Freedom From the Law

I’m going to say something that may shock some of you.  Are you sitting down?  Good.  Here it is.

I have stopped trying to live my life by the 10 Commandments.

Are you still with me?  Don’t close the page just yet.  Hear me out (more importantly, hear the Word out) before you decide if I’ve gone off the deep end.

I have stopped trying to live my life by the 10 Commandments.  Do you know how freeing that is?  

I can hear it in your voices now, “Yea, it’s freeing because if you don’t live by the 10 Commandments, you can do whatever you want.”  And, “Well brother, aren’t you just giving Christians a license to sin by saying something like that?”  Man, Christians have been sinning without a license for years.  What does it matter if I give them one?

Let’s go to the Bible for a little more light on the subject.

In the book of Exodus, we find God giving the law to the Israelites.  And watch what He had to do here.  

Ex 29:36-37 “36 And you shall offer a bull every day as a sin offering for atonement.  You shall cleanse the altar when you make atonement for it, and you shall anoint it to sanctify it.

37 Seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and sanctify it. And the altar shall be most holy.  Whatever touches the altar must be holy.”

So, we can see in this passage that sacrifices were offered to atone for sin.  You see, for man to be holy under the Old Covenant, he had to keep the law.  God knew this was impossible.  He instituted the practice of offering a sacrifice to cover up for when man missed it.  That’s what the sacrifice was for.  

Hebrews addresses this too.  In chapter 10 verse 1 it says this,

“1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.

2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.

3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.

4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.”

So, the sacrifices were instituted by God to cover sin, which He cannot be a part of, since He still desired a relationship with His family.  

The reason they had to be instituted is this - God knew that no matter what man did, He couldn’t keep the law.  He knew that man would try as hard as He could, and fail miserably.  

In fact, the Apostle Paul goes as far as to say, in the book of 2 Corinthians 3:7 and 9 to call the law, and the 10 Commandments both “the ministry of death” and “the ministry of condemnation”.  

Wow.  The ministry of death.  The ministry of condemnation.  The 10 Commandments.  I never would have put those two together.

Why does it call it that?  Well, let’s look at what Paul, by the Holy Ghost, had to say about it in Romans.

Romans 7:8-12 (MSG) “Don’t you remember how it was?  I do, perfectly well.  The law code started out as an excellent piece of work.  What happened, though, was that sin found a way to pervert the command into a temptation, making a piece of “forbidden fruit” out of it.  The law code, instead of being used to guide me, was used to seduce me.  Without all the paraphernalia of the law code, sin looked pretty dull and lifeless, and I went along without paying much attention to it.  But once sin got its hands on the law code and decked itself out in all that finery, I was fooled, and fell for it.  The very command that was supposed to guide me into life was cleverly used to trip me up, throwing me headlong.  So sin was plenty alive, and I was stone dead.  But the law code itself is God’s good and common sense, each command sane and holy counsel.”

I like the way the King James translates verse 9.  “For I was alive without the law once” but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.”  He then goes on to say that the law, which was ordained for life, was death.  

1st Corinthians 15:56 tells us that the law is what strengthens sin.  When you attempt to follow the law, it strengthens the hold sin has on your life.

So then how have I been able to stop trying to live by the 10 Commandments?  It’s quite simple really.  

John 1:14-17

“14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 

15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’”

16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.

17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

Did that hit you the way it hit me?  

The law (the ministry of death and condemnation, remember) was given through Moses, but GRACE AND TRUTH came through Jesus Christ.  The Word (Jesus), FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH!

Wow.  So, now, the Bible has drawn a line in the sand.  There’s the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of death, and Jesus, who is full of grace and truth!

So then, what is this grace?  Oftentimes, we just think of it as a free gift.  Unmerited favor.  But it’s so much more than that.  Grace is an enablement.  

Hebrews 12:28 says this, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may SERVE God ACCEPTABLY...”

So, grace is what enables us to serve God acceptably.  Wow.  

You see, when I’m trying to serve God by following the law, I’m actually strengthening sin in my life, because I’m trusting in myself to measure up.  This brings me right back to death.

