OPENING PRAYERS
Give him all the praise and the glory.
Lift your hand and say, Lord thank you again for this beautiful day you have given unto us by your grace.
Just lift your hand and say Lord thank you for this day you have given unto me.
Father, we thank you. We bless your name. We worship you. Hallelujah.
We adore you. We adore you. We adore you. We adore you. We adore you. We adore you. We adore you. Hallelujah.
Celebrate him. Hallelujah. Say thank you for this day. Thank you for your protection and preservation the whole night. Thank you Jesus because it is by your grace that we are alive and we are well. We are strong. Blessed be your name oh God. Hallelujah.
We worship you. We give you the praise, the glory, the honor and the adoration forever and ever more. In Jesus glorious and precious name we have all prayed and we say amen and amen. Glory be to God.
Well we are still talking about the topic the BARLEY HARVEST BLESSING.
It's a powerful dimension of blessing. I just pray that you and I will understand in this season.
In Ruth chapter one twenty two, the Bible says, "Naomi returned and Ruth the Moabites her daughter-in-law with her which returned out of the country of Moab and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of the Barley Harvest.”
THE THREE MAJOR FEASTS IN ISRAEL
Now remember that Israel had three major feasts : Passover, Pentecost. and Tabernacle. So, each feast was corresponding to a particular agriculture calendar.
And Passover was corresponding to the season where the the Barley was Harvested. So, every feast was a time of harvest. And you know they were harvesting what they sowed previously.
Considering that fact, it appears that the text of Ruth 1:22 should be happening around March and April of that year, because that is the season where the Barley was harvested.
It is amazing to see the coincidence between Naomi and Ruth returning at the beginning of barley harvest. In fact, it looks coincidental but it is prophetic in reality. It is prophetic because Ruth is entering in the covenant with God while she was not actually part of it.
BARLEY HARVEST AND PASSOVER.
The fact that Ruth entered in Bethelehem in the beginning of the barley harvest shows to us the power of Passover.
In Exodus 12:23, it is written, "For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you".
When God says, "I will pass over", the meaning of it is ... I will spare you. I will exempt you from that that death.
And here we see Ruth enjoying the Passover blessing.
So, when we talk about the Barley Harvest Blessing, actually, we are talking about the blessing of the Passover. We are talking about the blessing of the blood that was shed as the Lord says I will see the blood I will pass over.
So, I pray and I believe that this is your season where the blood will cover you, protect you and give you access to what you did not have access before in the name of Jesus Christ.
BARLEY HARVEST AND GRACE
In another word, when we talk about Barley Harvest Blessing, we are in one word talking about grace.
In Ephesians chapter two verse eight, Paul says,
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
From this verse, we understand that we are saved by grace through faith. Grace means that salvation does not come from us, but it is the gift of God so that nobody will boast about it.
BARLEY HARVEST AND ONENESS IN CHRIST
Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
From this verse, Paul teaches us that we were all aliens, meaning we were all far away from God and from one another. But through the blood, he delivered us and brought us back to the plan of God.
Please, follow the devotion this week. You will understand the power that is behind the blood, the Passover blood.
Friends, the wall of partition is broken.
Word Of Life, I pray that the Word Of Life Church will be a Church of unity, of harmony, a Church of oneness.
That is why I pray, I want and I believe God for the Word Of Life Church to be a family where the middle wall of partition is broken.
In Church, there is no Kikuyu. In Church, there is no Kisi. In Church, there is no Luo or Luhya. There is no Congolese in Church. There is no Beninese in Church. There is no French in Church. Why? Because the wall of partition is broken.
How I pray that in the Church of Kenya, tribalism should be broken down because of the grace of God.
There is no tribe in Church. The only tribe is the tribe of Judah where we belong to. The tribe of praise. That is where we belong to. The wall of partition has been broken.
There is no white and black. Those distinctions are human and demonic distinctions to bring division between people.
