Cast Your Bread Upon The Water

Solomon wrote this text during a time he was backslidden in heart, yet still possessed the wisdom of God in his heart. Without probably knowing it, Solomon was being used by the Holy Spirit to show a prophetic picture of the end times. This first part of a three part message series on this text deals with the grace and blessing of giving as well as a prophetic picture of the end time harvest. We are living in monumental times. At the time of this writing we are dealing with the second catastrophic hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland in 3 weeks named Rita. Several earthquakes have rocked California in just recent days as well. It's getting late and the only source of security for the believer is CHRIST. When we cast our bread upon the water we will see God's provision for these last days we live in. The key phrase in this passage is "the WATER," a type of the Holy Ghost. God wants us putting our resources into things the HOLY GHOST blesses and ordains. Sadly, most of what goes on today is not ordained by the Holy Spirit and is "another spirit." We must hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church in these last days!

 

By Chris McDonald

 

TEXT: Eccles. 11:1-3  - Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shall find it after many days. [2] Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. [3] If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

        This passage in Ecclesiastes is one of the most interesting in all of the wisdom writings of the Old Covenant. Solomon, David's son by Bathsheba, had reached the end of his life when he wrote this book. Most translations actually refer to Solomon as "the Preacher," in the opening verse of this book.

 

Eccles. 1:1
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
 

        This message is about the grace and blessings of giving as well as a prophetic picture of the end time harvest we all I pray will enter into very soon in an upcoming season of God's Spirit. I've never wrote a message out of this book and I feel led to talk about the condition of Solomon's heart as he wrote Ecclesiastes. Before I get to that, I want to look at Solomon himself first.

 

        We must recognize that Solomon was a backslidden preacher when this book was written. These words are the reasonings, searchings, and findings of a natural man "under the sun," a natural man seeking to satisfy his soul Solomon's heart had been taken away from God by the numerous relationships he had with strange women towards the end of his life and at the time he sat down to pen the words of Ecclesiastes, he had reached a point where he realized that all his pursuits outside God were VANITY! Solomon's heart had turned away from God and his life is a picture of the what happens to us when we backslide. Some of the traits we observe that can be of help to us is this:

 

        1.. His attitude toward creation and human life, everything on earth being considered vain, empty, and extremely vexing.

        The words vanity and vanities are used 37 times throughout this short book, compared to 62 times in all the other books of the Bible. Solomon learned what we must learn to that anything outside of GOD will always leave us empty, void and making the same declarations as Solomon. Millions today chase after dreams of money, prestige, power, and promotion only to find themselves the ash heaps of drugs, alcohol, lust and sin. The pursuit of the modern almighty dollar has destroyed countless homes, wrecked millions of marriages, left millions orphaned - ALL in the pursuit of things on this earth which at their best is VANITY!

 

    2. His reasonings "under the sun" prove he was not speaking as an inspired preacher in harmony with God. The expression "under the sun" is used 29 times. No inspired preacher or prophet of God in any other book so reasons about things under the sun as Solomon. This was more than likely the period of his life after his wives had turned his heart away from Jehovah (1 Kings 11:1-10).

 

1 Kings 11:1-10
But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; [2] Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. [3] And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. [4] For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. [5] For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. [6] And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father. [7] Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. [8] And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. [9] And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, [10] And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded.

 

        He had 1,000 women in all—700 wives and 300 concubines. His reference to them in Eccles. 7:26-28 seems to indicate this as the time of his backsliding. He declared he had considered one by one and had not found a true woman—one who was pure and free from seductive traits, whereas, he had found one man among all his trusted servants. When we backslide as ministers our natural reasoning takes over instead of spiritual inspiration. We look at life as things that happen "under the sun," instead of being inspired by the Holy Ghost with the true anointings and giftings of a preacher who is not backslidden in heart.

