The Critical Environments for Bountiful Harvests
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully ….. for God loveth a cheerful giver ~ 2 Corinthians 9:6-7.
Introduction
One of the amazing characteristics of normal human beings is their ever so insatiable desire for a better life. Excitingly, the Lord Jesus declared that all things are possible to whosoever believes (Mark 9:23). Thus, you can harvest whatsoever you desire in prayer, if you can believe God for it (Mark 11:24).
Now, one might like the idea of a bountiful harvest, but until a good environment for its viability is created, it may remain just a nice idea (Leviticus 26:10). Stop fighting the symptoms, tackle the root of the problem: improper environment!
If you refuse to create an environment conducive to the future you want, you must be ready to endure the future you’ll get. A truly wise man perceives the future and takes necessary actions to define it gloriously (Genesis 13:14-17).
New Year And New Beautiful Opportunities
Our God is a God of new beginnings! Hence, all those who choose Him can engage new opportunities for fresh starts this new year, and can actually become brighter than the best of the day for God (Isaiah 43:18-21).
With a new beginning under God, we can push behind us the failures of yesteryears, and induce constructive changes that should lead to better results in all areas of our lives: spiritual, family, financial, business or career concerns.
God is ever ready to move us from sad pasts to brilliant futures, and from emptiness into experiences of productivity and relevance. However, there must be a strong determination to cooperate with Him fully.
The Conditions Precedent To Bountiful Harvests
Life in Christ can be so thrilling and so wonderful, but there is always a price attached to living. If you desire to be blessed beyond measure, and become satisfied with bountiful harvests in all ramifications this season, you must practically rejuvenate the following requisite critical environments.
The foremost critical condition required in making your life amenable to bountiful harvests is to keep God first in all your ways (Matthew 6:33). Life has no meaning without God (Genesis 1:1). And, all the labour of man is futility without His input (Psalm 127:1).
You can never generate lasting impacts in your world until God has imparted you, neither can you become anything significant until He has “made you” (Mark 1:17). It is He that gives the increase you are aspiring to enjoy (1Corinthians 3:6-11).
God is not “a” factor for your harvests, He is “the” real factor (John 15:5). Involving the Holy Spirit in your harvest-plan through faith and prayers, and inclining yourself to pastoral instructions are basics to guaranteeing your bountiful harvests (Matthew 9:37-38; Luke 5:5; 2Chronicle 20:20).
Secondly, bountiful harvests are generally excited by great dreams (Isaiah 60:5). You don't enjoy the breakthrough you refuse to perceive by faith (John 4:35). Remember the ringed poplar tree of Jacob and his dizzying harvest (Genesis 30:37)!
Without God, we are nothing; without dreams, we reach nothing. Sparsity and stagnation don’t come from the absence of things, but the absence of direction (Proverbs 29:18).
Your vision is the seed-plot of your better version! Anytime vision is divided, attention is lost, energy is dissipated and divorce becomes inevitable. Staying focused is the secret of conserving strength for the essentials of life and destiny. Friends, guard against every form of distraction this year.
What kind of harvest are you envisioning right now? A bumper harvest in kingdom relevance and impacts, in your health, finances or family life? Your vision can never overwhelm God, no matter what it is (Joel 2:23). Just ensure it’s from heaven and inspired by the Word!
Thirdly, be ready to accept responsibility for the harvests you’re believing God for. Your vision for bountiful harvests places on you the responsibility of freeing yourself from the past, and taking the necessary steps towards a “better you”.
At a point, the prodigal son became less fortunate than the pigs (Luke 15:11-32). Nevertheless, he accepted the responsibility to change his estate of miseries and woes. He arose and went to his father with a penitent heart, and that was sufficient to excite his required change.
Don’t break the mirrors just because they show you your true picture. Don’t leave your future to chance; accept responsibility for your life, and act fast enough to deliver your destiny from the lions of past failings.
Take responsibility for your fields of harvest, now (1Corinthians 4:2). When your life-space produces, you mustn’t leave the fruits to rot away, you must engage the sickles, with serious devotion and commitment.
No farmer invests time and energy planting precious seeds, and then, at harvest time, simply sits idle and watches them rot in the field. That would be crazy! Unfortunately, that’s what many people who are too lazy to work on their harvest fields do (Proverbs 10:5).
Harvests never smile on the sluggards (Proverbs 20:4)! They don’t just jump from the fields to the barn (Joel 3:13-14). Someone must launch out into the deep for a great draught (Luke 5:4).
In particular, accept responsibility to embrace the demands of God’s covenant for your harvests. Being obedient to the divine demands is the secure guarantee for munificent harvests.
Until you accept responsibility for your life, you keep making excuses and looking for scapegoats to blame for everything that happens to you. Nevertheless, those who constantly look for who to blame remain lame.
God’s love is unconditional, but His promises are not. If you want to experience better things in your life and reap bountiful harvests, you must fulfill the conditions pre-set for them.
Many people deliberately breach the benchmarks of the covenant and expose themselves to the diabolical dangers of unforced presumptions, yet they join others to cry when they don’t see their signs (Psalm 74:9).
Prophecies don’t fulfill themselves; they’re fulfilled when the conditions specified for them are fitted (2Corinthians 10:4-6). The basic conditions for bountiful harvests are faithfulness to God and obedience to His commands, walking in the positions of servanthood, discipline, diligence, holiness, respect, love and honour (Leviticus 26:3).
Meanwhile, the following will further tend you to bountiful harvests: kingdom mindedness (Matthew 6:33); violent offerings (Luke 6:38); intense praise (Psalms 67:5-7); and strong prophetic encounters (Hosea 12:13).
Friends, it’s your turn to surprise your world! Don’t be deceived any longer, embrace a higher order of prayer, with your mind renewed by God’s Word, to receive your portion (Galatians 6:7; 1Chronicle 4:9-10).
Very importantly, in these last days, as we make Jesus the center of His Church, there shall also be a great supernatural harvest of souls by the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:14-16).
The Church will begin to experience unprecedented revivals, unusual miracles, signs and wonders as it did in the days of old, and she shall continue to grow from strength to strength.
Great Christian souls, go out now under the banner of God’s grace and in the power of the Holy Ghost to reap your harvests, always remembering that every anticipated harvest is inside the seed (2Corinthians 9:10).
Your seeds include your words, money, time, talents, treasure, kindness, influence, etcetera, sown in kingdom principles (Genesis 1:11-12; 8:22). The more you sow, the more you harvest!
No matter how dry or barren the fields may be around you, God will still honour your faith, your obedience and your expectancy. Only stay focused as you launch out at His Word.
Dream, sow, conquer, harvest and possess bountifully! Above all remain spotless and focused on the Lord Jesus (Proverbs 22:4). This year, His favour will deliver you from every form of reproach, and the old barriers will give way.
Every demonic altar raised to waste your harvest is hereby summarily destroyed. You will celebrate and be celebrated, soon. You won’t miss it, in Jesus Name. Happy Sunday!
____________________
Bishop Taiwo Akinola,
Rhema Christian Church,
Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Connect with Bishop Akinola via these channels:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bishopakinola
SMS/WhatsApp: +234 802 318 4987