But when I trust in the grace, it isn’t about what I can do in the natural. It’s about what He can do.

I don’t need something to show me I can’t do it on my own. I know I can’t. But I know that the grace of God, which lives within me, can. I trust in that grace to measure up. I trust in that grace to hit the mark.

I believe we have a little more ground to cover.  Romans 4:15 in the New Living Translation says this, “For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)”

What does that mean?  

I’m going to give you an example I heard Dr. Creflo Dollar give.

If I’m driving on the Autobahn in Germany, I can drive just as fast as I want.  In fact, I might come into the house smiling from ear to ear.  You ask, “What are you so happy about?”  I would respond, “Man, I just got my car up to 150 MPH!  I have never driven that fast before!”

But, if we’re in the United States, and I came in from driving at 150 MPH, I would be checking over my shoulder, making sure there were no cops around, following me.  I would probably be shaking and out of breath.  When you asked me what was wrong, I’d say, “Dude, I just went 150 MPH...I hope the cops don’t find out!”

Do you see the difference there?

Where there is a law to break, it brings punishment.  But without a law, there is no transgression.

So, even though there is no law to break, what is my responsibility?  Is it ok to drive 150 MPH on the Autobahn, and endanger myself, and kill other people in an accident?  

No.

It’s wrong.  But, there is no transgression for simply going 150 MPH.  However, if there is a law against it, even if I don’t endanger anyone, I’ve transgressed the law by driving that fast.

So, we still have God’s standard of behavior, but there is no law to measure up to.  Just grace to rely on.  Where the law said not to commit adultery, and therefore made adultery a temptation that people fell into, grace enables me not to commit adultery.

Grace is the enablement to measure up to God’s standard.  

So, in not trying to keep the law, and trusting in the grace of God, I can serve God acceptably.  I can please Him in everything I do.  

I’m not trying to do this on my own.  I let the grace that is in me do the trying.  I let the grace do the measuring up.  (1 Corinthians 15:10)

Even if I miss the mark, Jesus has already dealt with the sin.  I just repent and move on.  I keep trusting in the grace to empower me to not yield to the sin.  I trust in the grace to enable me to live a life pleasing to God.  I trust in the grace to allow me to do what I’m called to do.  I trust in the grace, and since I trust in the grace, I don’t have to trust in the law.

Galatians 3 refers to the law as a tutor, or a schoolmaster, designed to bring us to Jesus.  It did that by showing us we couldn’t measure up to God’s standard on our best day.  But then we were brought to Christ, and justified by faith, and we are no longer in need of a tutor.

Look out for my next post, later this week, entitled, “Grace: A Higher Standard”.  

I’m going to end with this verse.  Let it penetrate you, and permeate your spirit.

Galatians 2:19-21, and 3:2-3

“What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.

   Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.”

“Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God's Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren't smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it?”

Grace.

A Seed Will Meet Any Need

There are many principles in the Scripture that are important for us to live by, but one of the most important is often overlooked.  Now, this may or may not be intentional, but I do know this-the principle of seed time and harvest is one of the most prevalent themes in the Bible.

In Genesis 8:22 we see one of the first mentions of it by name.  You can see it earlier in Genesis if you look for it, but for the purposes of our study, we will start here.

Genesis 8:22 is after the flood that covered the earth, and God had this to say to Noah,
"While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest...shall not cease."

God Himself said it in His Word-as long as the earth is still here, and it is, seedtime and harvest will be here!

Now, people have gotten the mistaken idea that God only wants them to sow because He wants their money.  No, nothing could be further from the truth.  We find in both the Old Testament and the New Testament that sowing seed was a way for you to open the door, so that God could BLESS you!  Hallelujah!  How exciting is that?  God doesn't just want my money, He wants me to give, so that He can give me even more, so I have more to do His work with!

Look at 2 Corinthians 8-9, and study it for yourself. (see all postings in this blog labeled "Prosperity")   God wants you BLESSED!

That's why this is one of the most fundamental principles in the Kingdom of God.  Mark's Gospel, and the 4th chapter, lays this out perfectly.  In fact, this chapter is one of the best prosperity chapters I've ever read.  There is so much meat in here.

