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Tonight, the Lord has sent a word to us and I believe that it is a pointer to what God wants to do in our lives, and as many people as are willing to key into it without saying ‘No, I have seen this word before, I think I heard it sometimes ago’. As many as are able to key into it, believing that it is the word of the Lord for them for now, there is going to be a change in their lives. And there is going to be a change in our lives in Jesus’ name. Tonight, we want to discover the secret to Kingdom wealth and increase. We will begin by examining a familiar Scriptures in the book of Psalms 126:1-6. The Bible says
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“When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion,…”
You know, many of us have been reading this particular passage in KJV, the NKJV and maybe we have not been getting the implication. But today, we will read it in another translation. But let us read it in the NKJV first.
When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
It is not us who said, it is the nations now ringing the bell, praising God on our behalf. It is men and women all around us who have been able to see the doings of God in our lives who are now acknowledging. It is not us even boasting, it is men around everywhere acknowledging the glory of the Lord upon our lives. Let us read that passage further and see it as it happens. It says:
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad.
And I believe this is what God is going to do in our lives, as individuals and as a group in the name of Jesus.
“The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad.”
There is a sequence here. The first statement “Then they said among the nations..” It is “they said” among the nations the Lord has done great things for them. Then, verse 3 says “The Lord has done great things for us.” You know, when Moses sent spies to check out the land of Canaan and they brought back reports, some people said “Oh, the people we saw there, they were giants and we were like grasshoppers. In fact, they also saw us as grasshoppers.”
It began with we were like grasshoppers before them, and they saw us as grasshoppers. There is a difference between how people perceive you, and how you perceive yourself. How you perceive yourself is the most important. The first thing that happened is “The people said the Lord has done great things for them.” Verse 3 now says the Lord has done great things for us, acknowledging it, confirming and confessing it. Affirming that this is not a fluke or a joke, but this is the reality. This is doing of the Lord in our lives, we cannot cover it up, the Lord has been good to us. Let us continue the reading.
Bring back our captivity, O Lord,
As the streams in the South.5 Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
6 He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.
Now, we are going to read another translation. I have an NIV here and I want to read it. Because NIV used certain words that are very interesting. It says, from verse 1: “When the Lord restored the fortunes (I am sure we have been reading when the Lord brought back the captivity and for many people we don’t understand what it is for the Lord to bring back captivity. We have been thinking maybe it is us going back into captivity) But the Bible says:
“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dreamed.”
How can you be taken back into captivity and you are rejoicing? So, we must have known that that was not the actual meaning. The actual meaning says
“When the Lord restored the fortune of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
I believe we should start putting our names there now. The Lord has done great things for the family of Adedeji, the Lord has done great things for Francis Apeh, the Lord has done great things for me. So let us continue.
The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.4 Restore our fortunes,
The first one that we saw in verse one says “When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like..” It is one thing to be comfortable at a point in one’s life, but that is not the perfect will of God. Now it says “when the Lord restored the fortunes, we were like those….” Our case must never stop at that. It now says “restore our fortunes Lord.” There was a time you restored it, and after you did it, we were like…..restore our fortunes Lord. Does this not look like prayers? And beyond prayer, it looks like a state of the heart. Like the posture of the heart, a heart that is desperate for a change.
When you did it, we were like those who dream. In fact, our hearts was filled with joy, we were always singing. Lord, do it again! So, the question is: what the Lord did for us, and we are asking again; how can we access it? How can that be possible? That is why today we are looking at The Secret To Kingdom Wealth and Increase.
Restore our fortunes, Lord,
like streams in the Negev.
We have been reading this Scripture and we think things are just added to excite us, there is no coincidence. Everything is for a purpose. Haven said restored our fortunes Lord, then the Bible says:
Those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them.
