PRAYER FORCE

Why First Fruits!

As we launch out into this New Year, we want to lay out God’s masterful plan concerning the increase He has for you and your family. We will study the subject Why First Fruits, in this week’s Prayer Force. God desires our best and He deserves that which has not been touched by man’s plans. In other words, when you receive your harvest, it becomes your responsibility to set apart the first fruits to Abba. Why First Fruits? It is an offering of Thanksgiving unto the Lord for providing a harvest for you to enjoy.

Each New Year we do not know what will happen in our lives, we have no control over anything, only God does. With that in mind, your first fruits then becomes an offering steeped in pure faith in God, that as you give Him your best fruits first, He then will not only receive it, but will guarantee your harvest will be blessed. The third feast of the year is called First Fruits, and as you study this important feast you will soon learn that it is a test of your obedience unto Abba.

Whenever a harvest occurs, the first fruits are generally the best that can bring top dollars, but you’ve decided to give that to God first! This is an exciting principle to follow because you can actually see God’s hand at work in your fields of harvest. Why First Fruits? Simply because God said so, and we’re told that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.” Listen, you can never go broke or lose whenever you give to God! This is a proven fact that many will testify to. Why First Fruits? Because it works!

January 6 to January 12, 2008

Time to Honor the Lord

“Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”
Proverbs 3:9-10

God does not ask for leftovers! Sadly, we must admit that a majority of those within the body of Christ simply do not get it! We fail to honor Abba whenever we do not give Him our best, whether it’s our time, talent, wisdom or finances. Here we are at the start of a New Year, it is a time for us to take an assesment of our past and find the area we need to improve in. When this is done and you’ve found the areas, you must quickly begin to change whatever is out of order, so that you can get back in sync with the plans and Word of God.

Should it not be the desire of every child of God to Honor the Lord? Yet we must acknowledge that for various reasons, we fail to do so miserably. How do we honor our Father? By obeying His instructions and making changes in our lives wherever they are needed so we can conform to His Word. We must admit that God does not get top billing in most people lives, for some reason He is somewhere around the mid-range of their priorities. Now we must say that this is an occurance throughout the ages because as humans we normally place all that physically pertains to us at the top of our list.

God’s Word is very explicit, we need to Honor Him by following His instructions everyday of our lives. You want to be blessed? Then following His commands will deliver it! Admit that God’s Words are very challenging and at times they seem almost impossible to follow, but, we must do so if we expect to be blessed. Firstfruits Of All Thine Increase; to our natural mind that amounts to a lot, but in comparison to what God will return, it is merely a seed! It’s Time To Honor The Lord saints.

PRAYER FORCE

Offering Willingly

Our Prayer Force for this week will deal with the subject of finances, particularly the offerings given to the Lord. As you probably know there are various ways one can give an offering unto the Lord, some do through compulsion, others because of a necessity in their lives, and still others give it because they feel they are obligated. Dear ones, the best way to give Abba an offering is willingly! Listen, Offering Willingly reveals ones character, motive, love and obedience. Understanding that the offering is all yours, that’s why what you give should be a sacrifice because you actually have need of that finance.

If you had a hundred dollars to spend and as offering was being received, giving five, ten or twenty wouldn’t hurt because look at how much you have left. However, if that hundred was needed to purchase what you really needed or desired and you give it all, that truly becomes an offering because it cost you something! So many drop their offerings in the basket and have an abundance left for whatever they desire to do, that was not a true willing offering. Jesus spoke about it in Mark 12:41-44. He drew the comparison between the rich people giving and a poor widow.

Offering Willingly teaches us that when there is a need and we have the ability to give toward that, then we do so delightfully, cheerfully and of course willingly. Giving should always affect our heart, after all, the monies being given is rightfully yours to use as you see fit. However, you understand that offering willingly represents your motives and you appreciate the fact that God has blessed you and brought prosperity into your life, and will continue to do so because of your trusting Him. If more believers can understand this important principle then they will experience a breakthrough in their homes. David didn’t give God millions because he was the King. All that money was his but he acknowledged that it was God who blessed him to get it. So he gave it willingly! Offering Willingly should be our delight!