Mark 4, and verse 3,
"Listen!  Behold, a Sower went out to sow...8 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."

Then, look at the 26-27 verses.

"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..."

The Kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground.  That refers to sowing.  This is the basis for the entire Kingdom!  There's no recession in Heaven, because it's a seed based economy!  As long as we're sowing, we're bound to be reaping!

Now, seeing that Jesus placed such an emphasis on sowing seeds, how can this apply to us?  The title of this post is, "A Seed Will Meet Any Need," so what does that mean?

The answer is this-if you have a need in your life, sow a seed.  God will show you what to sow, how to sow, and where to sow, and then, if you let Him, He'll even show you where you're going to be reaping.

So, if you need healing in your body, don't just sit there, and cry about "poor old me, I feel so bad."  No, BLESS God, get out there, and start praying for somebody else!   Someone else needs healing, and as you sow that healing seed, you're paving the way for your harvest.

It's the same thing financially.  I'll give you an example in my own life.  I was believing God for a new job (at His direction-I'll be touching on this soon), and I had a job interview come up.  Well, I knew I needed increase financially.  I felt in my spirit that I needed to pray a few hours before the interview, so I did.

Now, when I prayed, God spoke to me.  I don't mean I heard an audible voice, but inside my spirit, clear as day, I heard the Lord tell me to, "Sow an additional $20 to the Copeland's Ministry, above and beyond your normal partnership."

He didn't have to wait long for me at all.  As soon as He instructed me to do that, I said, "Yes Sir, I'll do it."  I went to my computer, and sat down, and immediately sowed into their ministry.

Fast forward a week and a half (should sleep by night as rise by day, in Mark 4:27), and I got a phone call-I had the job!  Hallelujah!  I then found out how much they were paying me, and my jaw just about hit the floor.  In a week an half, God had increased my annual salary $20,000!  That's THE BLESSING at work!

Now, it's important to know this-I didn't sow $20 believing I'd receive $20,000 back.  I knew increase would come, but I was waiting on His instructions.  I sowed because He said to do it.  That's the way we need to operate.

Did you know that God operates by this principle too?  What is the most famous verse in the Bible?  John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son..."

Like Jesse Duplantis is so fond of saying, "God sowed Christ, and He reaped Christians."

This is the way the Kingdom functions though.  This is the way you and I are supposed to live.  If I have a need, my first thought shouldn't be, "How can I meet this need???"  No, BLESS God, it should be, "What can I sow?  Dear God, I need to sow something!  Tell me what it is Sir!  I'll obey your command!"

So, what do you need in your life?  Is it healing?  Prosperity? Strength?  I don't know what it is, but I do know how you can get your answer-sow a seed!  Find out where He wants you to sow, and then do it.

A seed will meet any need!

Seeing Light

Let's start this post off by looking at the 36 Psalm, and the 9th verse.  It says this.

"For with you is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light."

I believe that passage contains one of the most powerful revelations known to mankind, and we have skipped over it, and treated it as unimportant.  (I'm including myself in that group.)

The revelation is this: In the light of God, you see more light.

What does that mean?

Well, the answer is really very simple.  When we get light on a subject from God, let's say healing or prosperity, too often we want to sit, and wait until we see the whole picture.  But, that's not how God intended for it to work.  He wants us to walk in the light that we have!

What does that mean?  If you learn God wants to BLESS and prosper you, and that you need to tithe and give to activate THE BLESSING, don't sit there and wonder how God is going to meet your needs!

No, BLESS God, you begin to tithe, you begin to give, and as you walk in the light that you have, He will give you more light,  whether it's a place to be, a person to help, a job to take, a phone call to make.  But, you would not have gotten that light if you hadn't walked in the light you had already received.

Psalm 119:105 says it this way,

"Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path."

What does that mean?

A lamp to your feet means the light is only shining around your feet.  That's the area that's illuminated.  It's lighting up the path around your feet.

Now, if you were to sit there, and say, "I'm not gonna take another step in the darkness until I get some more light, and can see what's out ahead of me," you would be wrong to do that.  All you have to do is take a step.

