WHAT THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT SOWING AND REAPING?

BIBLICAL PATTERN WITH GABBY YAMOAH-BOANSI

Most of the Bible was originally written to those living in an agrarian society, people familiar with working the land, managing livestock, and raising crops. Many of Jesus’ parables involve the farming life. Not surprisingly, then, the Bible contains many references to sowing and reaping, and here are some of the principles we learn:

Sowing and reaping is a law of the natural world. On the third day of creation, God commanded the earth to bring forth living plants “bearing seed” and fruit “with seed in it” (Genesis 1:12). These plants were then given to man for food (verse 29). Ever since the beginning, man has understood the process of sowing and reaping and has applied it to his benefit.

God uses the law of sowing and reaping to bestow His blessing. God’s blessing comes generally to the whole world as He sends sun and rain to the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). In some cases His blessing comes more specially to those of His choosing, such as Isaac. Genesis 26:12 says that Isaac sowed a crop and received a hundredfold in one season because the Lord targeted him for blessing.

Israel’s gratefulness for God’s yearly blessing was expressed in the Feast of Firstfruits, when the first of the harvest was brought to the Lord as an offering (Exodus 23:19a; Leviticus 23:10).

God warned Israel that, if they forsook Him and pursued idols, the law of sowing and reaping would be suspended and their crops would fail (Leviticus 26:16b). This happened to disobedient Judah on a couple occasions (Jeremiah 12:13; Micah 6:15).

Sowing and reaping is also a law of the spiritual world. It is more than just an agricultural principle. It is an axiom of life that we reap what we sow. Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” There are natural consequences to our actions. The world operates under the law of cause and effect. There is no way around it: every time we choose an action, we also choose the consequences of that action.

Sowing and reaping implies a wait. Nothing good grows overnight. The farmer must be patient in order to see the fruit of his labors. When the Bible likens the ministry to planting, watering and reaping (1 Corinthians 3:6), it suggests a length of time. God will bring forth fruit to His glory in His time. Until then, we faithfully labor in His field (Matthew 9:38), knowing that “at the proper time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9; see also Psalm 126:5).

We reap in kind to what we sow. Those who plant apple seeds should expect to harvest apples. Those who sow anger should expect to receive what anger naturally produces. Galatians 6:8 says, “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Living a life of carnality and sin and expecting to inherit heaven is akin to planting cockle burrs and waiting for roses.

This principle works both positively and negatively. “The one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward” (Proverbs 11:18b), but “whoever sows injustice reaps calamity” (Proverbs 22:8a).

We reap proportionately to what we sow. The rule is, the more seed planted, the more fruit harvested. The Bible applies this law to our giving. Those who show generosity will be blessed more than those who don’t. “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6). This principle is not concerned with the amount of the gift but with the spirit in which it is given. God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7), and even the widow’s mites are noticed by our Lord (Luke 21:2-3).

We reap more than what we sow. In other words, the law of sowing and reaping is related to the law of multiplication. Jesus spoke of seed that brought forth “a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown” (Matthew 13:8). One grain of wheat produces a whole head of grain. In the same way, one little fib can produce an out-of-control frenzy of falsehoods, fallacies, and fictions. Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7). Positively, one kind deed can result in a blessing to last a lifetime.

Sowing and reaping is used as a metaphor for death and resurrection. When Paul discusses the doctrine of the resurrection of the body, he uses the analogy of planting a seed to illustrate physical death. “The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:42b-44a). A seed may “die” when it falls to the ground, but that is not the end of its life (John 12:24).

Found throughout Scripture, the idea of sowing and reaping is an important principle imparting wisdom for both this world and the next.

LEAD PASTOR:

HILL OF CHRIST REFRESHING CENTRE

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TOPIC: THE VOICE OF THE PROPHETIC IS THE VOICE OF JESUS

BIBLICAL PATTERN WITH GABBY YAMOAH-BOANSI

TOPIC: THE VOICE OF THE PROPHETIC IS THE VOICE OF JESUS

And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.(Acts 3:23) –(Deut 18:19)