 

Matthew 6:25-34
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? [26] Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? [27] Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? [28] And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: [29] And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. [30] Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? [31] Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? [32] (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. [33] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. [34] Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Col. 3:1-4
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. [2] Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. [3] For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. [4] When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
 

    3. His general dissatisfaction with life (Eccles. 1:8; Eccles. 4:8) indicates a backslidden heart. A man who is at peace with God and has a right relationship with the Heavenly Father, will be satisfied and contented (Psalm 22:26; Psalm 36:8; Phil. 4:11; Hebrews 13:5).

 

Eccles. 4:8
There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

Eccles. 1:8
All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
 

Psalm 22:26
The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

Psalm 26:8
Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.

Hebrews 13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Philip. 4:11
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

 

    4. What he gave his heart over to during this time proves it was not right:


(1) He gave his heart to seek and search things done under the sun instead of devoting himself to the conversion of men to things above the sun; i.e., heavenly things (Eccles. 1:13)
(2) He gave his heart over to know madness and folly, something (Eccles. 1:17)
(3) He gave his heart over to wine, folly, mirth and pleasure without restraint (Eccles. 2:1-3)
(4) He fulfilled all his lusts and passions, not withholding his heart from any kind of joy and pleasure (Eccles. 2:10)
(5) He deliberately caused his heart to despair (Eccles. 2:20)
(6) He gave his heart to know the wickedness of folly, and the foolishness of madness (Eccles. 7:25)
 

    5. His self-exaltation proves that his heart was not right (Eccles. 1:16; Eccles. 2:4-9). Solomon constantly referred to himself, using "I" 87 times, "me" 17 times, "my" 22 times, "myself" 4 times, and "mine" 9 times in 222 verses, as compared to the writing of John, the beloved preacher of the N.T., who used none of these personal pronouns in his entire Gospel of 879 verses.
 

        On that, let me interject this thought. Pride is a serious issue in the ministry today. There has never been a time when the ministry has become so arrogant and proud to the point where we have stopped being the servants and have sought to be the served. Huge ministries build themselves on the backs of people pressured and constrained to give money into the coffers to build an earthly shrine to a man and movement instead of building the Kingdom of God. This is done in the name of the Kingdom of God, when in fact it is being done in the name of man. A backslidden heart will never see anything wrong in promoting itself! When our motives are to promote ourselves we can be sure we are backslid! When our desires and wishes center on "ME" and "US" and "I" then neighbor we need to check our hearts. We need to seek God's face, humble ourselves and repent.  This is not about "ME," "US," or "I" it's about JESUS! He is the one who deserves the glory.

 

        I read an article in a local newspaper in the city I was born in not too long ago about a well known African-American evangelist everyone of us sees over television each week. They interviewed him and asked him why the lavish lifestyle he lived did not match the lifestyles of the people in his congregation who in many cases were poverty stricken. His response was one that reeked with self-righteousness, pride and to be frank coming from a backslidden heart. He said that he was "not some poor black preacher preaching in the woods where no one will hear them; he was a international speaker with ties all over the world and contacts with presidents, kings and leaders." Humility was very absent! But neighbor his spirit is just a microcosm of what the ministry in general is like right now. We think that God is impressed with those things. He's not! Solomon found out at the end of his life after gaining all those things - wealth, prestige, power, and wisdom beyond anything any human being other than Christ has ever walked in - that when his heart went away from God - it is all VANITY!

 

    6. Being surprised that his wisdom still remained in him while his heart was in this condition indicates that he was not right.

 

Eccles. 2:9
So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
   

        Solomon's wisdom never left despite his backsliding. The gifts and callings of God are without repentance. That's what makes a backslidden minister so dangerous. They go on and on with what they are doing and many times don't realize the anointing has left them. They, like Solomon, sees the "wisdom" remaining in them. Sadly, unlike Solomon, who recognized his folly, many never realize it before it is too late and continue to lead millions astray to hell itself.
 

    7. His hatred of life shows that he had no peace with God (Eccles. 2:17). He actually praised the dead as being better off than the living (Eccles. 4:2-3).

