dickbraswell

I want to lay out some Certainties in an uncertain World.  Some unmovable principles in a time of shaking and flux.  When things change, what can we hold on to that is unchangeable? 

I believe God want us to be established and steady.  He has given us all that we need to equip us in a crazy and crumbling world.  In the past, His presence and His word has held those who trusted in Him.  In the face of death and danger, they were strong and courageous.  They did not flinch. They did not retreat.  They did not whimper and complain.  They were strengthened by His Presence and by His Word.

Hebrews 7:

²⁴But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

²⁵Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

2Cor 1:

²⁰For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

²¹Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

²²Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

2Cor 5:

¹For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

²For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

³If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

⁴For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

⁵Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

⁶Therefore we are always confident….

Eph 1:

 

¹³In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

¹⁴Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Some things we can be certain about:

1. God is still God and always will be (He is in control)

His Nature.  His Character.  His Will.

He will do what He says He will do

He will always be who He says He is

• His Word is absolute and is totally reliable

Matthew 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

His Word Reveals:  God’s feelings.  God’s purpose.  What to expect in the future. 

• Jesus loves us and always will

What can separate us from the love of God?

Romans 8:

³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

³⁶As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

³⁷Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

³⁸For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

³⁹Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

• The Church is the safest place to be in times of trouble

¹⁸And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

• The Brotherhood of Believers provides comfort in times of strife

1 Thessalonians 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 

• The Truth will make us Free (from all things the devil has or does)

³¹Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; ³²And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

You can be certain  that God is for you and not against you.  He loves you and always will.  He is with you and will never fail you or leave you.  He understands your pain, your sorrow, and your weaknesses.  He wants you.  He has made provision for you.  He has given you Grace innumerable times in the past.  He will be your Fortress.  Your Protection.  Your Solid Foundation.  Your Assurance in times of uncertainty.  He is your Friend.  Your Father.  Your Redeemer.  Your Help in time of Need. 

He will see you through and keep you in spite of any circumstance or situation.

TRUST HIM

Word for Today:  November 24

The Kingdom

“Religious” thinking (this is always a big problem) has removed the Kingdom from where it really is to where we think it is.  When we think of “heaven” we think “far away.”  We think “eternity.”  We think “after we die.”  We think “sometime in the future.”

The devil sees to it that we think wrong about the Kingdom and where it is.  Because he knows that when we find out the Truth, he is doomed.

The Kingdom is in (or within) every believer.   If you are a believer, the Kingdom is inside of you.  Jesus said the Kingdom of God is “within” or “inside” of you.

Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or, lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within (entos:  within, inside) you.”  Luke 17:21

Now, just what is in the Kingdom?   What is there?  What is inside of you?

• Life
• Health
• Peace
• Joy
• Power
• Success
• Prosperity
• Boldness
• Love
• Faith
• Forgiveness
• Patience
• Strength
• Soundness of mind

In fact “all things that pertain to life and godliness” are in you. (2Pet 1:3)   It is all there.  It is inside of every believer.  It came at the time of your conversion.  It is the Kingdom of God and it has come.  It is the Answer to the prayer Jesus prayed in Matthew chapter 6.  It will function when you let it.

All Kingdom resources are in you.

Faith brings them out

Word for Today:  November 23

Jesus’ self-emptying.

(Jesus) Who existing in the Form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation (Kenoo) and took upon Him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross…  Phil. 2:6-8

Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and shall call His name Immanuel…  Isa. 7:13

The Kenosis of Jesus is a Foundation Truth that many have failed to grasp.  Kenosis or “self-emptying” simply declares that Jesus willingly “emptied” Himself of His God Characteristics and condescended to the stature and state of a man… a human being… born of a woman… and came to earth to live and die as part of God’s Plan to Redeem Man from Adam’s failure.

Jesus laid down and left in heaven certain characteristics and privileges He exercised as God.  He willingly emptied Himself of His God Form… His God Power… His God Knowledge… His Eternal Life.  He became subject to sickness, disease, death, failure, sin and any and all human liabilities and limitations imposed by Adam’s sin and failure.  The Scripture tells us that:

He was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin… (Heb. 4:15)

Jesus willingly and obediently subjected Himself to the possibility of sin and the possibility of failure when He put off His God Characteristics and took on Himself the form and limitations of humanity.  He literally risked His Deity.

But He was Victor over temptation.  He was Victor over sin.  He was Victor over every human weakness.  He was Victor over all…

Even death and the grave

Phil. 1:6   Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:  

Rom. 8:28   And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Eph. 3:11   According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

 prothesis {proth’-es-is}

1) a setting forth of a thing, placing of it in view.

2) a purpose

Eph. 5:17   Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

thelema {thel’-ay-mah}

1) what one wishes or has determined shall be done

   1a) of the purpose of God to bless mankind through Christ

   1b) of what God wishes to be done by us

       1b1) commands, precepts

2) will, choice, inclination, desire, pleasure

1Tim. 2:3 -4  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Jer. 1:5   Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Jer. 29:11   For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

There is an “obvious” Will that we know from what the Bible says.  There is a Will that is “not so obvious” that comes from our Relationship with Jesus.

It is not on what we spend the greatest amount of time that molds us the most, but whatever exerts the most power over us.  The disciple who abides in Jesus is the will of God, and what appears to be his free choices are actually God’s foreordained decrees.

                                                                                          Oswald Chambers

What is your Destination?     Where are you headed?  What direction are you traveling in?  What is the fulfilled objective of your life? 

            God has a purpose.  God has a Will.  God’s Purpose is your Destination… your Reason for Being Born.   God’s Will is how you get there… how you accomplish it.    Everything God does He does “on purpose” and “for a purpose.”  Nothing that God has ever done was done “by accident.”  God has a Plan and God has a Purpose.  We are in His unfolding Plan.  This earth is in His unfolding Plan.  This church is in His unfolding Plan.  YOU are in His unfolding Plan. The Purpose of God WILL TAKE  PLACE.    No man can stop it.  No demon can stop it.  No nation can stop it.  No government can stop it.  The devil can’t stop it.  Hell cannot stop it.  It WILL HAPPEN.   You must be convinced that God has an ETERNAL PURPOSE for YOU..  When you discover exactly what that purpose is, and it becomes a REVELATION to you..  Hallelujah..