No. The wall of partition has been broken by Christ and by the grace of God. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
There are some people out there with evil agendas who attempt to partition the Body Of Christ by spreading speeches such as ... "You see? This one is not from Kenya. Don't go to this Church because this man is not from Kenya".
I curse that spirit in the name of Jesus Christ. There is nothing like Kenyan. They are nothing like Congolese. There is nothing like French. Because in Christ, we are all one.
When we come to Christ, we are all one and the only thing that brings us together is the blood of Jesus Christ.
I pray that division in Church will be broken because that is what Jesus came to do. He came to break down the middle wall of partition. I pray that division in families will be broken down because of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Ephesians 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
You see the cross is vertical and horizontal. That sign shows that the cross to reconciles us with God in one hand and in other hand with one another.
I pray that this season will be a season of reconciliation. I pray that this season will be a a season where we forgive one another. I pray that it will be a season where we spread love around us. I pray that it will be a season where the wall of separation is broken into pieces by the power of the blood. That is the meaning of Ruth One Twenty-Two. That is the meaning of the Barley Harvest Blessing.
You see? In the Barley Harvest, Everybody is coming together to harvest rejoicing with one another as I said yesterday from Isaiah nine verse three, "You have multiplied the nation and not increase the joy. They joy before you according to the joy in harvest and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil".
That is the design of God : one body where there is no more jealousy. One body Where the hand will not say why am I the hand? One body where the hand won't say, I want to be the head. No. One body where the head is happy to be the head and the neck is happy to be the neck and each one is happy to be where God has positioned them.
That is what God wants us to consider and that is the picture that should be in our mind : where Naomi and Ruth came together in one body to start a new story.
BARLEY HARVEST AND FRESH START.
I said it yesterday, but let me remind to you today that the Barley Harvest Blessing is the blessing of Fresh Start, the blessing of New Beginning.
I believe strongly in my spirit that for somebody under the sound of my voice, that is your season of Fresh Start. That is your season of New Beginning.
BARLEY HARVEST AND UNMERITED FAVOUR
But there is something I see here that is so amazing to consider. What amazes me is to see that These ladies came in the time of the beginning of the Barley Harvest, in the time of sowing they were not there.
The question is this one ... How can one harvests where they did not sow? That is my concern.
It is a concern because at some point, those who sowed would complain saying, "Hey. How are you coming to reap what you did not sow?"
That is another clear picture of divine grace.
So, when we talk about the Barley Harvest Blessing, we are talking about divine grace. We are talking about the grace of God.
Now there is a scripture which I very much like in John chapter number four verse thirty-seven to 38.
Jesus says, "And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours".
That is the meaning of grace. One can be angry at it. One can say, "What kind of teaching this pastor is teaching us? Are you teaching people to be lazy? How can you teach people to reap what they did not sow?.
My friend, don't be angry at me. Be angry at God if you can be angry at God because God is the one who established it that way.
He says, "I sent you to reap where you did not labour. I sent you to reap where you did not sow".
Be angry at it. It is the truth. That is the meaning of grace.
Now let us put it in the or or in spiritual perspective.
Jesus says in John 12:24 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit".
From this Scripture, we understand that when Jesus is telling us, "I sent you to reap where you did not sow", he is saying in another word, It is my life that I am sowing into the ground. You don't need to sow your life. I sow mine. I die on the cross. I give you my blood. By the way, you were the one to die, but I spared you. You were the one to be killed, but you did not die. Because of your sin, I died on the cross and shed my blood for you. I sowed my life so that you will reap what you need".
With that perspective of grace, you understand that you don't need to die. Jesus died for you. You don't need to pay any price. Jesus paid the price for you by his death on the cross.
So the question is ... What do you have to do? Jesus says, "I send you to reap".
So, what you have to do is simply to reap what he sowed for you many years ago on the Cross.
Someone can be angry at it, but it won't change anything.
a) Reap your perfect health
Jesus sowed his life for you to reap perfect health. In Matthew 8:17, Jesus says very clearly that he took your infirmities.
