Part VIII of the teaching – Prospering in Difficult Times. Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI & Part VII
How to Prosper in Difficult Times by Pastor Emmanuel S. Olowokere. Jan 24, 2010. Watch photo album of the service
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Sermon synopsis
Prosperity is subject to individual choice. One makes a choice to prosper or not. It is therefore important in difficult times to have a conviction that you can and will prosper.
We again revert to our key passage: Genesis 26:12-22
Note from the passage that the story of Isaac changed when he sowed in that land. Our investment or sowing should be based on wisdom. There is wisdom in not biting more than one can chew or taking on more than one can handle. It’s also very important to not let others determine what one can or should do. One should know what one is capable of doing and follow through on that.
Another thing is to make sure one is making progress daily. One should also be aware that one’s growth will likely bring about envy and jealousy; and be ready to counteract or make provision for that. Isaac showed one way to do that. He was tenacious and didn’t give in to his detractors’ scheme.
There is power in a seed. Put differently, a man’s story changes by what he does with his seed. The future or consequence of a seed is unimaginable. You couldn’t tell ahead of time how much multiplication will come with planting a seed. Your seed is therefore in your hands to secure a future that exceeds your expectation since what is sown is always less than the reward or harvest that returns. Besides, every seed in your hand has a targeted future as determined by God and it has life because it comes from God.
Timing is crucial to sowing a seed. Whenever a seed misses its timing, it misses its expected harvest.
Genesis 8:20-22 sheds light on this:
And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
From the passage, we notice that as long as the earth remains, one can still have harvest because one can still sow. We also see that two things or conditions bring about harvest:
a) As long as I am alive (my life)
b) As long as the earth remains (existence)
What does harvest mean? There are at least 5 meanings:
A) Breakthrough
B). Result
C). Returns
D) Gathering
E) Desired expectation
Remember as much as you desire prosperity or are convicted about prospering, it’s your seed sown or invested at the right time that takes you to your harvest. You must therefore invest timely and not eat your seed.
Have a glorious week. God bless you!