 

Eccles. 4:2-3
Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. [3] Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

    8. His selfishness—worrying about leaving his works to others after his death proves he was not right in heart and had no love for others (Eccles. 2:18-19).

 

Eccles. 2:18-19
Yea, I hated all my labor which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. [19] And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
 

    9. He advocated four wrong principles concerning sin and principles of living, which no preacher in harmony with God will do:

        This sounds much like the modern gospel we hear today! It sounds MUCH like the modern church world which has taken entertainment and made it an idol in the house of God which we pay MILLIONS to through our tithes and offerings. Contemporary Christian music groups are brought in to "entertain" our youth with mirth, pleasure and yes wine-drinking and drunkenness. If you've ever been to one of these concerts the youth in these groups are no more different than those in a bar on Friday night drinking and partying. The difference is we do it in the "name of Jesus," change lyrics in a song and claim it is of God.

 

        The gospel message today is centered on Solomon's backslidden gospel - 'money answers all things.'

 

Eccles. 10:19
A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry: but money answereth all things.

       Money does NOT answer all things friend. I remember the sorrow we all felt in May 2005 when our precious mother passed away. Mom had colon cancer that was not detected in time. She went to the hospital on 5/15 and two weeks to the day on 5/29 she passed on to be with the Lord. During those two weeks watching mom end her time on earth I learned first hand that a MILLION dollars would not have saved my mom from her appointment with eternity. Life is fleeting and without promise. NONE OF US ARE PROMISED another day or another moment for that matter. We can never take for granted the fact every breath we receive from God is on loan from Him. IN HIM we BREATH and LIVE!

 

Acts 17:22-30 -  Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. [23] For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. [24] God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; [25] Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he gives to all life, and breath, and all things; [26] And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: [28] For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. [29] Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. [30] And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
 

        And because of the preciousness of life we must heed the HOLY Ghost's words in this passage and hear God's COMMAND for all men everywhere to REPENT! Repentance brings blessing. Repentance stops the vanity of life. Repentance changes the course of one's life and shows us ourselves as God sees us, not as we see ourselves.  The promises of God are never out of date. He has not changed and no respecter of persons. He commands ALL to humble themselves before His mighty hand and receive GRACE and MERCY. Neighbor hear me. God gives GRACE to the HUMBLE, but HE RESISTS the proud.

 

        Solomon is a great example of what happens when we are drawn away from God and our hearts are drawn to idols, pride and arrogance. He got the end and said, "It's all VANITY." To use a south Georgia term, "it's all DUNG!" It's worthless. It will not profit you and I anything. It only brings SORROW. Life without God brings nothing but SORROW here on earth AND in eternity! Why do we live so flippantly today without our eyes on eternal things and not temporal. NOTHING we have temporally and physically can go with us to the other side. The only thing we carry with us are good works produced out of a redeemed heart. These works are not our salvation, but they are the production of the Holy Ghost in a heart which has placed it's faith in Christ and Him Crucified!

 

         Ecclesiastes shows us the utter fallacy that earthly sins, pleasures, and pursuits are the chief end in life and the source of happiness; and to show the final conclusion of the whole of life—to fear God and keep His commandments if one would live forever with Him. That is, true religion and undefiled is the chief thing in life and the only eternally rewarding thing of all. Loving Jesus and Him only is eternally worth it!

 

Cast Your Bread Upon The Water

 

Eccles. 11:1
Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shall find it after many days.

 

      The text of this message  I believe is actually a prophetic picture of the end times we live in today and what God is about to do through the outpouring of the Holy Ghost on Planet Earth.  Solomon I can be sure did not know he was prophesying through these writings. As stated, this was the pouring out of a backslider who was seeking to find his way back to God. In my heart, I believe that we can be sure Solomon found his way back. One thing I've seen over the years that the hardest thing to get a person to do is admit need. Solomon admitted his utter condition through this book and through that I feel the Lord showed him the mercy and grace he sought to receive at the end of his life.
 

