The Welfare of the Seed-planter

Sowers are special to God
Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving]. (2 Corinthians 9:7 AMP)

There are only a dozen verses and categories where the Bible explicitly showed what or who God loves, and one of them is a cheerful giver.

The Lord already loves us just as we are – His children, His treasured possession. There is nothing in this world that could lessen that, and there is nothing we could ever do to make God love us more than His other children. God’s love is absolute.

But there’s a special action on our part that thrills His heart: Cheerful giving. He is thrilled because with our cheerful giving, He gets to give to us more.

Joyful seed-planters give in faith. They have come to grips that they are not letting go of what little they have, but are actually preparing to receive.

And because they do so in faith, God is pleased. Some pastors put it this way: God’s greatest desire is to be believed.

When we believe God and put our faith in His Words, He is thrilled! And one way to show our faith is in our offerings.

Seed-planters always receive another set of seed for planting.
And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity]. (2 Corinthians 9:10 AMP)

God initiates it, and He sustains it. It is the Lord who provides seed for sowing. And then, He wants us to have seed storage for Him to fill and increase and expand.

He does all this, not for our avarice and senseless gratification, but for us to be busy in good works. Imagine all the good things we can do in the world if money were no object.

We can feed the poor and hungry. And then we need to transport these goods. So God blesses us with trucks. But it’s overseas, and the airport is destroyed by a calamity. It’s either God blesses us with helicopters or C130s, or we have enough finances to rent one. And it’s all because we want to feed the poor and hungry.

So we really need to plant that seed and receive more from God for planting again.

Seed-planters receive bountiful harvests from God
But remember this—if you give little, you will get little. A farmer who plants just a few seeds will get only a small crop, but if he plants much, he will reap much. (2 Corinthians 9:6 TLB)

Given the same circumstances among farmers, if they have the same size of field and the same amount of seeds to sow, naturally we would think that their harvest is the same. But if we factor in the pests, and the ruined crops, or a storm, and even the fertilizers used, then we could rationalize a noticeable difference in yield.

The Father wants to give to His children. But the truth is seed-planters receive more than those who do not. And as God prefers to work within the confines of His Laws, so God blesses the work of our hands. The more work we do on our seeds – praying, anticipating and believing, versus planting and forgetting about it – then the Lord will bless the latter than the former. God doesn’t want us to live in the “desert” where we depend on manna. He wants us to toil the ground and reap a bountiful harvest from it.

Seed-planters who are cheerful tickle God’s heart. In return, God always gives them more seed to sow, and more harvest to enjoy the goodness of God.

The next time you drop that offering in the offering box, set your heart on seed-planting, and sow it in God’s work. Sow it in faith and joy, and anticipate the cycle of another seed-planting opportunity and the pleasures of living in your harvest-rewards.

Image courtesy of Lightstock.

The Curse of the Thief

I n the middle of audit week, our company accountants decided not to show up. As it turned out, they embezzled some money. What struck me the most was that the people who did it were not strangers; they were like mothers and aunts. We saw them almost every day, smile at them, laugh with them, and made plans together. As part of the management team, we ate out and had a friendly good time. It was heartbreaking to realize that the people in the news for some criminal activity had the same profile as those that I had warm and cuddly relations with. But loyalty goes up. My love for God supersedes any other relationship. I feel sad, yes, but I have no inkling to cover for them. If anything, I am upset because I was this close to them, and yet, clueless. My colleagues and I were mixed emotions. On one hand, we felt betrayed. The suspects were like family. We confided in them and planned activities with them in all sincerity and warmth. But maybe, just maybe, they were truthful and sincere...

Acts 2

the king version And when the day of Pentecost had [1] fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly, there came a sound from Heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like fire [2] , and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in [3] other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were Jews dwelling at Jerusalem, devout men out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because every [4] man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, “Behold, are not all these who [5] speak Galilaeans? 8 And how we hear every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesop...