            Paul writes concerning the Eternal Purpose of God in the Book of Ephesians.  Remember, God has never had but ONE PURPOSE.  That purpose has been and still is an ETERNAL PURPOSE.  While most of the world is caught up in the temporal and the transient and the carnal and the natural… God is looking at the ETERNAL, the SPIRITUAL and the SUPERNATURAL.   All Creation is anxiously awaiting the fulfillment of the Eternal Purpose of God.  Angels and spirit beings and heaven is anxiously awaiting the fulfillment of the Eternal Purpose of God. 

            I want to know God’s purpose for me. 

            I want you to know God’s purpose for you. 

            I want to know God’s Purpose for this church.

            We were born for a purpose and we were brought into the Kingdom for a purpose.  We are alive today and we are here today for a purpose.  You  are in this church for a purpose.  You are where you are spiritually for a purpose.  You will discover this truth if you will listen closely to this teaching.  You will know it and you will rejoice in it BECAUSE IT IS GOOD.  It is better than you can imagine.  And it is happening NOW.   When you discover God’s Purpose you can purpose to do the same thing.  This places you in agreement with God.  When you are in agreement with God you are automatically in disagreement with the devil.  When your purpose is the same as God’s purpose you have all the POWER OF HEAVEN with you..  When your purpose is the same as God’s purpose, you are hooked up to heaven and plugged into Miracle Power.  You are, in effect, walking with God.  When you walk with God you are in agreement with Him and when you are in agreement with Him you can “ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you..”   This keeps you in the place of authority and power and control.  It gives you strength to do what needs to be done.  This is exactly what Paul meant when he said:  “now unto Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us.”  The “power that worketh in us” is the Power of Heaven that is released when we walk in agreement with the Will of God.

            There are four areas we want to explore.  We want to explore and discover (1) God’s Eternal Purpose for Man, (2) God’s Eternal Purpose for the Church, (3) God’s Eternal Purpose for the Earth and (4) God’s Eternal Purpose for Eternity. 

            God’s purpose is like a road map.  We are born at point “A” and God wants us to arrive at point “B.”  Point “B” represents God’s Purpose for us.  Point “A” is where we start.  The Way to get from Point “A” to Point “B” is the Will of God.  We know that the shortest and quickest route from point A to point B is a straight line.  If we flow in the Wll of God, this is always the route we take.  However, most of us do not always flow in the will of God.  We get distracted.  We get sidetracked.  We get off course.  Often we just get lost on the way.  (diagram)   

I.  God’s Will for YOU.

            God’s heart has never changed.  His heart has always been inclined toward man.  It is now and it always has been.  Man was originally created in order that God might have a family.  God wanted companionship.  God wanted fellowship.  God wanted relationship.  God wants to be loved more than He wants to be God.  God wanted to have a family to love and to bless and to keep unto Himself.   God wants to have children that will reciprocate His love.  God is Love, God loves and God wants to be loved..  Do you realize that God made the heavens solely for the benefit of earth? Do you know that God made the earth solely for the benefit of man?  Can you believe that God created all animal life and plant life solely for the benefit of man?  Everything and all things that God created by His power,  were and are created for the benefit of man.     And God made man for Himself.   All of creation is designed to sustain human life.  Scientists are now beginning to recognize that the entire universe has been created and calibrated to support and sustain human life. The original Plan God had is still the same.  It is the Eternal Purpose of God for man.  Even though Satan entered and Adam sinned and death was brought into the earth, God has Eternally Purposed for Man to be His Own.  The Bible says that “God is not willing that any should perish  (lose, be defeated, be lost),  but that all should come to repentance…”     Now, how does man come into the family of God?  Man becomes a child of God only through the NEW BIRTH.  Therefore, we may conclude that God’s Eternal Purpose for man is FIRST that man might be Saved. 

            God’s Will is for you to BE SAVED.    God wants the entire human race to be birthed into His family.  God purposes for man to be SAVED.   POTENTIALLY the entire human race (both born and unborn) were redeemed from sin when Jesus died on the cross.   What is involved in salvation?  God has a part and man has a part.  God’s part is called REGENERATION and man’s part is called REPENTANCE.  When we repent of our sin and believe in our heart that Jesus is Messiah and when we openly and unashamedly confess our heart-belief, we are BORN AGAIN.  God impregnated us (natural man)with His Life and we are made Supernatural men..  God’s Life comes into us along with all of God’s Characteristics and we become the Sons of God..  “But as many as received Him to them gave He power to become the Sons of God…”  John 1:12.  God’s Life comes into you, God’s Power comes into you, God’s Authority comes into you, God’s Love comes into you, God’s Faith comes into you, God’s Very Nature comes into you…. You are made “in the image” of God..  And you conform to the Image of Jesus Christ, God’s First-Begotten… 

Hallelujah..

            God’s Will is for you to receive the  Baptism of the Holy Ghost.   This never was supposed to be an “option” for the Believer.  It is a command..  “Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit…”  Gal. 5:18. 

The first Believers were Baptized in the Holy Spirit. 

The Early Church was Baptized in the Holy Spirit. 

John the Baptist was Filled with the Holy Ghost in his mother’s womb. 

The Spirit of God came down from heaven in the form of a dove and Filled Jesus at His water Baptism. 

Paul was Baptized in the Holy Ghost when Ananias laid hands on him. 

When Peter preached to the household of Cornelius the Word declares: “While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word, and they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God…”  Acts 10:44-46.

The Baptism of the Holy Ghost is the PURPOSE of God for every Believer.  Any church or any denomination or any preacher or any teacher or any pastor who refuses to teach this truth is guilty of violating the PURPOSE of GOD.  Every Believer needs the baptism.  It is essential for effective Spiritual Warfare.  It is essential for tapping into Heaven’s Power.  It is essential for effective praying.  It is essential for moving into the Supernatural…. It is the Purpose of God for every Believer to be Baptized in the Holy Ghost.  Hallelujah.

            God’s Will is for you to live in Divine Health.  God wants you healed.  If you are sick, you are out of the will of God.  It is the purpose and intent of Almighty God that you get healed, stay healed and walk in Divine Health.  Sickness is not the will of God.  God does not put sickness on anybody.  God does not use sickness to teach you a lesson. God never stoops to employ satan’s tactics and methods to bring any of His Children “in line.”  Just as God purposes for you to be free from sin’s condemnation and guilt and judgment, He also purposes for you to be healed of all sicknesses, diseases and infirmities.  Listen to Isaiah 53: 5:  “But He (Jesus) was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed…”  This Purpose of God for you is restated in I Peter 2:24: “Who His own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed…”  God wants you well.  God has sent His Word to heal you and he has brought you to this place so that you might discover that this is His Divine Purpose for you and your seed.  Hallelujah.

