GENESIS 1:27-29
God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you…”
GENESIS 8:22
“While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night shall not cease.”
We see that from the beginning God intended for man to be fruitful and multiply, and to take dominion in the earth. If we are going to walk in “kingdom dominion” and enjoy “kingdom provision” – we must participate in the “kingdom law” of sowing and reaping (giving & receiving). This principle (law) is found throughout Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. “Be not deceived, God is not mocked, whatever a man sows, this he shall also reap” (Gal 6:7). The law of seedtime and harvest applies to everything in this life (spiritually and naturally). We see this law working in nature (plants and animals); in man (procreation); and in relationships (in positive ways such as in the giving of love, honor, mercy, blessing, forgiveness – and in a negative way, as in judging, unforgiveness, dishonoring, etc… ). The law of sowing and reaping will determine the prosperity of all aspects of our life and our very being (spirit, soul, & body); and of course in the provision of our earthly needs (financial, food, clothing, shelter, etc…). The bottom-line: If we desire fruitfulness and multiplication in any area of life, we must be faithful to sow seed!
Luke 6:38
“Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure — pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
We cannot expect “kingdom provision” if we are violating this principle of giving (sowing) and receiving (reaping). What we give (sow) will always bring a harvest of blessing in our future! What we have sown (released from our hand), is never lost or wasted – it is actually reaped in a future harvest. A farmer who sows his seed in a field, never looks with remorse upon that field, grieving over what he has sown as “seed lost” – but he looks upon his field with faithful expectation, that the seed he has sown will “come back” in the form of a fruitful harvest (if the proper conditions of sunlight and water are provided). This principle will not fail, if we sow into good ground, and give from a prosperous soul of joy, generosity, and faithful expectation. And of course, if we are truly in faith, our words will attest to that faith (what we really believe in our heart)! I believe our words – that are His words (confession) – will water the ground and help germinate (bring forth) the seed! Please note: Seeds can fail – if they are sown in poor ground and or not given the proper water and sunlight to bring forth germination. Be careful to not merely sow your seed, and then forget it, or even worse to curse it by careless and negative words.
We also see in God’s word that this law will work, even in dire circumstances. We read in Genesis 26 of Isaac “sowing and reaping” in a time of famine (vs1). Genesis 26:12-13 – Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. And the Lord blessed him, and the man became rich, and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy… A child of Abraham who sows (even in economic recession) will reap a harvest of blessing! Through our faith in Jesus Christ, we have become children of Abraham (Gal 3:29). Therefore I can expect to sow and reap under the blessing of Abraham that extends to all of his descendants (beginning with Isaac). Beloved, an economic recession is not the time to pull back from sowing (giving) – it is the time to sow all the more! One of the greatest challenges to obey the Lord and practice the principle of sowing and reaping is when times are economically depressed. When things aren’t looking good in the economy, it is very tempting to want to hoard and hold back our seed. Don’t eat your seed! Sow it! The temptation to “not give” will overwhelm us, if we are making our decisions from a non-prosperous soul (poverty mindset). God shows us time and again in His word where people obeyed in dire circumstances and He blessed them. He is faithful! A widow who was suffering because of a drought, was preparing to bake her last meal and die (she only had a little flour and oil for one cake). But she obeyed the Word of the prophet and baked him a cake of bread first (sowing into the man of God), and she was amply supplied with flour and oil to get her through the drought (I Kings 17:10-16). Her jar of oil and bowl of flour never ran out!
The principle of sowing and reaping works! It is an economic law – as long as the earth remains! This is why the Lord exhorts us through the prophet Malachi, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows” (Mal 3:10). Give; bring the tithe & offerings; and He’ll prove it to you!
Philippians 4:15-19
You yourselves also know Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift (sowed) more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit (harvest) which increases to your account. But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Our offerings (gifts of giving) are a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, and well pleasing to God! Those (givers) who participate in the matter of giving and receiving can expect kingdom provision! He will supply all our needs! Even though the economic systems are shaking; and even though the kingdoms of this world will continue to be shaken… we are in an unshakable kingdom, for His kingdom CANNOT be shaken! His riches in glory will never run out! We will be amply supplied. We have a sufficiency in everything and an abundance for every good work!
II Corinthians 9:6-8
Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.
Colossians 1:18
He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
Revelation 1:5
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood.
Our heavenly Father operates in the Law of sowing and reaping! He operated in this principle by “sowing” His only begotten Son, Jesus, into the earth… so that whosoever believes in Him may have eternal life (Jn 3:16)! Jesus Himself, was the Father’s “seed” sown for a harvest of many sons and daughters who would be born into His kingdom. Three key things that show the Father’s love and faith: (1) He gave; (2) He gave His best; (3) He gave in faith, for a desired result! Jesus gave His life on the cross (like a grain of wheat that falls to the ground), and He was raised as “first born from the dead.” He was not the “only one” born from the dead, but the “first born” – so that we who believe could be “born again” from spiritual death unto life! Hallelujah! The Father received not only His Son back, but His harvest… and He is still receiving His harvest to this day!
Let’s repent (if needed) and change the way we think in the matter of giving and receiving. Believe His word; His Word is Truth! Repentance is more than us acknowledging sin and receiving forgiveness (though we need this too). Repentance is changing the way we think and making the choice (decision) to obey. Meditate on the Word and allow the truth of sowing and reaping (a foundational law of kingdom provision) to be implanted into your soul. Then, obeying His word, purpose in your heart to be a generous, cheerful, and faithfully expectant giver. May you prosper in all respects and be in good health, even as your soul prospers!
Blessings,
Pastor Rick
As I read this and also heard the message on Sunday, I’ve seen areas where I need to make adjustments into being someone with a prosperous soul. Seeing the way sowing and having a prosperous soul are so closely linked really brings light to situations in my life. I want a prosperous soul and I’m going to continue sowing even in hard times expecting, in faith, a return!! Thanks for teaching on this!
14.10.2010, 10:55 am