Step forward, and the lamp to your feet moves with your feet.  As you begin walking in the light you have, you'll begin to move forward, and see new things you haven't seen before.  That's what this means-when you walk in the light, you get more light.

Will you walk in the light?  If God has spoken to you, don't sit around and wait.  Do what He said to do.  He'll show you everything you need to know as you come to it, because in His light, we see light.

Walk in the light.  Be ready to receive more light.

Receiving from God

"Do you want to enlarge your capacity to receive from Me?"  The Lord asked Brother Keith that question some time ago, and His instructions were this, "Cultivate a lifestyle of thanksgiving."


What is a lifestyle of thanksgiving?  What does that look like?

I can tell you right now, there are too many Christians, myself included, who walk around complaining about what isn't going right, instead of being thankful for what is.

You see, too many times, we paint the picture that a Christian's life is going to be easy.  It's going to all "pie in the sky".  Well, no, that's not Biblical at all.  The Christian's life isn't going to be easy, but you can win every time.  The Bible tells us that, "Whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith." (1 John 5:4).

So, as a Christian, we are supposed to be overcomers.  More than conquerors.  That's how we are supposed to live our lives.

But what about when things aren't working out just like you thought?  Maybe you thought you were supposed to get a particular job, paying a certain amount, and you didn't get it.  Maybe you know that the Bible says you are the healed of the Lord's, but you are fighting off some symptoms, and you have been for some time. 

Is that the time to get down, and beat yourself up, and say, "This faith stuff just isn't working..."  No!  This is the time to rejoice!  Be thankful!

Now, you may be saying to yourself, "How can you rejoice and be thankful at a time like this?"  It's very simple.  You make a choice.  You say, "I'm going to be thankful, no matter what."

Why is that important?  Well, the Bible tells, "Now thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph in Christ." (2 Corinthians 2:14).

What does that word always mean?  I looked it up for you.  It means, "Every time; on every occasion; without exception, all the time; continuously; uninterr-uptedly, forever, in any event; at any time".

It seems to me like God didn't leave any room for His Word not to work.

If that's the case, we ought to be giving thanks to God, because He is always causing us to triumph!

Furthermore, in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, the Bible tells us, "in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  Notice, He didn't say that everything was His will-remember, we live in a fallen world, that sin has corrupted-but He did say that no matter what, we are supposed to give thanks!That means there is always a reason, a chance to thank God.  If you're still taking in breath, that's a reason to thank God.  If you have one arm that's hurting, thank God the other one doesn't.  If you're knee is bothering you, thank God you're feet aren't!

You see, when you focus on the negative, you begin to close yourself off.  You shut down your heart, and your ability to receive anything.

Think about it for a second.  When you are focused on the negative, and what's going wrong in your life, how likely are you to receive someone correcting you, or trying to help you?  Not very.

You see, that's a trick of the enemy.  If he can keep us looking to the negative, and saying, "Look how bad it is, I don't know how any good can come of this," we will always live in the negative.

Look at the 17 chapter of Jeremiah with me.  Starting in verse 5,

5  Thus says the Lord:    
   "Cursed is the man who trusts in man
    And makes flesh his strength, 
    Whose heart departs from the Lord.

6  For he shall be like a shrub in the desert,
    And shall not see when good comes,
    But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness,
    In a salt land which is  not inhabited.

7  Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
    And whose hope is in the Lord.

8  For he shall be like a tree
    planted by the waters,
    Which spreads out its roots by
    the river.
    And will not fear (see) when heat
    comes.
    But its leaf will be free,
    And will not be anxious in the
    Year of drought,
    Nor will cease from yielding 
    fruit.

So, what is God trying to tell us here?  Well, first off, if you aren't thankful, you aren't trusting God.  There are no two ways about it.  We read earlier that God always causes us to triumph.  So, if I was trusting Him, I would be thankful, because I know I would be winning every time.

So, the unthankful person is like the cursed man.  Even when good things come his way, he doesn't see it!  He inhabits the parched places in the wilderness.  Do you see now why Brother Keith said that unthankfulness makes you dumb?  If you aren't thankful, you'll be in the wrong place, and even if something good were to happen to you, you wouldn't even see it or recognize it as such.