        The term "Cast your bread upon the water," has been so misused and abused by preachers seeking to justify their greed gospel. But this term goes far deeper than just treating God like a glorified slot machine and making Jesus Christ a glorified Santa Claus and bellhop at our beckon call. This term is the key to spiritual blessings in CHRIST, the only real source of spiritual blessing and prosperity anyway, as a believer. It is also a door to the end time harvest that I believe we will see very soon on Planet Earth. In 1975 Bob Jones received a prophetic visitation where the Lord told him that over one BILLION souls will be ushered in the kingdom prior to the Lord's return. Seeing the things we see today in our headlines and knowing that the Rapture is near, this event cannot be that far behind either.

 

        The promises of God are never out of date. According to Hebrew commentators, Solomon was speaking specifically to the young. But this prophetic word is for us gray heads as well!  It's far more than just beautiful prose. It's far more more here than just spiritual poetry. Bread is a synonym here for “money.” The secret to ALL success, be it spiritual, or even in the ways of the world, is to "CAST MONEY" upon the water! But the casting of money into the water for the child of God is totally different than the ways of the world and how it casts it money into the water!  Spiritual success and blessing is always tied into GIVING and SOWING SEEDS into the right harvest field!

 

        The Holy Spirit in this passage deals with us who do not have that business savvy how we too can be blessed. The system of the world is the totally opposite of this. But God’s economy has the key to success. I'm not business savvy friend so as I'm writing this, I'm writing this to myself as well as those reading it! If we are generous and hospitable unto the LORD with a heart like Jesus then we can be sure that blessings will follow. How and what those blessings are are God's business, not ours! That's where the modern gospel goes into the ditch. It teaches us that we can dictate to God what type blessings we are to receive. That is a LIE! We cannot do that. When we give to God, we are giving out of heart constrained with LOVE!!! If we are not constrained with Love then ALL our giving is in vain!!!!!!!!


2 Cor 8:1-9 - Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

        Macedonia was a very poor church but they abounded unto the riches of their liberality. But they gave beyond their means because of the GRACE of God. Giving is about GRACE, not law! It is to prove the sincerity of our LOVE. If we don't cast our bread on the water with sincerity and love, then neighbor, best thing to do is keep it! Giving out of human constraint or pressure only gets us a ZERO balance in our checking account! And when we respond to manipulation or pressure from preachers on television, the only people who are going to get rich from that are the false preachers! Granted, God will hold them accountable for what they do, but neighbor, you and I will be held accountable to for who we send our money to. We need to HEAR what the SPIRIT says to us! And when you get through reading this message, you'll know exactly who you need to "cast" your money to!

 

        God loves a CHEERFUL giver! He loves one who sows BOUNTIFULLY in a hilarious, not reckless and unwise, manner.

 

2 Cor. 9:6-15-  But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. [7] Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. [8] And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: [9] (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. [10] Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) [11] Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causes through us thanksgiving to God. [12] For the administration of this service not only supplies the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; [13] Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection into the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; [14] And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. [15] Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
 

        The Holy Spirit tells us through Paul the proper attitude we are to have about giving - be it tithes OR offerings!

 

                1. Not grudgingly (not selfishly)

                2. Not of necessity (feeling manipulated or pressured)

                3. Cheerfully (Hilariously, without thought of getting anything back!)
 

        As a result of our giving, God is ABLE to make ALL grace abound toward us! We will have sufficiency in ALL things and will abound in every GOOD WORK. Our righteousness (which is Christ's) will remain for ever. And if we will remain faithful in our giving, the Lord will minister SEED to the sower BOTH FOR YOUR FOOD and MULTIPLY the seed sown to increase the FRUITS of our righteousness. That's powerful! It's a picture of carnal things but it's also a picture of what will happen both spiritually and prophetically if we obey the Lord with our hearts.

