PLANTING FOR A HARVEST
JUNE 5TH, 2007
Prophetic message from the Lord through Richard Pace. Received Fri 1/6/07, written Tues 5/6/07.
"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase" (1 Cor 3:6 & 7 NKJV).
The Lord spoke to me and said;
"One plants and another waters but I give the increase. Continue doing what you are doing. Continue planting and watering and at the appointed time I will give the increase. NO ONE ELSE BUT I WILL GIVE IT."
"Do not fear. The increase is coming. Continue serving Me faithfully and I will be faithful to fulfill My promise."
"Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him" (Ps 126:5 & 6 NKJV).
The Lord is not a man that He can lie nor a son of man that He should relent (1 Sam 15:29). He has sworn (promised) and will not relent (Heb 7:21). He is faithful who has promised (Heb 10:23). The word that goes forth from His mouth shall not return to Him void but shall accomplish what He pleases and shall prosper in the thing for which He sent it. (Isa 55:11).
The word of God continually reminds us of the faithfulness of God. When God gives a promise He intends to fulfill it, "...I will perform the oath (promise) which I swore to Abraham your father" (Gen 26:3), "Then said the Lord unto me, thou hast well seen: for I will hasten My word to perform it" (Jer 1:12 KJV), "For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, o rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord God" (Eze 12:25 NKJV).
Here, the Lord makes it clear that it is HE AND HE ALONE who gives the increase and will be faithful in doing so. "Neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters..." The increase does not come from us but from the Lord through us (We cannot take the credit). When we are faithful in doing our part, God is faithful in doing His. We are to be faithful to continue doing whatever He has commanded of us in whatever situation we're facing - especially in difficult times, and as we do He will bring the increase. Ps 126:6 says: "He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him..." as we are faithful and obedient to continue to plant and water, plant and water, plant and water, doing the work of the kingdom unto the Lord, wherever the Master has put us, especially in difficulties and with tears, we shall "doubtless", WITHOUT DOUBT, CERTAINLY return rejoicing with our harvest (Gen 26:2-6, 12-14).
Our toil and very tears themselves will be the seeds from which the harvest shall come. In other words, as we persevere in serving the Lord and His people, and as we choose to remain with the Lord, pressing into His presence especially in the midst of great personal distress, heartache and pain, with tears, our tears become a sacrificial offering to the Lord which He sees and remembers (2 Kin 20:5, Ps 6:6-9, 39:12, 56:8,9). Our tears (weeping) are the seed that we bear for sowing which then results in the harvest. We shall then "doubtless come again with rejoicing" bringing our sheaves - the harvest - with us. Why? Because we have seen and are celebrating the fact that God has been faithful to us in our circumstances, having fulfilled His promise to bring the harvest (Ps 126:2, 3). And what will be the harvest?
A greater revelation of the person of God
A deeper level of intimacy with Him
Greater effectiveness in ministry
Souls
The fulfillment of the promises of God to you
The meeting of our every need
No matter what you are going through, the end is in sight, the harvest is on it's way. Remain in and with the Lord especially in hardships and you shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing your sheaves with you.
"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Gal 6:9 & 10 NKJV).
"...Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Ps 30:5 NKJV).
- Richard Pace