Monday, 24 October 2022

 

SUPERNATURAL INCREASE

MESSAGE 4:

SOWING IN THE MIDST OF FAMINE

Pastor Michael Joseph Gowon

 appreciate the Lord for his mercy and grace and how He has graciously carried

 

Prov. 10:22 AMP

 "The blessing of the Lord--it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it]."

Main Text: Gen. 26:1-14

 

1.     And there was a famine in the land!  (v.1)

How have you reacted to your period of lack and drought? What are you always tempted to do first when there is nothing to lean on or to turn to?

The word “famine” means a severe shortage, extreme scarcity, or a serious economic downturn.

For many of us experiencing constant shortage, scarcity and lack is a usual phenomenon, but that is not the will of God for our lives. 

Some of us have gone through severe lack, constant dryness, persistence closed heavens and we have become an opened reproach. We barely get by, only surviving and merely existing.

Some of us have truly been squeezed by the spirit of poverty, we live it, practice it and people use our pitiful circumstances and situations to describe and recognize us.

 

Beloved, you need to take authority over that reproach, and that situation because Jesus has already done something about it for us on the cross. He did it so that in the times of famine and tough times we will not just survive but thrive. He wants us to experience victory over lack, want,

Thriving here signifies that we would– flourish, succeed, advance, prosper, grow vigorously, and increase in goods and estate.

Today, we live in a day when a lot of people are terrified by the smell of what is about to come upon us. There is fear and panic, uncertainty, hopelessness.

When you supply dried up do not fear. Remember that sometimes the famine is a simple test to see if you can trust the Lord and go all the way with him.

For those who do not know the Lord, the time of famine is an hour of trouble and tribulation.

Dan. 11:32

32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall [ a]corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.

 

God’s has promise his divine intervention for us during our time of need.

Job 5:20,22 (NKJV).

 “In famine He shall redeem you from death……….You shall laugh at destruction and famine.”

Psalm 33:18-19
“Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine.”  
Psalm 37:19

“They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough”

 

As covenant children of God we do not only survive during famines, we thrive.

Prov. 10:22

 “The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.”

 

 

2.     And Isaac went to  Abimelech King of the Philistines unto Gerar (v. 1b)

 

We are always tempted to go down to Egypt for help when we are in trouble. In Genesis 12:10 during the first famine ever in the Bible, we are told Abraham the father of our faith sought for help from Egypt. He went down to Egypt instead of going up to the Lord for help.

To solve our problems we must take steps but we should be careful to take the right step.

Isaac made the same mistake his father made. He went down to Egypt . . .

Egypt here represents another source apart from God.

It signifies leaning on the arms of flesh instead of relying on God.

It depicts a boasting on your “Bank Account’ or “Business Increase” or “Current Employment.”

 

 

3.     Dwell in this land, I will be with you and Bless you . . . (v. 2; 6)

The Lord appeared to Isaac and said to him, “Go not down into Egypt, dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of . . . . And Isaac dwell in Gerar.”

 

This is a call for Obedience

 However, it was also an encouraging reassurance from the King of all the earth.

It is better to dwell in the desert with the Lord that to go to the oasis of plenty with Satan as your companion.

God warned Isaac not to go to Egypt and thank God he listened and obeyed.

Many have travelled abroad in search of greener pastures and have returned without certificate and without and dollars. They returned wretched and poor.

We are the children of promise, we must live in the land of promise to be blessed.

All good and perfect gifts come from above (not abroad) from the Father of lights who giveth all things without variableness and without any shadow of turning.

 

4.     The Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him (v. 12).

The Lord blessed Isaac and he began to prosper rapidly in the land that is dry. In a time of drought, when everywhere was dry and dusty, God told Isaac to go into agric. business.

The weather report was nasty. There was no rain for years. The place was so dry, nothing can grow on that land.

Job 2:8

They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy KJV

Ecc. 11:4

He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap KJV

Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest NLT

 

Isaac obeyed the instructions of the Lord to sow in that dry land

He might have been discouraged by friends and neighbours. He showed a radical seed and reaped a radical harvest. The economy doesn’t have to be booming for you to be blessed. Your blessing is based on revelation. It is based on truth not time. It is based on mercy and grace. It is based on covenant.