Now, if you note these words, you will know that it is not for everybody. The first we saw at the beginning was “When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion” it shows there was an address. The blessing didn’t just fall anyhow, it fell on Zion, that shows it was intended for Zion. Anyone that was not in Zion at the time did not enjoy the fortune that came from the Lord. I am sure we still remember the story of the children of Israel when they were in Egypt. How Goshen was beautiful and the land of Egypt was something else. So, it is possible for the experience of a people to be different from the experience of other people.
“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dreamed.”
So, the fortunes that was restored was the fortune of Zion. So it means that fortune was not for everyone living on the earth, it was for a people who were in Zion. So, if we now want to partake in the next agenda, or wave, or in the next move of God in enriching a people or His people; we must understand that this next move is also not for everybody. Even though it could be available for all, it is not accessible to all. That is why the Bible says those! The word ‘Those’ connotes it is not for everyone. It says “those who sow in tears”, it is not those who get married, who go to office; it is not those who do things, who merry, who buy house and land. It is not those who decide to buy a new car, no! It is those who sow in tears.
So, a man who isn’t sowing, who also desires the next statement is just having great wishes, without a corresponding action that can provoke it. It says those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. And I want you to note the phrase “Shall reap.” Other versions says “Will reap.” There is a difference between ‘shall reap, ‘will reap’ and ‘might or may reap’. It is not may reap or might reap, or perhaps, reap. It is “shall reap” and of course you can see the definitiveness of that statement. If you sow in tears, then you will reap, it is a matter of time. Once you sow, you will reap. And it now says:
“Those who go out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,”
Hun! He is not bearing seed for showing. You know, Jesus said anyone that wants to do good should not do it in public so that others can see you, otherwise you have gotten your reward already. The seed that you are carrying about, it is not for showing off. It is not that people can count the number of seeds that you have. Your purpose is not to show off or just be busy. You have a great purpose and it is for sowing. So, when people wake you up and say “this seed that you are bearing in your life, what are you bearing it for?” The only answer you have is for sowing. That is focus. You are not bearing seed to shout, you are bearing seed to sow. And this is very important.
Somebody might say “me, I am not a farmer, I don’t even have any seed”, we would soon discover what it means to sow and the meaning of seed; as we are rounding off. But one of the things that I want us to note in that verse 5 and 6 is that in any condition or circumstance, it is important, if one would become wealthy; and enjoy increase in God, because the emphasis is not just in being wealthy; we are talking about the secret to kingdom wealth and increase. Because the starting point from the beginning was “when the Lord restored”, and not when Federal government restored. This was a God intervention and not any man’s. It is God’s kind of result and intervention. It now says in verse 4 “ Restore our fortunes, Lord,.“
Our focus is not on men or on government, but our focus is on God. The change, the wealth and increase that we desire, we are not turning our attention at men or at government, we are turning it at God. It is not federal government that would draft a new policy that would make us to increase or to be wealthy, it is the Lord that will do it. So, if it is the Lord that will do it, this is His way of doing it through you and doing it for you. What is the first thing it says? It says “Those who sow.”
If you remember the book of Daniel 11:32, it says “but the people who know their God, they shall be strong and carry out great exploits.” But the people…That is to show it is not everybody. So, when you see certain people doing great things and certain people doing wishy-washy things, you must not just get confused, you must understand that great things can only be done by those who know their God, knowing that our God, even though we could find ourselves in situations that enslaves us; our God is the ruler of the affairs of men, the king of Glory. And so, being our God and father; we have a placement in Him, and we are princes of God and we are kings on the earth.
A man who knows God, a woman who knows God as the king of glory will also see himself as a royalty and then he is able to get strength from that understanding and is able to command great results in his community. That is why it is those who know their God. The same statement of those who know their God, is applicable to those who sow So, those who are not sowing, who are busy speaking and talking around, they will not come back with harvest, because there is the law of seed time and harvest. It is not the law of smiling time and harvest. The only thing that commands harvest is sowing. You don’t have a seed, you don’t have any harvest. So, what are you sowing? That is another question.
