The Great Harvest!

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PRAISE GOD?
Foundational Scriptures: Psalm 67:3-7; 22:3; 114:1-8; 150:6; 100:4; Romans 8:31; Genesis 49:8-12; Exodus 33:15; 2 Chronicles 20:13-22

Summary:
You were created to praise the Lord. When you choose to do so, you will be in His presence, and He will fight your battles for you.

A. You've been created for the purpose of praise: -
1. You don't have to wait for the Holy Ghost to move on you before you praise the Lord.
2. You'll never find victory in your life if you murmur and complain.

B. Because of your praise, you will receive the earth's harvest as evidence of God's approval (Psalm 67:3-7): -
1. Your ceaseless praise permanently positions you for God's blessings.

C. Be a praiser; praise God in everything: -
1. If you have breath, you can praise Him (Psalm 150:6)!
2. Don't wait until you see results before you praise Him.
3. You can always find something to praise God for.

D. Praise is the key to all-around profit in the kingdom of God (Genesis 49:8-12): -
1. As a praiseful Christian, you will always be a conqueror.
2. You will be exalted by God.
3. You will be in command of wealth and riches; you will be a person of affluence.
4. Your praise will cause you to be supernaturally comfortable because of the anointing.
5. If you sense people trying to quench your praise, get away from them.

E. When you praise God, His presence is guaranteed (Ps. 22:3): -
1. His presence is your guarantee of maximum security against the woes of life (Romans 8:31).
2. You don't want to be where God's presence isn't (Exo. 33:15).
3. There is no fear when the presence of God is with you. Your enemies will flee (Psalm 114:1, 8).
4. Thanksgiving gives birth to praise, and praise gives birth to worship (Psalm 100:4).

F. When you praise God, He will take over your battles (2 Chronicles 20:13-22): -




FIVE WAYS TO PRAISE THE LORD

Foundational Scriptures: Psalm 66:8; 35:18; 149:1-9; 28:2; 47:1; 150:1-6; 135:1-2; Nehemiah 8:6

Summary:
Praise is meant to be heard (Psalm 66:8).There are different ways to give God praise.

A. Praise God with the lifting up of your hands (Psalm 28:2): -
1. The Israelites lifted their hands, bowed their faces to the ground and worshipped God (Nehemiah 8:6).
a. Bowing is also a sign of praise.
2. It is acceptable to praise God among many people (Psalm 35:18).
3. The lifting up of hands symbolized the Ark of the Covenant.
a. Your hands represent the angels that were stationed on both sides of the Ark. Their wings surrounded the presence of God that resided between them.

B. Praise God with the clapping of hands (Psalm 47:1): -
1. Be sure to set time aside to praise God every day.
2 Hand clapping symbolizes approval for the awesome works of God on behalf of His people.

C. Praise God by standing (Psalm 135:1-2): -
1. Standing speaks of respect and indicates alertness.

D. Praise God with singing (Psalm 149:1-9): -
1. Praise is how you obtain and maintain your victory.

E. Praise God with dancing (Psalm 150:1-6): -

Don't Get Bugged!

THE BIBLE COVENANT UNDERSTANDING OF MONEY

In this world, money represents power. Natural, unsaved men will do anything to have it, but in these last days, God is out to prove that it is more profitable to serve Him. The greatest endeavour you could engage in at this hour is service to God.

A. Money is the target and life dream of the unsaved man, but God blesses those who serve Him: -
1. Wisdom and money are a defense, keeping you from the harassments of life (Ecclesiastes 7: 12).
2. Money is the unrighteous mammon that men seek (Luke 16:9).
3. God knows all your needs and has a struggle-free plan to meet them; however, you can't serve Him and money (Matthew 6:32, 24).
4. When you serve God, He distinguishes you as a jewel - His special treasure (Malachi 3:17).

B. If you serve God, money will serve you: -
1. When God is your Supplier, the whole world will envy you.
2. The blessing of the Lord will make you rich (Proverbs 10:22).

