Lesson 

The Sowing and Reaping Ministry is a ministry that God has raised up in the Church to finance the work of God's kingdom (2 Corinthians 9:6-14).

Remember this: Whoever SOWS sparingly will also REAP sparingly and whoever SOWS generously will also REAP generously. Each man should GIVE what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves the cheerful GIVER.                           (2 Corinthians 9:6-14)

This ministry is also called the "Ministry of Giving" or the "Ministry of Giving and Receiving." (Romans 12:8; Philippians 4:15, 19 RSV).

If it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him GIVE GENEROUSLY; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.                                       (Romans 12:8)

And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the Gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in GIVING AND RECEIVING except you only; and my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.    (Philippians 4:15, 19 RSV)

The ones who are blessed by this ministry are from four categories of people.
There are:
(a) Those who are preaching the Gospel full-time, e.g. Paul (Philippians 4:15).

And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the Gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in GIVING AND RECEIVING except you only.                                                               (Philippians 4:15) 

(b) Those who are needy among God's people or among the unbelievers, e.g. the Church at Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8:14; 9:12).

At the present time your plenty will supply WHAT THEY NEED, so that in turn their plenty will supply WHAT YOU NEED.
This serve [ministry] that you perform is not only supplying THE NEEDS OF GOD'S PEOPLE but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.               (2 Corinthians 8:14; 9:12)

(c) Those believers and unbelievers who have the word of God preached to them because the preachers are supported by our giving (2 Corinthians 9:13).
Many are saved because of our support for those who preach the Gospel.

Because of the service [ministry] by which you have proved yourselves, MEN WILL PRAISE GOD for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the Gospel of Christ, and for your GENEROSITY IN SHARING with them and with everyone else.                                                            (2 Corinthians 9:13)

(d) Those who have given generously for the work of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
Those who have sowed generously for the work of the kingdom of God will reap an abundance of finance for every good work.
God will supply all the needs of those who serve in the ministry of giving and receiving (Philippians 4:15, 19).

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
And God is able to make ALL GRACE abound to you, so that in ALL THINGS at ALL TIMES, having ALL THAT YOU NEED, you will abound in EVERY GOOD WORK.       (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)

And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the Gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in GIVING AND RECEIVING except you only; and my God will SUPPLY EVERY NEED OF YOURS according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
                                                            (Philippians 4:15, 19 RSV)

In order that we may serve God and build God's kingdom successfully through the ministry of sowing and reaping, we must learn to do it God's way.
We must know how to sow righteously and also reap an abundance of financial harvest consistently.
Only then will we be a continuous channel of God's blessings to the needy world around us.

Your tithe, which is ten percent (10%) of your total gross income, before expenses and taxes, belongs to God.
You must not rob God by withholding your tithe.
If you do so, you come under a curse (Malachi 3:8-9).

"Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings.
"You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me, even this whole nation."                                       (Malachi 3:8-9 NKJ)

You are commanded to pay the full tithe into the storehouse.
The storehouse today represents the local church which supports the full-time workers who are serving you (Malachi 3:10; Nehemiah 13:10-13).
You are not allowed to pay part of your tithe to the ministry of your liking, anywhere you like.

Bring ALL THE TITHE into the STOREHOUSE, that there may be food in my house, and prove me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it."                            (Malachi 3:10)

Any sum of money that you give to God's work, beyond your tithe, represents what you are sowing into God's kingdom.
This represents the investment you want to make in the work of the kingdom of God.
It is from your sowing that you can expect a financial harvest.
You can sow your offering within or outside the local church.

Since your offering is voluntary, your must give willingly whenever you sow into God's kingdom.
Never give under compulsion; never give hastily; never give under pressure from church leaders or members (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not RELUCTANTLY or UNDER COMPULSION, for God loves a CHEERFUL GIVER.                     (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)

If you cannot give willingly, do not give.
God does not want you to give reluctantly.

Since you are giving willingly whenever you are sowing financially, do it cheerfully.
Always rejoice that you have a divine opportunity to sow into God's kingdom, to advance the kingdom of God, and to live in God's abundance through the financial harvest that you will receive (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Never grumble or complain whenever you sow or whenever you are asked to sow.
If you do so, you will come under the judgment of God (Deuteronomy 28:47-48).

As children of God, we must be led always by the Spirit of God in all what we do, including the sowing of our finance (Romans 8:14; Galatians 6:7-8).
Always let the Spirit of God tell you how much to sow, when to sow and where to sow; do not simply sow.

