction would be giving in the wrong places or not giving at all. For the believer, all giving is to be unto the Lord. NO MATTER WHAT.
2 Corinthians 9:5 (AMPC)
That is why I thought it necessary to urge these brethren to go to you before I do and make arrangements in advance for this bountiful, promised gift of yours, so that it may be ready, not as an extortion [wrung out of you] but as a generous and willing gift.
Paul gives us a great insight here in the scripture above. Preparing our hearts to give, before our actual giving of an offering. This causes us to seek and hear from the Lord. It also positions our hearts to be cheerful when giving. Faith will always be a factor when we give to the Lord if it is to please Him. This application of the Word in our giving makes our giving acceptable good seed, going into good ground. I believe the Lord does speak to us on occasion to increase it after we are at a meeting or have made a heart commitment of support, but again that is always for the sake of the giver and not because we heard a good message or because we’ve heard of a need.
*Important – I have been tempted to give for place. This is the worst kind of giving because a person giving for place is not kingdom giving unto the Lord. It is placement giving, unto self. What I mean by this is when people give to be noticed by a minister or ministry. To gain access to the minister or have a higher place in a ministry’s eyes. This is the most dangerous giving and waste of seed a believer could do. The devil tries to set it up all the time and we must always consider our motives when giving. When living in God’s economy (by faith), it must always be in Spirit and in Truth. In other words, out of a pure heart to the Word of God. It is part of our faith-covenant, and worship to the Father, however there are requirements to His receiving from us. One is, it must be of a pure heart, and two, it must be given in faith.
In this time that we are living the spirit of anti-christ is rampantly spreading fear of shortages, loss, economic turmoil, etc., and we know this is a prerequisite to the tribulation period, but I don’t believe we will not be here for that. If we keep our eyes on the Word and continue in our faith in Jesus, all we will experience is empty threats. We are not subject to the ways and patterns of this world unless we allow ourselves to be subject to them. Just like Jesus our Lord and Savior wasn’t. He had to lay down His life to even be crucified for our sakes, and I’m so thankful He did!
There are two key scriptures that I feel led to share with you. They are promises that ensure we will be taken care of. We will see our part and the Lord’s part. Us having a part is fellowship with our heavenly father. It makes our covenant real and puts our relationship with the Word into faith and action.
#1 Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
This first scripture is mighty powerful. It hits on every area of our faith, and the promises we received by the blood of Jesus. The key here is “daily”, speaking God’s word, meditating on it, and being a doer of it. The result of our part is, God’s prosperity and success in our lives, but also these actions keep us from deception. The scripture says in 1 Timothy 4 that in the last days many will leave the faith. It is one of the saddest thoughts in life…, a brother or sister is on their way to heaven with truth in their heart and its stolen, and they are lost, again, FOREVER. I declare this will not happen to us and we will keep it from happening to others we have access to. We are going to keep this Word before us day and night!!!
#2 Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
This scripture is much like what the Lord told Joshua. Seeking first the kingdom of God and His way of doing things comes from knowing the Word and being a doer of it. From this place comes all the things we have need of. In fact, we don’t need to ever worry about supply. If we are faithful and obedient to take care of the Lord’s things, all we do is make the request and He will be faithful in taking care of us. The devil comes to tempt us out of our faith, and the greatest weapon we have to resist and put a whooping on ole’ slue foot himself is the same weapon Jesus had. A rightly divided Word! When the enemy comes with a scripture, perverted and out of context, we’ll spot it easily if we are in the Word and have a love for the truth every day!
I’ll leave you with this:
Remember the Apostle Paul’s encouragement to the Church at Philippi because of their giving to spread the gospel.
Philippians 4:19 (AMP)
19 And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
-Chris