IMPRINTS # 4 Sunday 28th October 2012
I have promised – Now what?
The results of the fund raising dinner and pledge giving last week are:
As a local church we have raised $65,000 for the vision we shared last week.
Thanks for your generosity!
You can still give or pledge today and be part of the whole team who are giving.
Now that you have planned to give towards a Kingdom Project what is the next step?
Sow a seed to kick start your flow.
2Co 9:10 And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity].
God says He gives to you the seed and the bread. He gives you seed for sowing.
As any farmer knows, seed in the barn is not producing anything, it’s only seed in the ground that is multiplying.
It is so very important hat you begin your pledge giving by putting some of it into the ground of Kingdom purpose right away. Every year some people think, “When I get some spare money I will put a chunk of it into the Kingdom Advance giving.” But as the year goes by that just never seems to happen, and when the end of the year comes there’s no opportunity to complete the giving pledge.
Ecc 11:4 If you wait until the wind and the weather are just right, you will never plant anything and never harvest anything. (GNB)
If your seed is in the ground, something is working, you can’t see it yet, but something is happening.
Mar 4:26 And He said, The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed upon the ground,
Mar 4:27 And then continues sleeping and rising night and day while the seed sprouts and grows and increases–he knows not how.
Mar 4:28 The earth produces [acting] by itself–first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
Mar 4:29 But when the grain is ripe and permits, immediately he sends forth [the reapers] and puts in the sickle, because the harvest stands ready.
Something’s going on in that soil, the seed is at work, it’s a law of nature, but you must be patient.
Pray over your seed
Just like the seed growing in the ground needs rain, so your seed needs to be watered with faith. Your expectation of the blessing of God is going to nourish and tend the miracle growing in the ground. If you are thinking all the time, “It’s hard times, I never have enough, I wish I didn’t give that money.” Then you will be making room for crop failure. God has promised to multiply your seed, so imagine it and see the vision fulfilled.
Mat 9:28 When He reached the house and went in, the blind men came to Him, and Jesus said to them, Do you believe that I am able to do this? They said to Him, Yes, Lord.
Mat 9:29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith and trust and reliance [on the power invested in Me] be it done to you;
Rejoice that you have given to God
We rejoice in the opportunity to give to God. It is our love for God even more than our passion for the vision that inspired us to give. We are so happy that our gifts make a big difference to the lives of others, but it is our hearts to desire to show our love and appreciation to God for all that He has done for us, and so we give above and beyond.
2Co 9:7 Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving]. [Prov. 22:9.](AMP)
2Co 9:13 This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. (MESS)
Expect an Abundant blessing
2Co 9:7 Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving]. [Prov. 22:9.]
2Co 9:8 And God is able to make all grace (every favour and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].
Isaac sowed in a time of famine and reaped 100 fold.
Gen 26:1 AND THERE was a famine in the land, other than the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimelech king of the Philistines.
Gen 26:12 Then Isaac sowed seed in that land and received in the same year a hundred times as much as he had planted, and the Lord favoured him with blessings.
In this season of the Australian economy where the future seems uncertain, you have decided to be generous. Your faith makes room for God to sustain and bless you through what ever comes your way.
We have an attitude that by faith we war a good warfare over our seed. WE are strong in faith believing that the promise of God is for His people to experience abundance. This promise is received by faith like every other promise. At times there are obstacles and challenges to faith, but we hold fast the confidence of our faith steadfast till the end.
Asking God for His provision is making a demand upon His ability.
Mar 11:24 For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it]. (AMP)
Just look with me for a moment at the word “ask” and what it really means in this verse….
The word “Ask” in the original Greek language G154 αἰτέω aiteō ahee-teh’-o
Of uncertain derivation; to ask (in generally): – ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require. Compare G4441. (That is looking at other times words are translated as “ask” in English)
G4441- to question, that is, ascertain by inquiry (as a matter of information merely; and thus differing from
G2065, which properly means a request as a favour; and from
G154, which is strictly a demand of something due; as well as from (That’s the one from this verse)
G2212, which implies a search for something hidden; and from
G1189, which involves the idea of urgent need); by implication to learn (by casual intelligence): – ask, demand, enquire, understand.
Thus in this verse Jesus is saying make a demand of something due. To ask here implies great desire, even craving, as well as making a demand for something.
This is not “If it be thy will, Lord” kind of prayers. This is storming the gates of heaven type prayers and “not taking no for an answer” type prayers.
We are in for a season of financial strength and great blessing. Let’s rejoice in the Lord for His goodness.
craigmanderson 
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