"THE HARVEST" AUDIO BLOG Coincidence. What does it mean? "A situation in which events happen at the same time in a way that is not planned or expected." Merriam-Webster
First, as always, all honor, glory, praise and thanksgiving to the One True God, the living God. Let Your words flow through me and not my own. Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Amen. Sunday after church, my husband and I went to Wendy's, as we sometimes do. I usually check the order to make sure it is right, but the sign on the window to pay said something like, Check your fries. If they are not hot, we will replace them before you drive off. So, I mean, that is like a warning, right, so I told my husband not to drive off until I check to see if the fries are hot. I checked them. They were hot. We drove off. We parked across the street, and I started handing out the food, and what the literal heck, they did not put my hamburger in the bag! So, we drove back across the street. I tried to go inside, but the doors were locked, and we had to get back in the drive-thru line, which was now about five cars! By the time we got up to the window, our original order was lukewarm at best, and they replaced both sandwiches and both fries. So, now we have two bags of food. Thank you, Jesus. We drove back across the street and parked to eat. We had no sooner started eating and a young man with a hoodie on approached the car. Out of habit, I locked the doors when I saw him at a distance, and he came right up to my window. So, I rolled down the window, and he said something like, Hi, I wanted to get something to eat over there, but I'm homeless and I'm hungry. I was fumbling for the bags of food to give him some, because I knew we had two bags of food. Then my husband said, Here he can have my sandwich. Thinking about it later, I should have said so many things to him. I should have told him that Jesus loves him, and given him the address of the church, at the very least. Lord, please, help me to be a better servant, in Jesus Christ. Amen. So, do you think it was a coincidence that we ended up with two bags of food, and then a young man needed food at that same moment? I mean, God even made it easy for us. We had the second bag of food right there! ALL glory, honor, praise and thanksgiving to God, Most High! Amen. Consider also that The Harvest Has Begun. Do you see that this 'test' at Wendy's is a part of God's Harvest on my husband and me? 1 Corinthians 3 14 "If any person’s work which he has built [on this foundation, that is, any outcome of his effort] remains [and survives this test], he will receive a reward. 15 But if any person’s work is burned up [by the test], he will suffer the loss [of his reward]; yet he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has barely escaped] through fire. So, 'Satan demanded permission to sift us like grain.' Luke 22:31. Also see my blog titled, 'The Demons Are Out.' God is separating the wheat from the chaff, and He will gather His wheat together in His barn, but He will burn up the chaff. Matthew 3:12 "But he that received seed into the good ground is he that hears the word, and understands it; which also bears fruit, and brings forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." Matthew 13:33 The Time is at Hand. In God's 'test' for us at Wendy's, did we barely escape through fire, as in 1 Corinthians 3:15 above? Only God knows for sure right now. With time, I imagine we will know also, by the fruit we bear, an hundredfold, sixty or thirty. The Harvest Has Begun! Hallelujah! Praise God! Thank you, Jesus! Amen! God's Word tells us that we can have every gift of the Holy Spirit, prophesying, dreams, visions, healing, et cetera, but if we do not have charity, which is an agape love for all people, loving others as if they were ourselves, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ, then we have, and are, nothing. 1 Corinthians 13 1 "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 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, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it benefits me nothing. 4 Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity vaunts not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; 6 Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." We will say, Lord, Lord, Jesus, we did many things in your name, and He will say, Get away from me. I never knew you. Matthew 7 21 "Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, 'I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.'" 'Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father...' What does this mean? What is the Will of God? "For so is the will of God, that with well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:" 1 Peter 2:15. In other words, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:16 Apostle Paul gives us a long list on how to be good Christians: 1 Thessalonians 5 Christian Conduct ('Well doing') 12 "Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to appreciate those who diligently work among you [recognize, acknowledge, and respect your leaders], who are in charge over you in the Lord and who give you instruction, 13 and [we ask that you appreciate them and] hold them in the highest esteem in love because of their work [on your behalf]. Live in peace with one another. 14 We [earnestly] urge you, believers, admonish those who are out of line [the undisciplined, the unruly, the disorderly], encourage the timid [who lack spiritual courage], help the [spiritually] weak, be very patient with everyone [always controlling your temper]. 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek that which is good for one another and for all people. 16 Rejoice always and delight in your faith; 17 be unceasing and persistent in prayer; 18 in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench [subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit. 20 Do not scorn or reject gifts of prophecy or prophecies [spoken revelations—words of instruction or exhortation or warning]. 