            God’s Will is for you to be Free from Sin’s Control.  You need to know that God wants you to live free from sin’s dominion.  It is His purpose for you to totally free from anything and all things that satan designs against you.  The Bible declares that “sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law but under grace…”  Romans 6:14.  You do not have to live under the control and dominion of the devil.  If he is manipulating you and your family and your marriage and your finances and your mind and emotions, you are missing the Purpose of God for you.  Jesus has defeated the devil once and for all and you do not have to sin.  You do not have to live controlled by the devil or the devices of the devil.  Jesus came to set you free and He did.  If you have gone back into bondage, I have good news for you…  you do not have to stay there.  You can, with God’s help and by the Promise of His Word, be FREE right now.   And you can stay free once you get free.  God’s Purpose for you is for you to be free from sin’s control and dominion…. will you purpose to agree with God’s purpose?  Then do it NOW.

            God’s Will is for you to PROSPER .   This means that God wants you to be in charge.  For you to be living in and walking in success and prosperity.   It is God’s Will for every believer to walk in the high places of the earth. 

You were born into a Kingdom of success and power.  You have been given all the information you need to live in success and prosperity. 

            You have been challenged to move into the dimension of the Kingdom of God where you are the head and not the tail… above and not beneath… strong and not weak…. well and not sick… glad and not sad…  rich and not poor… where you live the life of a Conqueror.  God wants you taking back what satan has stolen.  God wants you treading on the head of the serpent.  God wants you to kill your giant and move into your promised land.   God purposes that you Live…  no matter who you are, where you are, how old you are, how educated you are…. it is written in the changeless and eternal Word that God has plans for your success and prosperity.  God want to use you to finance Kingdom Work.  God wants to showcase you as the blessed because of your obedience.  It is the Purpose of God for every Believer to live in and enjoy heaven’s blessings on earth.  Do you want this?  Are you willing to line your life up with the Word of God?  Will you walk in obedience to His commands?  Can you crucify your flesh and renew your mind and control your tongue?  Say YES..  Then DO IT..  Hallelujah..

            It is God’s Will for you and me take the Gospel of the Kingdom to the Nations of the earth.  The final command and commission Jesus gave to the Church was the command and commission to take the Gospel to the nations of the earth.  While we have been looking at communities and cities and states with our vision for evangelism… God looks at the Whole World… the Nations of the earth… the kindreds, and tongues, and nations… the islands of the sea and the peoples of this planet.  Some may grow weary of our continual emphasis on missions.  It has been brought to my attention that a few feel that we might be top-heavy with our vision for the Russian People and our commitment to go and teach and preach and plant churches over there.   I must remind you that when our mission vision dries up and our attention is focused on us and ours and me and mine and this church only, we are violating the Eternal Purpose of God.  If you want to live in Divine Providence and Protection and Favor, you must have the heart of God for the Nations of the earth.  God has raised up this ministry to seed the Word into the World… this was spoken to my heart over twenty years ago when we were in the throes of conflict over the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit…. God promised me that this church would one day touch the entire world with the Word of God.  He promised me that He had set before us an “open door” and no man, movement, demon or devil would ever be able to close it..  He has honored this Word to me and it is presently being fulfilled… we have not entered into the fullest measure of fulfillment yet, but we are on the way..  Hallelujah..  Therefore, if you desire the continued blessings of God and Favor of God on you and us… then agree with His Eternal Purpose to take the Gospel to the Nations of the Earth….

            It is God’s Will for you and me to Pull Down the strongholds of the devil and take back what he has stolen.  You and I have been royally ripped off by hell.  We have lived in ignorance.  We have been poisoned by false teaching.  We have been blinded by religion.  We have been lied to, spied on, deceived, tricked, ripped off and almost ruined by the powers of darkness.  We did not know any better.  We thought what was happening to us was the “Will of God”… We did not understand Spiritual Warfare and we did not know about the Authority of every Believer.  But we know now..  We are prepared and we are equipped.  We are strong and we are mad.  It is time to attack.  The devil has been like Saddam Hussein… he has thumbed his nose at us, he has taunted us and teased us,  he has invaded sacred territory and with great belligerence ridiculed the church, the Bible, Believers and the Holy Ghost. 

I say, satan has gravely miscalculated and is now about to be put in his place by a Company of Believers who have had enough..  Enough is enough..  It is time to stop standing still… it is time to attack.  Let’s charge into satan’s territory and take back what he has illegally taken from you and from me and from the church..  It is the Eternal Purpose of God for the Church to give the devil hell..  The command to attack has been given and it is a command that will not be ignored or disobeyed..  Hallelujah..

Word for Today:  November 21

Behold His Glory.

but we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed (transformed) into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord… 2 Cor. 3:18

Most are tired of the rigors or religion.  Many are frustrated with the shallowness and emptiness of methods, formulas, and quick-fix programs.  Some have become disillusioned and disappointed by the merchandising and man-management of the Gospel.

Often, Preachers become Spiritual Super Stars and ministries become Kingdoms that cater to the carnal.  Where are the Prophets?  Where are the Elijahs and the John the Baptists?  Where are the Pauls and the Silas’ and the Stephens and the Mary Magdalenes?  Where is the Simple and Straight forward presentation of Gospel of Christ which is the Power of God unto Deliverance?

We can worship ministries.  We can worship methods.  We can worship ministers.  We can worship music.  We can worship Praise.  We can even worship worship.  I want to Worship Jesus.  I want to Behold Him and His glory.  (John 1:14)

Let’s minimize the methods and maximize the Master

          God’s heart has never changed.

His heart has al­ways been inclined toward man.  It is now and it always has been.  Man  was originally created in order for God to have a family.  God wanted companionship.  God wanted fellowship.  God wanted relationship.  God wanted a family so that He can love them and care for them. God wanted to have a family to love and to bless and to keep unto Himself.   God wants to have children that will re­cipro­cate His love.  God is Love, God loves and God wants to be loved. 

