“And there was a famine in the land . . . Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him (Genesis 26:1, 12).”\

       The Lord has a passion to bless us financially, both for our own personal benefit and particularly for us to be able to produce greater works for His Kingdom purposes. “. . . Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant (Psalms 35:27).”

Is This a Time to Reduce Our Giving—our Financial Sowing?

              The global economy is shaking. There is financial “famine” in the land of America! Sinners and Christians are shaking in fear. Many including Christians are losing their jobs, autos, and even their homes. Savings are evaporating. Homes are losing their value. Many Christians, to save money for their bills, are reducing their giving to God, and some regular tithers are being late, irregular and many are no longer tithing at all!  According to our natural way of thinking, this would appear to be wise. But is it? 

In Oral Roberts Autobiography "Expect a Miracle ... "My Life and Ministry."

         ". . .When I looked to God as my Source, when I made my tithes and offerings as a seed, an act of faith in Him, He would not fail to send the miracle harvest in both expected and unexpected ways, and I was able to live in a continual state of expecting to receive!" 

     Our faith-filled expectancy will promote an even faster and larger return on our seed! In Oral Roberts new book."Still Doing the Impossible" P. 187, he states, “He told me to sow a seed for an equivalent (equal) benefit in every loss or defeat and that this would wipe out the setback and produce a miracle harvest He has designed for this type of attack against me."  Isn’t this an awesome truth and we can do the same. I do it and it works! It will also work for you.

     Jesse Duplantis said, “When it seemed nothing was working, we prayed more and gave financially more.” This is not a carnal formula, but a Spirit anointed principle.

God’s Plan for His Children, His Body, to Survive and to Prosper in the Present Economic Crisis

               God’s plan is for us to increase our giving, sometimes substantially, and to seek him passionately for a new dimension of intimacy and wisdom (Matthew 6:33). Our financial future is determined by the Holy Spirited directed seeds we sow. They that sow bountifully shall reap bountifully. As a foundation for financial prosperity, sow your first twenty minutes in the morning and last twenty minutes before bed, and the reaping will transform your life. Part of those twenty minutes (or more) with the Lord should be praying and singing on tongues. Our primary passion should be for intimacy with God through Jesus, not the financial harvest.

            God sowed his “best,” His Son! Whether it is financial, obedience, purity, diligence, or love, let’s give, let’s sow—our best. … You and I may not always have what we need or the finances to obtain it, but we are never without the seed that will produce it!

Let’s see what the bible says about giving.

          Malachi 3:9-10 …Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse . . .   and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes . . .”

       “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty   … The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself (Proverbs 11:24-25).”

         “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again (Luke 6:38).”

           “Those that sow bountifully shall reap bountifully (2 Corinthians 9:6).”       

       There are two purposes for tithing. One is to provide finances for the ministries in His Church, particularly the local church. The second reason is to provide a “legal” way for God to have the joy of blessing you and me financially. … Tithing (10%) is returning to God what is His, but He still considers it an important seed! Through tithing the “windows of heaven” are opened—and the enemy, the “devourer,” is rebuked. And as we give generous offerings (over and above our tithes), we are then truly “giving” to God, and we will reap financially.

      So the foundation of being blessed by God financially (and to avoid the curse in Malachi 3) is a lifestyle of tithing (10%, and it is a first fruit “giving” to God). We must write our first check or checks to Him, not to pay bills) and giving generous Spirit-led offerings. Isn’t that an awesome provision.

      When you are fortunate to find a local church where you are fed substantially, take joy in   giving your tithes there. Otherwise, give your tithes and offerings to a ministry where you are being blessed spiritually. Always be sure you are sowing into a “good ground” ministry.     

At a Time of Famine What Did the Widow Do?

             The Widow of Zarephath said to the prophet, Elijah, “As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but (only) an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die (1Kings 17:12).”

       Through the anointed request of the prophet Elijah, the widow obediently gave her last meal to Elijah. God then multiplied this seed offering and she and her son had enough food until the drought was over. She sowed in famine and it saved her life and that of her son. God will do it for every one of us. Seek the Lord for His plan of giving—how much to sow and where to sow.

My Financial Miracles through Sowing in Famine

     Many times I have sown this type of seed for finances for overseas trips to the Philippines, South Africa, Australia, and other places and have had one miracle after another.   A few years ago I began sowing for a new roof, and we received an amazing $10,000 miracle. I sowed for our exterior to be painted and received a major miracle in this area also. We sowed substantially for an automobile and we were given an almost new Town and Country Chrysler.  This is part of our lifestyle of giving.         

       On a ministerial trip I gave a substantial seed at the leading of the Holy Spirit and the offerings were triple what I could expect! For me such sowing is a lifestyle orchestrated by the Holy Spirit. 

Recent Dealings of the Lord in My Life

       Because of the economic crisis our country is now in, the Lord spoke to me to increase our giving. I have already seen amazing financial provision because of it. He desires to bless each of us through this spiritual principle of sowing in famine.  Now is the time for individual Christians, churches and ministries to increase their giving not to reduce it. 

     Note this powerful truth. You and I may not always have the finances to meet our needs, but we are never without the seed that will produce it! Why? Because God said in Genesis 1:29, “I have given you seed." The Holy Spirit will show us when, where, and what seed to sow for our miracle. Or we willing to hear His voice? Are we willing to give up our desire to be in control of our finances? The key to freedom is to be willing to lose it—to God.

