Seed Faith

       This is a phrase coined by a very successful evangelist from the ‘50’s. Oral Roberts was from the Bible Belt of the U.S. – Oklahoma. He had Methodist roots but went farther with his concept of Christianity into Divine Healing & the Prosperity Doctrine. He wrote “The Miracle of Seed Faith” * in 1976 and many other books. The University bearing his name is a successful conservative Christian school today with nearly 4,000 students in Tulsa, OK. My condensed version of Oral Roberts' “Seed Faith” is this:  God is your source. When you have a NEED, Plant a good SEED. Give God your best; And expect His best. Then pray for the “beast” that is like you the least. Finally, expect a Miracle.  (The part about the “beast” I added, but it fits well.) Seed Faith is a spiritual law that basically says give specifically according to your needs, praying as you go. If you need a job, give labor. If you need friendship, befriend someone. If you need more money, give more to a legitimate cause, etc., etc. Your action will move the hands & resources of God towards you.  And the better personal harvest will appear when our giving & praying becomes systematic & regular.  Seed Faith may be close to the “heart & lungs” of a lasting relationship with God BECAUSE:
      - we are looking up to God as OUR SOURCE
      - we are admitting to God we have needs – the proud usually can’t
      - it does something SCRIPTURAL about needs
      - it promotes giving & prayer which invigorates spirituality
      - it deals with common adversity (See Proverbs 16:7)
      - it practices expectation
      - it believes God supplies needs & does miracles today
These elements get quickly into a personal FAITH relationship which God honors today as He always has.
      Now some will hasten to say that S.F. uses God for personal benefit; & puts a “selfish” MOTIVE on seeking God. I have been considering the thoughts of a PHD author on the subject of stress relief. This misguided guy writes “Giving is its own reward . . . As you give more freely of yourself . . . you will experience more feelings of peace . . .” He also suggests good deeds without a motive – because after all, humans are righteous by nature. Well, I think humans are NOT righteous by nature (Romans 3:10-11) & we basically need a more earthly MOTIVE – especially for righteous deeds. And if Jesus Christ himself suggests the personal benefit motive, what is wrong with it?  
      Jesus said this about Seed Faith, “Give & it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure that you give is the measure you will get back.” Luke 6:38 Paul the Apostle put it this way, “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” 2 Corinthians 9:6 Paul also wrote, “My God will supply all your needs according to his riches in Christ.” Philippians 4:19 
      Finally, I’d say “Seed Faith” deals squarely with a most difficult part of being Christian – Giving. This tight guy found early on; those good deeds, like giving, actually come back & stimulate our relationship with God, & that made "the whole enchilada” easier to swallow. And after accepting Christ as Savior, for anyone Seed Faith really is a key to growing in the Lord.  “A generous man will himself be blessed . . .” Solomon, Proverbs 22:9   See also links 28, 30, 72, and 93. Choose Jesus & His value system, they are Alive.   And praying in the name of Jesus is a spiritual law that outshines all.  
* Eight million were published, some still available today for about $5. thru Amazon.com

Many other Titles:  www.gospelnotes.org                                                           * * Fred J. Stone * *
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