Do you realize that God made the heavens solely for the benefit of earth? Do you know that God made the earth solely for the benefit of man?  Can you believe that God created all ani­mal life and plant life solely for our benefit?  Everything and all things that God cre­ated by His power,  were and are created for the benefit of man.     And God made man for Himself.  

All of creation is designed to sustain human life.  Scientists are now be­ginning to recognize that the entire universe has been created and calibrated to support and sustain human life. The original Plan God had is still the same.  It is the Eternal Purpose of God for man.  Even though Satan en­tered and Adam sinned and death was brought into the earth, God has Eternally Purposed for Man to be His Own.  The Bible says that “God is not willing that any should perish  (lose, be defeated, be lost),  but that all should come to repentance…”  2 Peter 3:9.   

Now, how does man come into the family of God?  Man becomes a child of God only through the NEW BIRTH.  Therefore, we may conclude that God’s Eternal Purpose for man is FIRST that man might be Saved. 

God’s Eternal Purpose is for every man to be Born Again   

God wants the entire human race to be birthed into His family.  God purposes for man to be saved.   Potentially, the entire human race (both born and un­born) was redeemed from sin when Jesus died on the cross.  

What is in­volved in salvation?  God has a part and man has a part.  God’s part is called REGENERATION and man’s part is called REPENTANCE.  When we re­pent of our sin and believe in our heart that Jesus Christ is Lord and then when we openly and unashamedly confess our heart-be­lief, we are BORN AGAIN. 

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Ro 10:9 

At the precise time of our New Birth, God impregnates us with His Life and we are given eternal life. God’s Life comes into us along with all of God’s Characteristics and we become the Sons of God.

But as many as received Him to them gave He power to become the Sons of God… John 1:12. 

God’s Life comes into us, His Power comes into us, His Authority comes into us, His Love comes into us, His Faith comes into us, and His Very Nature comes into us.  We are instantly made “in the image” of God.  We  are conformed to the Image of Jesus Christ, God’s First-Begotten.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did pre­destinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Rom. 8:29   

God’s Eternal Purpose is that Every Man enjoy Divine Health 

God wants us healed.  God wants us well.  If we are sick, we are outside the will of God.  It is the purpose and intent of Almighty God that we get healed, stay healed and walk in Divine Health. 

Sickness is not the will of God.  God does not put sickness on any­body.  God does not use sickness to teach us a lesson. God never employs Satan’s tactics and methods to bring any of His Children “in line.”  Just as God purposes for us to be free from sin’s condemna­tion and guilt and judgment, He also purposes for us to be healed of all sicknesses, diseases and in­firmities.

          Listen to Isaiah 53: 5:  But He (Jesus) was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniq­uities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed… 

This Eternal Purpose of God for us is restated in I Peter 2:24: Who His own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed…

God wants us well.  God has sent His Word to heal us and he has brought us where we are so that we might discover that His Divine Purpose for us and our seed is that we might be whole.

God’s Eternal Purpose is for all Believers to re­ceive the  Baptism in the Holy Ghost   

This never was intended to be an “option” for the Believer.  It was and is a command.

Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit…   Gal. 5:18.

          The first Believers were Baptized in the Holy Spirit. 

          The Early Church was Baptized in the Holy Spirit. 

          John the Baptist was Filled with the Holy Ghost in his mother’s womb. 

          The Spirit of God came down from heaven in the form of a dove and filled Jesus at His water Baptism. 

Paul was Baptized in the Holy Ghost when Ananias laid hands on him.  When Peter preached to the household of Cornelius the Word declares:

While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word, and they of the cir­cumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God…  Acts 10:44-46. 

          The Baptism of the Holy Ghost is the Eternal Purpose of God for every Believer.  Any church or any denomination or any preacher or any teacher or any pas­tor who refuses or neglects to teach this truth is guilty of violating the ETERNAL PURPOSE of GOD. 

Every Believer needs the bap­tism.  It is essen­tial for effective Spiritual Warfare.  It is essential for tapping into Heaven’s power.  It is essen­tial for ef­fective praying.  It is essential for moving into the supernatural…. It is the Eternal Purpose of God for every Believer to be Baptized in the Holy Ghost.

It is the Eternal Purpose of God for Every Believer to be Free from Sin’s Control 

We need to know that God wants us to live free from sin’s do­minion.  It is His pur­pose for us to totally free from anything and all things that Satan designs against us.  The Bible declares that  sin shall not have do­minion over you, for you are not under the law but under grace…   Romans 6:14. 

We do not have to live under the control and dominion of the devil.  If he is manipulating us and our family and our marriage and our finances and our mind and emo­tions, we are missing the Eternal Purpose of God for us.  Jesus has defeated the devil once and for all and we do not have to sin. 

We do not have to live controlled by the devil or the devices of the devil.  Jesus came to set us free and He did. If we have gone back into bondage, I have good news…. we do not have to stay there. We can, with God’s help and by the promise of His Word, be FREE right now.  And we can stay free once we get free. 

God’s Eternal Purpose for us is for us to be free from sin’s control and do­minion…. If you are tired of being controlled and manipulated by the devil, you can decide to do something about it.  When you are ready to be free, God has given you the power and authority to get free.  It’s not up to God… it’s up to you!

It is the Eternal Purpose of God for us to Reign in Life 

That is what this book is about.  This means that God purposes for you and me to be in charge…. for us to live in and walk in suc­cess and prosperity.   It is God’s Purpose for every believer to ride in the high places of the earth.

Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth…   Isa 58:14 

When we were born again, we were born into a Kingdom of success and power.  We have been given all the information (in the Word) we need to live in success and prosperity.  We have been challenged to move into the dimension of the Kingdom of God where we are the head and not the tail… above and not beneath… blessed and not cursed… strong and not weak…. well and not sick… glad and not sad…  rich and not poor… where we live the life of a Conqueror. 

God wants us taking back what Satan has stolen.  God wants us treading on the head of the serpent.  God wants us to kill our giant and move into our promised land. God pur­poses that we reign in life… no matter who we are, where we are, how old we are, how educated or uneducated we are…. it is written in the changeless and eternal Word that God has plans for our suc­cess and pros­perity. 

God wants to use us to finance Kingdom Work.  God wants to show­case us as the blessed because of our obedience.  It is the Eternal Purpose of God for every Believer to live in and en­joy heaven’s blessings on earth while they live and be­fore they die.   Do you want this?  Are you will­ing to line your life up with the Word of God? Will you walk in obedience to His commands? 