But, let's go ahead and be like the BLESSED man here.  He's like a tree, planted by the waters, always yielding fruit.  In fact, He is so close to the life source (the river, which represents God), that even when the drought (heat) comes, he doesn't fear it, or even see it!  He doesn't stop producing in the year of drought!

The thankful man is not moved by what he sees.  The thankful man is not moved by what he hears.  The thankful man is not moved by situations here on the earth.  The thankful man is moved by one thing, and one thing alone, and that is the Word of God!

He is staying positive, and staying thankful.  No matter what comes his way, He has something to thank God for.  Even if all he's got left is the fact that he's still taking in oxygen, that's something, and he is going to be thankful for it.

Thanksgiving keeps your heart open and receptive, more able to hear from God.  It is a vital part of life for us, if we want to live in THE BLESSING.

So, determine this for yourself today: Do you want to receive more from God?  Do you want to increase your capacity to receive from Him?  If the answer is yes, then begin to cultivate a lifestyle of thanksgiving.

My God Shall Supply Your Need

In keeping with our theme of "Prosperity", I want to look at the subject of Heavenly Supply.

Heavenly Supply is a simple topic. The Apostle John tells us, by the Holy Ghost, "Beloved, I wish that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers." (3 John 2) That tells me that God desires us to prosper financially to the level of our soul's prosperity. There are no limits to how much your soul can prosper, when you renew your mind to the Word of God, so there should be no limits to how much you can prosper financially in this world! Hallelujah!

Now, I want to focus on something that hasn't been talked about much by the church, on the subject of prosperity, and Heavenly Supply.

In 1 Samuel 30:8-10, we find David and his men in a forced march, chasing after the Amalekites, who have captured their wives and children.

8 So David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?" And He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without faith recover all"

9 So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind.

10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so weary that they could not cross the Brook Besor.

So, what I want you notice here is that two hundred of David's men stayed behind, because they were too weak to cross the brook. It would have been dangerous for them to go. So, you read on, and find that they stayed behind, and guarded the supplies.

Now, let's jump on ahead to after the battle, when David and his men had captured the spoil, gotten their wives and children back, and were bringing it back to the men who had stayed behind, guarding the camp.

21 Now David came to the two hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David, whom they also had made to stay at the Brook Besor. So they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near the people, he greeted them.

22 Then all the wicked and worthless men of those who went with David answered and said, "Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any off the spoil that we have recovered, except for every man's wife and children, that they may lead them away and depart."

23 But David said, "My brethren, you shall not do so with what the Lord has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us.

24 "For who will heed you in this matter? But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike."

25 So it was, from that day forward; he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.

Notice that-those who stayed behind, guarding the supplies got the same share as those who went into battle. That's a Godly principle.

We're not quite finished laying the foundation for this. Let's look at what Paul says, by the Holy Ghost, in Romans.

Romans 8:14

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

So notice, people need a preacher, but we could also say that they need someone to send him. That brings us to Philippians (and I promise you, this will all tie together in a minute).

Philippians 4:15-19

15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.

So notice, the Philippian church was partnered with the Apostle Paul. They sent him money and supplies to travel and preach the Gospel to the World!

16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.

17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.

18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.

Now, this is where we want to get. Read this verse carefully.

19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Did you catch it? If you aren't shouting, and running around the room, I'm guessing not.

The Apostle Paul didn't say, "And God shall supply all your need," or, "Your God shall supply all your need," or even, "Our God shall supply all your need." He said, "MY GOD shall supply all your need," Why did he say it that way?

Because when they sowed into His ministry, their needs were met on His level! Hallelujah! They got their needs met on an Apostle's level! They were the ones who stayed behind and guarded the supplies, like David's soldiers, and they got the same reward as Paul, who was like the men who went into battle! They got the same credit that Paul got for his work, so they were able to receive on Paul's level!

