Houses and Fields & Fearless Faith
These two words are related. Debbie is an experienced prophetic intercessor and a dear friend. She is spear-heading an apostolic war summit for intercessors set for our area with Dale Sides. I’ve asked her permission to share this timely word with you and added my own to it as a one-two punch. Enjoy!
Houses & Fields
By Ron Wood
The Lord gave me a prophetic word recently about the house and the field. In this word, He said “The wisdom of the master-builder can be seen inside the house, but the power of the seed is seen only in the field.” I saw the Lord making a distinction between the house and the field. I knew there was more to this word, so I’ve considered it further and have some thoughts to share.
It’s a mistake to try to make everything happen inside the house. We tend to relegate all the ministries to classrooms, kitchens, and nurseries. These are all in-house duties. Distracted with many chores in the house, we may forget the field outside the door. But the field is where the Lord is looking. Why? Because: the field is where the harvest is found. In this season the Lord is saying, “thrust in the sickle for the harvest is ripe.” It is time to reap. Harvest and judgment coincide in the Lord.
Hosea 6:11 says, “…there is a harvest appointed for you, when I restore the fortunes of my people.” Listen: You have an appointed harvest from God! This rich blessing will arrive at a time of restoration, not just for you, but for all of God’s people. Where will you find it? Many Christians feel frustrated; many are trying to find some place more satisfying. Does that describe you? The problem may be that you should be exercised in the field, not sitting in a house becoming a spiritual vegetable.
Field work is different from house work. Field work is arduous and dirty. House work is tedious but clean. Both are work, not play. If we were farmers, we would all know that the tough work is done outside in the field, but refreshing comes inside at the table with the family. Both kinds of work are necessary but they are not the same.
Paul wrote about these two types of labor as he described the various efforts of apostles who had teamed up as servants to make the Church at Corinth thrive. He said, “For we are God’s fellow-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” God uses teams composed of incompatible people. Only His yoke keeps them together (ouch!). No one type of ministry can fully equip God’s people. We are designed with built-in deficits. Humbly, we need to admit that we need one another as equal partners in order to finish God’s work.
Some laborers are gifted at building, others are gifted at farming. One labor involves laying a foundation, designing and erecting a structure, and then furnishing it. The other requires locating the right field, planting the right seed, tending it to keep predators or weeds away and finally gathering the crop when it is ripe. At harvest time, intense effort is required. Everyone lends a hand after long periods of being idle. Where do you store the crop? In a nearby barn that is part of a house. The house and the field are meant to be connected, part of the same territory or sphere, part of the same cycle of reproduction.
If you make builders labor outside in the field, you’ll be disappointed with the results. You may have orderly rows, but a lean crop will occur. If you make farmers plow and sow and reap inside the house, you’ll be disappointed with the pitiful potted plants that barely manage to bloom. These workers are different gifts from God with different grace in operation intended to produce different effects. But both are God’s fellow-laborers.
This phrase in the Greek is sun ergo, (together-energy) translated into English as “synergy,” which means “the sum of the parts is greater than the whole.” Teamed up, we produce more than when working alone. Who is our team-mate? God! He is at work both in the house and in the field. In the kingdom, teams are assigned tasks to get a job done. Some workers are stationary. James rarely left Jerusalem. Some workers are mobile. Paul never stayed long in any one place. Houses are rooted in a location. Seed is portable and easily carried to new fields.
Now listen to the wisdom of the Lord. The Spirit of the Lord said, “The power of the seed can only be seen outside in the field.” Sometimes we don’t know what we’ve got until we get it relocated and activated. The miracle of grace erupts as the seed germinates under the right conditions in the right location. Seed, locked up in a sterile environment, produces no crop and never multiplies. Seed is meant to be sown, not stored forever.
The power of the seed is the life of Jesus inside you. Trust in that power! It will be unlocked by your faith as you cry out to him after you are sown into unpleasant circumstances.
Jesus spoke of world as his field and of houses that will either stand or fall. Fields are subject to seasons; houses are not. Seasons must be discerned or they will be missed and the work will be in vain. Houses are subject to fires and storms and winds. Houses go in cycles of generations, not seasons. There is a time to build a house and a time to work in the field. “Do your work first in your field and afterwards build your house.” Don’t jump over the field trying to get to the building stage too soon. Don’t neglect the field or your house will be bare.
Jesus said a man found a treasure hidden in a field and sold all he had to buy it. He didn’t find the treasure in a house—he found it in a field. Likewise, the riches God has intended for his house are first derived from the field. All that is good in the house was discovered first in the field. The wealth that furnishes the house comes from the field if we work it; it is only stored up in the house for the good of the family or to buy more fields to increase the harvest.