Can you and will you cru­cify your flesh and renew your mind and control your tongue?  Say YES.  Then DO IT.   And DO IT NOW. 

It is the Eternal Purpose of God that you and I take the Gospel of the Kingdom to the Nations of the earth  

The final command and commission Jesus gave the Church was the command to take the Gospel to the nations of the earth.  While we have been looking at communi­ties and cities and states with our vi­sion for evan­gelism… God looks at the Whole World… the Nations of the earth… the kindreds, and tongues, and peoples… the is­lands of the sea and the inhabitants of this planet. 

Some may grow weary of our con­tinual emphasis on missions.  It has been brought to my attention that a few feel that we might be top-heavy with our vision for Lost People in other lands and our commitment to go and teach and preach and plant churches in nations overseas.   I must re­mind you that when our mission vision dries up and our at­ten­tion is focused on us and ours and me and mine and this church only, we are violating the Eternal Purpose of God. 

If we want to live in Divine Providence and Protection and Favor, we must have the heart of God for the Nations of the earth.  God has raised us up to seed the Word into the World… this was spoken to my heart over fifty years ago when we were in the throes of conflict over the Baptism of the Holy Spirit…. God promised me that this church would one day touch the  world with the Word of God.  He promised me that He had set before us an “open door” and no man, move­ment, demon or devil would ever be able to close it. 

He has honored this Word to me and it is presently being ful­filled… we have not entered into the fullest measure of ful­fillment yet, but we are on the way.  Therefore, if you desire the continued blessings of God and Favor of God on you and us… then agree with His Eternal Purpose to take the Gospel to the Nations of the Earth.

It is the Eternal Purpose of God for you and me to pull  down the strongholds of the devil and take back what he has stolen 

In the past, you and I have been royally ripped off by the devil.  We have lived in igno­rance.  We have been poisoned by false teaching.  We have been blinded by reli­gion.  We have been lied to, spied on, deceived, tricked, ripped off and almost ruined by the powers of darkness.  We did not know any better.  We thought what was hap­pening to us was the “will of God”… We did not under­stand spiritual warfare and we did not know about the authority of every believer.  But we know now.  Thank God!   

We are prepared and we are equipped.  We are strong and we are mad.  We are ready to rumble.  It is time to attack.  The devil has thumbed his nose at us, he has taunted us and teased us,  he has invaded sa­cred territory and, with great belligerence, ridiculed the church, the Bible, Believers and the Holy Ghost. 

I say satan has gravely miscalculated and is now about to be put in his place by a Company of Believers who have had enough.  Enough is enough.  It is time to stop standing still… it is time to attack. 

Let’s charge into Satan’s territory and take back what he has illegally taken from you and from me and from the Church.  It is the Eternal Purpose of God for the Church to give the devil hell.  The command to attack has been given and it is a com­mand that will not be ig­nored and must not be dis­obeyed.  

Word for Today:  November 13

A famous golf professional recently played two holes of golf in a televised tournament and won more prize money in less than 30 minutes than we have be able to spend on missions in the last five years.

The world really does not need fancy, exotic automobiles, vacation homes, obscene wealth or athletic superstars, or golf trophies, but it desperately needs Jesus.

If people were as glad to hear the Word and as determined to hear the Word as the Christians of the First Century, preachers would be working overtime, three shifts a day seven days a week.

As it is, we have difficulty filling the church building once or twice a year, and then only when we have something really entertaining.  What does that say about the church today?

• Where else can you get what you get at church?
• Who else can give you what God gives you at church?
• How can you say that church is not important when the greatest manifestations of God’s Power and Presence are revealed in the Assembly of the Saints?

How can we expect to stay spiritually strong when we ignore the importance of the preached and taught Word that “happens” in the church?  When we are more excited about going to the movies, or to a ball game or entertaining ourselves, how can we expect to maintain our power over devils and demons and hell?

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.   Heb 10:25

Let’s get real

          There is really only one way that Kingdom power can get out of us.  There is only one channel through which it can and will flow.  If this one requirement is not met, the power will remain inside the believer and it will be useless.  It will not change the world and it will not bring the will of God into the earth. 

          Where there is power there must be a channel through which it can flow.  The electri­cal energy is in the receptacle in the wall, but it cannot get to the appliance (where it is needed) unless there is a cord through which it can flow.  The gas is in the tank, but it must have a pipe to get to the engine.  The power is in us, but it must have a channel to flow out into the earth.  Here is what the Bible says: 

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth (ischuo: to be strong; to have power, to “be serviceable”)  anything, nor uncircumcision: but faith which worketh by love…  Gal 5:6

 For (if we are) in Christ Jesus, neither circumci­sion nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and ex­pressed and working through love… Gal 5:6 AMP

          The Kingdom of God (the miracle-work­ing power in every believer) is a Kingdom of Love.  The Christian Life… the believer’s life is a life of love.  The Church (Body of Christ) is a many-membered organism with each member joined and knit together by agape (the God-kind) of love. 

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:   Eph. 4:15  

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Eph. 4:16  

          Each member (“joint”) supplies the cohe­siveness that joins one to another and that which joins one to another is agape (the God-kind of)  love.

           Agape is the primary force in Heaven and in earth.   Love is the motivation for all that God has ever done.  Love transcends time and space.  Love breaks into the realm of the supernatu­ral.  Love brings the very essence of Heaven and the presence of God into the earth.

          Success in the Christian Life is rooted and grounded in love.  When we feel love we feel God.  When we live to love we act like God.  God is Love.  When we love like God loves anything and everything we do will succeed. Love never fails. (1 Cor 13: 8)  When we live to love we live like Jesus.  Love working and love in operation brings Jesus to the scene.  Where and when our faith has failed…  our confessions failed…  our knowledge failed…  our praying failed… it is always be­cause our love failed… The Bible says love never fails.   

• When we walk in love we walk in divine health. Many people get sick and die because they live in hate, bitterness and strife.  It is not what we eat… it is what eats us. 

• When we walk in love we will be free from all fear.  The Word declares that per­fect love (agape) casteth out fear… (I Jn 4:18).  All fear is of the devil and will destroy and deprive and de­feat.  Fear taps into Satan’s resources just as Faith taps into Heaven’s resources.

