"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." John 2:4
The bless me of current prosperity teaching may not focus enough on an important truth: in order to reap a crop you have to plant. Any farmer will tell you that if you want an abundant crop you must plant a lot of seed, have good conditions of the soil, fertilize, pest control, not too much rain or a lack of rain and then you need to harvest when your crop is ripe.
A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, Eccl. 3:2
If a couple wants to have a baby it is caused by an egg, fertilization and the right conditions in the womb to nourish a baby. Many natural abortions occur within the first two-three months of gestation. It is true in the physical realm and the spiritual realm. The seed is God’s word, pest control is getting rid of bad thoughts and attitudes in our heart, and the soil is our hearts. I believe the rain is symbolic of God’s spirit that quickens God’s word. Fertilizer is an active prayer life. Newborn Christians are vulnerable to not make it sometimes like a baby in the mother’s womb.
Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:13-15
The Lord has me sowing, sowing, sowing, different types of seed again and again. So what does the enemy do? Attack my finances, children, house and things to try to get me to stop sowing, but I’ve wised up to what his attacks have been, because to reap a great harvest, we must sow abundant seed. It can be the seeds of prayer, encouragement, socials/hospitality, music ministry, scriptures, finances, time, witnessing to unbelievers, and compassion for those with spousal loss, to name a few acts of service in my life.
so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes. 2 Cor. 2:11
One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. Proverbs 11:24-25
I believe a good goal each year is to increase the amount of our time in prayer and fellowship with God, giving monetary and our time to God’s work, spending more time with our family rather than losing weight, exercising, making more money at our job, getting a college degree, or getting organized.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 2 Cor. 9:6
Whatever we give to God, God gives back to us. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38
Many Christians may not grow past the baby stage at their church, because the nourishment of God's word is not adequate by a minimal salvation sermon over and over again on Sunday mornings and there is no serendipity, Rhema or the living word speaking directly to their heart. God’s word is the written logos, but we also need the Rhema or the living word which is applicable to our daily lives. A lack of personal devotional time to the Lord will also hinder spiritual growth. Christians may not move past the milk stage in their life to grow on the meat of God's word.
In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food. Hebrews 5:12
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. John 6:63
I had a dream a few months ago about an evil man choking me and I was choking him back. It was a very intense battle in my dream with the evil man in choking each other back and forth. It says in the passage below that the worries of this life can choke God's word in our lives. I believe the way I choke Satan back is by letting God's word dwell in my life richly. Satan may use worries/cares about money to choke me, but I'm choking him back by allowing God's word to dwell richly in my life.
The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. Matthew 13:22
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16
An example of sowing during a bad economy came from the widow who took in Elijah. I’m not sure I would want to take in a man in my house (even a man of God) as a widow. God had commanded the widow woman, who was a Gentile, to sustain Elijah. She was to feed, receive, and make provision for him. God had already told her to do this. He commanded her to do it. This was a Gentile woman. This was someone who did not know God, yet He commanded her to supply the needs of Elijah (a man of God).
Then the word of the Lord came to him, "Arise, go to Zar'ephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you." 1 King 17:8-9
The widow was making her last cake and oil for her son and she said she was going to die. She gave Elijah the last of what she had and God multiplied it all through famine. There is a tendency to want to hold on to what you see rather than plant and believe God for an increase.
Surely as the LORD your God lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread--only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it--and die." Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 1 Kings 17:12-13
When it’s time to be planting seed you may not see much harvest or abundance in your life, because you are busy planting. Below are scriptures about not giving up in continually planting seed. We are not to faint when it comes to doing good and sowing seed:
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 2 Thess. 3:13
Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Cor. 4:1
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Cor. 15:58
I’ve heard different views on tithing being Old Testament. Abraham who was under faith paid tithes to Melchesedek which he was a high priest and a type of Jesus Christ. My concern when the scriptures talks about robbing God of tithes and offering; I know how much I hate thieves and when they have stolen from me and others. I would not want to be a thief in God’s book in robbing what I should be doing, but I see tithing as giving more than money to God.
Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. Malachi 3:8
Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Hebrews 7:4
Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. Eccl. 11:1
The name Melchizedek has its root in two Hebrew words, melech- meaning "King"and tzedek (see tzadik) - meaning "righteous(ness)." Literally then, "The King of Righteousness" or "The Righteous King."
I believe it is an attitude that we are to give joyfully, trusting God. God wants our hearts. The Pharisees were faithful to tithe, but then they were judgmental and left off mercy and more important matters. I know many people that tithe and go to church to try to be a Christian. That is like a donkey trying to be a race horse by standing in a thoroughbred stable.
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness.
You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. Matthew 23:23
It takes money to run the physical aspect of God’s kingdom/God's house on earth and God's people faithfulness to give to ministries and their church! We are living stones that make up the spiritual house of God, but to meet together in a building where there is heat or air conditioning it takes money to run that building…like it takes money to heat and cool our own homes. I believe we can focus too much on temples made with hands. I’ve heard of people that meet in a warehouse and I believe we can be just as happy in a warehouse, but we seem to want to build shrines to God to make people happy.
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. Acts 17:24
However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the prophet says: 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? Acts 7:48-49
Part of tithing is service to God and being faithful to worship God with the firstfruits of our time at a place of worship. The Lord and I have an agreement on church attendance. The agreement is if I'm too tired to get up and go to church on Sunday morning than I'm too tired to go to a single social, football social, or party on Sunday night. It's sort of like if your kids stay home from school and they are sick then they should be recuperating from an illness and not playing a bunch of video games while they are sick. I talked to this one single father who lost his wife and we were laughing about how when his son said he was sick that he had him stay in bed and he put three blankets on him and he took away video, TV and he said that his son never missed much school after that. You won't see me skipping out much on church on Sunday morning since I like to go out on Sunday evening to single dances!
Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10
The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you. Duet. 28:8
God has given us his Spirit as a firstfruit of knowing him who lives in heaven. Having His Spirit lead and guide our lives on earth until we spend eternity with our heavenlty Father.
Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 11:16
“The Farmer in the Dell: The farmer in the dell nursery rhyme refers to age old production. a farmer (historically) needed children to help with help hence he took a wife. The wife took a child in order to fulfill her duties as a mother the child took, or needed, a nurse during birth and early life. The nurse took a cow in order to help sustain the child quite possibly to supplement the wife's (mother) breastfeeding. The dog is needed to help manage the cattle (think a working border collie here). The dog (a stretch on this one) needs the cat for entertainment purposes. The cat obviously needs the rat as sustenance as does the rat need the cheese (the rat takes the cheese). In the end the cheese stands alone. The nursery rhyme is a relationship to production and economy. The cheese represents the theoretical beginning of the production line, although it should actually be the cow takes the grass, the grass takes the sun, and the sun stands alone because the grass is truly the primary consumer of energy from the sun. That energy is then transferred along the line to the farmer and the wife who earn income from that primary production of the grass.”
As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; Psalm 103:15
My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass. Psalm 102:11
The Farmer in the Dell
The farmer in the dell
The farmer in the dell
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The farmer in the dell
And the farmer takes a wife
The farmer takes a wife
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The farmer takes a wife
And the wife takes the child
The wife takes the child
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The wife takes the child
And the child takes the nurse
The child takes the nurse
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The child takes the nurse
And the nurse takes the dog
The nurse takes the dog
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The nurse takes the dog
And the dog takes the cat
The dog takes the cat
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The dog takes the cat
And the cat takes the mouse
The cat takes the mouse
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The cat takes the mouse
And the mouse takes the cheese
The mouse takes the cheese
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The mouse takes the cheese
And the cheese stands alone
The cheese stands alone
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The cheese stands alone
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