Lately the prophetic has been abused and badly handled because of inadequate understanding of this gift to the body of Christ. Prophets of old from Samuel to Malachi all prophesied about one unique voice. In that voice rests all the prophetic fulfilment of the end time. The talk is too much; education must be given about this unique office. Moses in Deuteronomy 18:19 prophesied specifically about “A PROPHET”that will rise among the Jewish people. Moses instructed the people, that anyone who will refuse to hear such a prophet would be destroyed among the people. Before the coming of Jesus, the Old Testament people have already been introduced to the prophetic ministry as a channel at which Yahweh carries out his word to his people. The saw Jesus as one of the prophet even though his nature of the prophetic was quiet different from the rest of the Old Testament prophet. In some instances of the Old Testament some saw him as a prophet because they saw that office been displayed in a unique way. So anybody who came doing something beyond the natural was tag as a prophet. In John 4 when Jesus revealed the secret life about the woman he met at the well, she said, “Sir, I perceived that you are a prophet”. Whatever they said about Jesus, as being a prophet was not far from the truth. Indeed he was the embodiment of the prophetic in times of old as the word spoken forth or the voice of the prophet in “shadow”. When Jesus came to earth he was the full manifestation of the prophetic in reality. Any prophet, who prophesies, does so because of Jesus.

The voice of a genuine prophet is the voice of Jesus. In such an art of spiritual augmentation, every other voice does not matter except the voice of Jesus Christ. And the voice of the prophet is the word of God in the mouth of the prophet and that word is Jesus. That is why whoever is carrying or heralding a prophetic word, whether to a nation, a specific people or an individual, the voice of Christ must be heard behind that human voice and not only the voice of Christ but the loving heart of Christ too. The focus of the message to the recipients should not be about the prophet but Jesus who is the giver of the message through the Holy Spirit. There is something that the modern day prophet must about the ministry of Jesus foretold by Jesus.

Jesus said, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.(John 16:13)

The Holy Spirit, who is also God; “will guide you into all truth and he shall not speak of himself” Wow! The Holy Spirit is not under any mandate in His ministry on earth to speak about himself, but only to guide us into all truth based on what he hears.

“He will guide you into all truth”, what is truth then? Truth is the Word of God and the Word of God is also a person and his name is Jesus. So it means the Holy Spirit will guide you to know all that you need to know about Jesus. His focus in your life is to deepen your intimacy with Jesus. Then again Jesus says he will not speak of himself. That means the Holy Spirit will not project himself, he will not make himself the center of the show, but his focus is to make Jesus known to all men he comes in contact with. Note, wherever Jesus is exalted and celebrated the Holy Spirit shows up with his glorious power and presence to bring people into closer intimacy with him. If this is what the Holy Spirit is expected to do in our lives, then I believe any prophet who prophesy with the ability of the Holy Spirit cannot go above this. This is the problem of many today, ‘focus is on them and not the person of Jesus’. That is absolutely wrong.

Many times, some prophets miss this when they are carrying out a message to recipients. Instead of the focus being on Jesus, it is shifted from him and the focus now is on them. One of the things every prophet must know when prophesying to people, is to draw the heart of men to Jesus in a deeper intimacy in the bond of love. No matter the content of the message they are carrying across, the love of Jesus must be seen in the message and at the end cause the recipient get acquainted with Christ more. When you miss this, you have missed the core essence of the spirit of the prophetic, no matter how accurate, forensic your message is.

The prophetic has a fundamental goal and the goal is, at the end all must come to Jesus and have intimacy with him. Example, the woman of Samaria in John 4 had a questionable character that no one would love to associate with. But when she met Jesus at the well, the focus now became Jesus and his love towards the woman, for what purpose, so that he will draw the woman to himself. Jesus used the prophetic to draw the woman closer. He said… “Go call thy husband, and come hither.”That was the word of knowledge, one of the gifts to help in the prophetic. Later after encountering Jesus, she got saved and became a voice in spreading the good news of the kingdom. That is what the prophetic does. Get people closer to God and in direct relationship with Him.