21 But test all things carefully [so you can recognize what is good]. Hold firmly to that which is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil [withdraw and keep away from it]." Sometimes things have to happen in your life before you realize what something means. This incident at Wendy's has shown me why it is so important to Wear the Full Armor of God, in order to withstand the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11-24 Also, what Apostle Paul meant when he said, "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." 1 Thessalonians 5:2. . . "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." 1 Thessalonians 5:8 Have you seen God's Harvest in your life? Did you withstand the wiles of the devil? We will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and confess to God: Romans 14 10 "But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." "Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you." Revelation 3:3 I pray we all remember and repent, so we can withstand the 'test,' and remain steadfast in Jesus Christ, and obedient to God, until the end. Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
0 Comments
"GOD'S SYSTEM OF TITHING" AUDIO BLOG Have you ever experienced God's government, His system on earth? He has one, you know, and it is marvelous, simply marvelous. SEED, PLANT, HARVEST: Prayer. Tithing. Offerings. First fruits. Meditation. Loving others the same as you love yourself. Reaping what you sow. Blessings and curses. And so much more! "For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made]. . ." Romans 1:20 All of these things are real, and every choice we make has consequences in God's system: good consequences, or bad, depending upon what kind of seeds we plant, or choices we make. First, let's give all glory, honor, praise, and thanksgiving to God, our heavenly Father. Thank you, Father. Amen. GOD IS GREAT - ALL THE TIME! Hallelujah! The Bible, God's Holy Word, is amazing, and He wants us to understand it. "Call unto me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not." Jeremiah 33:3 As I have said in previous blogs, I began reading the Bible, beginning to end, around the middle of August this year. I am happy to report, I am up to Acts 18 now. Thank you, Jesus. God has given me many revelations during this time, many written pages of understanding, knowledge and wisdom, which He is gradually pulling together for me into one document. Praise God. Hallelujah! This blog is part of those revelations: God's System of Tithing. Thank you, Heavenly Father. Let your words flow through me, in Jesus' name. Amen. I used to wonder how God knew who was good and who was bad, kind of like Santa Claus. I mean, there are over 7 billion people in the world. How can He possibly see what everyone is doing all the time? Well, He can, and He does, because the very hairs of our head are all numbered Luke 7:12, but He does not need to see what every single human being is doing every second of every day, because He put a government in place, a system if you will. The whole system is quite amazing, just like Him Praise God, and it is based primarily on seed, plant, harvest. If you sow seeds of righteousness (love, kindness, charity (giving with a selfless and joyful heart), obedience to God), your fruit will be good, and your harvest bountiful. If you sow seeds of unrighteousness (discord, strife, evil thoughts, lies, gossip), your fruit will be bad, and your harvest will be lacking. I personally have my own experiences with God's system on earth. Thank you, Lord. One such instance is with tithing. First, though, what is tithing, and what does God say about it in His Word? GOD'S SYSTEM OF TITHING “Every year you shall certainly tithe [a tenth] of all the yield of your seed which is produced by your field." Deuteronomy 14:22 In modern times, men have grown accustomed to tithing (a tenth) of their income (since our main income is no longer that which is produced in our field), spread out weekly or monthly. And, Malachi 3, tells of God's System of Tithing, and the blessings or the curses, which can result therefrom. Malachi 3 You Have Robbed God 8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings [you have withheld]. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, this whole nation! 10 Bring all the tithes (the tenth) into the [c]storehouse, so that there may be [d]food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you [so great] a blessing until there is no more room to receive it. 11 Then I will rebuke the [e]devourer (insects, plague) for your sake and he will not destroy the fruits of the ground, nor will your vine in the field drop its grapes [before harvest],” says the Lord of hosts. 12 “All nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight,” says the Lord of hosts."" Footnotes: biblegateway.com (c) Malachi 3:10 In ancient times special storehouses were established in the temple to receive the tithes of the harvest. If the people were not faithful, the priests could not continue to serve and perform their duties. (d) Malachi 3:10 I.e. support for the priests and their families. (e) Malachi 3:11 In return for their faithfulness God promised protection for the harvest. The only time in God's Word, where we are told to 'test' Him: Malachi 3:10. He tells us specifically NOT to test Him, but this one time, regarding tithing, which is so important to care for and feed God's needy and poor children, we are told, "Test me now in this, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you [so great] a blessing until there is no more room to receive it." Hallelujah! Amen! These are not just words. God's Word is alive! It is a living and active system! "For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 So, last year, when the stimulus checks were given out, I had thought earnestly about tithing. As I was