C. Renew your mind with these money truths: -
1. Money is not the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10); the love of it (a wrong relationship with it)
2. Don't deny your need for money; it answers all (Eccl. 10:19).
3. Money is crying out for you; you must cry out to God and call your money in (James 5:1-5).
a. The battle cry for the laborers is, "Money cometh to me!"
b. Money will eventually find its way into your righteous hands (Proverbs 13:22)!
4. Money gives you a voice (Ecclesiastes 9:14-16).
5. There's only one way to get money in God's kingdom-that is to give it (money) away.
a. Holding on to your money only leads to lack (Pro.11:24).
6. When you give money, you're not helping God.
a. He owns the earth and everything in it (Proverbs 24:1).
7. Poverty is not a sign of righteousness.
8. Lack of any kind is a curse, so don't tolerate it! Christ has redeemed you from it (Galatians 3:13-14).
Read: Eccl. 7:12; 9:14-16; 10:19; 1 Tim. 6:10; Luke 16:9; Prov. 11:14; 13:22;
Matt. 6:32, 24; James 5:1-5; Psalm 24:1; Gal. 3:13-14

Nice Being Here....

THE FLESH: A WAY OF THINKING

Your prosperity is directly connected to how you think. If you can change the way you think, you can change the way you act, which directly affects your future.

A. The "flesh" is a mindset that is contrary to the Word of God: -
1. How you think determines your destiny.
2. Satan competes for your thoughts.

B. Your health and prosperity are connected to how you think (3 John 2): -
1. A prosperous soul is one that is in line with the Word.
2. You will prosper to the degree your soul prospers.
3. The soul is the connector between the physical and spiritual realm.
4. You will have whatever has your attention.
5. Who you think you are is who you will become.

C. God is looking for Christians who think "soberly"(Rom 12:1-3): -
1. You must renew your mind to the Word of God.
2. Satan can't just devour anybody; he looks for those who are "intoxicated in their thinking" (1 Peter 5:8).
a. The Devil researches you to see how much Word is in your mind.
b. If your thinking aligns with God and His Word, Satan has no access.
3. As a Christian, you have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16); don't allow any thought to make you doubt who you are and what you have.
4. The Word is the seed that gives birth to right thinking (Luke 8:11).
a. The Word is Spirit and life; the Word is God. You can't separate them.

D. You have potential in your mind, but it must be exercised: -
1. Plant the right seed in your heart.
a. Seedtime and harvest never cease (Genesis 8:22).
b. The Word is the origin of all results; it will produce a harvest.
2. Exercise, or work, the Word that you have planted. How hard you exercise determines the size of your harvest.
Read: Galatians 5:16-17; I Corinthians 2:16; 3 John 2; Luke 8:11; Romans 12:13;
Genesis 8:22; 1 Peter 5:8

The Second Option!

THE ORIGIN OF PROSPERITY
You cannot move toward prosperity without the seed of God's Word first entering your life. Your first concern must be the prosperity of your soul, which determines your position in life. When your soul is prospering, you will see results (tangible materials). God's Word is your foundation for prosperity and the water that your financial seeds need in order to grow.

A. Power is a necessary element to move you from one place in your life to another (Deuteronomy 8: 17-18): -
1. God has given you power to get wealth.
2. You must arise, or "change your posture and position", in order for prosperity to manifest itself in your life (Isaiah 60:1).
3. If you are born again, you are the seed of Abraham and have a right to the promises of God.

B. God takes pleasure in your prosperity because He is magnified in it (Psalm 35:27): -
1. Society has reduced prosperity to money, but God is interested in total life prosperity, which includes, but is not limited to, money.
2. Jesus came to preach the Gospel to the poor - those who were lacking something.
3. It is possible to be rich in material assets and poor in other areas of your life (Revelation 3:17).
4. If you take the seed of God's Word and put it in your heart, then wealth and riches will be in your house (Psalm 112:1-3).

C. The seed of God's Word controls the outcome of your endeavors in the kingdom of God: -
1. Prosperity is born out of truth - if you don't love truth, you'll never be free from trials (Psalm 45:3-4).
2. Wisdom and light lead to mighty works (Matthew 13:54).
a. Light comes when revelation knowledge of the Word enters your heart.
3. The Word of God is the all-controlling seed (Luke 8:11).
4. To prosper in any area, you have to have revelation knowledge of that particular area.

