Abundant Life Church
My family and I are leaving for Fort Worth shortly. We’ll be attending Kenneth Copeland Ministries’ Southwest Believers’ Convention. This is our sixth year, I think, and it’s a blessing to soak up the word so intensely and fellowship with other believers.
I plan to blog each day from the convention. Pray for time and strength (this is a pretty intense convention). I’d like for give you the opportunity to follow along.
Television news, magazines, and newspapers are all screaming that the economy is tanking. Reports of plant closings, layoffs, and escalating gas prices are everywhere. Fear abounds - even in the church.
But we who believe in the Lord Jesus can abound during times like this, and be a blessing to hurting people. How?
Sow in famine. Look at Isaac:
There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar. Then the LORD appeared to him and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. . . (Genesis 26:1-3 NKJV).
Egypt is a type of the world system. Isaac was tempted to go to the world system for provision during a period of widespread lack. The Lord told him not to do it. “Stay in the Kingdom of God system and I’ll bless you,” He essentially said.
So what did Isaac do? He sowed when everyone around him was hording seed!!
Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him. (Genesis 26:12-14 NKJV).
A Christian who participates in the world system will stop tithing and sowing in times of lack. That’s a big mistake. In times of widespread lack, we who seek first the Kingdom of God need to keep tithing. We need to keep sowing our financial seed. We must pray and find what ministries the Lord wants us to support, and sow our seed. We need to be led about what people He wants us to give to, and sow our seed (maybe by buying someone a tank of gas). Then we need to water our seed with thanksgiving and praise. Even in the midst of famine, we’ll reap a hundredfold and become very prosperous!!
So in a time of lack - sow!! And give the Lord all the glory when He prospers you!
We know the Word says, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for as it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus . . .” (Galatians 3:13-14 NKJV).
Most Christians will accept that Christ redeemed us from sin. They know that “He (the Father) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV). Jesus took our sin and gave us his righteousness. Sweet deal.
Many, but not most, Christians will accept that Christ redeemed us from sickness and disease. “Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:4-5 NRSV). He took our sickness and gave us His divine health and healing. Another sweet deal.
But very few Christians will accept that Christ redeemed us from lack. But how can they deny this passage: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV). Jesus took our poverty and gave us His wealth. Yet another sweet deal.
So why do Christians think we should be poor? He can give us righteousness but He can’t give us wealth? He can carry our infirmities but not our lack?
Don’t accept the lie that’s been sold to the church for centuries. He wants us to prosper, spirit, soul, and body - and financially. Unless we prosper financially, we can’t help the poor. Unless we have wealth, we can’t finance the gospel. Unless we’re well provided for, Jesus doesn’t look that attractive to the world.
So take it the same way you were born again - by faith! God wants you to prosper! Find out how to live in the Kingdom of God, and be blessed - to be a blessing!
I recently heard from a pastor in Wisconsin. God gave him a vision about holding a faith conference in Wisconsin. It’s coming to pass.
On July 29-31, Pastor David Gonzales will host the World Faith Conference at Wisconsin Dells. Speakers include Hylton Sutton, Larry Ollison, Mark Thomas, and Phillip Goudeaux.
Check their web site: http://www.worldfaithconference.org/.
I was blessed to read about this non-profit organization. We can send our used mobile phone to Cell Phones for Soldiers. They send the phones to a cell phone recycler, and in return get money to purchase prepaid calling cards for our armed forces.
If you get a new mobile phone, don’t throw the old one away. Go to the Cell Phones for Soldiers web site and get instructions for mailing it away.
http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/
I spoke again with Van Crouch yesterday. He was in great spirits. His recovery has been miraculous - bless the Lord!! He says he is now (11 days after surgery) where he was expected to be at six weeks, if I understood him correctly.
Not surprisingly, he had a funny story. While he was in the hospital, he was pretty well sedated. Before he was discharged, he had to complete some paperwork. A few days after being discharged, he had a visit from someone he thought was going to talk with him about home healthcare. They talked for a bit, but she just stared at him. Finally, she asked him, “Are you terminally ill?” Surprised, he said, “Oh goodness no. I just had knee replacement surgery.” She shook her head because she was from hospice. Apparently, as he filled out the paperwork under the sedation, he checked that he wanted to talk with someone about “hospice” instead of “home healthcare.”
Rev. Crouch’s rapid recovery is to the praise and glory of the Lord!