I would like to conclude this series on Soul Prosperity by discussing the subject of where putting seeds really means. In the first blog [https://vyzyn.org/soul-prosperity-part-1/] we covered the topic that we must first receive the Word of God as the final authority of all truth. In the second blog [https://vyzyn.org/soul-prosperity-part-2/] we discussed a few manners of approaching the Word, the seed, like bad motives that keep the Word from springing forth or germinating. In the third blog [https://vyzyn.org/soul-prosperity-part-3/] we discussed why the seed requires time in order to grow.
Jesus taught in parables to ensure that only those who hear God and follow Him reap the benefits of God’s Kingdom Laws. That’s why Jesus repeatedly said, “He that hath an ear, let him hear.” In the parable of the sower Jesus described to His disciples that the seed was the Word of God and the soil was the human heart. He then described the results of when the Word of God is sown in the soil in various types of hearts: way side, hard, thorns, and good soil.
Way Side.
The Greek term for this word is also journey, mode, methods, distance and means. Jesus said these are people who hear the word and can’t understand it and their lack of understanding allows the enemy to come and steal what is sown in their hearts. Understanding is important. The Jewish people of Jesus’ day lacked understanding because their hearts had grown dull. They were in a state of wandering just like many in the Church roam from meeting to meeting looking for a personal prophetic word rather than hearing the voice of the Lord themselves, like Jesus said His sheep would do. 2nd Timothy 3:6 gives us this example of those would get taken captive by the false teachers looking for money because they are driven by lust for money. These people are deceived by lust inside and will always ever be learning but never coming to full maturity in the Word. Evidence that the Word never really prospers in their lives but they chase it because they’re on the way. They are testimonies for the enemy that the Bible is not to be believed.
Friends, lust is poison to the heart is like salt to soil, nothing will grow there once salt is in soil. It’s even in the 10 commandments: Thou shalt not covet. The way side is where much deceit takes place because it looks like your getting somewhere in the Word, but in fact, the evidence is never there. God won’t bless that. God blesses where His word is provided an atmosphere conducive to flourish. When the seed prospers it brings forth understanding which is one aspect of soul prosperity.
Stony Soil.
Jesus explained in the parable of the sower that seed, which is the word of God, when it fell on stony soil, it did not last because the soil was shallow. He illustrated that when the testing comes the seed withers because there is no depth in the heart. He was describing the sincerity of the heart that leads a heart through deep places and deep growth. If you’re a Christ follower and don’t take the time to meditate on the Word, you’ll never get deep soil for the seed to take root and sprout. If you don’t get deep, you’ll never experience the real spiritual growth that brings the Believer to experience the joy and peace through any storm that comes in life, because they endured and believed through everything and saw the miracles. Their lives are testimonies of what He can do.
If you can’t get through the testing, you’ll fall away. Even Peter was tested and Jesus warned him of it. Jesus told Peter that Satan would sift him like wheat. Peter had to endure the testing and led humanity into the church age but don’t think he didn’t have his down time to meditate on the Word.
Meditating on the Word of God is getting alone, reading the Word, quieting yourself within and thinking about the Word just read. It’s also praying for the Holy Spirit to teach you and give you understanding to what the passage is saying. In Joshua 1:8 the Word instructs us how to become successful in anything we do:
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. [NIV]
Just because it’s in the Old Testament doesn’t mean the principal no longer applies, it does. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way:
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. [NKJV]
Friends, life is hard for everyone, including the sinners. Why live life without Jesus? He makes everything so much easier. And there is no such thing as too little or too big for Him to do when we ask Him. He’s so gracious.
Thorny Soil.
Jesus explained that the seed or the Word of God that fell on thorny soil was soil that received the seed, but then the thorns came up and choked out the seed. What He explained was that thorny soil was a heart that gets caught up with the care of this world, deceitfulness of riches choke out the seed from coming to sprout. Again, lust is an issue but it’s not just lust here. It’s priorities that the real issue, the lust is the backstory here. The Word of God residing within you requires constant watering. Remember, Jesus said in Matthew 13:12: For whoever has to him more will be given; and he will have abundance but whoever does not have; even what he has will be taken away from him. The Word of God is a seed that will reside and sprout and grow within our hearts, but it still requires daily attention. I’m not saying you’ll lose it if you miss one day, but I am saying that distractions in the form of a life event or tragedy that breaks you away from the practice of meditating on the Word daily is a thorn. Be careful of those thorns. The seed in the soil of our hearts is precious, my friend. That seed will sustain you and keep you enduring through the storms of life. You can be the tree described in Psalm 1 but it requires daily watering.
Good Soil.
Ah, now we get to the good part! The good soil. I know, you think your heart is sure pure, just like everyone else on the planet. Consider what the Word says in Proverbs 16:2:
All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. [NIV]
But God says in Jeremiah 17:9:
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? [NKJV]
Friends, we don’t have the skills and discernment to know what’s in our hearts. But if we don’t ask God what’s there, we won’t know our motives.
And, if we don’t tend the field we’re called to, nothing but weeds will grow. When your heart is the field that belongs to God, you get what you put into it. 2nd Corinthians 9:6 says:
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. [NKJV]
Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33:
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. [KJV]
When you come to the realization that Godly wealth comes first by spiritual growth because God simply doesn’t waste anything, including where to put your money, you will get a breakthrough. Again, the scriptural foundation to all prosperity is:
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3rd John 1:2 [NKJV]
The right motive is important. Giving to get is the wrong motive. Giving out of fear is equivalent to calling God an extortionist which is also a bad motive. Giving reluctantly or grudgingly is also the wrong motive and 2nd Corinthians 9 gives us the details of the result. Giving freely, without strings attached is the best way I can put it. Giving because you’re so grateful that Jesus gave you enough extra to give and you know He will bring you more when you need it is the best motive out there. He will take good care of you, especially when you need it. You may not have riches in wealth, but you will be rich in wisdom and discernment and He will never leave you or forsake you which means when the storms of life blow in, you’re covered. That’s insurance without premiums my friends.
If you want to do big things for God that requires large amounts of money, you’ll need to study on what God says about being a good steward of your own money. That takes prayer and studying the Word. Again, it’s all about the diligence and when it comes to large amounts of cash, God isn’t just going to give you wealth because you ask it. He gives wealth to people who will do wisely with it and spend it where God wants it spent.
So, I know, you’re thinking about those ministries that mishandled their money and that it’s a contradiction to my point. No, it’s actually not because God doesn’t neglect His word, people do. Those ministries will answer to Him regarding what they did with the money. Some have come under God’s judgment, which should warn us all to be good stewards with our money.
Your money should be tithed, that’s 1/10th of your money, should go to wherever you attend church. This is not new. And, tithes are not offerings. This we also know. The two are separate and when we give our tithe and give with the correct motive we receive a covering over our lives. And, we must tithe first before anything else. When we tithe and give offerings with the right heart, which is an acceptable motive for God to bless, and diligently seek Him, He will not only bless us but show us what to do with the blessing. But, if we don’t grow spiritually to the level that can handle great finances we will put your money in wasteful places that won’t yield a harvest. And the correct places to put financial seed are ministries that add to your spiritual growth.
In His Service,
Laurie K. Walters
Recent Comments