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| ISBN-13: | 9781524614140 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | AuthorHouse |
| Publication date: | 07/06/2016 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 110 |
| File size: | 191 KB |
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A Season of Harvest
By Jonathan E. Owhe
AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2016 Jonathan E. OwheAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5246-1412-6
CHAPTER 1
Weighing In On Wealth
What does the Lord think about wealth and distribution of wealth? Let me add another question, "why are some people poor while others are rich in our world? Is God partial? Does he discriminate? Does he value some people more than others? Are there favorites with Him? These are interesting questions to ask God isn't it, especially in our time and age, when the wealthy are getting wealthier, the poor are getting poorer, the rich churches are amassing more riches, but only very few are coming to the aide of the small poverty stricken and struggling churches and congregations.
I know everyone have an opinion or world view on this subject and it all depends on what aisle you are seating or standing or what lenses you are wearing to examine these questions. But the Word of God and His Anointing provides us answers to situations, circumstances and thoughts of men and those in our lives, especially regarding poverty and riches.
We read in God's Word a wonderful story:
"And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:16-30
When truth is taken to an extreme it becomes an error. That is what some have done with what the Lord Jesus is saying here. He is not implying that the pursuit of material wealth or riches is evil, neither the acquisition of it is wrong, but rather it is the misrepresentation, misapplication, misappropriation or misplacement of priorities based upon its usage. In other words, when money losses its significance or purpose, abuse or neglect is inevitable.
Wealth or money by all means has no identity or preference, it is a legal tender (has the power or ability to purchase or acquire) but it takes on the identity of whoever has it. If it is in the hands of godly and righteous persons it does righteous deeds, and if it is the hands of ungodly or unrighteous person, it does unrighteous deeds.
There is nothing bad in wealth. It is the greed, love and consummation of it that is detrimental. "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, andpierced themselves through with many sorrows." 1 Timothy 6:10. (KJV)
Therefore the abuse or neglect of wealth's purpose by those who have been endowed with it by God becomes a limiting factor from God's perspective. Why? Because we see in the encounter that Jesus had with this man, that as rich as he presents himself towards God's laws, he had a challenge in sharing or distributing his earthly riches with the poor, implying that two wrongs cannot make a right. Righteous monetary hands cannot produce unrighteous monetary deeds which is greed or the neglect of the poor.
This brings us to this question, could there be a possibility that God will give wealth to those who have the dexterity or inclination to assert themselves and turn threats, difficulties and hardships into opportunities, but with condition that they consider those with lesser or weak mind or spirit to tap into opportunities? There is a saying, that "there is diamond in the rough."
It is truthful to know that there are men and women that have worked to build their businesses, estates, mansions and empires at the expense of their workers, or laborers who worked for them.
"1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.2Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.3Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.4Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.5Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.6Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. James 5:1-6 (KJV)
God wants those of us that have achieved fortunes or are more fortunate in life to treat those that are less fortunate or poor in our families, churches and community, with equity, fairness and just recompense. Proverbs 19:17 says that he that gives to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will give him his reward. Ex.22:25; 23:3; Lev 19:10; 23:22.
At the same time, it is important to understand that God has given every man and woman gifts, potential, talents and abilities irrespective of their status, race, and gender, national or ethnic origin. God is no respecter of persons.
"45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" Matt 5:45 (KJV)
God wants everyone to be industrious, hardworking and able to trade with whatever gifts, talents or abilities that they have been endowed with for their own betterment and for that of others.
"He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come." Luke 19:12-13. (KJV)
If there is anything that God hates, it is laziness and wishful thinking, or individuals that make all kinds of excuses and wrong choices and never learn, and those who just sit around and wait for a hand out. "30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof and the stone wall thereof was broken down. 32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. 33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man. Prov 24:30-34 (KJV)
There was a time we had hundreds of churches coming under our ministry across the world, and the Lord gave us an economic empowerment strategy to help these pastors and the congregation. We were to teach them how to fish, so that they won't keep coming back to us for fish. We designed financial independent package with a microeconomic program, but they rejected it and still wanted handouts or more fish, and God said "cut them loose", and we did.
While God seeks for the welfare of all, he also seeks for none exploitation of the wealthy by the poor and vise visa. There must be a balance between what pertains to the wealthy and what pertains to the poor.
To the poor he says, do something with what I have given you and to the wealthy, he says, since you already have, share and distribute what I have given you with the poor to achieve greater wealth and fulfillment.