 

Have you considered these verses?

A man of God said he seems to believe that God gave Isaac an idea that is equivalent to the technological invention of our time. God told him he can irrigate his farm from his well. Halleluiah. It has never been done before then, it was a new idea and Isaac run with that idea and he became wealthy.

Gen 26:18-19 

And Isaac digged again the wells of water... And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.

Gen 26:21-22  

And they digged another well... And he removed from thence, and digged another well...

Gen 26:25  

And he built an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well.

Gen 26:32 

And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water.

I believed that Isaac introduced a new technology to the land of the Philistines. He irrigated his crops from well water!

That was a cutting edge technology of his day to the conditions existing in Canaan, and his crops grew when nobody else's would.

Remember Prov 8:12 said

I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

 

Because of this one idea from God, Isaac had plenty of food for his household, and plenty extra to sell to the Philistines. He prospered rapidly, geometrically as the Philistines had to transfer their wealth to him to get food to survive the scotching drought.

 

In all this situation we find that:

1)    Isaac discovered God's plan.

2)    Isaac heard from God.

3)    Isaac obeyed the God's voice.

4)    Isaac had to be bold enough to do something that had never been done before [irrigation from well water].

5)    Isaac overcame resistance or the philistines who contended for his wells.

6)    Isaac persevered and was not become discouraged by the resistance.

7)    Isaac refused to get in strife with those who were opposing him.

 

In God's economy, it does not matter when you sow seed. He is the Lord of the harvest!


5.       And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great (v. 13) KJV

Isaac became great, and gained more and more, until he became very wealthy and distinguished.
He was thriving, flourishing, succeeding, advancing, growing, vigorously, increasing in goods.

He had flocks, herds and a great supply of servants – so much so that the Philistines envied him.


Isaac trusted in God, and not in himself or in the elements, he prospered while others were struggling.
If you obey God, He can multiply you in the midst of the worst circumstances of life and grant you favor. Even in the middle of famine – when everyone else is decreasing, losing, and going under - you can be prospering, increasing and multiplying!

Job 22:29

When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.

 

Why did Isaac succeed in a time of famine  and became great?

·         He Obeyed God is trying moments

·         He sowed his seeds on dry land

·         He took steps of faith  - Heb. 11:6

 

6.            What can hinder your supernatural increase?

 

1.     Partial Surrender  Mediocre, carnal, sensual life

2.      Ignorance of Kingdom priviledges – senior brother to prodigal son, Hos. 4:6; Prov. 10:14a NLT says “wise people treasure knowledge.”

3.     Inconsistent warfare – releasing territories to the enemy due to life’s difficulties and challenges

4.     Unwholesome living

5.     Wrong thinking, speaking,

6.     Greed, lack of giving, not tithing

7.     Disobedience to the word of God Isa. 1:19, Jms 1:25

8.     Lack of Intimacy with God – Psa. 127:1 TLB;Jn. 15:5

9.     Trusting in Man – Prov. 3:5; 2 Chro. 16:12-13; Jer. 17:5

10.                         Trying to please everybody – John Mason said, “There is one guaranteed formula for failure, which is trying to please everyone.”

 

Conclusion:

Launch into the deep, and let down your nets for a Draught – Lk. 5:4-7

 

HE WATCHES HIS WORD TO PERFORM IT SO THAT YOU CAN EXCEED EXPECTATIONS

Pastor Michael J. Gowon



 

INTRODUCTION

A. I like the old story about a man who fell off a cliff, but managed to grab a tree limb on the way down.

The man began to call out: “Help, help, is anyone up there?”

Then the man heard a voice saying, “I am here. I am the Lord. Do you believe me?”

The man replied, “Yes, Lord, I believe. I really believe, but I can’t hang on much longer.”

The Lord then said, “That’s all right, if you really believe you have nothing to worry about. I will save you. Just let go of the branch, I will catch you.”