• When we walk in love our faith will work.  If  our faith is not working it is because our love is not working.  The Bible says that faith worketh by Love… (Gal 5:6).  It is not more faith that we need it is more love that we need!  Love causes our faith to work.  If we are “do­ing all the right things” and still are lacking… we need to check out our love life.

• When we walk in love we walk in agreement with God. When two agree to­gether, the Word promises that they can have anything they ask for.  (Mat 18:19)  When we love we agree with God… when we hate or have bitter­ness in our heart, we agree with the devil.  When we agree with God our desires are met and our prayers are answered.

• When we walk in love our marriage will work.  All marriage failures are love failures.  When we love our mates (with the God-kind of Love) our marriage will work, when we don’t, it won’t!  Every home and marriage problem is caused by a love failure.  The opposite of love is not hate, but selfishness.  When we live by selfishness we drive out love.  When we love we drive out selfishness.

• When we walk in love our children will respect us and honor us.  Our problem is not our kids… it is our failure to love.  Do they know we love them?  In a recent survey, it was disclosed that the three most common replies children get from their dads are:  (1) “It costs too much”  (2) “Not now… later”  (3) “Shut up.” 

• When we walk in love our business will suc­ceed.  Healthy business relation­ships are built on love and mutual respect.  If you will love your customers for who they are and not what they can do for you, you will always have customers!

• When we walk in love our neighbors will want what we’ve got.  Our society cannot compre­hend agape love.  When we love, we keep the enemy confused.  The devil knows all about hate and resentment and jealousy and envy and strife.  “Love your neighbor”  (Mat 19:19) is a di­rect com­mand from Jesus to you and me.   This love lived out will stop all wars, crime, injus­tice, prejudice, ha­tred, and poverty.  It would re­place all the government agencies that are re­sponsible for caring for the poor and needy.  It would cancel all federal entitlement programs.  It would make welfare and social security and Medicaid and Medicare unnecessary.  Love gives.  Love shares.  Love sacrifices.

• When we walk in love our loved ones will be reached. One reason our family has no re­spect for us is because we have acted out of bit­ter­ness, strife, jealousy, and selfishness instead of love.  We have been mean and ugly and hateful!  Some of them who are not Chris­tians are more loving that we are and we are supposed to be saved and full of the Holy Ghost.  Speaking in tongues (and all Spiritual Gifts) is no substitute for love.  Paul tells us:

 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love,  I am become as sounding brass or a tin­kling cymbal… I Cor 13:1

• LOVE will overcome temper.  
• LOVE  will overcome hate.  
• LOVE will conquer wrong attitudes.  
• LOVE reaches out and em­braces our en­emies. 
• LOVE forgives and forgets. 
• LOVE encourages and edi­fies. 
• LOVE covers a multitude of sins   (I Pet 4:8).
• LOVE overlooks faults and weaknesses.
• LOVE is patient and kind.
• LOVE sees the best and believes the best in every person.

• LOVE will never wound or hurt or hinder.
• LOVE will never gossip or speak evil of others.
• LOVE will never destroy or tear down.
• LOVE is never sarcastic.
• LOVE suffers and reacts in silence.
• LOVE gives expecting nothing in return.
• LOVE always speaks the truth.
• LOVE is God and God is Love.
• LOVE never fails… because God never fails.

Releasing the God-Kind of Love

          Follow after love…  (I Cor 14:1)   Determine in your heart to love… anyhow!  No matter what!   Make a deci­sion right now that all that you do will come out of love.  Your relationship in the home… on the job… in the classroom… among friends and rela­tives…. decide to live by love.  Speak love.  Be kind.  Determine to actively follow after love.

          Refuse to do anything in strife or bitterness.  Where envy and strife are you will find every evil work …  Jas 3:16.  Keep your heart pure and your attitudes right.  If you are going to live by love you will have to master your emotions and put them under the control of your re-created Spirit.

          Love yourself!  Thank God for You!  Value yourself.  Forgive yourself.  You cannot love others if you do not love yourself.  Quit getting down on yourself and making it hard on your­self… give yourself a break!  Stop beating yourself up!  Jesus told us to “Love our neighbors as ourselves…”  It is OK to love yourself!  See yourself as one created in the Image and Likeness of God your Father… Appre­ciate yourself and forgive yourself!

          Understand that your tongue is the faucet! You release love initially through your mouth by your tongue!  What you say is what is in your heart.  Out of the heart the mouth speaketh… Mt 12:34. Make your tongue a fountain of life that flows continu­ally with refreshing streams of love.

          Make love visible.  Do love.  Be love.  Don’t only talk love.  Be love.  Be doers of love.  Love is an intangible force… make it visible by actions that speak love.  Determine to do something today that will prove your love.

          Living by love is living like Jesus.  Living by love is living like God.  Love living is what the world is waiting to see and ex­perience.  Love living is what will hasten the return of Jesus.  Living by love is living in perfection.

Word for Today:  November 12

The Church is the Will of God on earth.

Jesus taught us to pray for God’s will to be done in earth just as it is done in heaven.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Mt 6:10

How is the Will of God to be done in earth?

It is to be done by and through the Church.

The Church is the way God’s Will is done on earth.

What is the Will of God?  The Will of God is the Word of God.  The Church is the means of bringing the Word of God into the earth.   The Kingdom of God will come in the earth by the Word of God… the Word of God which is declared and proclaimed by the Church.

• The Church has a mission.
• The Church has a mandate.
• The Church has a commission.
• The Church has an obligation.

We are to preach the Gospel (the Word, and ALL of it) to all nations and teach them about God, Jesus, the Holy Ghost, Heaven, hell and the Church.

We are to Baptize them in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

The Will of God is the Church functioning and operating in the fullest power of the Holy Ghost.  And as it does, the Will of God will be done in the earth….

Just as it is in Heaven.

The sower soweth the word. Mark 4:14  

And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. Mark 4:15  

And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; Mark 4:16  

And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. Mark 4:17 

And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,   Mark 4:18   

And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.  Mark 4:19  

And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.  Mark 4:20   

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1Pet. 1:23   

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matt. 4:4           

Jesus tells us that the Word is the Seed

Now the parable is this:  The seed is the word of God.   Luke 8:11   

If the Word is the Seed then the Seed is alive.   The Seed is ripe and ready to produce.  The Seed has heaven-potential in it.  Whatever is in Heaven is in the Word. The Seed of Heaven is the Word of God.  There is life in the Seed.  There is healing in the Seed.  There is deliverance in the Seed.  There is prosperity in the Seed.  There is peace in the Seed.  There is joy in the Seed.  There is victory in the Seed. 