The symbol of wealth whether financial, health or family name or reputation, is the satisfaction, peace and serenity that comes with it and its impact on others. God forbids us to hoard and be self-absolved in our own world and wealth and not consider the plight of the poor or less fortunate individuals, families, churches and communities. Everything in life is a balance.
God is a giver of riches "18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. Deut 8:18 (KJV). "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of host."Haggai 2:8.(KJV). He wants His people to be rich, to have houses, land, cars, etc, but not at the expense or detriment of their life, soul and relationship with Him and their fellow humans.
If God did not put a stipulation that wealth is bad, except for the love of it (abuse and neglect), and states that wealth is a defence (Ecc 7:12), then it is a powerful ministry and need to be explored.
CHAPTER 2Seed Time and Harvest Time
I have read, witnessed, heard and seen from my personal giving experience and that of our church, that when you sow financial seed, there is a financial return and more. Our church has witnessed firsthand, my Treasurer will tell you, how in some months the finances will be below what is needed to meet the budget, but we went on and sent out the tithe and offering anyway to ministries and missions, and at the end of the month, we were able to meet the budget. How? Only God knows. He does the work as we obey His law of harvest.
There came a time when we lost sight of this SEEDING due to overwhelming bills (construction, projects, etc), and concentrated on paying just bills, and nothing was going out in terms of tithe or offering. Then we started experiencing massive attacks on our projects, ministry and finances. HAVESTING ceased. Loses were coming from everywhere. After couple of months, it dawn on me to check our SEEDING record, and I discovered that we have stopped SEEDING. As a result we were losing more than we were getting, and things were becoming more difficult.
God made a declaration and released an anointing of HARVEST rooted in SEEDING. "21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. 22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease" Gen 8:21-22 (KJV)
To say not the least, everything in life, consist of Sowing and Reaping and Inhale and Exhale. You are a product of some seeding whether planned or by default. Everything begins in a SEED FORM and translates into a HARVEST EXPERIENCE. People are harvesting fruits off you from the seeds that have been deposited or planted in you whether positively or negatively.
What people are harvesting off you translates into a seed from which you are also harvesting off them. The Lord Jesus said good harvests don't just happen it is a product of the good seed and the environment.
Sowing Seed and Harvesting is a Spiritual as well as a Physical law. Matt 7:16-18; Matthew 13:19-23.
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."Galatians 6:7-9.(KJV)
It is impossible to sow good seed and reap a bad harvest, except where that seed or planting has been compromised or corrupted? Matthew 7:15-18.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this." Matt 13:27-28 (KJV)
1. All Seeds Translates into Expectation. Ecclesiastes 11:1
The Shunammite woman sowed a seed of good deeds but was not expecting a harvest. 2 Kings 4:8-13. When the man of God called and wanted to release harvest into her life for the seeds she has sown, she said to Elisha "I am OK and do not need anything." Not operating in expectation is a violation of SEED TIME AND HARVEST TIME. Elisha had to correct this in the life of this woman, by applying THE LAW OF DEPOSIT & WITHDRAWAL. 2 Kings 4:13-16.
What you are not expecting, you carelessly ignore and now are being harvested by someone else. What you are not expecting, Satan will mess up or steal. Matthew 13:19. What you are expecting, you will guard and protect. Genesis 15:8-11. While Abraham was waiting on his harvest, a response from God regarding the covenant anointing, the birds (robbers or spoilers of our seeds) invaded the sacrifice, he stood up a drove them away.
2. Satan's attack on Our Harvest Awaken our Expectation. 2 Kings 4:18-20
Satan attacked the Shunammite woman's harvest and robbed her of her harvest, but what he underestimated was the power of expectation and withdrawal. Romans 8:22-25. You have cut the flower, but there is seed in the ground. She engaged Satan with the offensive weapon of Expectation. Ephesians 6:10-12; 2 Corinthians 10:3-4; Romans 5:3-5.
3. The Shunammite Woman used the Powerful Weapon of Expectation to Defeat Satan. 2 Kings 4:21-37.
What did she do?
1. She dialed J.E.S.U.S. and waited for connection.
2 Kings 4:21. She placed the vision on the altar of sacrifice; she went into her prayer closet and rested the matter in God's hands. Ps 37:5-7
2. She kept the matter within the confine of faith. 2 Kings 4:22-23
She did not faint, scream, weep, cause commotion or sort people's sympathy as most people will do, but like Abraham, she operated in Expectation. Hebrews 11:17-19. A divine loyalty backed with the expectation for result.