There was a long pause, and then the man cried out, “Help, is anyone else up there?”

 

B. Another story tells of a city being bombed during wartime, and a father who picked up his son and ran for a shelter.

On the way, the bombing intensified and the father wasn’t sure they would make it to the shelter.

Seeing a deep hole, the father put his son down and jumped into the hole.

When he told his son that he would catch him in his arms if the boy would jump into the hole, the boy said, “But I can’t see you, father!”

The father looked up at the silhouette of his son against the background of explosions and burning buildings and said, “But you don’t have to see me, because I can see you.”

With faith and trust, the son jumped into his father’s waiting arms.

 

YOU ARE AN UNPROFITABLE SERVANT: IF YOU ONLY DO WHAT IS YOUR DUTY TO DO

Lk. 17:7-10

7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?

8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?

9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.

10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say,  We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

 

Many of us are used to lip-service and lip-promise without taking any action and thus we see no increase in our lives and we turn around to blame God for not coming through to us.

 

Why must God expect so much from you and me? It is because He has invested so  much in you. 

Lk. 12:48

48. "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more” (Lk.12).

 

BECAUSE HW WILL WATCH OVER HIS WORD TO PERFORM IT

Jer. 1:12

“Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it”

Every spoken word of God will move your life forward.

There shall be a performance.

 

Rom. 4:20-21

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith , giving glory to God. And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able  also to perform.

 

Josh 21:45

There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord has spoken unto the house of Israel, all came to pass.

 

When can we say there is a performance?

·         When expected events are fulfilled

·         Covenants are fulfilled

·         Promises are realized

·         ‘Dry bones regain life

·         The barren become fruitful

·         A situation of not enough turns to be a more than enough

·         When the desert flourishes like an oasis

·         When we posses the gates of our enemies

·         When God makes  a way in the desert and bring  forth rivers in dry places Isa 43:19

 

Several places in the Bible show us that God has been `complaining’ about the unfruitlessness of man.   The lack of increase that has become so common place in the body of Christ is an epidemic of our age.

In Genesis, the Word of God said, "And it repented the Lord that he had made man on earth, and it grieved him at his heart” (Gen. 3:6).  God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Like the children of Israel, many Christians today are quick to promise obedience without fulfilling it (Ecc. 5:5).  To such a one, God is saying, "O that there was such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them and with their children forever” (Deut. 5:29).

Isa. 1:2-3

2. "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

3. The Ox knoweth his owner, and the Ass his master's crib, but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider” (Isa. 1).

Jer. 8:7

7. "Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times, and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming, but my people know not the judgment of the Lord” (Jer. 8).

 

Isa 5:1-4

1. "Now will I sing to my well-beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard, My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill.

2. And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes and it brought forth wild grapes.

3. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, Judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.

4. What could have been done more to the vineyard that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?

 

1 Pet. 4:10 TLB

The Bible says, "God has given each of you some special abilities, be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to other God's many kinds of blessings.

 

God is asking you and me the same question He asked the Israelites years ago; “What could have been done more to the vineyard that I have not done in it?”

 

Remember God wants you to be a superstar. He wants superior performance and that in itself require extra-ordinary inputs.

It calls for you to go the extra-mile to exceed expectations.

The status quo is not enough, it is unacceptable. You and I must daily over-deliver

This has to be a mindset that you go after daily. Exceeding expectation is a voluntary activity.

 

GOING THE EXTRA-MILE:

It is usually meant to go beyond one’s ability or to make a special effort to accomplish. As they say, stretch oneself. Walk the extra mile is not just to walk more than required.

 

Any Roman soldier could order a Jewish civilian on the way to carry his baggage, mainly containing armory, for one Roman mile. A roman mile is roughly 1.45 kilometers. This was a painful task, as the poor unlucky fellow would carry 40-50 kilograms of weight. Once the mile is over, the servant could drop it and get relieved.

 

Jesus tells his listeners to go beyond obligation. The second mile is not an obligation; it is an opportunity.