   When the Word Seed is planted in good ground, watered and protected, it will produce exactly what God produces.  There are no restrictions in the Seed… nothing is held back that is good.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield:  the Lord will give grace and glory:  no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly…  

Psa 84:11    

          The SEED is OK.  Nothing is wrong with the Seed.  The Seed is perfect and the Seed is complete.  The Seed will grow and mature and produce fruit IF the proper conditions are met.  God’s Purpose is in the Seed.  God’s Will is in the Seed.  God’s Power is in the Seed. 

Just as all the intricate characteristics of any plant are in the seed of that plant, so are all the intricate plans and purposes for YOU in the Seed of God. 

There are two things we need to know:

          1.  What does God want the Seed to grow?

2.  What will it take to for the Seed to grow what God wants it to grow?

FIRST:  God wants to grow the Kingdom 

He wants the Kingdom of Heaven to grow on earth. 

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hollowed be Thy Name;  Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, in EARTH as it is in HEAVEN…   Mat 6:9-10

Jesus prayed this prayer.  It is a “model” prayer he gave us and should be a pattern for the way we pray. God wants to Grow Heaven on Earth. He wants to grow Heaven’s provisions on earth, He wants to grow Heaven’s qualities on earth and He wants to grown Heaven’s purpose on earth. 

This crop will not grow unless it grows in and though people. The people this crop is to grow through is the Church.  We (the Church) are God’s hope and dream for His crop production and His ultimate harvest. 

SECOND:  It will take the Seed (the Word of God) to grow what God wants to grow 

The entire purpose and plan of God is contained in His Seed.  In order for it to grow and mature and produce, several things have to happen:

1.  The Seed has to be SOWN  

In the parable of the sower in Mark chapter four there is an interesting word that is translated sow.  It is spiro  and it is derived from a primitive Greek verb which means “to draw out.”  

The Bible concept of sowing is DRAWING OUT or PULLING OUT what God has PUT IN.   

Therefore, it does not mean just to scatter or throw out or to cast out, rather the primary meaning is to DRAW OUT or PULL OUT. 

In order for the Seed of God to produce, the ground must PULL OUT of it what GOD has PUT IN IT. Paul tells the Philippians to “work out your own salvation…” (2:12b)  And this is the idea of “working out” or “pulling out” what God has put in.  In order to SOW the SEED the GROUND has an important responsibility.   It must PULL OUT what God has put in. 

          You are the Ground.   I am the Ground.  We are the Ground. The ground determines the harvest potential of the Seed of God.  The ground determines what the Seed will produce.  In order to pull the Kingdom of Heaven out of  the Seed of God, the ground has an awesome responsibility. 

According the parable, there are four kinds of ground.  (1) Way side ground.  (2) Stony ground.  (3) Ground with thorns, and (4) good Ground. 

And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.    Mark 4:15   

Way side ground ignores the Seed  

It is sown, but it is ignored. Because it is sown and ignored,  Satan comes at once and steals it. 

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;   Hebr. 2:3   

          Unfortunately, many people in the Body of Christ are guilty of ignoring the Word… the Seed of God.  They often cast it aside.  At times they make light of it.  Many fail to see the importance of it.  Sometimes they allow this Life-Providing, Need-Meeting, Sin-Forgiving, Sickness-Healing, devil-Defeating, SEED to remain unplanted and unproductive.  And sadly, some do not really care.

 Because many are careless, Satan comes and steals their healing, their prosperity, their joy, their strength, their hope and their protection.  Absolutely nothing is wrong with the Seed.  The problem is always with the ground.

And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;   Mark 4:16   

And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.   Mark 4:17   

Stony ground can’t stand any pressure 

The Seed is gladly received, but before it can pull out what God has put in, when pressure and opposition arise, it just gives up and quits.  When pressures, temptations, trials and contradictions happen, they forget what is in the Seed and begin to look instead at what is outside the Seed. 

They often look at the impossibilities, the obstacles, the sicknesses and the failures of others.   Thousands today have quit or compromised because of the pressure and stress Satan has caused in their Christian walk.

God does not create trials and temptations and circumstances and “situations,”  rather, they are orchestrated by the devil and their purpose is to make you give up and quit.  Stony ground is shallow.  Stony ground is “touchy-feely.”  Stony ground is immature.  Stony ground is self-centered.  Stony ground is easily offended.  Stony ground is emotion-driven and often lives by feelings, by assumptions and by suppositions.

And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, Mark 4:18   

And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.    Mark 4:19   

Ground with thorns is choked on materialism 

Before it can pull out what God has put in, it gets hooked on and addicted to the world system.  The glitter and glamour of riches and security,  the lust of the flesh and the desire for recognition take precedent over pulling out what God has put in. 

The Kingdom harvest is choked and stunted and it becomes unfruitful because of the lust of the flesh, the pride of life, and the desire for money and material things. 

And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.   Mark 4:20  

Good ground hears and receives the Seed of God  

Hears: (akouo) to hear with understanding;  

Receives:(parad-ekhomahee) to receive near; to delight in.  

Interestingly, in the case of the stony ground, the word “receive” is lambano  which means to take casually. 

When you hear with the understanding and delight greatly in the truth of the Seed you are on the way to producing a Kingdom Harvest!

          Now, how do you reap your harvest?  Reaping your harvest involves five principles: 

          1.  Sowing the Seed.

          2.  Protecting the Seed that is sown.

          3.  Watering the Seed that is sown.

          4.  Waiting for the Seed that is sown to grow.

          5.  Harvesting what the Seed that is sown produces.

First, you MUST SOW    

You will never reap anything if you do not sow something.  Something must be sown, if you are ever going to reap.  No sowing means no reaping.  No reaping means no harvest.  No harvest means no life.  The first thing we must learn to do is sow.

You have to know to sow.  If you do not know you will not sow.  If you know you will sow!   And what you sow is what you will grow.  And what you grow you will reap. 

Be not deceived; God is not mocked (ridiculed): for whatsoever a man soweth (draws out) that shall he also reap…  Gal 6:7  

When you sow the Word, you reap what the Word produces. 

