If You Have a Need, Sow a Seed: The Laws of Unbeatable Prosperity
Dr RJ Sing, 1 hr 9 min
Originally preached as “Unbeatable Prosperity”
Sermon outline
Unbeatable prosperity starts in a spirit made strong by the Word and is released through faith-filled words and radical, cheerful sowing into God's kingdom.
Main text
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23
- Proverbs 18:14
Opening
He announces his subject, unbeatable prosperity, and reads 1 Thessalonians 5:23 to show that man is spirit, soul and body. He gives the church a nugget to write down, that tomorrow is waiting for what you say today, and builds from the spirit outwards.
Tomorrow is waiting for what you say today
Confession only works from a believing heart, not like a parrot. You will have what you say, so say what you want to see rather than what you see, because you belong to another kingdom. Like Elisha's servant, ask God to open your eyes to the realm of the spirit, where those with you are more than those against you.
Illustration: Any child can say it is cloudy when it is cloudy. Your tongue is the pen of a ready writer and your heart is the canvas.
“You will have what you say. But most people are saying what they have.”
- John 7:38
- Mark 11:23-24
- John 17:16
- 2 Corinthians 5:20
- 2 Kings 6:15-17
- Ephesians 1:18
- Jonah 2:8
- Psalm 45:1
- Romans 8:28
- Genesis 50:20
- Revelation 1:6
A strong spirit sustains you: keep a steady flow of the Word
The spirit of a man sustains him in trouble, and a weak spirit comes from malnutrition, a lack of God's Word. Meditating on the Word is communion with Jesus, who is the Word. You also need an open, teachable heart, like good soil or an open womb, because tradition makes the Word of no effect.
Illustration: He reads Proverbs 18:14 in the Amplified and the Message: 'A healthy spirit conquers adversity.'
“Religion will not sustain you. Friends will not sustain you. Money in the bank will not sustain you.”
- Proverbs 18:14
- Matthew 4:4
- 2 Timothy 2:15
- John 1:1
- John 6:63
- Mark 7:13
- Matthew 13:3-8
Seed in the bag, seed in the ground
The Bible calls both the Word and finances seed. Seed kept in your pocket is useless, but seed in the ground, watered by confessing the Word and warmed by the heat of the Holy Ghost, brings a harvest. Prayer has its place, but when it comes to finances the answer is sowing, and you must know which seed is to eat and which is to sow.
Illustration: Early in the church a prayer meeting of about ten unemployed ladies shut down within two months because every one of them found a job. A man he led to the Lord in Phoenix, whose old car was heavy on petrol, bought a brand new car within a few months.
“Seed in your bag will not give you something to tag.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17
- Mark 12:41-44
- Matthew 10:41
- Numbers 22:28
The laws of prosperity
He gives four spiritual laws, meaning principles like the law of gravity: the law of the tithe, the law of the offering, the law of financing the gospel, and the law of provoking a divine response. Become a radical sower who finances the gospel, because angels are ministering spirits working for the heirs of salvation.
Illustration: A radical sower can walk into an interview against 20 better-qualified candidates and still be chosen, because God changes hearts.
“If you build God's house, He'll build your house.”
- Hebrews 1:14
- Haggai 1:8
Prosperity starts with your spirit and your mind
Lack and sickness are the result of a weak, poverty-minded spirit, so the cure is the Word, not a quick fix. Abraham was very rich and you are Abraham's seed, but you are made rich for the kingdom's sake: to plant churches, buy equipment and get on television. Renew your mind to believe it is God's will for you to prosper, and invest in your spiritual growth.
Illustration: He prayed a short prayer when he could not reach his wife on her phone, and within minutes she walked in asking if he needed something, because he puts God first.
“Prosperity starts with your spirit.”
- Genesis 13:2
- Galatians 3:29
- 3 John 2
- Proverbs 23:7
- Romans 12:1-2
Put God first: the tithe is a principle of first things
Prosperity means to advance, succeed and reach your destination, with the ability to use God's resources to meet any need. The tithe is ten percent of everything you earn or are given, returned first with an offering, not after the accounts are paid. His posture is 'I'm a giver, therefore I'm a receiver', and he and his wife sow radically so their children and grandchildren will never lack.
Illustration: Growing up terribly poor, he borrowed Richie Rich comics from better-off friends and also read Scrooge McDuck. In an earlier teaching he laid out ten coins to show that when the first part goes to God, the other nine are blessed.
“Don't be a Scrooge McDuck. Be a Richie Rich.”
Your hand is the extension of your heart
Words are cheap; what you bring in your hand reveals the position of your heart. Give to the poor, and bless your man of God, because God blesses those who bless His servants. Keep watering your seed with confession even when it looks like it is not working.
Illustration: A man took R10 his wife had set aside for an account, put it all in the offering, and slept on the floor for two nights before a letter arrived from the Receiver of Revenue with a cheque for R20.
“Your hand is the extension of your heart.”
- Proverbs 19:17
- Genesis 12:3
- Luke 6:38
- Numbers 23:19
Putting it into practice
- Say what you want to see, from a believing heart, not what you see.
- Feed your spirit a steady diet of the Word and come to church with an open heart.
- When you have a need, sow a seed instead of only praying for money.
- Start tithing ten percent of your increase first, with an offering.
- Become a radical, cheerful giver who finances the gospel and blesses men of God.
Closing
He prophesies enlarged territory, addition changing to multiplication and the blessing overtaking them, then turns Psalm 23 into a prosperity confession ('The Lord is my banker'). He blesses homes, families and children, prophesies that businesses will double in the coming months and professionals will be promoted, and declares that their words will reproduce results.
Declarations he led
- I'm a success. I'm born for victory.
- I cannot fail. I'm not designed to fail. I'm wired for success.
- If I have a need, I sow a seed.
- My language must change. My attitude must change.
- I'm a giver. Therefore, I'm a receiver.
- There's only one way to prosper. It's to sow.
- Invest in your spiritual life.
- You've got to start with the tithe.
In his words
- “Any fool can say what he sees.”
- “I used to pray for money. I now don't pray for money. Whenever I have a need, I sow a seed.”
- “Men of God are not employed by the church. Men of God are employed by God.”
- “Seed in the bag is useless. But seed in the ground is sown.”
- “The expression of your hand reveals the position of your heart.”
Every scripture in this message
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23
- John 7:38
- Mark 11:23-24
- John 17:16
- 2 Corinthians 5:20
- 2 Kings 6:15-17
- Ephesians 1:18
- Jonah 2:8
- Psalm 45:1
- Romans 8:28
- Genesis 50:20
- Revelation 1:6
- Proverbs 18:14
- Matthew 4:4
- 2 Timothy 2:15
- John 1:1
- John 6:63
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17
- Mark 7:13
- Matthew 13:3-8
- Mark 12:41-44
- Matthew 10:41
- Numbers 22:28
- Hebrews 1:14
- Haggai 1:8
- Genesis 13:2
- Galatians 3:29
- 3 John 2
- Proverbs 23:7
- Romans 12:1-2
- Proverbs 19:17
- Genesis 12:3
- Luke 6:38
- Numbers 23:19
- Genesis 1:28
- Mark 10:29-30
- Psalm 23
- John 8:32