Ron Wood
ron@touchedbygrace.org
Fearless Faith
By Debbie Davis
We must get past the fear that tells us we need to wait for permission. It's time to move because you have the Word of the Lord! Many in the Body of Christ are sitting and waiting. But waiting for what? Gifts, talents, and divine empowerments are going unused. How many examples do we see in the Scripture of whole people groups waiting to be delivered? The enemy would love God’s appointed and anointed to just be idle; to sit and wait for a sign. Fear never affects only you; others are waiting for you to overcome your fears and move in faith. Others are depending on what you have been given, so go!!
Jesus Christ put all the keys to spiritual power in our hands to complete the work of the Kingdom. He has given us authority and power to trample on serpents and scorpions, and (physical and mental strength and ability) over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall in any way harm you. (Luke 10:19).
The Lord is assembling an army of valiant warriors. A wake up call is being heard across the land and the army is coming to attention. There has been an unprecedented assault of terror and fear by our enemy. God needs those who will be fearless and full of faith for such a time as this. The Lord is networking the Body of Christ who are like-minded and of a different spirit, those who cannot be stopped by the intimidator! These warriors are uncompromising Army of the Lord who are not interested in fame or fortune but only in hearing and obeying the Captain of the Lord of Hosts.
Fear is always the opposite of faith. It will be the difference between defeat and victory! Fear sets out to strip us of our God-given authority, to dilute the power of God at work in us, to drive us from the love of God. Fear torments the mind and wants to destroy our witness for Jesus. Fear will always keep you in bondage and steal your victory.
The power of fear will render you useless if you allow it to take root. It will keep you stagnant and stunt your spiritual growth. Fear will rob you of being profitable for the kingdom of God. It will stop you from fulfilling your God-given call. It will make you waste your gifts and talents.
I believe we are in a time of divinely anointed exchange. We are being required to look our fears in the face. Do you see it? Can you confront it? Complacency and lethargy are being traded for a willing attitude. God is looking for those who will not be limited or hindered in any way by the spirit of fear. Fear controls; trust liberates. This army will declare, "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind."
There is a wooing of the Spirit for us to make a trade: to lay down our former motives based on fear (guarding what you’ve got) and to take up the power of God (going into new uncharted territory). Move past the difficult situations, push through hindering circumstances and yes, even push past the people-- those who’ve been discouraging you-- and move into courage and obedient action. Acknowledge you are ready to do great exploits for the one true God- the one who goes before you!
Debbie Davis (email address: soundthealarmdd@juno.com)
Houses & Fields
By Ron Wood
The Lord gave me a prophetic word recently about the house and the field. In this word, He said “The wisdom of the master-builder can be seen inside the house, but the power of the seed is seen only in the field.” I saw the Lord making a distinction between the house and the field. I knew there was more to this word, so I’ve considered it further and have some thoughts to share.
It’s a mistake to try to make everything happen inside the house. We tend to relegate all the ministries to classrooms, kitchens, and nurseries. These are all in-house duties. Distracted with many chores in the house, we may forget the field outside the door. But the field is where the Lord is looking. Why? Because: the field is where the harvest is found. In this season the Lord is saying, “thrust in the sickle for the harvest is ripe.” It is time to reap. Harvest and judgment coincide in the Lord.
Hosea 6:11 says, “…there is a harvest appointed for you, when I restore the fortunes of my people.” Listen: You have an appointed harvest from God! This rich blessing will arrive at a time of restoration, not just for you, but for all of God’s people. Where will you find it? Many Christians feel frustrated; many are trying to find some place more satisfying. Does that describe you? The problem may be that you should be exercised in the field, not sitting in a house becoming a spiritual vegetable.
Field work is different from house work. Field work is arduous and dirty. House work is tedious but clean. Both are work, not play. If we were farmers, we would all know that the tough work is done outside in the field, but refreshing comes inside at the table with the family. Both kinds of work are necessary but they are not the same.
Paul wrote about these two types of labor as he described the various efforts of apostles who had teamed up as servants to make the Church at Corinth thrive. He said, “For we are God’s fellow-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” God uses teams composed of incompatible people. Only His yoke keeps them together (ouch!). No one type of ministry can fully equip God’s people. We are designed with built-in deficits. Humbly, we need to admit that we need one another as equal partners in order to finish God’s work.
Some laborers are gifted at building, others are gifted at farming. One labor involves laying a foundation, designing and erecting a structure, and then furnishing it. The other requires locating the right field, planting the right seed, tending it to keep predators or weeds away and finally gathering the crop when it is ripe. At harvest time, intense effort is required. Everyone lends a hand after long periods of being idle. Where do you store the crop? In a nearby barn that is part of a house. The house and the field are meant to be connected, part of the same territory or sphere, part of the same cycle of reproduction.
