Three Levels of Increase

THREE LEVELS OF INCREASE

After God created the heavens and the earth the first commandment He gave us is to “be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it.” We were created for INCREASE yet so many of us get locked into lifestyles of mediocrity and maintenance. We were created to THRIVE yet so many of us spend all our energy merely trying to survive.

In ancient times, when people lived off the land, there were three primary ways in which a person could experience increase: REAPING, PLUNDER and INHERITANCE. These three forms of increase are very different from one another and each requires an entirely unique response.

REAPING is increase in proportion to our sacrifice and labor. Every seed planted is a seed we could have eaten the winter before but we chose to live on less to bless the future harvest. Jesus spoke of different degrees of harvest: “some thirty, some sixty, some hundred-fold.” Doubtless there are many factors that can affect the ratio of our harvest, and like sun and rain, most of them are outside of our direct control. Yet the quality of the seed, the preparation of the soil, the care for the crop and the timeliness of the harvest are all factors that are under our direct influence and can make the difference between mere survival and revival. As we “sow bountifully, we will also reap bountifully”.

The principle of “Sowing and Reaping” is the foundation of all increase and without it, it’s hard to imagine God blessing us in additional ways. We show up at work every day, we care for our families, we give our tithes and offerings consistently and we look to the Lord to prosper us little by little as we serve him day after day. The promise of God is that we “will reap in due time if we do not faint.” Yet in the world of increase there are other pathways that may get us to our destination a lot quicker.

PLUNDER is increase in proportion to our spiritual authority and victory. In the process of pursuing increase, it’s essential to remember that we have an enemy. The enemy’s goal for us is not necessarily deprivation but rather any calamity or temptation that will undermine our confidence in the Goodness of God. King David found himself in this exact situation after the Amalekites attacked his town and carried away his family. Rather than despair, David “encouraged himself in the Lord” and sought the Lord for guidance. God told him to pursue and he would recover everything he lost. After a great battle, David’s army walked away with a massive amount of plunder. (1 Sam. 30)

Most of us have been victimized by the enemy, in many ways, throughout our lives. The thief has come to kill, steal and destroy. The devourer, like a great swarm of locust has tried to rob us of increase. Yet Jesus has given us the keys of the Kingdom. He has given us authority to tread on all the power of the enemy and He promised to “rebuke the devourer” and “restore the years the locusts have eaten”, if we will come into agreement with who He is and who we are in Him. Although sowing and reaping is the foundation of increase, there are times when we must recognize and rebuke the work of the enemy and reclaim the plunder of stolen blessings. “The Kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent ones are taking it by force…”

INHERITANCE is increase in proportion to our identity and alignment. In a recent talk, Bill Johnson was contrasting these different levels of increase and made the point that reaping is the increase from our labors while inheritance is the increase based on the labors of another. We have been made co-heirs with Christ who is the Son of God, the heir of all things. In order to receive this inheritance, we must first embrace our new identity in Christ. We are sons and daughters. “He has sent the spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying ‘Abba, Father.’” As sons, we have come into alignment with Him, not on the basis of our righteous works but on the basis of His work on our behalf. All we must do is simply receive. Increase belongs to us, yet we receive it in proportion to our alignment with the Father.

Again, the foundational activity of all increase is reaping, yet the foundational attitude of all increase is inheritance. “We have obtained an inheritance… according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will. He has given us the Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of our inheritance…” When this attitude is at the heart of our identity and alignment with the Father, we are able to enter into His rest and walk in the rich blessings of Kingdom increase in all we do.

We were created for increase and we were given tools to access increase in this life. The secret of ongoing increase is to know which tool to use in which season. We need to know when to fight, when to plow and when to simply receive, yet we need to simultaneously realize that each activity reflects an aspect of the heart of God and an each is part of a healthy identity in Christ. As we embrace our threefold identity as Sowers, Warriors, and Sons, we can fully expect God to bring the increase through reaping, plunder and inheritance.