Any prophets that prophesy do that through the voice of Jesus under the urgency of the Holy Spirit. The bible says whatever the Holy Spirit hears…it means the Holy Spirit hears and whatever he heard is communicated to the prophet through his spiritual senses to deliver as he is urged. The voice from the Holy Spirit to the prophet is the word of God (voice is the word) and that is Jesus. So, anytime a word is sent forth, remember is Jesus released unto men and this must be done in love. Any other voice don’t matter except the voice of the master through his servant the prophets. The prophet must always hear Jesus in every situation and not himself. He must project Jesus in every situation and not what he thinks should be the outcome. Isaiah spoke the mind of God to Hezekiah that he should put his house in order for he is about to die and left. Hezekiah faced God on the word received from the prophet and argued with God why he shouldn’t die? God heard the supplication of Hezekiah and sent Isaiah back to Hezekiah with a different message. (Isaiah 38)

Isaiah was only a messenger carrying the voice of God (word of God) to Hezekiah. The outcome that came from Hezekiah’s prayers was not given the prophet Isaiah when he first came to Hezekiah, his presentation could have been this…Godsays put your house in order for you are about to die, but if you will fast and pray to me this will happen… that was not the picture painted to us. Hezekiah, because of his relationship with God had his way through the prophecy he received from the prophet Isaiah.

This is what every believer must desire to do. Building an intimacy and partnership with Jesus through the Holy Spirit. That is what God desire for us, INTIMACY WITH HIM THROUGH HOLY SPIRIT who is right here on earth with us in his fullness. Hallelujah! JESUS is the voice of the prophetic. From the days of Samuel to the last Old Testament prophets all prophesied with Jesus in shadow. Meaning he was the word they spoke forth. But when the word became flesh and dwell or tabernacle among us, His full essence was revealed to us. So this time, no more shadow but REALITY here with us. Glory!

In Hebrew 1: 1-2 the bible says, “God, who at sundry(various) times and in diverse manners (ways) spake in time past(that is old testament) unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days(new era, new testament) spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;”

This is the reason why in the New Testament Jesus is the ONLY VOICEthat must be heard through or behind any human vessels. Any prophet under this new covenant cannot speak above the master Jesus. His Jesus must always be the message to the people no matter what the prophet is communicating. It is about Jesus and not the interest of the prophet. One thing that every minister of the gospel must know is that, Jesus is the fullness and embodiment of the entire five fold ministerial gift to the church. By extension, He is the one who decides who is brought into any of these gifts. The bible says, to some He (Jesus) gave…to be an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and a teacher. (Ephesians 4:11) you don’t decide what you want to become or you don’t go to bible college to choose what you want to become…. He decides. That is why you must know that, this ministerial gift you are enjoying now is for Jesus and by extension he has made you a part of His ministry. So whatever you do in these various ministries must project Him. The emphasis of my write up is on the Prophetic.

It is very true, that Jesus cannot finish his ministry responsibilities on earth without man. He will need people, so if you are favoured and bless by the act of grace to be a part of these leadership role of the mandate of Christ to continue in the perfecting of the saints on earth, remember this, whatever ministry you are called to function is an extension of Jesus’s ministries. Blessed are you to be a part. You must function in this office with his loving heart and not yours. There is a way Jesus loves his people, his own people he bought them with his own blood. You may not love them the way he does, but ones you are working for Him, you ought to love them the way he does. Prophet of God, you can only love them the way he does when you are in deep intimacy with HIM. So that His love you have for him will flow into his people. You cannot love the people of God more than Himself. (John 3:16) He demonstrated this even to the “world” who were not yet His own. Jesus sits in heaven and is watching how you use ‘His gift’ to impart his own. Has this thought ever cross your mind for once?

This love that is the person of Jesus is stronger than the gift you have. The gift must be operated in this love. 1^stCorinthians 13:1-2 says, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (LOVE), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (LOVE), I am nothing.”

When Jesus does not become the center of the prophetic, we have lost touch of it. It is not for showmanship or to bring excitement, but to create inner awakening and hunger for God in the lives of people. It is to position the lives of people who are craving for depths of the Spirit. The bible says, “And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”(Revelation 19:10)

And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord. (1 Samuel 3:21)

He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30)

JESUS IS THE FULLNESS AND ESSENCE OF THE PROPHETIC

GABBY YAMOAH-BAONSI

LEAD PASTOR: HILL OF CHRIST REFRESHING CENTRE- KUMASI-GHANA

May they be snared in their own evil plot!

Raptures of Joy Daily Devotional

1st February, 2017

Pastor Gabby 

“And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.” (2 Samuel 17:23 KJV)

The Bible says, in the multitude of counsel there is liberty. But not this time with David. A man who has been his counselor and head of the counsel of state now turns against him. The weapons of Ahithophel was not in arms but in words. He could make happen by his skillful oratory. He was a great man and a personal adviser to King David. A man whose counsel was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God.