January 13 to January 19, 2008

Understanding the Tithe

“And behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.”
Numbers 18:21

We want to clarify some perceptions some might have concerning the tithe that we are required to give the Lord. In doing so you will understand and see that God has worked out a winning system for your benefit and blessings. The Nation of Israel had to learn this teaching together although we read both in Genesis 14 and Hebrews 7 that Abraham paid tithes way before this “law” was instituted as some say and teach. Understand this, tithing is a covenant given by God, it’s not a law like the commandments were.

This is why Understanding the Tithe is so important and too many have not seen it’s impact on, for and towards their lives. Jacob had twelve sons of which Levi was the third born to Leah. His name actually means “to join”, as in uniting. The Levites were the children of Levi who were to minister before the Lord on behalf of the entire nation. Aaron and Moses were of the tribe of Levi hence God used them to be the spiritual leaders for Israel. They would raise up the levites and place them in their positions that would connect or unite the nation with God.

The eleven other tribes all were alloted land by God for their inheritance but the Levites weren’t given anything because of two principles. First, God was their inheritance and provider throughout their lives. Second, everyone had to tithe to God through the Levites for it to be accepted. The tithes were the way God ordained for the Levites to receive their income so they too could pay their tithe and support their families. So you can clearly see that all the tithes was designated by God to go specifically to compensate the Levites for their service unto the Lord. The church needs to learn this very important principle. We cannot afford to not pay the tithe because God set forth blessings in it. Understanding the Tithe is very important.

PRAYER FORCE

Vision Casting

During this month it is our endeavor to get every family member to see what we are about and what your role is here at Grace Redemption Ministries. We are doing something special called Vision Casting and we want to share this with you in our Prayer Force for this week. First of all we must remember that in Proverbs 29:18 we’re told a very important point, “Where there is no vision (no redemptive revelation of God), the people perish; but he who keeps the law (of God, which includes that of men) - blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable is he.” (amplified).

With that in mind we must always realize that over the process of time we may get very busy and we can either forget or decide to omit what we are called to do. It may not be totally, but a few things removed can cause a major damage. We must examine our vision and see whether or not we are abiding in the calling Abba has given to us during this time. Strategies may need to change but the vision remains the same. We must raise the standard higher this year from the positions we operated in last year. There must be a progression, a re-positioning of the direction if necessary. Every leader and member must become more personally committed to the vision of the house so we can advance the Kingdom of God in our sphere.

Since we must pursue that which we have been called to do, it is obvious that the way we begin this year will determine how our pursuit will go. If we are sluggish and lethargic, then we will settle for anything short of best. We cannot tolerate that mindset because it will cause all of us to fall short of the will and plan of God. Vision Casting brings us back to square one in our commitment to Abba, the ministry, our family, job and ourself. This is the time that we set things in order before our calendar begins to fill up with things that can side track us from our call. First we must check ourselves before we try to assist or correct others. Every captain, coach, leader, pilot and minister must keep a constant watch on what they are currently doing to be sure that they are on course with their destiny.

January 20 to January 26, 2008

Home Improvements

“Remove not the ancient landmarks which your Fathers have set up. Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before Kings, he will not stand before obscure men.”
Proverbs 22:28-29

As we launch out into 2008 we want to do an overview of our ministry, the vision God has given, and where we now find ourselves nearly 16 years after our founding. We want to take a close look at where we have excelled and also fallen short so collectively we can make the needed Home Improvements. Notice that it is plural because the odds are we have a number of areas to improve at and in. We first began with our finances because this is what’s needed to successfully achieve our vision goals. We have looked at First Fruits and it’s natural and spiritual importance to us. We have learned that at times it may call for a reformation to begin the work over again, either because it fell by the way side or was neglected.

