"Be not deceived; God is not
mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7)
If you feel like you're under
financial pressure, you're not alone. Satan is putting more pressure on more
people right now than ever before. He's pressuring us mentally, financially,
emotionally and every other way he can. The pressure has gotten so great
everywhere that people really don’t know what to do.
Governments don't know what
to do. Businesses don't know what to do. Families don't know. Even some
Churches don’t know what to do. How does the devil put pressure on you? By
getting you to look at your own resources, instead of the resources of heaven!!
Too many times, when things
get tight financially, people begin looking at their job, their bank accounts, and
their own resources to see if they can meet their needs. And quite frankly that’s
exactly what the devil wants you to do.
He wants you to get your eyes
off of the Almighty, Jehovah Jira, “The
Lord God who sees ahead and provides.” And by doing so, you begin feeling
the pressure of doing it on your own..
Jesus said it is the Fathers good pleasure to give you the
kingdom. (Luke 12:32) The Lord new the situation that you would be
in today, and He has already provided for you a way out from under that
pressure. He has given you and I certain keys to unlock His abundant provisions
for us, and one of these keys is “GIVING”!
By giving your resources to
God, He then is able to release to you the resources of Heaven.
Let’s look at 1 Kings 17. Here we read of the account where the prophet
Elijah was sent to a poor widow women’s house. There was a great famine in the
land, food was worth more than gold. It was a desperate time, people were dying
left and right. This women was under tremendous pressure. By looking at her
resources she saw that she could only provide one more meal for her and her
son. Soon after that they would die of starvation.
God new her situation. He saw
ahead and provided for her. What did He do?
He sent His prophet to her. He gave her the opportunity to give. In
verse (13) we read: “And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but
make me thereof a little cake first, bring it unto me, and after make for thee
and for thy son.”
God new that this women had the
faith, and the courage to act on the Word of the Lord through the prophet
Elijah. But she did not do this blindly,
she heard the promise of the result of her giving as well. In verse (14) we see
the promise attached to her giving; “For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The
barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the
day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.” She had the key, and the promise of using
that key. As a result of acting on that Word, she and her household did eat for
many days.
We have been given the key
called giving, or planting. We have been given the promise of using
that key, which is all of our needs being met.
Paul told the Christians in
Philippi, that all of their needs are met according to His riches in Glory by Christ
Jesus. Why was that promised to them?
Because they were giving their resources to God and His ministry through
Paul.
Praise God, we can give our
way right out from under any pressure the devil brings to bear.
Giving is always Jesus' way
out. Whenever there's a need, He plants seed! In fact, in Mark 4, He compares
the entire kingdom of God to a seed.
Just think about the
importance of seeds for a moment. Every living thing on this earth came from a
seed. You came from a seed. Then you were born again from the seed of God's
Word. (1 Peter 1:23)
Jesus Himself was The Seed planted by God. God sowed Him
in sacrifice. He came forth and grew up into many brethren.
When Satan puts you under
pressure, go to Jesus and let Him tell you how and where to plant. If you'll do
it, that seed will grow up until it breaks the powers of darkness and lack.
It will release you from the
pressure the devil's been putting on you.
Listen, when the devil puts
pressure on you, don't panic...plant,
give! Plant your time. Plant your money. Plant the clothes off your back.
Keep your eyes on the Word of
God. Keep your attention on Him. When the world tells you to hold back, imitate
your Father, and GIVE your very
best.
Imitate the widow women, give
to God first, expecting His promise to materialize in your life. Realize that
God is not mocked. What you sow, you will reap.