Bob and Mary’s (not real names) Miracles through Sowing in Famine

     “I did not do anything differently before or after that should have changed my situation,” said Bob. … He continued, “The only difference was the special offering to a good ground ministry! God has opened the gates of heaven with blessings. God opened up doors that we could not open for four years with a client.  This was huge!!!  He also, gave us 19 orders and over $4300 in revenue for our company.  Jesus is so good to us.”

       A Minnesota farmer said this, “It had not rained for a long period of time and my crop was in danger of severe damage. At the prompting of the Holy Spirit, I sowed a large financial seed for rain into a wonderful ministry. To my joy within three days an ideal, slow soft rain came for two days, and saved my crop!”

       In great financial need, at the leading of the Holy Spirit, Jerry Savelle of Jerry Savelle Ministries gave his last $10,000 to Kenneth Copeland Ministries a number of years ago. In about a week he received back $50,000 from an unusual source. Much later in his ministry he needed $100,000 for the completion of a project in Nigeria. At the direction of the Holy Spirit, he sowed his new Van, and two other large sacrificial seeds. Within a few days of sowing the last seed, a check for $100,000 came for this project. It works!

     Your need might be to become debt-free from your credit cards or other loans, obtain a much-needed vehicle, sell or buy a home, take a missionary trip, or for your business or ministry to prosper. Or it might be to prevent losing your job, your car, or even your home!

       We need to sow, as the Holy Spirit directs, a significant seed for our miracle (over and above one’s regular tithes and offerings). Giving $100 as a seed for a $1,000 miracle is significant, but for a $30,000 miracle, we will probably need to sow $500 or more. The Holy Spirit will show you (John 16:13).

      We must be sure we have gotten our “instructions” from the Lord about how much and to whom to give. This involves an intimate relationship with Jesus. We need to spend time with God in prayer and the word as a way of life.

      This giving is not part of our tithes or regular offerings, but over and above that. It opens the door for our miracle. This type of giving should become a way of life for each of us. It is of particular importance during this time of global financial crisis.

     Friends, it works! It will work for you, me, and for others because it is a spiritual law. Allow the Holy Spirit to create an excitement in you to begin to use one of God’s most awesome laws.

      Ask the Holy Spirit where to sow, and how much you should sow. Also pray about sowing into an excellent Jewish ministry—such as Sid Roth’s “It’s Supernatural, Eagles Wings, and Jay Sekulow’s ministry. After sowing our financial seed, it is important that we passionately praise God by faith for the financial breakthrough. Don’t sow your seed and say, “Now I will see if it really works!” No, we must praise God for the breakthrough BEFORE we see it! It might take a while, but your miracle will come.

     It is important for us to sow our seed into “good ground (preferably excellent ground).” When you receive good spiritual feeding from your church, then your local church is good ground for either all or part of your tithe.

     Sow where you are being spiritually fed. . . . If you are being “mentored” by excellent books, TV ministries, CDs, DVDs, or by spiritual fathers or mothers, you should sow tithes and/or offerings into those ministries.

 [Note: The seed must “die” to produce. Therefore, evangelists should sow into other ministries … not their own]

      In our ministry we give from our corporation substantial offerings, and from our personal income tithes and large offerings plus many “famine” breakthrough offerings. We give significant amounts to Jewish ministries.

The Love Walk—A Lifestyle of Forgiveness

       In Mark 11:22-23, Jesus gives us the authority to speak to all mountains, such as debt, a lack of finances, a need for a home, an automobile, college tuition for the children, etc. He gives us His Name through the Holy Spirit to command every mountain in our life to move but He adds verse 25, “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. … But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses (Mark 11:26-26).”

Summary: Seven Steps to Financial Prosperity

1) To prosper financially we must forgive everyone who has hurt, rejected, or offended us in anyway, including yourself and even God! The sins of unforgiveness, resentment, bitterness, grumbling and complaining, or a critical attitude will block our financial blessings.  

2) Sow your tithes and substantial Holy Spirit directed offerings as a foundation, as a lifestyle, for a life of prosperity. In time of immense need, increase your giving!

3) By faith praise God over and over for a multiplied financial return on all finances sown. Avoid any negative words about your finances or about others’ finances.

4) For special needs, projects and for “setbacks” sow a Holy Spirit led breakthrough seed (which is not a part of your tithes and regular offerings) into good ground ministries and excitedly praise God for the financial breakthrough.

5) Sowing into an excellent Jewish ministry will further enhance your financial reaping.

6) When others get blessed financially, we must not be envious, but from deep within, we must rejoice for their victory.

7) Let’s develop a lifestyle of gratitude towards God and others. It is the opposite of grumbling and complaining.

8) We must get all sin out of our lives, including sexual sins in thoughts, words or actions. Lukewarmness is the root of most sins in the Body of Christ. Let’s repent and change if we are not seeking God fervently in prayer and in the Word.

     We are now in a position to receive the greatest financial miracles we have ever seen. They will become a way of life!   But the greatest blessing is from the joy of being a giver and bringing blessings into the lives of others—and the new realm of intimacy with God that comes from a giving spirit.

John Chappell, The Chappell Ministries, Inc. 

PO Box 172, Bartow, FL 33831, Email JChap777@aol.com

Home 863-226-2362 Cell phone 863-221-1479