Scatter More Seeds and Increase
“There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself. People curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it. He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him. He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.” (Proverbs 11:24-28 WEB)
In this world, there is a principle at work, and that is the principle of sowing and reaping: every seed sown and watered eventually produces a harvest.
“While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”” (Genesis 8:22 WEB)
When you give, that is an act of sowing, and it will have an immediate effect of blessing somebody, but it will also produce a harvest for you in due time.
The kind of harvest you reap depends on the type of seed you sow. If you sow a financial seed, you will receive a multiplied harvest of finances.
“Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work. As it is written, “He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor. His righteousness remains forever.” Now may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness; you being enriched in everything to all liberality, which produces through us thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-11 WEB)
Those who sow generously will reap generously. The apostle Paul confirmed this and encouraged believers to give cheerfully knowing that their gifts go on to bless many people, produce thanksgiving to God, and also abounding grace to the giver.
If we constantly receive but do not give, it will breed the love of possessions, and be detrimental to our own well-being. Hoarding, stinginess, and a scarcity mindset will fester in a person who does not give.
When we step out in faith to worship Jesus through tithing our income and giving as led by the Holy Spirit, we sanctify our hearts from the love of money.
It also has the secondary effect of sowing financial seeds to produce a harvest in our future.
When we give, we are actively putting our trust in the Lord and not in riches. Whenever we give, we can pray for the Lord to multiply our seed for sowing.
As God increases your prosperity and enlarges your coast, get excited about being able to sow even more than before.
I once saw a quote by Mark Batterson, “When God blesses you financially, don’t raise your standard of living. Raise your standard of giving.” This is so succinct and wonderfully true. Covet the privilege of being able to give more.
Material possessions in this world are fun and nice comforts and privileges to have, but nothing beats the honor and joy of sowing into God’s kingdom, sponsoring the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and feeding those in need like widows and orphans, especially those in our household of faith. The rewards for these acts of righteousness will remain forever!
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acts bible 在 Milton Goh Blog and Sermon Notes Facebook 的最佳貼文
The Power of Fasting and Prayer
God’s word reveals to us that fasting has many benefits, such as it being a channel of healing, health, answered prayers, and a great way to cast out unbelief from our hearts.
I'm sure that if God is leading you to fast, He is preparing you to receive a manifestation of blessing!
One benefit we are going to look at is increased sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s voice. We can sense God’s directions for our lives better when we fast.
When the disciples in the early church fasted, it seems like they became more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. They were able to receive God’s instructions and leading easier. It also helped them to make the right decision when faced with a big task.
“Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.” Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” (Acts 13:1-3 WEB)
If you are at a crossroads in life and need to make an important decision, the Holy Spirit may lead you to fast to seek God for His guidance and wisdom.
I believe that fasting makes one’s spirit more in tune with the spiritual things of God so we're able to hear from Him with greater clarity.
This is likely because when we fast, we are denying the flesh of its desires and are more focused on the Spirit.
Whenever fasting is mentioned in the Bible, it is mostly combined with prayer. I would liken fasting to an amplifier, making your prayers more effective by casting out unbelief from your heart and also making you more sensitive to the Holy Spirit and what He wants you to pray for.
Do you need to receive wisdom to make an important decision? Maybe you feel like you can’t sense what God wants from you at this point in time. Perhaps it’s time to dedicate a fast to the Lord, and make it a season to receive and hear from Him.
“Let the husband give his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife her husband. The wife doesn’t have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise also the husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but the wife. Don’t deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn’t tempt you because of your lack of self-control. But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.” (1 Corinthians 7:3-6 WEB)
The Apostle Paul taught that there are seasons whereby we should put aside fleshly indulgences like physical intimacy with your spouse, and just commit time to fasting and prayer.
The last time I fasted, I had to make a decision whether or not to listen to someone who was many years older than me. He preached God’s word locally and overseas.
After my fast, we met up. I could clearly sense that he was speaking nonsense, and I could easily discern the motivations that were shaping his words. It was obvious that his words were not to be trusted.
If I had listened to him I might have wasted precious years of my life doing something that was not God’s will for me.
Don’t overlook the powerful combination of fasting and prayer. We need to hear clearly from God, especially in difficult seasons and moments of standing at crossroads.
You can learn more about New Covenant fasting in my eBook “How to Fast Under Grace”. It is a short read, and it will clear up many misconceptions believers have about fasting: https://www.miltongoh.net/store/p20/how-to-fast-under-grace-milton-goh.html
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Where is Jesus Now?
“Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:24 WEB)
The day is coming whereby Jesus’ prayer request in the verse above will be fulfilled.
We, the church (bride of the Lamb) will be received by our heavenly bridegroom into His Father’s house.
How amazing it will be to live where Jesus is, to see His glory in person.
Did you know that even the apostles who have since fallen asleep in death are not yet exactly where Jesus is?
“In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.” (John 14:2-3 WEB)
Jesus resides with Abba God in the sanctuary that is on the Mount Zion in the Heavenly Jerusalem. That is the location of God’s throne.
The Jerusalem on earth is actually a miniature mirror image of the Jerusalem above. Even the layout is the same—God made sure this was so.
None of the saints are there in the sanctuary yet. Those who are dead in Christ are in a part of Heaven called Paradise which is the garden of God.
“I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; God knows), such a one caught up into the third heaven. I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don’t know; God knows), how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” (2 Corinthians 12:2-4 WEB)
In the original Greek, the word is Paradeison which means “a pleasure garden”. In Hebrew, the name is translated as “Gan Eden”, which is literally the Garden of Eden. Eden also means “pleasure”. Both the Greek and Hebrew agree that it is the Garden of Eden.
So that is where the Garden of Eden and the tree of life went! It was translated up to Heaven, protecting the tree of life from the world-destroying flood, and is now used as a waiting area for the saints.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God.” (Revelation 2:7 WEB)
We see that this is true. The Holy Spirit testifies that the tree of life is now in the Paradise (Garden of Eden) in Heaven. The cherubim with fiery swords who guard the entrance to the garden do not stop the saints there from accessing the tree of life!
The dead in Christ are still waiting for the Rapture so that they can receive their glorified bodies and finally be where Jesus is.
If what I’m saying is not true, then Jesus would not have said to the apostles, “I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.”
We know that the apostles who heard these words spoken by Jesus have already fallen asleep in death.
This promise will be fulfilled at the Rapture. The Lord will come back, and in the air, He will receive us to Himself. The apostles and all the saints will receive glorified bodies, and we will finally be with Jesus!
These days, I find myself reading and re-reading the four gospels a lot because I love to read Jesus’ words and read about Him in action. Such a perfect, wonderful God-Man, and He is our Lord.
Have you read my eBook bundle “Understand the Four Gospels Through the Lens of Grace”? It is packed full of revelations that will make difficult and confusing pieces of Scripture easy to understand. Every parable, miracle, and action is explained.
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acts bible 在 Book of Acts - Read, Study Bible Verses Online 的相關結果
The book of Acts provides a bridge for the writings of the NT. As a second volume to Luke's Gospel, it joins what Jesus "began to do and to teach" (1:1; see ... ... <看更多>
acts bible 在 Acts of the Apostles - Wikipedia 的相關結果
The Acts of the Apostles is the fifth book of the New Testament; it tells of the founding of the Christian Church and the spread of its message to the Roman ... ... <看更多>
acts bible 在 Acts 1 NIV - Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven - Bible Gateway 的相關結果
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the ... ... <看更多>