 

        We will be enriched in every thing to ALL bountifulness which will lead to a thankful heart. Show me a person who has the right attitude about finances and money and I will show you a person who is thankful at all times- no matter the circumstances or the balance in the check book. God loves grateful people. He despises the spirit of selfishness and unthankfulness, a sign of the end time apostasy that is forecast to sweep the church and the earth.

 

Romans 1:18-22
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; [19] Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. [20] For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: [21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

        As it relates to the end time harvest, the Lord is releasing a revelation of love that will cause those who will HEAR what the Spirit is saying to relinquish their lives for the sake of those who will NEVER pay them back! When we sow our seeds of mercy and grace to the harvest fields of the earth in a hilariously, gracious manner, the Lord will multiply that seed through SOULS! Fruit in scripture is symbolic of:

        Our cry must be "SOULS" Lord, "SOULS" We must do ALL things for the gospel sake. NOTHING we do can be done anymore for vain glory or pride. Ego must be slain at the foot of the cross of Christ and HE MUST be lifted up, not man! The time is short and what we do for the Kingdom needs to be getting done and done QUICK! It's getting late neighbor.

 

        Paul asked the Corinthians who had given out of themselves for the needs in Macedonia and Jerusalem, "what is my reward?" He said that when he preached the gospel that he would make the gospel of Christ WITHOUT CHARGE!!!! You hear that prosperity preacher? This gospel is not for sale, false prophet. This gospel is not for sale, fake. This gospel is not for sale those of you who offer a vial of "holy" water for a $100 offering that you claim if someone partakes of they will receive a miracle. This gospel is not for sale those of you promising that if someone gives a $100 to your ministry their mortgage will be paid off by the end of the year. You're not a man of God, you're a snake oil salesman, imbecile. Sorry to be so blunt, but that is what the gospel has come to today and it's both tragic, sad and disgusting. It's horrific that so many give their money to such.


1 Cor 9:18-23- What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
       

        Paul said his reward was SOULS. His reward was that he become ALL things and DO all things "for the gospel's sake," that he might save SOME! Neighbor, that's the bottom line in ALL things we do - that we might save SOME! And then he says, that he may be a "partaker" thereof with "you." In other words, he knew that he would be a partaker of the blessings that would be poured out on those faithful to the call in giving as he gave also.
 

“Upon the Waters”

      

        The Holy Spirit tells us not only to give generously, but he tells us WHERE to "cast" our money. He says through Solomon, "cast your bread upon the waters"  Water is a type of the Holy Spirit.

 

John 7:37-39
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. [38] He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. [39] (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

 

        What the Holy Spirit is saying here is that He wants our money to go WHERE HE WANTS IT TO GO!!!!!! In other words we are to be LED of the SPIRIT where we give and plant seeds to! And where He leads us to give will ALWAYS be a harvest field that is in tune with what the Holy Spirit is doing, what He is glorifying, and what He is producing! Now, let's ask those questions. What is the Holy Spirit doing? He is taking the love of Jesus to a lost and dying world through the ministry of the Body of Christ, the CHURCH. He is giving GIFTS to the BODY and increasing the nature of Jesus through what we know as the FRUIT of the SPIRIT.

 

        What does the Holy Spirit glorify? I can tell you one thing He does NOT glorify - and that is MAN! The Holy Ghost has come to glorify CHRIST and Him Crucified. The Holy Spirit works entirely in the framework of the finished work of Christ. The cross of Christ gives the Holy Spirit the legal means to do what He wants to do in our hearts and life. Not to be blunt, but If the preacher is not preaching the cross - Don’t support it.

