Map of places we’ve worked, also ministry friends
Below: photos of various 2009 village outreach, youth-
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- boys fishing
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- children often work
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- Many miles inside a remote area. Most of this tribe the “Pokot” have never seen a white man and nearly all have never heard or known the name of Jesus Christ. We got stuck in the mud almost 100 miles away from any major town…these helpful tribesman pushed us out. We would have been stuck for days, and more rains were coming!- Dec 31, 2009
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- Turkana
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- Village church
GOD IS LIKE A FARMER, DEC 2009 ARTICLE
“As long as the earth endures…. seed….time…. and harvest will never cease….” Genesis 8:22
GOD IS A FARMER; HE ONCE HAD A GARDEN IN EDEN
“God blessed them…and said “Be fruitful and multiply….” Genesis 1:28
Jesus spoke much on agricultural process: sowing seeds, watering, waiting and harvesting. Even the Old Testament prophets spoke much on this subject, as did the New Testament apostles. Jesus said “The Kingdom of God is like a Farmer who sowed seeds….” (Matthew 13). Faith is like farming… I urge you to meditate on this truth during this season. God began in a Garden with Adam, his work finished in a Garden (Gethsemane). Faith is not as mystical and ‘blind’ as some believe. Like the gravitational pull that holds the planets, the stars and the universe together- so is faith. Scientists say the earth is suspended within 1/4 of an inch of an ice age or global melt-down. Famous physicists like Oxford’s Stephen Hawking declare that the universe points to origin, a Creator and a beginning. Faith is a real power, just like the law of gravity. As we learn God’s divine laws we will grow spiritually and prosper in our relationships and purpose in the world. Jesus is our model of operational faith- he entered the world as the Seed of God and grew up and manifested the fruit of Heaven, multiplying it everywhere and re producing it in other people. Jesus is our model of perfect faith.
FAITH FROM THE FARMER’S POINT OF VIEW
“God said , ‘you have not had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made grow…” Jonah 4:10
There is a well known story of a minister who visited a farm that yielded a stunning harvest a certain year. The minister proclaimed “Wow, God really blessed you with a harvest!” The farmer responded , “Thank you, you should see the field I left for God to work in, all on His own.” The point of the farmer should be taken- God can always do things on His own, but on the earth He has chosen to use people in partnership. That’s why when you cultivate your farm it yields better fruit, than when you don’t do anything. Some people’s faith is so obsurd or un-trained that they believe “God will do everything,therefore you don’t do anything.” Its an extreme view of God’s sovereignty that unsupported in the Scriptures, the Bible. This extreme view turns into blaming God for all the problems in the world or in our lives. Nothing could be more false, for since the Garden God has involved and invited men in His purposes on the earth. Mike Bickle has a great saying “God will do His part, but He will not do our part for us.” This is also why some fields produce a better harvest than others.
FAITH IS LIKE PLANTING SEEDS IN AN EMPTY FIELD
“when sown… it grows up and becomes greater than all…” Mark 4:30-32
We work around many different types of people here in Kenya. There is a striking difference between those who run around looking for ‘donors and supporters from the West’ and from the truly called and passionate who love God. The former spend all their time networking and talking about ‘problems’. The latter spend most of their time serving others, creating solutions and moving in creative faith. The former are problem oriented. The latter are wonderfully solution oriented, accomplishing much more- they don’t ignore or pretend that “needs don’t exist” but rather they take the small resources (seed) they have and put them to work, asking God to multiply what they have. You see, throughout the Bible we cannot escape this wonderful truth that illuminates our faith: Gods not asking us to do or be the impossible. He is asking us to believe Him, the God of the Incarnation and the Resurrection. Faith usually originates from a place of subtlety. This is the mystery of a baby and a manger. Just like a seed = you cannot tell what fruit a seed becomes, on the surface level. 3 months later you begin to see the fulfillment of planting the seed= a glorious fruit arrives. Faith is often like that, it begins in subtlety, obscurity and can be easily overlooked. 3 wise and dilligent Kings found the baby Jesus, through much study, perseverance and seeking Him over a period of time.
AFTER TIME, THE SEED GROWS UP AND BECOMES SOMETHING GREATER…
“It goes into the ground…it dies…then it produces much grain…” John 12:24
One of our friends in Kenya gave a 200 pound sack of maize to the poor/famine relief. We were busy donating and distributing relief, for the famine and droughts had hit our region very hard, some months ago. His testimony is incredible, because months later his own region experienced literally no harvest- yet he harvested a bumper crop. How do you explain this? I guess I will sum it up to say “Faith is like farming, and God is a farmer.” The irony is you can present file cabinets full of documentation/photos/ and proofs and that cannot make a person believe. When Jesus was on earth doing miracles, it provoked people’s hatred and unbelief even more. Some people just choose to believe, while others can view a mountain of evidence and because they have so much faith in themselves, never believe in God’s miracle transforming power.
This is another great truth with divine mystery: “Blessed are the poor, for they will be fed”. Somehow in Western Civilization all the convenience tends to make us lean towards unbelief. We don’t need miracles, because we all have food/ food banks. We don’t need healing because we have Blueshield and great hospitals with great doctors. We don’t need multiplication because you can buy in bulk at Wal-mart and Costco. (I am not against any of these great necessities or even luxuries). But to prove a point, usually unless we get into a crisis- we face a sickness, a death in the family, a serious addiction that breaks us/destroys our marriage, then and only then do we cry out/ seek faith. In Africa they see more miracles because there is simply no other options- there is no Hospital, there is no food bank, Costco, Sam’s Club ….- so as you preach the truth of the Gospel, faith and miracles.. they just believe it (they have no other source!). Blessed are the poor..blessed are the hungry and thirsty….blessed are those with needs… it brings them closer to the Throne of God’s Grace, quicker. Call it what you want, call it ignorance, but to me it glistens with a spiritual intelligence echoed in Jesus’ words, “Don’t be unbelieving, just believe” -John 20:27-29 A great question in 2010 for all of us is “When Jesus comes to be with us and help us, will He find faith?…” Luke 18:8 A practical application is, when a farmer desires to gather a harvest of fruit/wheat, what is the first thing he does? He plants many seeds in an open field. Farming is actually a practical expression of faith. Whether you are sowing real seeds, financial seeds, time helping others, prayers for the sick, hugs for the discouraged, words of life for the suicidal= keep sowing and ask God to bless you. Your faith and dilligence will produce a multiplies harvest in 2010, in Jesus’ name.