thinking about it earnestly, considering how much I would give, which I guess would have to be considered some form of prayer or meditation on God's Word in His eyes, a significant amount came to me, a number (this number is not exactly 10% of our monthly income, but it was what God wanted from us at that time). I mean, it was clear as day, this number that came to me. Long story short, Satan pushed it to the back of my mind, and I never tithed that amount, or any other amount. I had a short list of excuses to myself at the time as to why I did not, but in the end, they were just excuses. The truth has something to do with not having the faith of a mustard seed. Fast forward probably almost exactly one year later, and God is putting tithing on my heart again. Praise God! Amen! Again, I start earnestly thinking about it, considering how much I would give, and bam, the exact same amount, same number, came to me, clear as day. I don't know about you, but these things give me goosebumps. So, this time, having spent the last year in almost daily prayer with Him, and reading His Word daily, I immediately got out my checkbook and wrote a check for that exact amount, not one penny more and not one penny less. I was now listening to God, and I was going to execute His Will in our lives, precisely as instructed. Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Amen! Now, we are not rich by any means. We are a one-income family, and this tithe was a bit of a sacrifice, Thank you, Jesus, for your ultimate blood sacrifice, but, in the past, I have seen God's system of tithing reap enormous rewards in my life, never wanting or having a shortage, when it could not have possibly been that way without God's brilliant system. That, together with the fact that when God tells you to do something (especially if He tells you TWICE), you might want to listen, so I wrote the check, and wrote it joyously, with a happy heart. Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus. 2 Corinthians 9 6 "But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:" Sow your seeds with a giving and joyful heart, so that God's grace abounds toward you, and you always have all sufficiency in all things. Now, you may be asking yourselves, if I knew firsthand the rewards of tithing, that it IS real, then how did I let Satan keep me from activating our blessings of tithing last year, by preventing me from listening to God's Will? Well, I guess my seed was like that which fell on the rock, in The Parable of the Sower: "They [the seeds] on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away." Luke 8:13 Also, I just realized the next day, December 8, as if any more proof were needed (for me and hopefully some of you), my garden last year, for the first time since we moved into this house five years ago, was exactly what God said He would prevent in Malachi 3:11: "Then I will rebuke the devourer (insects, plague) for your sake and he will not destroy the fruits of the ground, nor will your vine in the field drop its grapes [before harvest] . . ." Last year, for the first time, because I did not listen to God, my tomatoes fell off the vine while they were green, or the vine just withered with the green tomatoes still on it; same thing with many things we planted. Also, we planted 13 bare root fruit trees last year that ALL got Japanese beetles (the devourer). So, yep, my garden experienced everything Scripture said He would keep away if we tithed, just because I listened to Satan instead of God. You cannot make this stuff up. God is GREAT - ALL the time! He called, but I did not listen, and I got withered vines and Japanese beetles. Isaiah 66:4 "So I will choose their punishments, And will bring the things they dread upon them Because I called, but no one answered; I spoke, but they did not listen or obey . . .” How about you? Is God talking to you? Are you listening? SEED, PLANT, HARVEST! As I told my grandson recently, always listen to the good voice in your head. The good and bad voices are real. They are a part of the system of free will, through seed, plant, harvest. Sow good seeds and reap a bountiful harvest. Satan [the bad voice] is always there, trying to tempt us, to give us bad seeds to sow, to keep us from our bountiful harvest, to pull us away from God's Will in our lives, and to take away our earthly and eternal rewards. So, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8 (the devourer Malachi 3:11 above) We know God does not tempt us, and we know that He will not allow us to be tempted more than we can withstand. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 He gave us a way to withstand the wiles of the devil, to reap the full rewards of His system. The way we protect ourselves from Satan [the devourer] is with God's armor. We must wear the whole armor of God, not just to "withstand in the evil day," but every day, to protect our bountiful harvest, and other rewards in this life, as well as eternally. Ephesians 6 The Whole Armor of God 13 "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:" I pray that God's Will is done in your life today and every day. Keep God's Word hidden in your heart, so that you always hear Him calling. "Your word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11 Amen. Do not let sin win. Repent, turn away from it, activate God's system of bounty in your life. Change your hearts and show by the way you live that you have changed! Matthew 3:8 Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus. Our Prayer Today: When His disciples asked him to teach them how to pray, Jesus responded by saying, Pray in this manner (the Lord's Prayer) Matthew 6:9-13. The Lord's Prayer Matthew 6 9 "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Amen. Amen. Amen. |
Melanie Garcia
Born again and redeemed by the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” 1 Peter 1:19 Archives
May 2024
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
|
|
|