( 2 Samuel 16:23) Ahithophel later turned from the camp of David his master to follow David son Absalom in a coup plot to take the throne illegally. By virtue of his gift and level of wisdom, he created confusion in the family of David. Alas, his counsel remain futile when he mischievously gave Absalom a counsel against David and his men. (2 Samuel 17) 

And when Absalom realized that Ahithophel counsel was no more relevant for his progress, he renounced it. And Absalom said, “For the Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom”( 2 Samuel 17:14)

In the verse 23, the Bible says, ” And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulcher of his father. The end of your enemies plot shall be overturned in your favor. Today, I decree and declare over your life, family, marriage, business that any counsel plotted against you shall boomerang. Any evil counsel against you this week and this month are destroyed in  the name of Jesus. They shall be taken in their own evil plot and counsel against you in Jesus name.  Anybody whose main agenda is to wish you evil and gave devilish counsel against you shall hanged themselves in their own evil counsel. I declare to you Rejoice again I say rejoice. Victory is yours in Christ Jesus. This month we are running over all troops and leaping over all walls. With Angelic escort on all sides. Hallelujah!  Glory!

Prayer

Thank you heavenly Father for a life of Victory in Christ Jesus. I declare that any evil counsel conceive in any spiritual covens against my life and family this month are aborted in Jesus name. Amen!

Your Labor In The Lord is not Futile

10th January, 2017

Pastor Gabby 

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose].”1 Corinthians 15:58 AMP

Our God is a God of Justice, therefore every work done for Him and His Kingdom will never go unrewarded. Peoples perception of God is getting cold each day. They always see God as a God who doesn’t care about them. In fact that is the picture that is always painted to them. God is not partial and is not a respecter of persons. He is too big to be partial, in fact that is not His nature. He is simply a God who sees good in all things and reward them accordingly. That is our knowing as children of God. In Revelation 22:12, Jesus said, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 

There is a reward awaiting us in the Kingdom base on what you do. Why settle on no work when there is a reward awaiting you. After salvation, Christianity doesn’t end, it rather begins. You must put yourself into the work of God in whichever capacity you can. There is a place for you in the kingdom. There is a joy in this. This is what urges us on to do more for the kingdom at all times no matter what. We have the knowing that all our labour shall not be in vain. We are encouraged in our opening text to be steadfast or firm, unmovable and always abounding in the work of the Lord. That means we are to make ourselves available always for kingdom work. Whichever work God has assigned to you to do, do it with all your resources and might knowing that it is not going waste or become useless. For as much as you know that your labour for God’s Kingdom is not in vain keep pushing and making yourself available for Him. 

This is the joy that gives us the urge always to preach the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God. We don’t do it for the reward and applause of men.  People will not understand you, when you get so busy for Kingdom work, but don’t be perturbed at all, I encourage you to continue to pursue your kingdom duty and call. Don’t be deceived, there is no work greater than this work. 

If your employer can get you to work for the company all night long and sometimes your profit is so little and you will be complaining, how much more God who owns the earth. Don’t be little God at all. He is more than capable of taking care of you. This year, purpose in your heart, that no matter what, you will position yourself well for God’s work. And when you lay hold on it, do it diligently well and God will always smile on you. God bless you. 
Prayer: 

Thank you father for your word, I am determined by your Spirit to get active and dedicated to my heavenly duty and call, I receive the grace to abound in every good work always, knowing that my labour shall not be in vain. Thank you for the grace to do much for you in Jesus name.Amen. 