Bishopric and Episkopé: The Ministry of Visitation

The KJV word is bishoprick , which is now archaic in spelling. Most Bible translators didn’t use the modern spelling ‘ bishopric,’ and that, for a good reason. #Acts1v20 For it is written in the book of Psalms: “Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell in it.”, and, “His bishopric, let another take.” A quick google search shows that bishopric means: the office or rank of a bishop. · a district under a bishop's control; a diocese. But looking closely at the Greek word, episkopé, reveals a deeper meaning: a visiting, an overseeing [Strong's]. Here's the kicker: bishopric k is not a desk job; it's fieldwork. An excellent, Spirit-filled bishop or pastor performs the act of visitation. How does one effectively "oversee" a flock? By being with them, by being among them. When God calls one to be a pastor of a people, the expectation is not like that of a manager who stays in the offic...

Acts 4

the king version And as they spoke [1] unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day, for it was now evening [2] . 4 But by now [3] , many of those who [4] heard the Word believed, and the number of the men was about five thousand (5,000). 5 And it came to pass on the next day [5] , that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, 6 and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family [6] of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power, or by what name, have you [7] done this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, “You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9...

The Origins of the Human Race After Adam

Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth; and sons were born to them after the flood. 2 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. 3 And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. 4 And the sons of Javan: Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. 5 By these the isles of the Gentiles were divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations. 6 And the sons of Ham: Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan. 7 And the sons of Cush: Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtechah. And the sons of Raamah: Sheba, and Dedan. 8 And Cush fathered Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one in the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore, it is said, “Even as Nimrod, the mighty hunter before the Lord .” 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 Ou...

Genesis 19

KJVx And there came two angels to Sodom at even, and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. And Lot, seeing them, rose up to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; 2 and he said, “Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways.” And they said, “Nay, but we will abide in the street all night.” 3 And he pressed upon them greatly, and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. 4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter. 5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, “Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them.” 6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door aft...

So...What? Get to Know the English of the Bible

And so I was reading through my Bible one day when I came across this verse: So let me remind you of the Eternal’s enduring love, and why we should praise Him. Let me tell you again how the Eternal gives and gives and gives. All God’s wonders and goodness are done for Israel’s benefit according to His great mercy and compassion. (Isaiah 63:7, Voice ) Then I remembered my email from Dictionary.com : Subsequently, the word “so” just got so interesting. Here's a summary (for my quick reference): How is 'so' being used? 1. as a filled pause, much in the way that “well,” “um,” and “like” are used in conversation 2. To begin with ‘so,’…is to signal that one’s coming words are chosen for their relevance to the listener.” Speaker 1: So, how do you know Myra? Speaker 2: College. Speaker 1: So, I met Myra rock climbing at Yosemite… In this example, the sentence-initial so is being used in tw...

Acts 5

the king version But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has [1] Satan filled your [2] heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own power? Why have [3] you [4] conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied unto men, but unto God.” 5 And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and gave up the spirit [5] , and great fear came on all those who [6] heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wrapped [7] him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about after [8] three hours later [9] when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 An...

Faith vs Godlessness: Re-Crucifying Jesus To Public Shame

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. (Hebrews 6:4-6 NIV) I don't get it. How can a pastor become atheistic ? On the day I read this in my email, a lot of Scriptures came rushing into my heart. (I’ll try to sort most of them below.) I was bothered, and it seems that the only way to get peace about this is to confront it head on. And so I prayed: I put on the helmet of salvation to protect my mind, to protect how I think. I put on the breastplate of righteousness to protect my heart, to protect how I feel. I put on the buckle of Truth to keep it all together... (Ephesians 6:14-17) I can't help but think that in the course of studyi...

Genesis 9

And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. 2 And the fear of you and the dread of you will be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moves upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hands are they delivered. 3 Every moving thing that lives will be meat for you; even as the green herb, I have given you all things. 4 But flesh with the life in it, that is, the blood in it, you must not eat. 5 And surely your blood - of your lives, I will require. At the hand of every beast I will require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother I will require the life of man. 6 Whoever sheds man's blood, by man will his blood be shed: for in the image of God He made man. 7 And you, be fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply in it. 8 And God spoke to Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, 9 “And I , b...

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