“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.
Thoughts on Stewardship – from the Book of Genesis
Seedtime and Harvest
Foundation Scripture: Genesis 8 verse 22
While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. Genesis 8:22 AMP
1. While the earth remains:
While the earth remains, the rhythms of time, seasons, weather, and temperature will continue on as they always have and seedtime and harvest will continue on without interruption. God promised that we would always be able to count on these things. Sowing and reaping is an eternal principle – it will always be so – in the Spirit realm and this earthly realm.
2. In order to reap a harvest you have to sow a seed:
Whether its fruit or vegetables or grains – if you want to produce food to eat – you must take those particular seeds and plant them in ground that has been prepared for that purpose. Then you must water, and continue to water the seeds, and the plant as it grows, and keep weeds and bugs out of the area. God is the one who grows the plant and brings the increase, but He can do nothing for our harvest unless we first plant that seed in the ground. No harvest can come from an unplanted field!
And He said, The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed upon the ground, 27 And then continues sleeping and rising night and day while the seed sprouts and grows and increases–he knows not how. 28 The earth produces [acting] by itself–first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 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.
Mark 4:26-29 AMP
3. You have to be patient:
You will reap a harvest if you do not give up. Have the faith and the commitment to the word of God to keep doing what you know to do. Do not allow the devil to discourage you or talk you out of the promises God has made to you. Galatians 6:9-10 NKJV says, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” The devil will try to rob you of hope. He will try to wear you down and make you tired and then try to convince you to give up, but Isaiah 55:11 says that God’s word never returns void, but it accomplishes what He pleases and it prospers in the thing for which He sent it. So keep your faith out over your seed and you will reap the blessings of patience!
4. Every seed produces after its own kind:
Apples seeds produce apples; corn seeds produce corn; etc. Galatians 6:7 NKJV says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”
5. The harvest is inevitable:
1 Corinthians 3:6-7 NKJV says, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” If you are faithful to plow, plant, water, and weed, you will see the results; you will see the harvest. This is an immutable law of God!
Pastor Adonica’s thoughts:
God is a faith God – He does everything by faith. We are His children, created in His image. We do what we see our Father do. Obey God; sow in faith; expect the harvest; be blessed!
Pastor Rodney’s thoughts:
I learned a lesson about seedtime and harvest, as a young boy, when I planted my own garden. I decided to plant peanuts, but I was impatient for results. I put them in the ground and watered them, expecting them to immediately begin growing out of the ground. I kept digging them up every day, because I wanted to see why they were not growing and poking out of the ground. I did not realize that I was disturbing the seed and not leaving it to die and then bring forth fruit. Eventually I just washed them and ate them. Well you guessed right – I never did harvest any peanuts! So it is with any seed we sow. Have patience – the law of seedtime and harvest will go into effect. God’s word declares that God is not mocked – whatever a man sows that will he also reap. Be patient – have harvest patience – know that when you plant your seed in the ground a harvest will come to pass.
Prayer and Confession
Father, I pray that you will give me harvest patience as I sow my seed (my finances) into the Gospel. You are the Lord of the harvest and my harvest is inevitable! I have sown and I expect to reap. I WILL REAP! This week is my week of great harvest and increase. I believe this and I speak my faith as I sow my seed.