If you make builders labor outside in the field, you’ll be disappointed with the results. You may have orderly rows, but a lean crop will occur. If you make farmers plow and sow and reap inside the house, you’ll be disappointed with the pitiful potted plants that barely manage to bloom. These workers are different gifts from God with different grace in operation intended to produce different effects. But both are God’s fellow-laborers.
This phrase in the Greek is sun ergo, (together-energy) translated into English as “synergy,” which means “the sum of the parts is greater than the whole.” Teamed up, we produce more than when working alone. Who is our team-mate? God! He is at work both in the house and in the field. In the kingdom, teams are assigned tasks to get a job done. Some workers are stationary. James rarely left Jerusalem. Some workers are mobile. Paul never stayed long in any one place. Houses are rooted in a location. Seed is portable and easily carried to new fields.
Now listen to the wisdom of the Lord. The Spirit of the Lord said, “The power of the seed can only be seen outside in the field.” Sometimes we don’t know what we’ve got until we get it relocated and activated. The miracle of grace erupts as the seed germinates under the right conditions in the right location. Seed, locked up in a sterile environment, produces no crop and never multiplies. Seed is meant to be sown, not stored forever.
The power of the seed is the life of Jesus inside you. Trust in that power! It will be unlocked by your faith as you cry out to him after you are sown into unpleasant circumstances.
Jesus spoke of world as his field and of houses that will either stand or fall. Fields are subject to seasons; houses are not. Seasons must be discerned or they will be missed and the work will be in vain. Houses are subject to fires and storms and winds. Houses go in cycles of generations, not seasons. There is a time to build a house and a time to work in the field. “Do your work first in your field and afterwards build your house.” Don’t jump over the field trying to get to the building stage too soon. Don’t neglect the field or your house will be bare.
Jesus said a man found a treasure hidden in a field and sold all he had to buy it. He didn’t find the treasure in a house—he found it in a field. Likewise, the riches God has intended for his house are first derived from the field. All that is good in the house was discovered first in the field. The wealth that furnishes the house comes from the field if we work it; it is only stored up in the house for the good of the family or to buy more fields to increase the harvest.
Ron Wood
ron@touchedbygrace.org
Fearless Faith
By Debbie Davis
We must get past the fear that tells us we need to wait for permission. It's time to move because you have the Word of the Lord! Many in the Body of Christ are sitting and waiting. But waiting for what? Gifts, talents, and divine empowerments are going unused. How many examples do we see in the Scripture of whole people groups waiting to be delivered? The enemy would love God’s appointed and anointed to just be idle; to sit and wait for a sign. Fear never affects only you; others are waiting for you to overcome your fears and move in faith. Others are depending on what you have been given, so go!!
Jesus Christ put all the keys to spiritual power in our hands to complete the work of the Kingdom. He has given us authority and power to trample on serpents and scorpions, and (physical and mental strength and ability) over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall in any way harm you. (Luke 10:19).
The Lord is assembling an army of valiant warriors. A wake up call is being heard across the land and the army is coming to attention. There has been an unprecedented assault of terror and fear by our enemy. God needs those who will be fearless and full of faith for such a time as this. The Lord is networking the Body of Christ who are like-minded and of a different spirit, those who cannot be stopped by the intimidator! These warriors are uncompromising Army of the Lord who are not interested in fame or fortune but only in hearing and obeying the Captain of the Lord of Hosts.
Fear is always the opposite of faith. It will be the difference between defeat and victory! Fear sets out to strip us of our God-given authority, to dilute the power of God at work in us, to drive us from the love of God. Fear torments the mind and wants to destroy our witness for Jesus. Fear will always keep you in bondage and steal your victory.
The power of fear will render you useless if you allow it to take root. It will keep you stagnant and stunt your spiritual growth. Fear will rob you of being profitable for the kingdom of God. It will stop you from fulfilling your God-given call. It will make you waste your gifts and talents.
I believe we are in a time of divinely anointed exchange. We are being required to look our fears in the face. Do you see it? Can you confront it? Complacency and lethargy are being traded for a willing attitude. God is looking for those who will not be limited or hindered in any way by the spirit of fear. Fear controls; trust liberates. This army will declare, "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind."
There is a wooing of the Spirit for us to make a trade: to lay down our former motives based on fear (guarding what you’ve got) and to take up the power of God (going into new uncharted territory). Move past the difficult situations, push through hindering circumstances and yes, even push past the people-- those who’ve been discouraging you-- and move into courage and obedient action. Acknowledge you are ready to do great exploits for the one true God- the one who goes before you!
Debbie Davis (email address: soundthealarmdd@juno.com)
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