Planting Seeds by Marsha Burns
Ask for wisdom in sowing seeds for the next harvest. This is a significant time when the seeds of kindness and generosity will produce an usual, "greater than" harvest in the months to come. It is important that you treat others with the same respect and kindness as you believe you deserve. Be righteous.
"While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease." (Genesis 8:22)
It seems that almost every year at this time, God gives me a heads-up about planting—sowing seeds that will bring a good harvest.
"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." (Galatians 6:7)
I believe that we need to think about the kind of harvest we want to gather in as the seeds we sow take root and grow and mature.
"And He said, 'The Kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.'" (Mark 4:26-29)
We each have to determine what seeds we need to sow to produce the harvest we desire. We must begin with fruit...the fruit of the Spirit:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23)
"For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth." (Ephesians 5:9)
In order for us to reap the fruit of the Spirit, we have to sow the seeds of goodness, righteousness and truth—actually allow those attributes to become part of who we are. Those seeds are the choices we make in our lives as we respond to life's circumstances and people appropriately—according to the movements of the Spirit and not the works of the flesh.
"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21)
If we want flesh to grow up and produce its own harvest, all we have to do is be immoral, control and exploit others, get drunk, be jealous, angry, hateful, selfish, sow discord, etc.
What do we want?
Elevation!
We always have opportunities to move higher spiritually, but we need to sow seeds of desire by seeking and drawing near to God.
"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:8)
This will undoubtedly lead to receiving His wisdom and revelation, the fruit of being in close relationship with Him.
Seeds of Prosperity
"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." (3 John 1:2)
Good health depends on the prosperity of the soul. To be prosperous of soul—mind, emotions, will—is to be one with Christ, thinking and expressing feelings as He does, and doing as He wills. (Photo via Unsplash)
"As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." (John 17:18-23)
Prosperity, Favor and Blessings
"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." (Luke 6:38)
"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." (2 Corinthians 9:6)
This doesn't necessarily mean quantity, but rather quality...giving with a generous heart, unselfishly, gladly.
"So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7)
Better Relationships
"And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise." (Luke 6:31)
To have a friend, you must be a friend. We need to remember this—the sower went out to sow!
"'And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.' And He said to them, 'He who has ears to hear, let him hear!'" (Mark 4:4-9)
"The sower sows the Word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the Word is sown. When they hear, satan comes immediately and takes away the Word that was sown in their hearts.
"These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the Word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the Word's sake, immediately they stumble.
"Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the Word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful.
"But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the Word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred." (Mark 4:14-20)
Let's sow good seeds in abundance that will yield a bountiful and fruitful harvest in the season to come!
Living in God's Power by Bill Burns
Question: Are you living in God's power, and is it possible to live in the supernatural strength and power of God?
It is God's will for His people to live in His power and strength according to the Scriptures.
"...The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power." (Ephesians 1:18-19)
"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us." (Ephesians 3:20)
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." (Ephesians 6:10)
"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 2:1)
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)
The Scriptures prove that it is God's will for us to live in His power and strength and to be courageous. Be resolute! (Photo via Snappy Goat)
What About Our Weakness?
"And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
When I recognize my weakness, then I can ask for and receive God's strength!
"And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens." (Hebrews 11:32-34)
"My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Psalm 73:26)
God's will for us makes His power and strength possible, and it is our faith that makes it possible to live in God's power and strength.
"...What is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe according to the working of His mighty power." (Ephesians 1:19)
Have Courage
The angel said to Joshua, "Be strong and of good courage." And the apostle Paul said, "Be brave. Be strong." When you trust in the Lord and live in His strength and power, you will become brave and courageous, and fear will not abide in you.
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him." (Psalm 28:7)
The danger of being "cowardly" and allowing unbelief is amplified in Revelation 21:8: "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
What to Do
1. Believe God's Word. It is His will for you.
"Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many." (Proverbs 4:10)
2. Establish faith.
"But what does it say? 'The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart...'" (Romans 10:8)
That is the Word of faith that we preach.
Verse 17 says: "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."
Meditate on the Word!
3. Declare His will and Word.
"So Jesus answered and said to them, 'Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, "Be removed and be cast into the sea," and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.'" (Mark 11:22-24)
"You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways." (Job 22:28)
David's Declaration
"For You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord shall enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop; by my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? God is my strength and power, and He makes my way perfect." (2 Samuel 22:29-33)
My Declaration
"...Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." (Ephesians 6:10)
I am strong in spirit, soul and body! I am strong in the Lord, and His strength is over my weakness.
Bottom Line: According to Romans 8:11, the Holy Spirit will quicken or "give life" to our mortal bodies. His spiritual power will invigorate us to increase our physical life and make us strong.
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Bill and Marsha Burns
Faith Tabernacle
Email:Â streamlining@gmail.com
Website:Â www.ft111.com
Bill and Marsha Burns are pastors of Faith Tabernacle in Kremmling, Colorado. Bill has a powerful prophetic gifting. His heart is to equip the Body of Christ for the work of the ministry. Marsha is a teacher and prophet with pastoral anointing. She has been commissioned by the Lord to prophesy to the nations through "Small Straws In a Soft Wind" sent out via the Internet.
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