In spite of your condition, imagine the first thing. The first thing says “those who sow with tears.” They had tears, and they were still sowing. Things were not comfortable and rosy, but they were still sowing. They had every reason to excuse themselves from sowing, but they still did it. No wonder they were able to get results for it. So, what are we doing today? Are we excusing ourselves from sowing, knowing full well that the only thing we must do to be wealthy and increase on this earth, is to sow.
You must know that the only thing that you and I have to do is to sow, that is all. If you want to have something after now, then what you have now must not be for a show, it must be for sowing. You know, some have said if what you have is not enough, if it does not bring fulfillment to you, and it is not really able to meet your need, then so it. That is one aspect, but that is not all.
So, we must not forget. The first thing is in spite and irrespective of our condition; whether we are educated or not, whether we are male or female, whether we are working with the government or working in the church, whether we are singing or doing drama; whether we are writing or doing blogging, whatever we are doing or our hands find to do, in spite of our condition; we must sow. Nobody is exempted; whether you are a king or a servant, an employer or an employee, you must sow. And as you are sowing, you must have it at the back of your mind, that it is what you sow that you will reap. But you will reap it in multiple proportions.
The next thing we must note is what was written in verse 6. It says “he who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing….” Although we have said that and we must note that see is not for showing. You don’t have see so that you can boast around. What you should go around showing is your results and not your seed. What have you been able to produce with the seed that you carry? Your seed is meant to be used, you must sow it. The question is: What is sowing? But before we see that sowing; I want us to read the book of John 12, so that we can have a perspective in the New Testament. John 12:24, and then we would see the meaning of seed and what it entails to sow. The Bible says:
“Most assuredly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”
This why we must realise that Everytime God is dealing with the issue of seed, sowing and harvest these are defined things. Anytime we see a land that is being farmed, we know it is a matter of time, those farmers will get harvest there. It is not us that passed by that gets the harvest; you can even see a beautiful farm, it doesn’t go beyond that. That is why it has been said that if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. It is beyond wishes. Don’t let us go about wishing for good marriage, the marriage is simply a product of seeds that have been sowed and those that are being sown.
You don’t sow today and stop tomorrow, all you do daily is to sow. That is why the word “continually” is in that Scripture that we read in Psalms 126. We reap, we sow daily. Once you sow, you must definitely reap. I don’t know anybody who would eat and never want to go to toilet. It is not possible, unless the person wants to die. If you sow, you must reap. Whatever you take in, you must release it out. This is why the Bible says for every labour, there is profit. Everytime you commit your effort to something, you will get a profit. It can be a good profit, it can be a negative one. There is going to be a reward.
So, the Bible says “Most assuredly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” It is initially a grain of wheat, but when it falls to the ground and dies; it produces much grain. That is to show us that anything we have is able to produce more than we can have, and I will want us to note that. Anything we have is able to produce more than we can have, if only we learn to sow that thing. What you have, if you can sow it well, wisely, as a smart sower, then you can have more.
So, don’t have something and tell yourself is the best you can ever have. That is not true. It is because you have never sow it. When you set aside a small portion of your harvest to sow, it would go beyond that in your hand, it will increase, it is a matter of time. So, what you are going to have which is an increase, is going to be brought into your life by the things you currently have. So, it is with what you have now that you will have much more. I think the parable of the talent also speaks about it. That servant that produced five, the Master said “take from the one who have produced nothing and add to him, so that it him who has that more will be given to.”
So, those who don’t have will have nothing. People have even said the rich become richer and the poor become poorer, because the rich have something to do business with. So, the question is: What is to sow? There is a popular knowledge of sowing which everyone of us knows, but there is another one that I will also share. The popular is “to sow is to plant seeds by scattering it on or in the earth.” The earth is large, and then you have some seeds, and you scatter it on it. When you do that, you are said to be sowing. But don’t forget, you are dealing with the seed, and then the earth. There is a you, there is a seed and there is the earth. So, it is an interaction between you, the seed and then the earth that produces an harvest.