3. She went Hunting (Seeking). 2 Kings 4:24-25. She went in search of the solution rather than being part of the problem. Many of God's children come to Church without Kingdom Attitude. They are not seekers, but spectators. Wise men still seek for Jesus. Jeremiah 29:12-13.
4. She maintained a positive confession. 2 Kings 4:23, 26; "All is Well" Proverbs 18:21. She spoke life into her situation despite the adversarial circumstances.
5. She activated the 11 Commandment. "Thou shalt not Quit." 2 Kings 4:29-30.
The Shunammite woman came to the realization that she has a Deposit (seed in the ground) and the moment has come for her to cash it or make a withdrawal. She presented her check to the man of God and cashed it from her deposit vault. HER SON WAS RESTORED BACK TO LIFE.
The kind of deposit SEED IN TIME you have will determine your HARVEST IN TIME.
CHAPTER 3Why Give?
GIVING STARTED WITH GOD
John 3:16
"16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. " (KJV)
Think of all the things that the Lord has done for you, your family, ministry and business, over the years and at the present. There is a knowing of this fact by men and women who by personal experiences, have been stripped of almost every material or temporary blessings in their lives, that God is the giver of all blessings.
In God giving (to make atonement, amend, restore, redeem, reconcile and deliver from Satan's bondage and dominion, mankind) to the world, He gave His best, HIS ONLY SON. John 3:16. Think about that. Consider where we were, and what God did for us. Ephesians 2:11-13, says, we were without God, aliens to the commonwealth of Israel, without hope and destitute of the life and opportunities that God offers. But God in His infinite riches and mercies reached down and delivered us from the bondage of Satan's oppressive regime and opened the door to freedom, rest and peace.
GOD MADE AN INVESTMENT
"So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business till I come." Luke 19:13 (NKJV). The first financial planner and investor or businessman to ever exist is GOD. This is huge in terms of debt freedom and fiscal responsibilities. We are stewards of God's manifold blessings.
Everyone whether born again or not is a recipient of God's love and life,
"Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." Genesis 1:26. (KJV). (Psalm 24:1)
Based on this understanding, we "9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine." Prov 3:9-10 (KJV)
Not that that we loved God, but He first loved us, the Word says in 1 John 4:10. It is His love in us that provokes a give back attitude. When this is the case, your giving creates a supernatural wave or flow that releases divine favor upon which our blessings landfalls.
CHAPTER 4Weapon of War
Giving is both a natural and supernatural weapon with potent results just as the ballistic and antiballistic missiles. "12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. Eccl 712 (KJV)
In order for there to be a release of the bullet, the trigger must be pulled. In Genesis 22:1-18, we see a brazen scene of unproportioned request and the human unparalleled obedience to fulfil. The proving of Abraham's faith in asking him to offer his son as a sacrifice, gave him an eternal release that sealed his covenant blessings.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from A Season of Harvest by Jonathan E. Owhe. Copyright © 2016 Jonathan E. Owhe. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Table of Contents
Contents
Your Season of Harvest, ix,Dedication, xi,
Acknowledgement, xiii,
Preface, xv,
Chapter One Weighing In On Wealth, 1,
Chapter Two Seed Time and Harvest Time, 7,
Chapter Three Why Give?, 11,
Chapter Four Weapon of War, 13,
Chapter Five The Giving Anointing, 17,
Chapter Six The Deposit Anointing, 21,
Chapter Seven Sacrificial Giving, 27,
Chapter Eight Cheerful Giving, 31,
Chapter Nine Tithe & Offering, 33,
Chapter Ten Taking an Offering, 37,
Chapter Eleven The Ministry Of First Fruits, 39,
Chapter Twelve Fruitfulness, 45,
Chapter Thirteen Financial Favor, 47,
Chapter Fourteen Financial Drain, 51,
Chapter Fifteen Vow, 57,
Chapter Sixteen You are Blessed, 63,
Chapter Seventeen Asking and Receiving, 65,
Chapter Eighteen The Divine Formula, 69,
Chapter Nineteen The Double Door, 71,
Chapter Twenty Be Still, 73,
Chapter Twenty One Claim Your Inheritance, 75,
Chapter Twenty Two Combination Lock, 77,
Chapter Twenty Three Enlargement, 81,
Chapter Twenty Four Heaven Solution, 85,
Chapter Twenty Five Helping Hand, 87,
Chapter Twenty Six Hope Rewards, 89,
Chapter Twenty Seven Jehovah-Jireh, 91,
Chapter Twenty Eight Power Prayer to Increase Your Season of Harvest, 93,