Seedtime and Harvest May 13, 2024
- Steve Ferguson
- May 17, 2024
- 7 min read
Last week we began our study of the Kingdom of God, with our talk, "Changing Kingdoms" and God's way of operating in the world, versus operating the worlds' way when it comes to things like healing, finances and the worlds' people. I asked the question, "which kingdoms' principles are you employing when it comes to healing? I also asked, when you are wronged by someone, do you get angry & want to retaliate? Or are you quick to forgive taking no more thought of what you experienced?
Is it satan's kingdom or the Kingdom of God? For illness, the typical 1st response is to call the doctor, pharmacy or chiropractor instead of calling on the Fathers provision of "I have given you power over the devil" and start speaking to the symptoms and diagnosis? Or if you have need of provision of some kind, you turn to the credit cards or banks without consulting Holy Spirit. I said, "Anything satan came up with will always just prolong your agony!" Faith in God is the Kingdom of Gods' answer to life's problems. You may avoid it at first till you find out what is going on, but jump onboard and get with the answer to your ordeal.
What happens when the light of faith goes on and we choose God's way of escape? YOU CHANGE KINGDOMS!
Why do I bring up money, finances, prosperity, or wealth? What does it have to do with health or healing? Since so many sicknesses and health issues are stress related I think this is something we need to take a good look at. Financial stress or anxiety, happens when you worry about your income or fear something bad happening with your finances. This, is an emotional response to your financial situation. So what is your way of escape?
Turn yourself into a farmer
How many of you have ever grown a garden? How many have ever prayed over that garden? What did you pray for? Was it for a meager harvest? Or abundant harvest? Did you pray conditionally? Like as long as sun and rain is good we will have a good harvest. If no pests or tornadoes come along the crops will make it to harvest. Lets' see what the bible says about this. I of course have a story which pertains, which I will relate later
Genesis 8:22“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.”
Seedtime and harvest is here to stay! Abraham was about to be schooled into God's plan for the earth and the expectation of how big it would be.
And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed;
Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Have you ever believed this for your children? or grandkids?
A harvest multiplied is the expectation of planting seed and allowing growth. That is God's intended purpose, whether we are talking about plants or people or anything else. In the case of Abraham, we are talking about counting stars and dust and sand granules for comparison sake! We need to do this!
But God said to Abraham, “…for in Isaac your seed shall be called.
Called to what purpose? What expected end? Let's look.
In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice." This is what I call seed with a purpose. First God told him "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed. (1st purpose.) Descendents will multiply as the stars of heaven.(2nd purpose) All the families of the earth shall be blessed. God was expecting a harvest of people! Not just any people of course, but Abraham's seed. Do you know anyone who fits that description? Galatians 3:29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Notice, most of his descendants came through belief in Jesus Christ but none the less are his heirs.
Farming depends on having land and seed. Maybe a cow or two. God supplies the land as with Abraham and the seed as in Genesis 47:23. Then Joseph said to the people, “Indeed I have bought you and your land this day for Pharaoh. Look, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land.
Genesis 47:24 And it shall come to pass in the harvest that you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh. Four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and for your food, for those of your households and as food for your little ones.”
Notice a harvest is expected after the people sow their seed. The people are expected to live and increase based on that initial donation of seed. They being farmers were expected to know how to manage sowing and reaping and all that entailed. They were also expected to follow Joseph's command regarding management and dispersion of the harvest. Just by giving them seed, they could continue to live and prosper as long as there came a harvest. Of course other factors come into play when we are dealing with farming. One thing that comes to mind is gophers!
What is in a seed?
In a seed is crops or food you might think. Genesis 21:12
But God said to Abraham, “…for in Isaac your seed shall be called. So the calling of God is in your seed. Descendants are in your seed, including immediate family. The ability to multiply. The blessing of God is in your seed. The purpose of God is in your seed. Your future survival and prosperity. Those things God has promised in His Word Are available to us as part of His will. His Word is seed. We can plant it in the soil of our hearts and receive a harvest through faith in God. Whatsoever things you need are available by promise and seedtime and harvest.
How do we live and prosper in our day and age? Answer: Farming by the Word of God
You might ask, "but I thought you said we are heirs according to promise, and all families are blessed through Abraham. We have received at the new birth," all spiritual blessings in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus." So the Kingdom of God is within us and so are the blessings. If there are 7000 promises in the bible and scripture says all the promises are yes and amen to them who believe, then the manifestation of the promises are received by faith in God. After all He is the author of every promise. Let's not forget that survival mode is of the devils kingdom. Whatever promise you hang on to in faith please do this first. Say, "Father, guide my path into the realization of this promise into my life." Show me your Kingdoms' way to receive this provision. Farming = Cultivating land; carrying on the business of agriculture. ( for the purpose of receiving a harvest) You will have to study scriptures about the promises pertaining to your need. Does it have to do with property? houses? school? food? cars? money? health? protection? Phil 4:19 is a good place to start. Narrow the field to between 1 and 3 scripture versus. Usually these stand out or speak to you "louder" than the rest. Focus serious attention on the Word you have decided on. Become familiar with the Word because it is the power of God unto your salvation (health, deliverance prosperity and life). Ask God for revelation about this Word and how it dovetails other verses.
Remember the Words contained in the bible are connected to Spiritual Laws which are operational boundaries for things like being born again, receiving by faith, forgiveness of sin, being healed supernaturally, etc
Example: Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21
Realize your need for God to supply His way. Keep this principle in mind: He hides things from us for us at the right time. This happened with the van we recently acquired . (see last weeks' teaching). Find something you can give as a donation to a worthy cause or ministry that believes in sowing and reaping. Luke 6:38 says Give and it will be given to you, Good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap, for the measure you use it will be measured to you.
Bring what you have as a donation under the rule of the Kingdom of God, like Jesus did. Pray, speak over your gift, release it into the Kingdom of God with your words out loud. Listen for the Holy Spirits directions. He knows everything about what you need. Let Him guide you. Act quickly on any directions and seize it. Be open to hear Holy Spirit' revelation about anything overlooked in this process. Sometimes there is a waiting period, as with the van it was about 3 weeks before it showed up. I suggest think about the Lord's faithfulness and promises during that time, and it will come to pass!
Debra and I and family were friends for years with a real farmer, Bob. He owned 120 acres in Northern MN. He rented most of his land to other people who grew hay to feed their animals . Bob decided one spring to till up his front 1/2 acre of land to grow some vegetables-pumpkins, squash tomatoes etc. and so with a little help from his neighbors, friends, he worked it and planted the crops then retired for the evening. A lot of hard work for someone 75 yrs old, but he now had time to rest. He was a man of faith and believed God for things, so these new crops were no different. That night into the next day rain came in massive amounts and drenched the farm and the new ground where he planted. Odd thing about that rain was it didn't rain again the whole growing season until after harvest. But I'll never forget seeing the produce on that 1/2 acre plot in early October. Huge! Tons of it. He happily gave it away to family and friends. He never watered or weeded it all season. Glory to God. Our friend has now gone on to heaven. I only hope we can leave an example or two of God's faithfulness when we join him in that sweet by and by.
Remember there are two spiritual kingdoms on the earth and we choose which one we will operate in. One is toil and sweat and the other is blessing. You choose.
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