We then looked at the Tithe and what it represents for us who are believers in the Lord and expect to reap the blessings He’s promised. Tithe is more than the tenth, it is that very key which brings return into your life consistently. The tithe is non-negotiable because all of it belongs to God! In Malachi 3, the first thing listed by God when He indicated the Nation of Israel was that they robbed Him of His tithe! That is a very serious charge, He didn’t say that it was “alleged” that they withheld their tithe, He said they robbed Him of it. If you’ve committed robbery that means you have stolen something belonging to someone else!

They may not want to have heard it, but God told them anyways and then listed the second offense as the offering. Now, while the offering might be totally yours, God expects all of us to be thankful of how He blessed us to obtain it. He gave us life, health and strength to work and be rewarded for solving someone else’s problems. The Tithe and First Fruits rightfully belongs to God and the Offering is yours. This is where your giving truly begins, and if you only give the tithe you aren’t giving anything!

PRAYER FORCE

Weather Patterns

Years ago the phrase El Nino was given to describe the strange Weather Patterns we were experiencing. For many El Nino was defining how terrible things were and that it would become more uncomfortable to live with. In our Prayer Force for this week I want to look at the subject called Weather Patterns and prove how you can control it by using the authority of God’s Word! We know from scripture that the Prophet Elijah greatly affected the weather patterns by declaring there would be a forty two month drought, and it happened! It was he who called in the rain exactly three and a half years later and without storm clouds in the sky, the heavens dropped the rains that caused a flood!

How could Elijah do it? He understood a Godly principle that we must also understand; the climate we live under is a result of the atmosphere we tolerate! You need to get this very important point child of God, if you get this into your spirit you will change situations. You see, Elijah understood that the climate he lived under was adversely affecting the Nation of Israel. Ahab was the King and Jezebel was his Queen, together their evilness and idol worship was pulling the Nation away from God and bringing curses upon the people and land. Elijah understood God’s principles that if we do certain sins, we open up ourselves to severe retributions and/or judgments.

Sadly, Ahab refused to repent, so Elijah did what he was authorized to. He stopped the rain from falling over the entire Nation, and took authority over the Weather Patterns. Can you imagine not receiving the former and latter rains? The crops, animals, and vineyards were affected. It affected people’s lifestyles, even that of Ahab and Jezebel, but they just coped with it. Why was it that those 7000 others who never bowed to Baal never reversed Elijah’s edict? Elijah boldly stated that it would not rain again until he said so! God had to backup his words because the spiritual climate was set by the atmosphere that was tolerated!

January 27 to February 2, 2008

Change Your Perception

“And he (the blind man looked up and said, I see people, but (they look) like trees, walking. Then He (Jesus) put His hands on his eyes again; and the man looked intently (that is, fixed his eyes on definite objects), and he was restored and saw everything distinctly (even what was at a distance).”
Mark 8:24-25 amp

We must admit that there are times in our lives when we do not see things clearly and may have the wrong perception of things. When times like these arrive it is very obvious that you have arrived at a time where you need to Change Your Perception. How do you perceive things around you, on your job, here at church or where you normally frequent? Sometimes we must insist that others ought to change when actually, it is you that’s seeing things wrong. Have you missed out or been wrong before? We all have because nobody is perfect.

I remember sometime ago there was a professional wrestler named Curt Henig. He wrestled using the name, Mr. Perfect and his persona had him being arrogant, boisterous and very offensive. People hated him because of who he portrayed himself to be. If he won his match, he had to humiliate his opponent. If he was losing he’d cheat, yet all the while claiming to be Mr. Perfect. When he got beaten up, the entire arena went wild, why? Because nobody really likes someone who is always perfect! When Curt was not wrestling and out in the streets, he was a nice normal guy, but if you didn’t know it was an act, you’d actually think he was Mr. Perfect the arrogant man.

It wasn’t until people began to change their perception that they got to see him for who he actually was; a nice down to earth, likeable person. Whenever you Change Your Perception you’re admitting that you were wrong and needed to see things differently. So in doing so it could greatly assist and improve life, and turn things around for you. Each day we must see if we need to change our perception so that we can improve situations with and around us.