Reap Your Harvest: Three Principles of Harvest

Three Principles of Harvest

Genesis 8:22 “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.”

PRINCIPLE #1 | THE POTENTIAL OF SOWING AND REAPING IS NOT LOGICAL. IT REQUIRES FAITH IN GOD

Small seeds produce vast produce, with more seed inside. (Show tomato photos) Potatoes are grown from seed potatoes, which are potato pieces cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes with at least two eyes.  The yield is 5-10 potatoes per plant. To

Isaiah 55:8, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Hebrews 11:6, But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

As people of faith, we must often do things that are illlogical or  "counter-intuitive," meaning that we don't think, respond, act as we feel, or do what is usual (2 Corinthians 5:7). We walk by faith and not by sight. We should become comfortable with doing opposite of “conventional" or worldly wisdom. Like pilots who must learn the necessity of flying by instruments, rather than by their physical senses and emotions. 

Illogical acts of faith include:

• Become exalted by humbling oneself

• Give away, gain more

• Sowing Seed to Reap a Harvest

• Being still to know what to do

• In everything giving thanks

• Love those who hate you

• Do good for those who do not treat you well

• Serve people who have less than yourself

• Rejoice when persecuted

Aviation is a good illustration of living by faith. The act of something heavier than air flying is illogical. When man first attempted to fly, they tried to build machines that acted like birds or built hot air balloons. Pilots have to train themselves to do things that are counterintuitive, yet they have to be practical, realistic, fact and reality based. They (and we) rely on scientific laws or principles such as gravity and lift.

Being prepared for the harvest requires receiving the rain, or the word, of God. There is early and latter rain in your life

PRINCIPLE #2 | WITHOUT PLANTING AND SUPPORT, THE HARVEST CANNOT COME

(Show tomato growing video)

James 5:7, Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 

When you live in the Harvest principle, you will have seasons of rejoicing in receiving your harvest! 

Isaiah 9:2 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,Upon them a light has shined. 3 You have multiplied the nation And increased its joy; They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 

PRINCIPLE #3 | WITHOUT FAITH TO HONOR GOD WITH OUR FIRSTFRUITS, WE ARE NOT IN THE FULL WILL OF GOD

As God’s people, we understand the principle of "first fruits "which is bringing your first and best to God.  First fruits is the principle of dedicating our “first things” to the Lord, so that everything else can fall into their proper position. It’s about aligning ourselves with God’s order. 

Exodus 23:19 The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God. 

Exodus 22:29 “You shall not delay to offer the first of your ripe produce and your juices. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me.

Leviticus 23:9 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. 11 He shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jer 29:11 NIV

Any time a “first” becomes a “second,” everything else is pushed into a different priority, creating disorder. Our foundation is putting the cornerstone, Jesus Christ, first. When we put God first, all priorities fall in their proper place

Proverbs 3:9 NIV, Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

“Seek” by implication means indirectly “to worship”