Further Study

1 Corinthians 3:9

Hebrews 6:10

Raptures of Joy Daily Devotional 

ChristHill Ministries International

WHERE ARE THOSE THINE ACCUSERS…?When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? (John 8:10 KJV)In this account of scripture, a certain woman was caught in adultery and the Scribes and Pharisees brought her and set her in the midst of where Jesus and the people were. They say, “Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act” The woman was taken in adultery, meaning she was caught in adultery and the bible says in the very act. That means the woman was caught red handed. Now, Moses in the law commanded that, such a person caught in the very act should be stoned: when they quoted this scripture in law to Jesus, they wanted to get his opinion on the matter…and they said to him”but what sayest thou?Their intention of posing such question to Jesus from the law, was to tempt him, so that they can accuse him. The scripture says, Jesus always knew what was in man.( John 2:24) How did he know? By the Holy Spirit. By virtue of this, he didn’t say a word. The Bible says he bent down and started writing on the ground. When they continued asking him(Jesus) , he lifted up himself and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.According to Deuteronomy 17:7, the Bible says, the hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you. This scripture implies that, the witnesses(first hand witnesses) are to do the first stoning.Then the rest will follow up in the stoning as the punishment according to the law. So in the case of the woman, those who where to do the stoning were to be the witnesses that caught her in the very act. Jesus knew that, those witnesses who caught the woman in the very act of adultery were right by virtue of the law to stone her to death, but Jesus also knowing very well that all men where guilty of the law said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her”. Why didn’t the witnesses who were qualified by the law as first hand witnesses stone the woman? Because the question of Jesus was a question that tied them up. There was no place of escape for them. They were all guilty of the law. The bible says,, ” for whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one part, he is guilty of all”( James 2:10) By this, we realised that, no one has the legal right to hold people sins against them. You were saved by grace and not on your merit of doing what was right.The bible says, judge that ye may not be judge. What that means is that when you impose judgement on people because you think you are the most qualified, the standard of your own judgement you cannot bare.As believers, we don’t have the ministry of condemnation. The ministry Jesus Christ gave us in this end time is the ministry of reconciliation. That was the ministry he functioned in on his earthly ministry before ascending into heaven. Christ Jesus is not here in body, that is why he asked us, to stand in his stead in this ministry of reconciliation which is so dear to the fathers heart. This ministry of reconciliation is not to the righteous, No! Because we are already reconciled to the father. It is to the world(sinners). When the people were convicted in their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.Jesus then lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? Seemingly, No man was qualified on merit to condemned her, because all was guilty of the law. Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more”.If Jesus who was 100% qualified to condemn her did not but reconciled her to the father, who are you to condemn people.Romans 2:1, ” Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: forwherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things”This is how the amplify also put’s it, “You have no excuse or defense or justification, O man, whoever you are who judges and condemns another. For posing as judge and passing sentence on another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge are habitually practicing the very same things( that you censure and denounce) Brothers and sisters in Christ, the world needs the love of God more than anything. Share that love by telling a sinner( someone who has not receive jesus) about the gospel of love and reconciliation. Preaching to ourselves as believers is good, but we are to reach out to the lost sheep. God bless you for doing so. You are blessed indeed. I love you Gabby Yamoah Boansi (Word Global Impact)

BRINGING OUT GOD’S COLOR INTO THE WORLD

​Bringing Out God’s Colors into the World.

Saturday 7th January, 2017

Pastor Gabby 

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16 MSG)

Jesus said you are the light of the world. And as the MSG puts it “you are here to be light”. Child of God your purpose has been defined. It is either you become or you don’t. The ability to become the light of the world is in you already. You don’t lack it.It is sad when some believers have identity crisis. They don’t know why they are on this earth. You are here to bring out the God-Colors into the world. What is God-colors? It is the glory and the beauty of God; his excellence, his might, his majesty and splendor, his purpose and direction. You are to reflect all these in this world. Hallelujah! 

Oh! How can you grasp this into your spirit and not see his greatness and walk in his glory on earth. Never! Not even the devil from hell can stop you from prospering and succeeding in life. Again the above word says, “God is not a secret to be kept”, then he said, “we are going public with this…”The world must hear this news. How can you have God in you and be silent. How can you have God in you and be secret with Him. No! As the light of the world you cannot be hidden any more. You have to go public with this. You cannot keep mute. The world must see his colorful nature in you. Hallelujah!

You must make a deliberate and a conscious effort to shine and bring out that glorious nature in you. They must see you and glorify your father in heaven. You cannot be a torchbearer and be hidden under a bucket.  This year you will so shine and shine and shine in Jesus name. He says now that you have been put on the lamp stand, you don’t have any choice but to SHINE! So keep shinning for the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. Glory!! 

CONFESSION:

Thank you Father in the name of Jesus for making me the light of the world. I am here to bring out God-colors to the world. As a torchbearer I cannot be hidden. Today, the whole world will see your light in me shining unto the perfect day in Jesus Name. I am born to shine! 

Further Reading

Isaiah 60

Raptures of Joy Daily Devotional

ChristHill Ministries International