2017
Reaping Your Harvest
“And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come” – Mark 4:29 (NLT).
The dictionary meaning of harvest is the act or process of gathering agricultural crops. It is reaping what one has sown. Generally, the harvest is the blessing that one has believed for, sown or worked towards. Too many times in church circles, much more focus is centered on sowing or planting seeds with little or no attention given to the concept of reaping. Every farmer will readily agree that harvest times are very serious times indeed; it is a time of hard work and diligence for the farmer just like the sowing season. The Bible says he who gathers in summer is wise, but the one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace (Proverbs 10:5, NLT). Below are some truths on how to REAP:
Reaping isn’t automatic: This is so because there are seed destroyers that can destroy the seed sown or reduce the yield of the harvest (Malachi 3:10-11). In Judges 6:1-10, the Bible narrates how the Midianites oppressed the Israelites. After Israel had sown, the Midianites would come and destroy their produce, and as a result Israel became very impoverished. Seed destroyers such as doubts, satanic attacks, ungratefulness, habitual sins, lack of prayers and positive confession, slothfulness etc, can hinder reaping or reduce the yield of the harvest. Scripture reference: Matthew 13:18-23
Engage your tongue appropriately: Our opening Bible text tells us that when the grain is ripe, the farmer gets his sickle for harvest. A sickle is an agricultural equipment for harvesting. Our tongue is our sickle for harvesting the seeds we have sown. The Bible says a man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth. The power of death and life resides in the tongue (Proverbs 18:20-21). The power of attorney God gave to Adam at creation that made him call things forth and name things was restored to every believer in Christ. The Bible also says we should continually refresh God with the fruit of our lips by extolling and exalting Him all the time (Hebrews 13:15). As we use our tongue appropriately, our harvests will be delivered.
Align with God: The prophet Haggai was sent to the people of Judah to tell them to consider their ways. This people had sown much but brought in little. They were dissatisfied and had little results to show (Haggai 1: 3-11). The simple reason was that they ignored God’s interest and pursued their own dreams and interests. God is the Lord of the harvest and Decider of all things. Proper alignment and agreement with Him guarantees bumper harvest. It is wisdom to pursue divine interests over and above our personal interests.
Plant good seeds continuously: The day a farmer stops sowing seeds or stop planning to plant is the day he ceases to be a farmer. The life of a farmer revolves around sowing and reaping. As long as the earth remains seedtime and harvest shall not cease (Genesis 8:22). The Bible teaches that we should sow in the morning and evening, so that our good seeds will compensate for the seeds that go bad (Ecclesiastes 11:6). Also continuous sowing is instructed because God actually increases and multiplies the seed sown, causing a bumper harvest to occur (2 Corinthians 9:10).
CONCLUSION: I join my faith with yours in this new month to call in all our harvests already ripen in the field in Jesus’ name. Have a blessed month!
Ade(Gboyega) ESAN
www.rccgpittsburgh.net
http://gboyegae.blogspot.com
2017
True Riches
“Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” (Luke 16:11, NKJV).
True riches are riches of heaven; it is what heaven bestows or gives. The above-cited Scripture makes a distinction between true riches and worldly wealth. It implies that if you have not been faithful with your earthly wealth, true riches of heaven will not be given to you. Below are some facts about true riches:
True riches are riches money cannot buy: Examples of true riches are the anointing of the Holy Spirit on the Christian, good health, ability to get prayers answered, gifts of the Spirit, talents and abilities, divine favor, honor that heaven bestows, eternal life, divine wisdom, ability to hear the voice of God, understanding of the Scriptures, long life, a good name, generational blessings, and the list goes on. True riches are blessings we cannot purchase with money.
True riches are divine revelation: It is having access to divine ideas and mysteries. Divine revelation is the difference between where you are now and where you want to be. Abraham became great because he kept on accessing the mind of God about his future. He had faith to believe God for a child at 99 years because of the things revealed to him (Genesis 15:1-6). Divine revelation is the trade secret of the individual Christian. The more revelation you have, the more the impact you will make.
True riches are generational blessings: Levi, third generation after Abraham, was said to be in the loins of Abraham, his great grandfather, when Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek. This deed of faith of Abraham qualified Levi to receive tithes as a priest (Hebrews 7:8-10). Levi was blessed because of Abraham. True riches are generational; it is leaving a legacy of faith, righteousness and greatness for succeeding generations.
