Store up the Word of God in Your Heart
When I was fifteen years old, as an act of faith and obedience to Christ, I was baptized in water by full immersion. One of the men present at my baptism at that time, was given a picture from God of a camel drinking. He then prophesied over me, that I was to drink in freely; to drink in of God’s Spirit; to drink in of God’s word. He believed I was in a sense, being forewarned, or prepared, to face times of difficulty that may lie ahead in my Christian experience or my Christian walk. This picture of a camel drinking I believe, refers to a camel’s God given or innate ability, to drink in and carry large amounts of water at any one time in order to sustain it; because of the arid or very dry conditions around it. In this sense, many of us are water carriers for the Lord, spreading the Gospel and speaking life into many people and situations around us that need it.
As if to confirm this, it was many years later that in a similar manner the Lord also gave me a dream. In this dream I saw two very good friends of mine who belong to the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army church in New Zealand, and I believe in many other parts of the world, is a Christ believing Church that takes the Gospel message to others, whilst also helping poor, needy and displaced persons. In this dream however, I believe it is representative of all who reach out to the nations with the Gospel message of Salvation in Jesus Christ. Therefore, every believer in Christ Jesus is a part of this Salvation army. In my dream, the husband was digging a large hole in the inside wall of what appeared to be their outdoor carport or garage – normally a place where people park their cars. We then began hiding as many Bibles as possible into this hole before it was to be sealed up again. The Lord then said to me, “Store up the word. Store up the word of God in your heart.” In this dream, there seemed to be an urgency for me to do this.
The Law of Sowing and Reaping
When speaking of his own thirst for the Lord in a ‘dry and thirsty land’, King David said,
“O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.”
Psalm 63:1
On the morning I first wrote this article, as I was spending my time with the Lord, the Lord said to me, “Keep sowing in times of plenty, so that when famine comes there is food to sustain you.” The Lord has shown me more recently, that this is very, very important concerning our need to be constantly memorizing Scripture. To have Scripture ready at hand when under trial; so that we are ready at any time to speak it; is the means by which our enemy is immediately defeated. Concerning the words that we speak, many years previously the Lord had also warned me, “Make good your confession – for you shall have what you say!“
In his instructions to the churches of Galatia, Paul the Apostle says,
“Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
Galatians 6:8 NIV
Keep Sowing to Please the Father
Hebrews 11 – known as the faith chapter in the New Testament of the Bible – tells us that it is our faith that pleases God.
“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.”
Hebrews 11:6
- For without faith there is no increase!
We see this same faith principle of sowing and reaping at work in the true story of Joseph in chapter 40 in the book of Genesis in the Old Testament of the Bible. This Joseph was given the ability to interpret dreams. The source of welfare that was given to him in the revelation knowledge that came from God, and the resultant obedience that followed, sustained not only Joseph and his family through times of famine, but the lives of many others as well. Then Joseph was able to say to his brothers,
“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”
Genesis 50:20
For a more full version of the story of Joseph, please also read my previous article – ‘The Life of Joseph.’
Keep Sowing to Please the Spirit of God
When we sow to please the Spirit – See Galatians 6:8 – we help to meet the needs of others as well. By faith we sow of our time, we sow of our finances and we sow in studying, teaching and preaching God’s word. We continue to sow in fasting and in prayer and in supplication before the Lord. We sow in praise and in worship to God and in service to others. We sow by continuing to read and memorize Scripture, which is the word of God; to meditate on it; profess and proclaim it. All of these things are sowing into an eternal Kingdom that will never fade. Jesus Christ said,
“Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
Matthew 6:20
The Apostle Paul also reminds us, that if we keep on doing these things and do not lose heart, in due time we will reap a harvest.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, or at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
Galatians 6:9 & 10 NIV
Let Your Gentleness be Evident to All
There is undoubtedly a harvest of faith and righteousness being reaped in the heart of many believers in the nations right now. Even in the midst of great turmoil, God is continually raising up an increased measure or standard of faith!
- God promises, if we do not give up, we will reap a harvest!
The Apostle Paul instructs us,
“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”
Philippians 4:5 NIV
Can I encourage you today, to be one who is faithful, no matter what the circumstances may be around you, and to not lose heart? Continue to do those things that you did at the first. Be faithful in giving. Give of your finances, give of yourself and give of His word. Be faithful in prayer, faithful in encouraging others, faithful in brotherly kindness, faithful in continuing to love and serve the ‘unlovely’, faithful in worship and in reading, memorizing and speaking His word. Keep allowing God to minister times of healing and refreshing into your own hearts and lives, so that in due time you can minister hope and healing into the lives of many others as well.
Again, the prophet Isaiah foretold, that after the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon us from on high, that the work of righteousness will be peace and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.
“Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is counted as a forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places, though hail comes down on the forest, and the city is brought low in humiliation. Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, who send out freely the feet of the ox and the donkey.”
Isaiah 32:16 – 20
Keep Walking in Justice and Mercy
Here is a final word of encouragement from the Apostle Peter for those who continue to shepherd and to meet the needs of His flock.
“To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed. Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders.”
1 Peter 5:1 – 5 NIV
The word ‘elders’ above, when used as a noun, is also translated ‘seniors’ – See Strong’s concordance. As the Apostle Peter continues, the caress of his care is significant – Be a disciple of God.
“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, Who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 5:5 – 11 NIV
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