The next meaning of “sow” is to initiate; and I want us to note this in our notes. To sow is to initiate, create, produce, instigate (you know when they say somebody has sown a seed of discord among the people, so he instigated friends against friends). Another meaning is to spark-off and the last one I want to mention is generate.
So, when we are sowing, it means we are initiating, we are creating, we are producing, we are instigating, we are sparking off and we are generating. So, what is a seed? A seed is the unit of reproduction, you know when you talk about a unit, it means the smallest component of reproduction, that makes reproduction possible. Reproduction is a combination of “re” and “production”. When you produce which is to create, you know, when we are talking about sow, you create. Then when you recreate, you produce, you reproduce, and et cetera. Can you notice that everything about sowing, you can put “re” there? When you generate, you can re-generate. When you instigate, you can re-instigate.
That is to also show us that sowing is something that must not stop. It is a continuous activity. It is like an endless circle. The Bible says “occupy till I come.” Get busy with what I have given you, the assignment I have called you into. So, a seed is the unit of reproduction of a flowering plant capable of developing into another such plant. So, when you have a new child, that new child is capable of regenerating or producing another child or becoming a father or mother who can produce more. So, in life basically, what we need is to have seeds to sow. You know, as that Scriptures says in Psalms 126 that we read, those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow.
I think the prayer that we must always prays is that Lord; show me the seeds that I have and help me to be conscious of the seeds I carry around because practically, we are expected to be seed carriers and seed planters. Bear seeds, plant it, sow it. That which is in you, bring it out. You see, that is why a man, a woman is expected to be a self leader to lead yourself. You know, somebody will say, like that man Jesus met at the pool. The reason for his status quo was because there was no one to help him into the water. So, anytime he wants to move, somebody has gone. Each time he wants to create, another have created it. He wants to produce a product, somebody have started it, he wants to starts a business, another have started it.
But it is important to know that what is in us, we must use it. We must take the initiative to use it. Take the first step that you must take for your next experience. That increase that you desire, don’t wait for anybody to instigate. Be the one who will instigate it, because to instigate is to sow. You can’t have seed and be waiting for me to come sow it for you, then you are not a sower. And we have been created to sow. Your seeds are to be planted by you and not by anybody. So, indirectly, your destiny is in your hands. What do you do with what you have, remembering that it is what you have that you must use to produce what you want.
The increase that you desire can only be a multiplication of what you already have. You have a book, by the way as an author, from that book you can have books if only you are able to recreate. Anything you have, take the initiative to produce more with it. Even if it is money, don’t bear that money for show. Bear it to sow. Your seed is not to tell someone, do you know how many seeds I carry? Let your seed be for an eventual harvest. People don’t celebrate you when you are planting, they only celebrate you when you are harvesting. What becomes a public knowledge is your harvest.
When I pass by people that are planting, I just wish them well, because they are sweating, they are tired and they are working hard and they hardly laugh. You will hardly find someone who is sowing that is laughing. That is why the Bible says that when they are sowing, they are weeping. They are somehow synonymous. But you can never see someone who is harvesting that is crying, it is not normal. When people are harvesting, they are joyful. So, you are complaining nobody is celebrating you yet, it is because you have little or no harvest. If you want to become a celebrity as it were, then you must become a man who has a lot of seeds to sow.
You must live your life daily sowing seeds. That is how to enter the realm of kingdom wealth and increase. Don’t just say Lord, make me rich, Lord make me wealthy. Then the Lord will take you to Scriptures that will infuse in you the passion to sow. If that thing is in your hands, and it can never get out of you, how can it then be multiplied? Except a grain of wheat falls down and die…it must get out of you. That idea and dream that you are trying to own so much, you must allow it to leave you. That is when you can be celebrated. Sow it, let if fall out of your hand into the right soil and it will produce an harvest in a matter of time.
Source: Centre for New Dimension Leadership
