Sow In The Land

Praise God For His Precious Word:

As I said in my last Newsletter, God has given me a message for this year that will bless us all. This is going to be a miraculous year for the people of God who seek Him with all their hearts and stand on His precious word.

This being the year 2009, I started reading all the 9th chapters in the Bible, beginning with Genesis. I only got through the book of Isaiah when I realized that the message God had given me for this year tied in perfectly with these 9th chapters. The main message I got was that this year will be a year of severe hardship for those who don’t know Jesus and don’t believe in His word; and a year of miraculous provision and miracles for those who do know Him and believe in His word.

Last month I shared the story of Mephibosheth from II Samuel 9. I didn’t realize that it was the 9th chapter until this month. To refresh your memory a little, King David wanted to keep his covenant that he made with King Saul’s son, Jonathan. When he found out that Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth was still alive and lived in a lowly place, he called for him and gave him all the lands and possessions of his grandfather, King Saul. He then gave him servants to do the work that needed to be done and called him to dine at his table. This was a picture of what God has done for us in the death and resurrection of Jesus. If you got that newsletter, please read it again. If you didn’t get it, let me know and I will send it to you.

The message I want to bring this month is found in Genesis 26:1-6; 12-13. This story is about Abraham’s son Isaac. There was a famine in the land so he went to the land of the Philistines. There had been a famine in Abraham’s time also, but Abraham went to Egypt. God told Isaac not to go to Egypt (which to us represents the world). He told Isaac to stay in the land of the Philistines instead. The land of the Philistines was a hostile land too, but He promised to be with Isaac and to bless him and to give him and his descendants all lands there. This all happened because God had cut covenant with Abraham years ago and Abraham had obeyed God and kept God’s commandments. (Verse 5) He blessed Abraham’s son, Isaac for the same reason he had blessed Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth…because of the covenant He had made with their fathers years before.

Now look at verses 12 & 13. “Now Isaac sowed in the land, and reaped in the same year a hundred fold. And the Lord blessed him, and the man became rich and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy.”

I see this as a picture for God’s people in 2009. We have heard all the news reports and have even experienced times of famine in America. The gas prices soared last year. Many lost their jobs and are still losing jobs. Two big car dealerships that I know of here in the Fort Worth area that have been around for years went out of business. Many retailers that have been in business for years have closed their doors…and several more are in trouble. The stock market is going wild…and many have lost a lot already.

Right now, things are a little more stable. Gas prices fell and the stock market is a little calmer. But, I believe this is just the calm before the storm! American people have turned their backs to the laws of God. God does not condone sin in any manner. He does not approve of same-sex marriages. (This was the main sin that caused fire and brimstone to rain upon Sodom and Gomorrah). He doesn’t approve of abortion. It amazes me that the courts in our land will send a person to death row for killing someone but will condone the taking of an innocent baby while it is in the womb…or even worse, as it is coming out of the womb! That doesn’t even make common sense! Life begins at conception. A baby is alive and moving and kicking inside the womb. It isn’t a blob. It is a little person created in the image of the mother and father…just like Adam and Eve were created in the image of God when He gave them life.

God is not pleased with any Nation or person who commits abominations and sin. He cannot tolerate sin. It is only by the grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus that there is any life on this planet at all!!!

I believe that God’s people are to sow in the land we are in regardless of the news casts. Those of us in the free world are to sow for a harvest…not just money, but time with God in prayer, fasting and study of His word. We are not to let up with our tithes and offerings. We are to believe God to prosper us in this time of famine a hundredfold.

Isaac obeyed God. He stayed in the land, sowed when no one else sowed, and he was blessed by God to the point he became very wealthy. As we in the free world sow seed both monetarily and spiritually, God will move mountains for us. He will bless us beyond our wildest dreams. That is His promise to His people. The Bible is full of stories that prove that.

Now turn to Isaiah 9:1. (Notice this is another #9) The Amplified Bible says it this way: “But (in the midst of judgment there is the promise and the certainty of the Lord’s deliverance) there shall be no gloom for her who was in anguish.” Then in verse 2 & 3: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of intense darkness and the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined. You, O Lord, have multiplied the nation and increased their joy; they shall rejoice before You like the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil of battle.”

I believe this world is in the midst of judgment. But even in the midst of judgment God’s grace is extended to those who will walk close to Him. Great joy comes with the harvest. The fields are ripe for harvest when the world is in judgment. Men’s hearts and minds turn to God for help when they have nowhere else to turn. There is indeed a battle for the people in this nation. The devil is pouring it on through television, computers, news casts, movies…you name it. It is coming at us day and night. There is a famine for the things of God in our land…and in all the world.

Psalm 37:18 & 19 just keeps coming to me and coming to me: “The Lord knows the days of the righteous; and their inheritance will be forever. They will not be ashamed in the time of evil; And in the days of famine, they will have abundance.”

That is a word to all of us in 2009. Those who are not in the free world, you can sow prayers, intercession and the word of God with those around you. Let God set the jails and prisons wherever you are on fire with revival. All you have to be is willing to be used by Him. Sow the word…reap the harvest. He will bless you in ways you can’t imagine if you will do this. Study His word. Speak His word. Draw close to Him and He will draw close to you. (That is His promise to you in James 4:8) Stand on His word and don’t let up. Prayers need to be said for the guards and wardens too. As you sow, so shall you reap. (Galatians 6:7) If you want to reap love, you must sow love. Sometimes it takes awhile, but the word says “love never fails.” (I Corinthians 13:8) The Bible tells us that God’s children are in the world, but not of the world. We have been called out of the world. “For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, and the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1: 13-14)

I have heard it said several years ago that before the great tribulation God is going to come by His Spirit and sweep in everyone who can be swept into His Kingdom. He will do that with signs and wonders that are so miraculous no one will be able to deny Him. However, He can only do that through His people. Only when they get their hearts right before Him…only when they allow Him to cleanse them and use them…only when they will believe His word above the words of the world, will He be able to do that.

I believe this may be one of the most important messages I have ever given to those who read this Newsletter. This world, including the United States of America, is in a time of famine. It isn’t only a famine for the tangible things we have had. It is a famine for the word of God, the Spirit of God and the will of God. If we will sow to the Spirit of God in 2009, we will reap beyond anything we can even pray or ask.

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is found in Isaiah 43: 18-19. This is for all of us who want to grow in the Lord and see His miraculous power working in our lives: “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new. Now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it?” As we leave 2008 behind, let’s forget the past and dedicate ourselves to the Lord’s service in 2009. We all need to “press for the mark of the prize of the high calling of God” for our lives. (Philippians 3:14)

God has a plan for every person on this earth, no matter where we are or what we have done. If we will seek Him and His will, He will reveal that plan to us. Not only that but He will work through us to accomplish it. His plan for us is for “welfare, not for calamity to give us a future and a hope”. (Jeremiah 29:11)

The time is short before the coming of the Lord. I keep hearing that and hearing that. We don’t know when that time will happen. We are not guaranteed tomorrow…only today…this minute. Let’s use the time we have left to bring all we can to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Let’s sow to the Spirit of God and not to our flesh. When we do, God promises us abundance in every area of our life. His word will never fail, and it will never come back void, but will accomplish that for which He sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)

God bless you in 2009.

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