As Jesus was standing by the Sea of Galilee, there was a great number of people who had been following Him and they gathered together to hear Him speak. He got into a boat and pushed away from the shore. Facing thousands of people, He began to speak.
He told the story of a man who went out to sow seed. Some of the seed fell by the wayside, some fell on stony ground, and some fell among thorns. None of these seeds produced a worthy crop. But other seed that was sown fell on good ground and produced up to a hundredfold. Jesus concluded by saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
As soon as Jesus got alone with His disciples, they questioned Him about this story concerning the seed, because they obviously didn’t understand what He was talking about.
Jesus told them that to the multitudes what He said would just be a parable or a story. He went on to say that those who were on the inside could understand the mystery of the Kingdom of God. Then focusing on His disciples, He told them that this parable was the key to all the parables. Then He began to reveal the mystery. He said, “The sower sows the word,” and He said the soil was the hearts of men. Jesus didn’t say that the sower sowed money, time, or things. Jesus said, “The sower sows the word.”
How do we sow the Word into the hearts of men?
Just before Jesus ascended, He gave His followers a command. He told them to go and make disciples and to teach them everything that they had been taught by Him. In other words, take the Word to the world and place it in the hearts of men.
Years ago there was a nation who had developed a powerful bomb. However, they were not a threat to any of the surrounding nations because they had no missile or delivery system. In the same way, the seed (the Word) is powerful and can turn a nation upside down. But unless man can deliver the Word to the hearts of men, it is of no effect.
The Word (seed) is supplied in abundance by God. There is no shortage of Word. When you give financially, you are actually sowing into the delivery system. The money you give into ministries is not “the seed.” Remember, the seed is the Word of God. But your money enables churches, ministries, and organizations to deliver the seed to the soil (hearts of men) where it will explode upon impact and change their lives forever.
When you give into ministries, it is extremely important that you give where the finances are converted into Word and taken to the world. Only then is the Word sown into good soil.
So the next time you plan your giving, place your financial seed into a ministry that has a heart for teaching the Word to the world. The seed (the Word) is always good, but the harvest (thirty, sixty, hundredfold) depends upon where it is sown. The delivery system is extremely important! The Word of God is always pure, anointed, full of life, and does not change. The variable is where it is sown, and that is determined by the delivery system.
Reference Scriptures
Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 4:1-20; 2 Corinthians 9:10
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Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of twelve books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.