 

TO EXCEED EXPECTATIONS YOU MUST DO YOUR ASSIGNMENTS ON PURPOSE

·        Understand expected performance and deliberately exceed it

·        Reject mediocrity and chose to do the extraordinary

·        Remember you are an explosion waiting to happen

·        You are a bundle of miracles waiting for manifestation

·        Each assignment you are handling has the potential to change your life and future.

·        To exceed expectation be willing to put in extra- raw efforts to surpass the simpleton

·        God is expecting much from you and me ensure you do not disappoint Him.

 

TO EXCEED EXPECTATIONS:

1.     Think outside the Box – be creative, add value

2.     Get out of your comfort zone. Ignore nay-sayers, intimidators, discouragers and pull yourself forward into the will of God

3.      Trust God to help you

4.     Value time and use it diligently. Always be ahead of others, wake up early use your moments prayerfully.

5.     Volunteer extra service. Don’t hide from work, work more and more They say the reward of hard work is more work

6.     Always be prepared to go the extra-mile

7.     Do not pursue the minimum, go for the maximum

 

Remember the God you serve is a supernatural God. Even our fathers have told us what he did in their days (Psa. 44:1)

 

“Now unto him, that can do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Eph. 3:20-21 KJV).

The Message rendering of the same verse above tells us more:

 It says, God can do anything; you know far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.” MSB

Immeasurable here means is too large, extensive or extreme to measure.

It can’t be estimated; it blows our expectations. That means we can ask God anything. Ask him for BIG things, IMPOSSIBLE things. Something you find even difficult to comprehend or even understand.

In all these God will even go beyond anything you have imagined

 

If humans can exceed your expectations how much more our God.

 

Talking about the Corinthian brethren, the Apostle Paul said:

“And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. . .” (2 Cor. 8:5 NIV).

THE LAME MAN BY THE TEMPLE HAD EXPECTATIONS: Acts 3:1-11

His expectation was to be give gifts. He wanted silver and gold.

 Peter said to him “Look on us” He was telling him, “take your eyes off the limited expectation you have for so long held unto and look away to that for a change.”

 

The Bible says, “And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.” The man wanted to receive the things he had been used to all this while, a gift. Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold to give you right now, but I have something better. Some things that far exceed the coins you are used to gathering. In the name of Jesus, rise and walk.”

The lame man was also lame in his thinking. He was expecting the ordinary, but God was thinking of an extra-ordinary intervention in his life and situation.

 

He was expecting the same thing that had been happening to him for the last 40 years as a season beggar. But God showed up and exceeded his expectations. This one moment of favour turned his life around completely. That’s what we need in this end time.

 

God will visit us with his “exceedingly, abundantly-beyond-our understanding- blessings” and change our story permanently.

 

In Matthew 7:11 ESV, he said, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” 

In a similar, though more specific statement in Luke 11:13, he says, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Some manuscripts render it as “the good spirit.”

The verse in Luke 11 implies that the Holy Spirit is the best gift of a loving Father.

“Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!” (v. 24). 

“But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!” (v. 28). To which we add Matthew 12:12, “Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

 EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS:

John 11:12

“From John di Baptist time kon rish naw, pipol dey struggol enter God Kingdom, but na only doz wey do gra gra go dey fit enter.”

What Should I do to Experience a Performance;  SO THAT  I can exceed expectations?

  1. Fear God and do not be wise in your own eyes. If you fear the Lord, it creates an avenue for God to shake your enemies (Proverbs 3:7);
  2. Stay away from sin and hates the taste of it (Romans 6:1-2; Isaiah 59:1-3);
  3. Maintain a consistent lifestyle of holiness;
  4. Be a vessel not a container (Deuteronomy 15:11);
  5. Let your ways please the Lord. Don’t be a man pleaser but rely on God.

Results of Experiencing a Performance:

  1. Your mourning will be turned into dancing;
  2. People will gather together to celebrate you;
  3. People will glorify God for your life (Luke 1:46);
  4. You will overcome the devil (Revelation 12:11).

 

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