My God, do you know what that means? That means my needs aren't met on my level! They're met on the level of the people whose lives and ministries I sow into! When I sow into Brother Copeland's ministry, my needs are met on his level! When I sow into Brother Savelle's ministry, my needs are met on his level! It's met on their level, because that's the way God works.

This may seem a little strange, but study this. We're becoming Kingdom minded. This is the way the Kingdom works. God will meet your needs on their level, and then, according to 2 Corinthians 9:10 He multiplies the seed you have sown! That means you're not just reaping what you have sown! You sow your seed into the ground, and God adds to it.

Think of it this way. If I plant a corn seed, I'll get one corn plant, with ears of corn on it. That's a seed producing after it's own kind. But, if I sow a corn seed, and God sows three corn seeds on my behalf, I will reap four corn plants, with ears on each! The seed I sowed was supernaturally multiplied! That's what we're talking about here!

We need to become Kingdom minded, instead of being so Babylonian minded. This is how the Kingdom of God works! He meets your need on a level higher than your own, and then He goes and multiplies the seed you've sown! He even ministers the seed to the sower! It all comes from Him, and He has set it up so that you can reap the benefits of it, and become a carrier of THE BLESSING to the earth, hallelujah!

If you need a breakthrough, find a good ministry, and start sowing seed. A financial harvest never comes before a seed has been sown. You let God tell you where to sow, and He will meet and supply your every need. You must always be sowing seed. A seed will meet every need. And remember, when you sow, your needs aren't met just on your level! They're met on the level of those whom you have sown into! God will supply your every need! That's what it means to be a covenant partner in ministry!

Heavenly seed produces Heavenly harvest! Praise God, I just preached myself happy!

Abound in this Grace Also

If you are my friend on Facebook or follow me on Twitter, you will notice that I have been posting a lot about the subject of prosperity.

Now, for some reason, prosperity is a divisive subject in the Body of Christ. The Bible makes its position on prosperity crystal clear.

I have been studying prosperity for the last few weeks, because not only do I need a manifestation of prosperity, the Church needs a revelation on prosperity. We will never usher in the End Times move of God if we are not prosperous.

So, without further ado, let's dive on into this subject.

2 Corinthians 8:7, Paul is writing, and he says,

"But as you abound in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us-see that you abound in this grace also."

So, Paul is talking about grace. They've done a good job in these graces, but there is one that they are missing.

Verse 8, he says,

"I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others."

So, apparently, what Paul is about to tell us is a test of the sincerity of our love.

Verse 9

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes, He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." (A quick note on that verse. The Greek word translated "rich" means, "financially wealthy". This is not referring to spiritual riches, but wealth.)

So, what Paul is saying is that, "Our prosperity is a measure of the sincerity of our love." (Oh man, I'm gonna get some comments on that statement!)

Now, before we go any further, I need to deal with something here. When did Jesus become poor? Because whenever Jesus became poor shows us when we have the right to be made rich.

We know that poverty, sin, sickness and disease, and separation from God are under the curse. (Read Deuteronomy 28-it will tell you what the Blessing is and what the curse is). We don't have space in this post to talk about Jesus' earthly ministry, but suffice it to say, He never broke a commandment from God, so God's Covenant mandated that He walk in The Blessing while He was here on the earth.

So, let's examine each of these aspects here.

2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us that, "He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

Well, that gives us something else we need to look up. Jesus became poor at some point, and He became sin at some point. When did that happen?

1 Peter 2:24

"Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, the we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed."

Two things from that verse.

1. The stripes on His back purchased your healing. So, a transaction had to be made. Just like with sin and poverty, Jesus had to be made sick at some point.

2. This verse also tells us when. He bore our sins when? On the tree. So, Jesus took our sins upon Himself on the tree.

Now, when did Jesus become separated from God? On the cross He cried out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?" (Matt. 27:46) So, Jesus was separated from God on the cross.

We have two separate portions of scripture that tells us Jesus was made a curse at the cross. Let's look at a third one (the Bible says in the mouth of two or three witnesses let every word be established-2 Corinthians 13:1). What we're doing is building an irrefutable case, so that no doubt can creep into your mind about God's will for you to prosper.

