This week, as with most weeks I was bombarded with emails and calls for prayer. I love to pray for people and it is something I do daily. I pray for our partners of this ministry diligently, I pray for those who read the teachings and for their families whom I will never meet on this earth. I will pray, from my heart, for anyone who asks and I believe prayer produces results.
I also believe there are certain areas where I have more authority to pray than others, for instance, when I pray for my daughter or grandchildren, I have covenant with them and with God and I have legal authority to pray specifically for them.
I believe I have legal authority to pray strong spirit-led prayers for those in covenant with this ministry and I pray for them as I do my own family – they are, after all, my spiritual family and we are in covenant together.
Earlier this week as I was reading through the prayers and praying over each one, the Lord began to talk to me. He started pointing out names and saying ‘you have more authority with this one and this one, but you don’t have the same authority with this one.’ I said ‘why Lord?’ He said ‘these are partners of this ministry – you have sown into them for years, they have received and honored that seed, they have sown into you and your ministry for years, you have received and honored that seed, you are in covenant on a different level therefore you have a different level of authority when praying for them.’
He was showing me that the people who send prayer requests and are not in covenant with this ministry, yes, I can pray for them, but it is not with the same authority. However, those of us who are in covenant together, we are a strong force.
Then He took me back to several years ago when He dealt with me about the many ministry magazines I was receiving by mail, and enjoying to the full, yet seldom giving to that ministry. He said ‘do you think those are free to send out?’ I said ‘no, I know they are costly.’ He said if you enjoy them, if you learn from them, send them a seed of honor.’ From that time on I have sown into the ministries that feed me and that I glean from each month.
There are several scriptures concerning this truth, let me share a few of them with you; 1 Corinthians 9:14 says; ‘In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.’
Galatians 6:6-10 says; ‘One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.’
1 Timothy 5:17 says; ‘Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.’
1 Timothy 5:18 says; For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.’
Daily I receive emails from people needing a financial miracle, not all of them, but for the most part, they are from people who don’t believe in giving to ministries, who believe they can’t afford to, or they will when they can afford to. They are deceived. They will never be able to afford to as long as they allow the enemy to deceive them.
I remember a partner who 10 years ago began sending me coins in the mail. The letter would have four or five coins taped to a paper in an envelope. She said it was all she could afford to give but she had to give because she was blessed daily by our teachings. I prayed diligently over that seed. That partner is still a partner today, but her offering no longer comes in coin form, it has increased and increased as she gave.
As I have been studying and pondering on this truth I keep thinking about ministries, like The Elijah List. I know hundreds of people personally who race to read what is on The Elijah List first thing in the morning, they have to know what the Lord is saying. However, I wonder just how many of those same people have ever given to that ministry? They have 180,000 readers daily. Do you realize if each one of their readers gave just a dollar a week, all their needs would probably be met in abundance? It is that way with most ministries and it should not be that way.
Statistically speaking a small amount of people in the church gives offerings or tithes. With as much truth as is being taught about giving, still only a small percent tithe and give. The rest simply receive what is being offered and never give back. I imagine it is a much less percentage to those who have traveling ministries or do not have a local church ministry. That small percent is carrying the entire gospel and I can tell you from experience it gets hard to do. However, if we all pitched in and carried a little of the load, it would no longer be a load, it would be easy, as God intended for it to be.
If this writing has offended you, it was not my intent, my intent is to open our eyes. If you are being fed, give to that ministry. If you enjoy what they ‘serve’ to you each day, give back. This is the way God intended it to be.
And…stop allowing the enemy to lie to you. He knows that it is a biblical principle to sow and reap, he knows the way you will come out of lack is Gods way and he will do everything he can to keep you from doing it Gods way or he will do everything he can to discourage you and tell you it isn’t working – remember, anything he says is a lie – the opposite is the truth.
Luke 6:38 says; ‘Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.’ Proverbs 3:9-10 says; Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
Many of us believe we are in a time of blessing – I know I do – just the other day I read a prophecy that said this would be a time of supernatural giving – supernatural giving proceeds supernatural blessing – therefore I am all for it.
You see, friends, I share with you what the Lord gives me and requires of me. As He dealt with me about this over the past few days, He required of me to participate in some supernatural giving myself – to those ministries and people who feed me, who minister to me, who pray for me and I was honored to do so. I sowed my seed of honor to them with willingness and pleasure. I believe that is the heart of God for me, and for many of us.
Today, I encourage you to set yourself up for a blessings – give back to those who sow into you – to those who you enjoy what they serve you each day or each month – it is, after all the heart of God.
