Covenant Church

What does a faithful farmer do every Spring? Does he not plow the ground and sow seed?

World War II devastated Germany. Yet, at the end of the war with the economy in shambles and with cities destroyed German farmers were still producing 80% of the amount they were producing before the war.

The Almanac may say that it will be a dry season, a stormy season, a season with lots of bugs, a season with too much rain. What does the farmer do? He plows and sows seed.

He knows that if he does not anticipate the future there will be no future. He knows that no seed in the ground means no crop. Pick up rocks. Paint fences and barns. Chop trees. Repair equipment. But the farmer knows that if he does not do his part, the earth will not and cannot bring forth a harvest.

There are voices that suggest hunkering and bunkering during challenging times. Do nothing new. Hold to every penny. No new ventures. Do not build. Do not buy. Pinch. Save.
A voice cries: "There is no money...things are awful...folks are out of work..." There is a cry to hold back. A cry of apprehension. A cry that disregards HOPE.

Pentecostals have been known as a faith people that get up and going when the going gets tough. Check the record. We have a reputation for helping the poor in hard times. Check the record. You will find that revival flourishes in hard times. Folks in need can develop tender hearts that are hungry for an answer from God. Most Pentecostal denominations put their roots down in communities of poor on the other side of the railroad track. Pentecostal churches grew during the Great Depression. We must not shelter ourselves in nice buildings and pretend that the lost world will come to us.

We will not take our spirit values from Donald Trump. However, note that Donald Trump's business model is to "buy" when the market is tough. Invest when others are running away.

What about the Church? Jeremiah was called to warn Jerusalem that destruction was coming. God spoke to Jeremiah and told him that a kinsman would come and offer to sell him property. God told Jeremiah to buy the property. Jeremiah made the buying and recording of the deed a public event for others to watch.
What was God doing? Why would God tell Jeremiah to buy property depressed in value and with the future looking even worse? Because God knew that one day Jerusalem would be restored. It was a witness of the power of God and blessings to come.

More than any time in recent history Christians are talking about the coming of Jesus for His Church. Odd it is that on the one hand there is talk about the glorious appearing of Jesus, trump of God, and meeting the Lord in the air! On the other hand there are folks speaking "doom and gloom." Is this not out of character with the promises of God?

Should we not be sowing seed? Is it too much to bring tithes and freewill offerings to God? Is it too much to think how to give more, not less? Will we look foolish to the faithful farmer? He goes out to plow and sow. If he passes by and the church is folded up in sleep...fearful...holding seed in precious 1.5% interest bearing accounts...the farmer will shake his head and know that the Church will reap no harvest.

We must be up and running. We must put ourselves and all available resources to the work. We must plow...plow deep...sow...sow generously...or there can be no harvest.

We will! We hear the call. We will bear much fruit! Let us be up and off to the fields that are "white unto harvest" (John 4:35)

Pastor Bare
Jer. 29:11-13