True riches are secure: Whatever heaven bestows, it is able to keep. Satan testified about Job, “Have you not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side?….” (Job 1:10). Heaven built a hedge around Job’s possessions. Satan could not touch Job’s health, possession and family, until heaven permitted it. Worldly wealth on the other hand can be easily lost; it can develop wings and fly away (Proverbs 23:5). In the US, it is often said that everyone is just one sickness away from bankruptcy.
True riches are heavenly rewards: These are rewards that transcend the terrestrial to the celestial. There is a celestial reward for every kingdom investment made in this terrestrial realm. For every soul won, for every kingdom program funded, for every disciple raised, there will be a heavenly reward. When we aim at heavenly rewards in all endeavors, earthly blessings will not elude us (Matthew 6:33). We are to focus on eternity while we live in history. Salvation is free, but getting rewards in heaven is costly.
CONCLUSION: True riches according to our opening text are entrusted. You have to be found trustworthy to access true riches, and the key requirement is being faithful in money matters (Luke 16:10-12). Jesus wanted to give the rich young ruler true riches, but he was too attached to his worldly wealth that he lost a golden chance to lay hold on eternal blessings (Mark 10:17-22). How attached are you to worldly riches? How faithful are you with tithes and offerings? Have a blessed month!
Ade(Gboyega) ESAN
www.rccgpittsburgh.net
http://gboyegae.blogspot.com
2017
The Legacy Of Faith
“By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks” – Hebrews 11:4 (NKJV).
Legacy refers to something remarkable someone has achieved which continues to exist after he or she has stopped working or died. Many people worry about what type of legacy they will leave behind when they are no more. Faith in God produces and leaves a worthy, living legacy. Hebrews 11:4 talks about Abel, even though long dead, still speaks today through the sacrifice and gifts he offered to God by faith. Below are the kinds of faith which will leave footprints on the sands of time and bequeath inheritance to succeeding generations:
Faith that worships: True worship to God cannot be separated from sacrifice. The sacrifice one is willing to make for someone is a reflection of the value that person places on him or her. Abel offered something God Himself considered pleasing. Therefore, God had respect for his gift and sacrifice, but disregarded that of Cain his twin brother (Genesis 4:3-5). Because Abel believed that God exists and is a rewarder, he gave a worthy offering which God respected. Having pleased God by his sacrifice inspired by reverential worship, he attained a legacy which still speaks before God.
Faith that walks: It was said of Enoch that he walked with God by faith and God took him to heaven without him dying (Genesis 5:22-24). His experience of being taken to heaven marked the first account of rapture in the Bible. He walked consistently with God for 300 years. The faith that will leave a legacy is one that will consistently walk with God in good times and bad times, in prosperity and adversity, and in high and low moments. Those who diligently seek God shall be rewarded. Those who have been justified by Christ are required to walk by faith, and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Faith that works: Noah was instructed by God to build an ark because He was going to destroy the earth by rainfall and floodwater. For about 70 years according to Bible scholars, Noah worked to build this ark, while the people around him insulted and jeered at him. Though he suffered vicious mockery, Noah never stopped working on the ark. He was able to save his family as a result of his obedience of faith. The Bible says faith without works (corresponding action) is dead. The Bible also says we should show we have faith through our actions (James 2:18). Nowadays, many who claim to believe God prove otherwise by their actions.
Faith that waits: The Bible says some of the patriarchs died in faith not receiving the promises they were assured of them (Hebrews 11:13). God told Abraham he was going to be a father of nations, but biologically he only fathered two sons: Ishmael and Isaac. Joseph died believing in the future exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt, so he left instruction that his bones should be taken with them when they leave Egypt. The faith that leaves a legacy is the one which sees far into the future; it adjures God to be faithful in keeping His promises, even when they are timeless.
Faith that wins: The victory that overcomes the world is our faith (1 John 5:4-5). Faith in Christ makes us a winner. Rahab the prostitute became a descendant of Jesus because of her faith in the God of Israel. She placed a high premium on God and loved His people to the extent of hiding them at her own peril. As a result, she saved her family and herself, and won the battle of destiny. This type of faith places a high premium on God and His promises, and contends without giving in (1 Timothy 6:12).
CONCLUSION: In order to leave a legacy, you must have the faith which worships, walks, works, waits, and wins. It’s my prayers that our faith will be transgenerational and leave an enduring legacy.
Ade(Gboyega) ESAN
www.rccgpittsburgh.net
http://gboyegae.blogspot.com