Galatians 3:13

"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree")"

So, Jesus became a curse when He hung on the cross. That means that was when He became poor, that was when He became sin, that was when He became sickness, and that's when He became separated from the Father.

So, we were given the right to be called sons of God when Jesus was separated from the Father.

We were given the right to be healed when Jesus was made sick.

We were given the right to be righteous when Jesus became sin.

We were given the right to prosperity when Jesus became poor.

All of that happened at the cross! That means, the second you made Jesus the Lord of your life, in the spirit, you were made healed, righteous, a son of the Living God, and prosperous. Now it's up to you to walk it out.

Now that that is established, let's continue on.

The Corinthian church abounded in many graces at the time Paul wrote 2 Corinthians by the Holy Spirit, but they did not abound in prosperity. That's what Paul is saying, "See to it that you abound in prosperity also."

Now, one thing people say about prosperity all the time is, "Well, I give, but I never get anything back." I think you need to read on a little more.

2 Corinthians 9:1-2

"Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: for I know your willingness (to give)" (Parenthesis mine)

So, Paul is telling the church here that they knew how to give, but they didn't know how to receive.

He said he didn't have to tell them about giving, and ministering to the saints. He said it was "superfluous."

The dictionary defines superfluous as, "being more than is sufficient or required; excessive."

We could read it this way. "It would be excessive for me to exhort you to give. You have demonstrated your willingness time and time again."

So, we can now see that people can sow seed without reaping a harvest. That means we have to learn how to reap our harvest.

Verse 6

"But this I say. He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."

So, your harvest is dependent upon the seed you sow.

Notice, it isn't a dollar amount. Only you can define sparingly or bountifully in your own life. The greatest offering spoken of in the Bible is the widow's mite. She sowed all she had.

Now, according to the commentaries I have looked at concerning this passage, the two coins she sowed were equivalent to 6 minutes worth of pay. They were all she had. She had nothing.

But, she sowed what she did have. That was her significant seed. To the widow, this was a bountiful offering, and there is no doubt in my mind that the Blessing overtook her like it was promised to in the 28th chapter of the book of Deuteronomy. She received a harvest on that seed, and I believe she was never poor another day in her life.

Verse 7

"So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver."

Never let anyone force you into giving. You don't give to meet a need, or because of a desperate plea. No! You give for the purpose behind the need. I don't give to a ministry so that they can have enough money to put on a crusade or special meeting, I give because I know that as I give, I'm helping get people saved, healed, delivered and set free. That is the purpose behind the need!

Verse 8

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work."

So, we're back to grace now. We know prosperity is a grace, and that we are supposed in that grace. Now, because of our sowing, God is able to make all grace abound toward you!

That means, if you're a sower, the grace to prosper is abounding towards you. All that's left is for you to receive it! God's done everything He's ever going to do about your prosperity-that was bought and paid for on the cross.

Verse 9

"As it is written: He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor, His righteousness endures forever."

Verse 10

"Now may He who ministers seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness."

You are never without seed. If you are without financial seed, it is because you aren't a sower. He will minster seed to the sower. If you don't have any seed, determine that you will sow whatever seed you get. Start it off with prayer time, or something. You need to sow to get in on this grace.

Now, I want to get to this point here. God will multiply your seed sown. What is the multiplication of seed sown?

Well, let's look at it in the natural. If I sow 1 corn seed, I will reap 1 corn plant. On that plant will be many ears of corn, but I will still only have one plant. So, there is some blessing there, and that is right and good.

Now, let's say I sow 1 corn seed, and you come up behind me and sow 5 corn seeds. Well, when harvest time comes, I am now going to reap 6 corn plants, because the seed was multiplied in the ground.

The same thing happens when you sow seed in faith. God will multiply the seed you have sown. He can do it a few different ways. One of the ways is that He can have angels supernaturally multiply the seed you have sown.

Another way is through covenant partnership. For example, if you, I and someone else, are told to each sow $10 into someone's ministry, we don't just receive credit on the $10. We receive credit on the whole thing! Heaven has it recorded that each one of us sowed $30, and that is credited to your account! That is the multiplication of seed sown!