You must sow according to the financial harvests you desire to receive.
If you sow little, you will harvest little.
If you sow generously, you will reap generously.

Remember this: Whoever sow SPARINGLY will also reap SPARINGLY, and whoever sow GENEROUSLY will also reap GENEROUSLY.                                                (2 Corinthians 9:6)

Whenever you sow, expect a hundredfold return, according to the pattern of God in the Old Testament and the promise of Jesus in the New Testament.

E.g. God blessed Isaac with a hundredfold return when he obeyed God and stayed in the land of Philistines at a time of famine and sowed (Genesis 26:1-12).

Isaac planted crops in that land [during a time of famine] and the same year reaped a HUNDREDFOLD because the LORD blessed him.                                                      (Genesis 26:12)

Our Lord Jesus Himself promises us a hundredfold return for all that we have given into His kingdom (Mark 10:29-30).

"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the Gospel will fail to receive a HUNDRED TIMES as much in this PRESET AGE (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields -- and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.                                                                               (Mark 10:29-30)

As you sow financially, ALL GRACE will abound to you (2 Corinthians 9:8).
In other words, you can receive from God and type of blessing you want to receive from Him in return.
However, to receive any blessing from God, you must specify in detail what you want from God -- be it a husband, a wife, a specific type of business, a car, etc.

E.g. After you have sowed generously, you can ask God specifically for a red Volvo, automatic, less than 5 years old, with good air-conditioning.

Whatever you ask of God, believe that you HAVE RECEIVED it, and it will be yours (Mark 11:24).
In other words, never doubt that the financial harvest is already ripe as soon as you have sown and have asked God.
Jesus taught His disciples to see spiritually into the harvest field and to see that the fields are already ripe for the harvest at any time (John 4:35).

Jesus said, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you HAVE RECEIVED it, and it will be yours."                                                                  (Mark 11:24)

Jesus said, "Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are RIPE FOR THE HARVEST."                          (John 4:35)

All believers have been given spiritual authority to rule this world according to God's will, to build God's kingdom on this earth (Mathew 16:19; 18:18).
We rule by the commands we issue with our mouth.
We rule by issuing commands to things and circumstances so that they change to fulfill God's will for our lives (Mark 11:20-24).

Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."                                  (Mathew 18:18)

Using your spiritual authority to rule, you can also break the power of any demonic hindrances holding back the release of your financial harvest.
Jesus has given all His followers authority over all the power of the enemy (the devil) and nothing can harm us (Luke 10:19).

Jesus said, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you."                                         (Luke 10:19)

E.g. When breaking demonic hindrances over your financial harvest, you can command as follows:
"In Jesus' name, every spirit of darkness hindering the release of my specific financial harvest, I break you power over my financial harvest right now.
I declare that my financial harvest is now released into my life, in Jesus' name."

God's angels have been sent to His people to help them in their life and ministry. (Hebrews 1:14).
They are thus sent to help us with our harvests -- financial and spiritual harvest.

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?                                         (Hebrews 1:14)

In view of this revelation from God's word concerning angels, we must express our belief their ministry by declaring as follows:
"In Jesus' name, I declare that ministering angels of God have been sent forth to bring in my specific financial harvests."

When we have unrepented sin in our lives, God will not hear our prayers.
God will not bless us (Psalm 66:18; Mark 11:25).
No financial harvest will be released into our lives unless we turn away from all sins.

If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.                                                              (Psalm 66:18)

Jesus said, "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."                       (Mark 11:25)

Turn away from all sins of
    pride and boastfulness, rebellion and lawlessness,
    revenge and retaliation, lukewarmness and worldliness,
    idolatry and witchcraft, sexual immorality, cheating, lying and stealing,
    laziness, gluttony, self-indulgence, division and strife, anger and bitterness.

    envy and jealousy, criticism and judgment, slander and gossip,
    doubt and fears, complaining and grumbling,
    lack of holiness and consecration and service to God,
    denying Christ and bringing shame to His name.

After you have sown, after you have prayed, after you have commanded your financial harvest to be released, wait patiently for it to manifest (Genesis 6:9).
Never doubt God's word, but rejoice in the Lord always.
Do not give up; keep on serving God and doing good.
Keep on sowing.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
                                                                          (Galatians 6:9)

Your thought

1. Why does God want all His people to become wealthy?
   Is it a blessing or a curse to be poor?
   

2. What are the hindrances that stop God's people from reaping an abundant financial harvest through the ministry of sowing and reaping?
   List down all the hindrances you can think of.