 

Romans 8:1-3
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. [3] For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Romans 6:3-5
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? [4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

1 Cor. 1:17-21
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
[18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. [19] For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. [20] Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? [21] For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Galatians 6:14
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

1 Peter 1:20-22
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, [21] Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. [22] Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
 

        It’s bad not to give to God, but it’s worse to give to the Lord and think it’s of the Lord and it really isn’t. He expects YOU to do a little investigating. He expects YOU to KNOW those to whom you give to and what is going on with your money. It's not that you wish to control the money because as we have stated, where we give and how we give is to be SPIRIT directed! We're under GRACE, not law. If you want to argue we're to pay our tithes, I have a better argument than that. God doesn't just want the tithe as He did under Law, He wants it ALL! Grace demands more! Jesus warned that false prophets would be known BY THEIR FRUIT. He never pointed to the gifts as a sign someone was of God or not of God.

 

Matthew 7:13-21
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: [14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.  [15] Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. [16] Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? [17] Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. [18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. [20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  [21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
 

        Paul scolded the Corinthians in his second letter as he told them, "you suffer fools gladly," who come in, take your money, then leave without leaving any spiritual grace in your lives. You then you turn your back on the ones who TRULY care about you even though they may not tell you or preach to you things your flesh wants to hear. That is what we do today - "We suffer fools gladly."

 

        I see many of them each night over Christian television - at least the amount of time I can watch without vomiting. Spiritual pimps making the gospel of Christ a gospel of lasciviousness and greed, turning the hearts of men to MONEY and MAMMON instead of to Christ and Him Crucified. The Copelands, the Dollars, the Duplanties, the Avanzinis, the Tiltons, and all others of the same fiber, who turn FAITH into a slot machine where you are given a formula and with that formula you supposedly will come into great blessings, they are going to answer to God for the millions of souls they have led astray to another gospel. These men may be good men without sinful motives. But their gospel is false. Their message is not going to bring you TRUE SPIRITUAL BLESSING friend. Spiritual blessings come from casting your bread "UPON THE WATER!" And that water is a type of the HOLY GHOST. The Holy Ghost doesn't ordain false doctrine. The Holy Spirit doesn't ordain greed, manipulation, hype and dishonesty. And if a preacher is claiming he has a magical formula to get you riches without preaching Christ and Him Crucified - he's a fool and your suffering him gladly by supporting his ministry. The Holy Ghost doesn't ordain 99% of what goes under the guise of Christian television and/or entertainment today either. And if you send your money to those things that are not of God neighbor, you will be held just as accountable as they.

 

        Find and support a ministry who is feeding the poor, preaching the cross, repentance, holiness and walking in GRACE to those around them. Support a ministry whose concern is NOT building a building, but taking the things they have an investing it in the spreading of the gospel no matter what vehicle that may be - be it the internet, radio or television. Support the GOSPEL! Support the kingdom of God through ministries that uplift CHRIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

John 12:24-26
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. [25] He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. [26] If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

 

John 12:32
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
 

        That's why when we sent out an appeal like we did a few weeks back for the orphanage we have now in Liberia we say the same thing in each appeal - let the Lord lay whatever you need do on your heart! We cannot tell you what to do other than obey Him and the Holy Ghost. One person did and we received a miracle to get the children we have now in Monrovia a new building by the help and grace of God. We still need your help with this but we're thankful for what the Lord has done already and will do in the future. This ministry preaches the cross. Don't come to Spirit Journals looking for a message that will fall in line with what everyone else is saying. The cross has always been the dividing line between the apostate church and the true church from the very beginning. The cross is the only thing standing between fallen man and a burning hell. And it's the only thing standing between the true church and apostasy. Millions are departing from the faith they once held in Christ Crucified to other things that sound better and appeal to man's basest emotion - SELFISHNESS, GREED and PRIDE.  The water is what the Holy Spirit ordains and blesses, not what man ordains and blesses!!!!!!!! And I don't care if the Assemblies of God, the Church of God, the Foursquare, the Pentecostal Holiness, the Baptist, the Methodist and the entirety of the denomination world is clamoring after it like a rabid dog in heat - if it's not of God - stay away from it! The sad thing is that we have become so inoculated from what a true move of the Spirit is like - we don't know the difference many times between what is OF God and what is not! And that is the ultimate tragedy of these last days.