MOVING FROM THE FLOOD TO FLOW - PART II

A couple of weeks ago, a young woman shared with me an open vision she had received about our church and the multi-church ministry of Golden Gate Outpouring. In part of the vision she "saw" our front door with two large angels standing on either side with a seal above the door that said, "no longer servants but friends" and a large crowd gathered as one of the angels blew a shofar. Out of the door of our church building, three rivers were flowing, toward the east, west and north. When she asked the Lord about three rivers, a voice spoke to here that it is one river per year.

In my last blast, I compared the history of Golden Gate Outpouring to a river that began with a flood but is now reduced to a flow. God is STILL moving in a powerful way among us but compared to the initial few months, when the waters were flooding over the banks, GGO can seem a bit tame in comparison. Yet, I would propose to you that this is not a time to draw back, but rather to press forward into stewarding the season we are in.

I believe we are tending the first of many waves of the Holy Spirit that will bring a Great Awakening to the San Francisco Bay Area that will eventually touch the nations. God is calling Revivalists from around the region to STEWARD this Outpouring until he brings His promises to pass. We have recently moved from a mighty FLOOD to a strong FLOW but we are convinced that another flood is soon to follow. The question I would ask is, "Will we be ready?".

We are in the perfect season to steward the river and prepare to take maximum advantage of the next flood. This is the time to build the levees and construct the dams that will channel God's blessing to water the harvest and generate the power. BUT WE NEED YOU! Floods are exciting and will always draw a crowd, but the season in between the floods is when your help is most needed.

If you are an unquenchable REVIVALIST, and are looking for a ministry that will harness your passion and vision for revival, please join us as we continue to host the flow of God's presence in anticipation of the next flood. We are praying for 300 passionate revivalists and 30 revival leaders to help us press in to the purposes of God for our region. If you hear the Lord calling, please contact Sean Scheper at goldengateoutpouring@gmail.com

THE GGO 300!!!

When Gideon was challenged by the Angel of the Lord to come out from behind the winepress and lead a revolutionary movement, he was initially filled with doubt and insecurity. How could God use someone as weak and fearful as Gideon? It just didn't make sense. But the Angel wasn't looking at the outward man but on the hidden potential within him. He called Gideon a mighty man of valor and commanded him to go in the strength of the Lord and overthrow the enemy.
After testing the Lord a few times, Gideon sent out a call for help, and was joined by over 30,000 warriors who were committed to joining the movement to overthrow the Midianites. But, what seemed like a major success to Gideon was actually displeasing to the Lord. God wanted to defeat the enemy in a way that would maximize the Glory of the Lord, so he reduced the troops to a miniscule 300 warriors. Yet, at the same time God was reducing the troops, He was also building a mighty man of valor who rallied his tiny army to bring about one of the greatest victories in the history of Israel.

Golden Gate Outpouring has been privileged to host the presence and power of God for over a hundred nights, with great signs and wonders, healings and deliverance. We have been so blessed by the participation of a couple of thousand revivalists from dozens of churches around our region who have joined with us to bring about a revolutionary movement in the Church of the Bay Area. Yet, as GodTV has packed up its cameras and the guest speakers have moved on, we have experienced a thinning of the troops. We have gone hundreds of people a night to an average of 50 per night and yet God keeps showing up in a powerful way.

As I was praying this week about this process, the Lord reminded me of the story of Gideon. God had given him a promise of deliverance and God fulfilled His promise in a mighty way. God can save by many or by few. While I was reflecting on this, I felt like the Lord told me He wants to raise up a GGO 300, who will bring about the revival the Lord has promised our region.

We are looking for 300 revivalists who will commit to carry this revolutionary movement forward to victory. Are you one of the 300?

We are asking God to raise up 75 people who will commit to coming one night per week to host God's presence in anticipation of a great outpouring of revival in our region. 75 people times 4 nights a week would give us 300 revivalists. We encourage every person who has attended GGO to prayerfully consider making this commitment and sending us an email to let us know what is your primary night of choice. Also, let us know if you are interested in serving on the ministry team for that night. We will provide all the training and mentoring needed for you to grow in your spiritual gifts and bring blessing to the lives of others. Join the GGO 300!

If you can commit to one night, e-mail us with the day or days at: goldengateoutpouring@gmail.com