Read: Deut. 8:17-18; Psalm 112:1-3; 45:3-4; 35:27; Isaiah 60:1; Matthew
13:54; Rev. 3:17; Luke 8:11; 3 John 2

Gifts of Love

KINGDOM-PROMOTING GIVING
The spiritual laws that govern giving and abundance will work for anyone who employs them with a willing and obedient heart. Giving done with the kingdom of God in mind is a key to being promoted in the things of God.

A. God encourages us to operate in kingdom, promotion giving: -
1. This kind of giving promotes the spreading of the Gospel.
2. There are two areas of giving that fall under kingdom, promotion giving: free will offerings and kingdom, demand offerings.

B. Enjoy giving free-will offerings: -
1. It is scriptural to bring free-will financial gifts to the altar (Matthew 5:23).
2. Don't come before the presence of God empty, handed (Deuteronomy 16:16, 17).
3. Plan your giving of free-will offerings before you go to Church by setting aside your gifts and praying over them (1 Corinthians 16:2).
4. Giving free-will offerings is, in effect, coming before the Lord with a financial gift to show appreciation for His prospering you.
5. When things aren't going right in your life, examine what reason you may be giving the curse to affect you (Proverb 26:2).


C. Be willing to give as God's kingdom demands: -
1. A kingdom-demand offering is "an offering that the kingdom of God demands you to give".
a. Example: Abraham’s unfulfilled sacrifice of Isaac.
b. A sacrificial offering is a powerful type of offering.
2. Promotion comes when God asks you to willingly yield an offering and you comply.
3. Give with a willing heart for the kingdom's sake (Exo. 35:4, 5).
4. Whatever you sow toward kingdom increase is an investment that will return to you in abundance.
5. Giving is living; it positions you to experience supernatural encounters of increase.
6. Your attitude determines what is returned to you.
7. A kingdom-demand offering is designed to add "colour" to your destiny, making it brighter.
8. Like Abraham, strive to end your life's journey blessed in all things (Genesis 24:1).
9. Wise planning is important when it comes to giving for God's kingdom (Proverbs 24:3, 4, TLB).

a. Practical application: Keep a record of your giving to track your progress toward abundance.
Read: Matt. 5:23 Exodus 35:4, 5; Deut. 16:16, 17; Gen. 24:1; 1 Cor. 16:2;
Proverbs 24:3, 4; 26:2.

What do you think? I’m waiting to hear from you!

It's Happening!

NOTHING JUST HAPPENS
INTRODUCTION: In life, nothing just happens. There are laws that govern this physical, natural world. Likewise, there are laws that govern the spiritual world. A law is "an established principle". For example, the law of gravity will work for anyone who will get involved in the principles that govern gravity. If you climb on top of a high-rise building and step off the side, the law of .gravity will treat you the same as anyone else. The law of gravity, and its results, is established and will work for those who operate in its principles. The law of sowing is an established principle in the kingdom of God. Like gravity, it will work for anyone who will get involved in the principles that govern sowing in the spiritual world. The man who sows is also the man who is blessed, empowered to prosper (Isaiah 32:20; Acts 20:35). When you get on the giving side, you discover the path to receiving. You cannot receive, however, until you first of all give. No giving, no receiving. God is saying that only those who sow seeds will have a harvest. The law of sowing says that the harvest responds only to seed-not to prayer, fasting or position. Until seed is sown, harvest is not in view. God is not permitted to bring increase until a man has committed himself to sowing seeds. If there is to be a harvest, there must be seed sown. Every day you make a choice to either sow some of your seed or eat it. When you exercise faith and sow your seed, you release God's law of prosperity. When you give in to your fears and eat your seed, or hide it, you release God's law of poverty.

Remember these three points:
1. Sow seeds, and you will reap a harvest (2 Corinthians 9:6).
2. Do not look at your circumstances when you sow (Eccl. 11:4).
3. Sow regularly to every good work (Ecclesiastes 11:6).