IN TIME, THE SEED CHANGES FROM ONE FORM, TO ANOTHER
“What is sown gets made alive as its planted and dies…” 1 Cor 15:36-49
I went to a village some months ago- stayed with a widow and another pastor there. She called her children to come, one of which was waiting for his college certificate which at that time was bound up in typical corruption. The college was demanding some ridiculous bribe/payoff to send the certificate home to the boy. To be honest, I wasn’t feeling faith or very confident- just being truthful. They asked for prayers so we prayed and told them lets believe God, He loves to work miracles. The next day, the pastor called me and told me the certificate showed up in the mail that day, after delaying for 6 months- Can I explain it? No, the closest explanation I have is the substance/Scriptures in this article. A practical question is, how can we fear praying in faith, when the best possible results can occur? What are we so afraid of , disappointments? I believe this supernatural life with Christ is meant to be anything but mundane– I mean, maybe God has taken some of us to the point where our successes or routine lives lose their luster. Maybe its because God has so much more for us, divine appointments, miracle provisions, supernatural partnerships and relationships. Yesterday (Dec 19 2009) we had a great youth meeting at our house, with food and sharing (see photos). I told them something that I began to realize, “One of the greatest things that changed my life, was I let go of old friends and old associations” I changed my company, as Kure says in Nigeria. I left the regular fellowship of unbelievers, scoffers and faithless.” I don’t mean that I dont’ hang out with non-Christians, thats not my point. We must be friendly and kind to all people. Rather, we began building more meaningful relationships, deeper relationships with people who live a purposed and focused life with Christ. I am talking about the people that you BUILD your life and purpose with.- In fact, we have Muslim friends in the town where we stay. The youth began to shake their heads in agreement. In order to fulfill our lives purpose, some of us may have to change our field (the friends who don’t care/agree with your faith/passion in Christ), as much as we change our seeds. I would define the field as people, and decisions/choices as seeds. This is also confirmed by Paul the Apostle in Galatians 5:19-26. He goes onto say speaking of relationships “whatever you sow…you will reap.” -Galatians 6:7-9 In 2010 may new divine friendships and re-alignments come into your lives, in Jesus’ name. May you reap the fruits of righteousness, peace and prosperity and go onto be a blessing to every relationship in your life. That is God’s will for all of us in 2010.
IN 2010 MAY MIRACLES MULTIPLY IN YOUR FIELD- YOUR FAMILY, BUSINESS/JOB, OR MINISTRY.
“Be patient…see how the farmer waits for the precious fruit..” James 5:7-8
In 2010, may the Gates and Windows of Heaven open around your family, and my family. May the Blessings of Abraham and all the Covenants of the Bible (fulfilled in Christ) may those glorious blessings chase you down and tackle you. May no sickness or lack intimidate you, may the Negative Nightly News never be your truth, but only God’s Good News. May Jesus be glorified in the hidden-ness of our situations= a small child in a manger, in a dirt shack inn, in obscurity. God often chooses to work His greatest miracles in obscurity, hidden from the prying eyes of the multitude– this is the miracle of Christmas and Christ being birthed into us, our lives and difficult situations. Only believe , that is the only requirement. Thomas Aquinas said “Man want to first see and then believe, but its the other way around- only believing can you then see.” Faith is not so mystical and difficult to grasp, rather its like farming.
During this economic recession, we believe God will supernaturally help many people, give them grace and break the depressing power of the recession.
GOD HELPS US TO PERSONALIZED AND APPLY THIS ILLUMINATION OF FAITH, FARMING
“The farmer will partake of the crops…consider what I say for God will give you understanding. Remember Jesus Christ…of the holy Seed….” 2 Timothy 2:6-8
The fact of the matter is the blessings/multiplication/miracles are not to become a point of boasting or pride, but they are meant to be more normative Christian life. Its not about how much we strive and strain… rather we take the small things (the seed) we have. The one dollar. The hug to those who cry and are in pain. The Christmas gift to the poor person in the bad section of town. The encouraging word to the broken hearted in your family or to those with a broken family. Faith is a life-giving force and just like farming, you take the small thing and give it to God. God takes the little bit of natural we have, and through faith and prayer it multiplies supernaturally. The Bible is veiled until we begin to see these inspiring truths. Faith really is like a seed (whether positive or negative faith=unbelief)- the seeds starts small and grows into something more larger, beautiful and defined. Faith is also like gravity, you can’t see it, its invisible but it does far more than most people give it credit. What are we saying?
If you have never considered beginning a relationship with Jesus Christ and giving your whole life to him, we pray that you will today. Nothing on earth makes sense without the Gift of God from Heaven- Jesus Christ who came and fully experienced our struggles here on earth. Making Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior of your life is the most important decision of all.
-John
“He who sows the good seed is Jesus- the field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the Kingdom..” - Matthew 13:37
“He will be like a tree… planted by streams of water, bringing forth fruit in its seasons…” – Psalm 1:3
“God is able to make all grace abound to you- May He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food….multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness.” – 2 Corinthians 9:8-10