So, God wants you prosperous. In fact, He needs you prosperous!

Start believing God! Abound in this grace! Expect harvest! Expect your seed to be multiplied! But the first thing you have to do is sow.

Find yourself some good ground, and sow seed. Get involved in what God is doing.

This isn't something you have to work for-Jesus bought and paid for in His death, burial, and resurrection! As you walk in your sonship, realize that Jesus already did all this for you! He paid the price so you don't have to.

This isn't works. We don't prosper so we can boast about our prosperity, or tell people what hotshots we are. We prosper so that God can show His goodness! We prosper so that we can finance this end times move of God!

Remember that. You need to abound in this grace also.

There may or may not be more posts coming in this series. Be blessed!

The Honor and Power Connection-Where is the Power?

I've come to a realization lately. There is something missing. I don't mean there is something missing from myself, or God, or anything like that. I mean, there is something missing from the Body of Christ. The missing element is power.

We all pray for God to turn up the power, but do we live our live's in a manner that qualifies us for more power? Are we doing what the men and women of God before us did to see the manifestations of the mighty, miracle working, power of God in their lives? I don't think so.

The first part of this series is something the Lord has been ministering to me for quite a while now. It is simply called, "The Honor and Power Connection." Now, when He first spoke it to me, I was a little confused, and I didn't quite understand the meaning behind it. Thankfully, He is a patient teacher, and He is showing me what I needed to know.

So, the first thing we have missed in the church is giving God honor. There is a severe lack of reverence in the church today. I'm sure we've all seen services where people are on their cell phones, texting away, or something to that extent. I was even at a meeting, and during the ALTAR CALL people we're streaming for the exits-just because the wanted to leave the service. A few nights later at this meeting, one of the ministers stood up there, and told people this altar call isn't time to leave, it's time to pray, because people are being ushered into the Kingdom of the Almighty God, and people still left.

It saddened my spirit greatly to see people treat such an important event so lightly.

Reverence is very important, and it's something we've lost in the church. I was having a conversation with my friend, Brother Jeff Weber, and we were discussing some of these things, and he made this statement, "Reverence is appropriate activity in the Presence of God." That blessed me so much Brother Jeff (and if you're reading this now, thank you).

Let's look at a view verses that examine this subject of honor. In 1st Samuel, chapter 2, we find the Lord talking to Eli, the chief priest of Israel. If you read the surrounding verses, you find that Eli's sons we're wicked, evil men; stealing offerings from the Lord, and slept with the women who came to the tabernacle. Now, Eli was told about this, but didn't stop it, or remove them from the ministry. Verse 30 says,

"Therefore the LORD God of Israel says, 'I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.' But now the LORD says, 'Far be it from Me, for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.'"

Let's break apart that word, 'despise'. It doesn't mean to hate, or detest, or some of the strong meanings we have put on it today. In the Hebrew text, it means, "to treat lightly, and as of no importance." So, if we treat God's things lightly, and as if they have no importance, He has to treat us the same way. It's in His Word, and He is bound by His Word, to the point that He has exalted His Word even above His Name!

But now, look at this, did God promise Eli and his family that they would walk before the Lord, and be His priests forever? Yes. However, Eli and his family's lack of honor caused the Lord to then go and remove them from that position.

Is honor important to God?

If we honor God, He will honor us.

If we treat His things as light, unimportant, trivial, a waste of time, how is He gonna treat us? The same way.

He gives us the honor that we give Him.

Romans 13:7 tells us this,

"Render therefore to all their due, taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor."

So, if we are commanded, by Scripture, to give honor to whom honor is due, shouldn't God be getting honor? Shouldn't we be glorifying Him in all that we do, not just in the church, but in our everyday lives? Shouldn't we allow Him to speak to us at all times, keeping an ear open to Heaven? And when we hear His voice, shouldn't we listen to it, and do what He is telling us to do?

I think the answer is quite clear-the power is connected to the reverence, and to the honor, and to the Glory we give to Him.

We haven't been giving Him enough.

In our next post on this subject, we're going to examine how to turn up the power, and what happens as the power is turned up. I'm excited for where God is taking this!