* Covenant Agreement

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; 

but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Galatians 6:7-8

Apostle Paul tells us to continue on in our good works, he tells us not to faint in our well doing, he tells us to have faith to believe and yet many of us faint in our adversity. We never consider the reason why our spiritual harvest is not coming to past. There are many reasons for poor spiritual harvest. It is just as important to know how NOT to do something as it is to know how to do it.

God has identified the reasons for poor harvest in His word. It is important you understand these so you do not waste spiritual effort.

There is an important principle in God's Word called the "If/But" principle. God has given many promises to His people and most of them are based on the "If/But" principle. Deuteronomy 28 is one example of this principle. God promises: 

And it shall come to pass, IF thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all His commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth.   Deuteronomy 28:1

Listed below are the blessings God's people will experience IF they will serve Him. Among those blessings are promises of abundant harvest in the natural world:

Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.  Deuteronomy 28:3-6

However, verse 15 warns:  

BUT it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all His commandments and his statues which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee.  Deuteronomy 28:15

Among the curses for turning from the ways of the Lord is poor harvest in the natural world:

Cursed shalt thou be in the field...cursed shall be the fruit of thy land.

Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in...Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes, for the worms shall eat them.

Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit...

All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume.  Deuteronomy 28:16,18,38-42

This chapter in Deuteronomy illustrates the "If/But" principle. God's promises are conditional upon our response.

The Bible reveals principles which will result in abundant harvest in the natural world. It also warns of ruined crops and poor harvest if these principles are not followed.

These principles apply to actual sowing and reaping in the natural world but they are also parallels of great spiritual truths.

Understanding these principles will result in a harvest in terms of reaching the world with the Gospel. But applying these principles in every area of life will also result in the blessing of God financially, materially, physically, and emotionally.

Satan has an interest in spiritual harvest. Jesus said to Peter:  

Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you like wheat.   Luke 22:31

Satan wants to sift all that is good from your life so that only waste remains. He does not want you to reap a spiritual harvest.

To help you identify the strategies Satan has designed to sift the harvest from your life, God warned of things which prevent spiritual harvest.

In order to apply strategies for effective harvest it is first necessary to eliminate things that prevent harvest in your life.

Negative factors  must be dealt with.  It is like preparing the ground for planting in the natural world. The ground must be broken up and the rocks and thistles removed before it is ready to receive the seed.  You must right the wrong in your life according to biblical principles and standards.  There is preparation that must occur so that we do not end up in one of the negative categories of the parable about the planting of the seed; which is the word of God: 

A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.  And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.  And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.  And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?  And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.  Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.  Luke 5:5-15

Biblical Studies

10/14/13
02/19/15
07/15/16
09/07/19

03/11/21