Problems, Positions or Promises
Ecclesiastes 11:4 – He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the
clouds shall not reap.
How often do we let our situation affect our destination? I’m sure that we all
have been in many situations where God has told us, prompted us or guided us to do one
thing and we did the exact opposite. Why did this happen? It happened because we were
probably concentrating more on the problem we were facing or, the position we were in and
not enough on the promises God gave to us.
When we concentrate on the problem, we are sure to see the situation one way —
negatively. And when we look at the position we are in, we will probably see only one
thing in our future — doom. This is why we are told in 2 Corinthians 5:7 to walk by
faith and not by sight. If we keep our eyes on the situation, we will probably never get
out of what we are in. As a matter of fact, you will probably become even more overwhelmed
by the situation or circumstances because you continually look at it and "make
it" even bigger.
Our scripture states, "He that observeth the wind will not sow." Now
here’s a question and let’s answer honestly. How many of us have said,
"Lord, if you give me a million dollars, I will tithe off of it." Or "Lord
if you get me out of debt, I promise to tithe." In all honesty, what we are doing in
these situations is "observing the wind." We are waiting on the conditions to be
favorable for us to plant seed into the kingdom, but that’s not the way it works.
Your seeds of faith are the best way out of the situation.
So when will your harvest come if you sow according to your situation? Never!! The
remainder of our scripture states, "and he that regardeth the clouds SHALL NOT
REAP." Because we were more concerned with the circumstances, we didn’t plant
any seed for God to bring us a harvest to get us out of the mess we were in.
To conclude this message, I would like to use a very familiar story found in Matthew 14th
Chapter.
28 "Lord, if it’s you," Peter replied, "tell me to
come to you on the water." 29 "Come," he said. Then Peter
got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord,
save me!" 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.
"You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
First look at the 28th verse. Here we see that Peter desires to do the will
of the Lord (Good)! Then in the 29th verse we see Peter follow the Lord’s
instruction (Very Good!) Later in the 29th verse, we even see Peter walking on
water, in the midst of the power and awesomeness of God!! He’s right in the heart of
the miracle, but even in the midst of that miracle the 30th verse tells us,
"BUT WHEN HE SAW THE WIND." The brother had it goin’ on til’ the break
of dawn, but HE SAW THE WIND! What happened next… HE GOT AFRAID!! This is what your
enemy wants your circumstance and situation to do to you — MAKE YOU AFRAID. Why? So
you can follow in Peter’s footsteps and do what he did — BEGIN TO SINK. However,
in spite of the situation Peter planted a seed that got him out of his dilemma. His seed
was a prayer to the Lord. It wasn’t long and drawn out and he wasn’t trying to
impress Jesus with a prayer like this:
"Oohhhh everlasting and wonderful Jesus Christ. My rock and my refuge. The
auspicious and omnipresent and all powerful and all knowing Savior. He who sitteth on the
right hand of God the Father….. etc. etc."
Don’t get me wrong. I like pretty prayers when they are from the heart but
sometimes, I said sometimes, you just have to call out from the heart, "Laud save
me." Now I don’t believe Peter prayed a "pretty prayer," but I do know
he prayed a POWERFUL one and that’s what’s in your seed – POWER!!! The power to
get you out of what you’re in. I know you think, but I can’t sow a thousand
dollars into this ministry or that ministry. I’m here to tell you that if you only
have two cents to rub together and you give those two cents, that means more to God than
some millionaire giving a thousand.
Mark 12th Chapter
41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the
people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42
And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a
farthing. 43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto
them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which
have cast into the treasury:
We are here to tell you today that your seed determines your need. If you are stingy
with your seed, you will find yourself facing a need. If you plant your seed, God will
meet your need. Stop waiting on the conditions to get better. They will get better if you
believe God for the harvest and sow for a harvest. But to believe the promise, you’ve
got to stop concentrating on the problems, positions, predicaments and the pessimists.
This is your day, so I’ll leave you with this:
"I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before
you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy
seed may live" Deuteronomy 30:19
Honey, the harvest is coming!!! Sow your Seeds!!! Sow your Seeds!!! Sow your Seeds!!!