Even unsaved farmers know that if they sow, they will reap. They know that they can reap only the kind of harvest they sow in the form of seed. Neither can they reap in the season in which they sow. Simply, sowing seed is not enough to produce a harvest. You must be very careful where you sow, Jeremiah 4:3 instructs us not to sow among thorns. Mark 4:1-8 tells of a sower (someone who makes his living by sowing) sowing four different times but only getting a harvest from one out of four types of ground. The harvest will come when you sow in good ground.
Child of God, Ecclesiastes 11:3 says, "If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth…" Keep sowing until your cloud is full; then it will empty itself in your life with the blessings of God.
Read: Genesis 8:20-22; Isaiah 30:20; Acts 20:35, Eccl. 11:3-6; 2 Cor. 9:6;
Jer. 4:3; Mark 4:1-8

Get The Niche Here!

TOTAL LIFE PROSPERITY

When most people hear the word "prosperity”, they immediately think of money. That's not incorrect, but it is incomplete. Prosperity does not just concern money. It also deals with your spirit, soul, body, marriage, family and finances. God is concerned about you prospering in every arena in life.

True prosperity has a very broad definition, covering every area of life. It is defined as the ability to meet the needs of mankind in any realm of life. It is making progress in obtaining whatever you desire. Again, prosperity is not just money. In fact, true prosperity always extends beyond you and your needs. It is an attitude of empowerment within you, not just an outward display of material possessions.

Third John verse two states, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth". In this verse, the Greek word for prosper is euodoo. This word was originally used as a parting utterance similar to goodbye, Godspeed, bon voyage and farewell. Eu means "good or well", as in eulogy or euphoria. Hodos means "a roadway, trip, or travel", as in odometer or odograph (a device that measures distance). Therefore, when the word euodoo was spoken, it meant "to be on the right road; to grant an expeditious or unhindered journey; to successfully reach the destination safe and sound; to be led along a good road; or being on a road that is easy to travel." The word "euodoo" appears only four times in the New Testament (Romans 1:10; 1 Corinthians 16:2; and twice in 3 John 2).

Romans 1:10 says, "Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you". In this scripture, the word "prosperous" is used in line with its original meaning to describe a successful trip. In time, however, the meaning of the word "euodoo" evolved from a travel metaphor into a word for material or financial prosperity. Its usage began to denote a profitable and successful work ethic. First Corinthians 16:2 says, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come". Paul is encouraging the Corinthians to give as the Lord has given to them. The word "prospered" in this verse is referring to material or financial increase. The next time the word "euodoo" appears, we see it fully referring to prosperity as we know it today (3 John 2).

You may have heard someone say, "We don't have lots of money, but thank God we've all been healthy". Others may say, "We've had a lot of sickness in the family, but we praise the Lord that all of our bills are paid and we've got money in the bank". According to 3 John 2, God desires for you prosper spiritually, physically and financially. Therefore, this is not an either-or verse. It's not receiving one out of three, or two out of three; it's receiving three out of three! In the context of this scripture, euodoo means "having the Lord bless every area of your life". It is continuous well-being in every area of life.

Prosperity is the ability to be in control of your circumstances and situations without any limitations established by the world's system. It means regaining your choice to live as you choose and impacting the lives of those around you. In other words, it means to be blessed to be a blessing. Instead of being controlled by the debt of a house, car, or other things, prosperity places you in control of your situations in life. Jesus demonstrated this control when He was on the boat during a storm. He stood up and said, "Peace, be still" (Mark 4:39). He controlled His situation.

Prosperity cannot be measured by the amount of material possessions a person has accumulated because most materials are obtained through debt. Consequently, a person may appear to be prosperous, but acquiring debt is not prosperity at all. A man or woman who has entered into true prosperity has regained the right to choose. They can afford to live in a big house or an average house. They can afford to drive a Ford or Rolls Royce. They have a choice. People who have large debts may not always be able to afford to choose how they live because their choices may be limited and controlled by debt and shortage.

In Psalm 35:27, the Bible declares that God has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. If God takes pleasure in our prosperity, then it's time for all of us to realize that prosperity is pleasing to the Father. As you reflect through this message, understand that you have a right to prosper. Make a quality decision to prosper in every arena of life!