This is the second factor in the harvest. What should we expect if we sow tons of our best seeds in the desert?
Matthew 13:3-8, “Listen! A sower went out to sow. As he was sowing, some seeds fell along the path, and birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on stony ground, where they did not have a lot of soil. They sprouted at once because the soil wasn't deep. But when the sun came up, they were scorched. Since they did not have any roots, they dried up. Other seeds fell among thornbushes, and the thornbushes came up and choked them. But other seeds fell on good soil and produced a crop, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown.”
This parable shows that our seeds will not just grow anywhere ‘by God’s grace.’ We must therefore sow wisely because, it is not all that is done in the Church in God’s Name that necessarily originates in Him. We must be careful not to be swindled and sacrifice Isaacs that God has never requested from us.
In the last few years, calls to financially support Christian ministries with promises of small gadgets for all those who will advance ‘the work of God’, are frequently seen on television. A few months ago one of my sisters-in-law was telling me how she had repeatedly sent money but, what was promised in front of the cameras (books, DVDs etc.) had not followed and all attempts to claim them have been unsuccessful. Vexed, she had ‘sworn’ not to ever fall in the same trap again.
Shortly after this conversation, I saw one of the televangelists she had spoken to me about, announce with all the required gravity, the planting of an olive grove in the Holy land. For a minimum donation of 500 or $ 1000 (I have forgotten the exact amount), one was promised his own olive tree with one’s name engraved on it and, as a bonus, one would also regularly receive a bottle of one’s own olive oil! I had already heard this man say many unusual things, but this time, his finding left me speechless. When we know that the olive tree takes 5 to 12 years to produce, bears fruits every other year if it is not trimmed and then gives 3 to 10 litres of oil, I leave you to consider the seriousness of the offer. And, assuming that the trees are actually planted, some donors will be dead by the time of harvest while the others could count themselves lucky if the bottle that is eventually sent to them was at least purchased in Israel.
He has also recently organized, a baptism ceremony "at the exact location where Jesus was baptized!" Of course, did not participate who wanted, but who could pay one’s ticket departing from the United States and one’s hotel bills. Still, the most staggering thing is that some people did believe that he really knew 'the precise location’ where the Lord was immersed and did think that baptizing in Israel, in the river Jordan, was worth more than baptizing elsewhere. The bigger the fish, the better it bites the hook.
If you happened to figure out whom I was talking about, know that he is usually more edifying than this. These examples are just here to exemplify the fact that all that glitters is not gold, all that bears the label ‘Christian’ is not necessarily inspired by God and all that calls itself a ‘church’ is not de facto a worthy Temple of the Lord. Immediately after speaking under divine inspiration and being publicly praised for it, Peter was harshly snubbed by Jesus : “How blessed are you, Simon, son of John! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven has… But Jesus turned around and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an offense to me, for you are not thinking God's thoughts but human thoughts!” (Matthew 16:17,23, ESV) We have to put EVERYTHING to test (1Thessalonians 5:20-21; 1John 4:1).
Many have started well but have long gone astray from the Lord without anyone noticing it. Many people who see the priesthood as a springboard for their starization will multiply evangelistic campaigns, miracles meetings and prophetic seminars at wish, but God will not in those things. He no longer speaks to them and too bad for those who listen and follow them. Indeed, “For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 8 But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 2:7-8).
Some are convinced that ‘by faith’, even in case of manipulation, after following those eccentric instructions of churchmen, God will ignore the lies and still meet their expectations if they give their offering with sincerity of heart. This is very naïve. What does the Bible say?
“Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” (2Chronicles 20:20). True if one has really trusted HIS prophets, meaning HIS mouthpieces.
“So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11) Some think they can say what they want, take all sorts of commitments and force God to obey them or bear the shame. One can wonder who is finally servant of who? It is not because we call them men and servants of God that they are God. What they say or prophesy will only happen if the Master has truly sent them.
“…Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17, ESV). It is totally illusory to put one’s faith in action on what God, what Christ has not said.
''My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of you God, I will also forget your children.'' (Hosea 4:6) Ignorance kills! God will not have mercy on us because we didn’t know. He has given us all we need, the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Spirit (and with Him, discernment) to help us know. Of the latter, Jesus said He would teach us all things and lead us in all the truth (John 14:26 & 16:13). Only, we have chosen to underuse them and thus, to reject science (knowledge). What else do we want God to do? Hence, my insistance on the importance and the authority of the Bible.
And now, far from me the thought of choking Christians’ enthusiasm for liberality because I know the secret of offering and I can testify of its power. I simply invite us to cautiously manage the possessions that the Lord gives us, in order to limit as much as possible murmurs and frustrations in the body of Christ. It is high time we are finally renewed in our minds so that we may know the will of God, which is good, pleasing and perfect. Let’s learn to sow wisely and to sow in fertile soils.
To be continued…
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