 

        By the help and grace of God, this ministry, and I say this not with a self-righteous spirit but with humility, fear and trembling, is going to stay the course and preach the Cross till Jesus comes! We're going to preach the gospel that Jesus saves, Jesus heals, Jesus is coming again and JESUS BAPTIZES IN THE HOLY GHOST! In the last days I WILL POUR out my Spirit upon ALL flesh, and your sons and daughters WILL prophesy! GLORY TO GOD. GLORY TO GOD.

 

Joel 2:28-29
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: [29] And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
 

        The Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost - HE IS THE WATER! Cast your bread into HIS water and you will see God do mighty things with it! GLORY TO GOD.

 

You Shall Find It After Many Days

 

Eccles. 11:1
Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
 

        It’s a guarantee; it’s coming back to you. - “for after MANY days.” You will find it. There is a payday coming friend. God is the one who knows the timetable on that, not us. And to be frank and honest our payday may not come this side of eternity. It may be in eternity when we see the results of the our works on earth and the giving we have done without malice or a begrudging heart.

 

        It may be in the wee hours of the morning when the Lord wakes you up and causes you to weep without stopping for hours upon end and shows you in a prophetic vision the souls and hearts of hungry children in Monrovia, Liberia and you know that those kids are HIS HEART, not some building project to glorify a man-made ministry. It may be when we see those in heaven we never thought would be there who came as a result of a kind word, a self-less act of compassion or a cup of cold water on a hot day. It may be a small deed we thought small but in the eyes of heaven it was big.

 

        Jesus said that  “I’m coming to ‘pay’ every man according to His works.” It’s not some type of mystical gamble or hyper-faith mumbo jumbo slot machine operation. Biblical blessing is upon FAITH, not by chance. It's FAITH in Christ and Him Crucified. It's seeing our blessing IN THE CROSS. If you need a house - it's in the Cross! If you need ministry funds to send overseas - it's in the Cross! All things we need are in the finished work of Christ. It's not by the roll of the dice of our faith as so many try to do, not being sure whether what they are believing is going to come to pass or not. Our faith is in CHRIST - the one who provides ALL things we need, live for and inherit - both in this life and in the life to come.

 

        When you live by faith it’s going to come back to you. It’s COMING! It’s COMING. You shall find it.  Don’t get weary in well doing.

 

Galatians 6:5-10-   For every man shall bear his own burden. [6] Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teaches in all good things. [7] Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. [8] For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. [9] And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. [10] As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
 

        The fight we have is the good fight of FAITH. If we will keep the faith, we will see a harvest!!!!!!!!!

 

Closing

       

        We will pick this up in part two of this message. I want to close with these thoughts to the reader who is discouraged. Your harvest is coming friend. Don't lose hope in the face of the onslaught of the enemy. Satan wants to discourage you today by getting you focused on the formula and faith itself instead of the ONE whom we must have our faith anchored IN! This is the victory that we have overcome the world - EVEN OUR FAITH! Our faith is not "faith in faith," but faith in the finished work of Christ. We preach Christ Crucified. Cast your bread upon the water! Cast your seeds where the Holy Ghost blesses, not a man-made, humanistic based pond which is no better a water hole than throwing money down a toilet. So many funds are going to ministries today that are preaching and promoting a false gospel and a false Christ. If we are sending our money to those ministries- we're going to be held accountable! God wants you to KNOW where the seed He is placing in your hand to begin with is going in the first place. Be vigilant and SOBER in these last days for the enemy is walking around like a roaring lion seeking whom He may devour. If we don't go the way of God's prescribed order of victory then neighbor we will find out that the enemy will do more than just roar - he will steal, kill and destroy. That is what he does. But CHRIST, but CHRIST, but CHRIST, but CHRIST, but CHRIST came that we might have LIFE and have it more ABUNDANTLY! When we give abundantly, we will receive abundantly! Praise God, Praise God.

 

 

John 10:10-12
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

 

 

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Behold, I am coming quickly and my reward is with me!