Remember what the seed is

The Seed of God is the Word of God.  God was the First Sower and He operates by the sowing principle.  God sowed the Seed (His Word) and as a result, He reaped a Creation. 

God drew out of His Seed the sun, the moon, the stars… all of Creation.  God sowed His Word and Created.  God sowed His Word and Man came into being. 

And God SAID, Let us make man in our image…  Gen 1:26

God sowed His Word (Jesus) and reaped a Family.  Jesus is the Word.  Therefore Jesus is the SEED.  And God DREW OUT OF JESUS a New Creation.  A Holy Family.  A Royal Priesthood.  An invincible, undefeatable and unstoppable Church.    

          How do you sow?   What do you sow?

You sow the same way God sows and you sow the same thing God sows.

  God sows by saying.  And God says His Word.  SOWING  begins by SAYING.  Saying is WORDS.  Saying  is the fruit of the tongue.   You plant your dreams and plan your harvest by what you say (sow) with your mouth!   

 A man shall be satisfied (filled to satisfaction, have plenty of, have enough, filled to the fullest) with good by the fruit of his mouth…  Pro 12:14 

A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth…  Pro 13:2 

A fools mouth is his destruction and his lips are the snare of his soul..   Pro 18:7 

A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth: and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled… Pro 18:20   

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it (death or life) shall eat the fruit thereof…  Pro 18:21   

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles… Pro 21:23

          How do we protect what we plant?  How can we safeguard the ground that the Seed of God is in?  What can we do to guarantee an abundant harvest?  Here are some suggestions:

          1.  You protect what you plant by Surrounding yourself with solid, Word teaching and ministry.

You don’t need to be around false teachers and false teaching.   Get as much of the true Word as you can get.  Stay in church.  Stay in a good church.  Go to Bible class and small group Bible teachings.  Be in the every service.  Listen to good teaching on CDs and watch Bible Centered television channels.  Play worship music in your home or on your automobile audio system.     

          2.  You protect what you plant by Personal Intimacy with the Father. 

Seeking God protects the Word Seed that you plant.   If  you want to “find God” and fellowship with Him, you are going to have to seek Him.

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.   Jer. 29:13 

          When you spend quality time with God you will safeguard the Word in your heart.  Practice the presence of God.  In addition to your scheduled “prayer” or “devotion” or “quiet” time, stay in communion with the Father all the time.  Paul admonishes all believes to “pray without ceasing.” 

Talk with Him.  Practice His continual presence. Pray in the Spirit. Instead of talking with yourself, talk with the Holy Spirit.  Let your natural man consider His presence by your side as you go through your normal daily routines.  Let Him “sit” with you.  Walk with you.  Ride with you.  See Him with you all the time in whatever you do.  Carry on personal conversations with Him.  Communicate with Him.  This is personal intimacy… be as personal with Him as you are with any close friend… or as close with you as a family member.  Practice His Presence with you all the time in every situation and in all circumstances.   

          3.  You protect what you plant by Continually Speaking the Word. 

Saying what God says keeps the Word Seed safe.  When you say the Word you are literally agreeing with God.  When you agree with God you are able to walk with Him.  As you walk with God the Word Seed is protected.

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?  Amos 3:3   

          4.  You protect what you plant by Keeping your Mind Renewed by the Word and by casting down “ imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.”  

Right thinking protects the Seed.  Right thinking is Word thinking.  Don’t get caught up in a day-dream-imaginary world. Get out of fantasy land.  Your mind is always active.  It never shuts down.  Keep it focused on God stuff.  Get some Word CDs and listen to them as you sleep at night.  Keep your mind submerged in the Word.  This will protect the Seed.

          5.  You protect what you plant by being Aggressive and militant… by standing your ground. 

Don’t be a wimp.  Don’t be a push-over.  Don’t be easy on the devil.  Don’t wait for demons to show up… go after them. You do not need to be defensive be on the offensive.   Refuse to be ashamed.  Don’t be in the “silent majority” be in the “out-spoken minority.”  The more you stand up the braver you will become. 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.   Rom. 1:16 

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.  Matt. 10:32 

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,  Acts 4:29  

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.  Phil. 1:20  

          6.  You protect what you plant by “observing to do all that is written therein (the Word)…” 

Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.  Josh. 1:7   

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.  Josh. 1:8 

          Obeying God’s Word protects the Seed.   Doing the Word is living the Word.  Keeping the Word is obeying the Word.  The most important thing you can do to insure that the Seed is protected and that it grows and produces is that you DO WHAT IT SAYS. 

7.  You protect what you plantby Believing the Crop is coming in!   

Believing is expecting something good to happen.  It is knowing that God will honor His Word.  Knowing is the substance of things hoped for.  It is knowing you have the crop (and acting like it!) before you have it!

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.  Mark 11:23   

          8.  You protect what you plant by Being Diligent and Persistent. 

Remember the woman with the issue of blood? Diligence is determination.  Persisting is keeping on keeping on.  Refusing to quit or back down or ease up no matter what the difficulty may be protects the Word Seed.  Constantly confess: “I will not quit.  I will not stop. I will not give up.  I will not ease up.  I will not grow weary and faint.  I will fight until I win.”  Be stubborn and hard-headed about going on with God.  Don’t allow the flak from the devil deter you.  Press on toward the mark for prize of the high calling of God.

Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Mark 5:25-29

And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,   

And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse   

When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

          9.  You protect what you plant by Praying in the Spirit. 

Praying in Tongues safeguards the Seed.  This is your special gift from God to help you build up your faith and to keep you strong.

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,   Jude 20   

What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.  1Cor. 14:15  

          Praying in the Spirit is correct praying, accurate praying and effective praying.  You can pray in tongues anytime, anywhere and no matter what is going on around you.   Your mind is not involved.  It is your recreated human spirit that will be talking to God with utterances that cannot be understood by the natural man. 

          10.  You protect what you plant by Rejoicing in God,  through heart-felt worship and praise and by keeping a thankful heart. 

Singing, rejoicing, worshipping, praising, dancing, shouting, making a joyful noise unto the Lord… all these are ways to keep the seed safe and secure.     There is freedom where the Spirit of the Lord is.  God’s Presence induces joy unspeakable and filled with glory.

Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.   Neh. 8:10