Anyone who is sick, I invite you to stretch your hand on the screen and I pray for you to reap your healing now by your faith. Receive your healing now in the name of Jesus.
That's what I myself do. I reap my health. I've never been sick for years. Until I depart from the earth, I will never be sick.
Guess what? I am reaping what I did not sow. He sowed for me.
b) Reap your wealth
Jesus became poor for you so that you will reap abundance from him.
c) Reap your glory
Jesus took your shame for you to reap the glory.
d) Reap your blessing
Jesus took the curse for you to reap the blessing.
Do you understand now why Jesus said, "I send you to reap what you did not sow"?.
Well. Someone might ask me this question ... Pastor, do you mean that there is no responsibility for us?
Well. You know my teaching. There is your responsibility. So, what is your responsibility? Your responsibility is to reap. Your responsibility is to obey. Your responsibility is to do what he tells you to do.
Jesus is the one who sowed and by the seed of his life, he is giving us whatever we can have in Him. That is what is happening here with madam Ruth and madam Naomi.
BARLEY HARVEST AND MEPHIBOSCHETH
Grace is the barley harvest blessing. Go to Second Samuel chapter Number Nine. There is a story there of a man called Mephibosheth. I have mentioned this man many time but let us go and see it from a perspective of grace.
2 Samuel 9:1 And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?
2 Samuel 9:2 And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.
2 Samuel 9:3 And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.
2 Samuel 9:4 And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.
2 Samuel 9:5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.
2 Samuel 9:6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!
2 Samuel 9:7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
2 Samuel 9:8 And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?
2 Samuel 9:9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.
2 Samuel 9:10 Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
Can you see that? David told Mephibosheth … “I will restore to you ALL the land of Saul”.
Mephibosheth did not work for it but the king said, “I will restore to you ALL...”
As if it was not enough, the King added an instruction to Ziba, “Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat”
That is the grace. There are people God will appoint them to work for you. That is the power of grace. Those people will be tilling the land for you and will be bringing fruits to you.
You can be angry at it. But that is the power of grace.
I feel like I should tell somebody … This is your season of grace. Hallelujah.
Listen to me ... Who is qualified by grace?
Number one | Mephibosheth was 5 years old when he fell and he remained impotent all the days of his life.
Lesson … Anybody who is impotent is qualified by grace. Who is the impotent? Anyone who cannot help himself. That is grace. Grace is available for those who are not able to do anything on their own. God’s grace is available for those who cannot save themselves. That is why we talk about grace.
Number two | The name of Mephibosheth means shameful thing.
Sin brings shame. But grace removes shame.
Number three | Mephibosheth was residing very far.
Grace is what brings us close to God.
Number four | There was a covenant between Jonathan and David and Mephibosheth was beneficiary.
Now listen to me. Grace is a product of the covenant.
We were disqualified because of sin. But grace is what brings us glory, honor, dignity. Grace is a shame remover. Grace is a reproach remover.
When you encounter grace, it takes away shame. It takes away reproach.
Take note also that grace is for the unqualified. Mephibosheth was not qualified. Do you know why?
Because God knows that we are naturally proud. In our pride, we can easily say, “It is because of my strength”. Then God says, “Shut up. It is not because of your strength. It is because of my grace”.
So God is the one who qualifies the unqualified because of his grace. Am I saying you should not go to school? No.
You can be a lawyer. You can be an architect. You can be an engineer. You will agree with me. You can have all those qualifications and yet not get any job.
So, it means that your titles don't qualify you. It is when you are disqualified that grace can qualify you.
Grace located and relocated Mephibosheth to Jerusalem, meaning that you can't encounter grace and remain at the same place.
Grace finally answers to the covenant, not to the effort of men. And that is what people never understand.
That is why Ruth entered in the season of harvest of Barley to reap the same way Mephibosheth reaped what He did not sow.
HOW/WHERE TO ACCESS GRACE?
The throne of grace
The Bible says in Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”.
Where do we find grace? In the throne of grace.
Friend, come to the throne of grace. Come to Church. That is what is God is requiring from you. Come to the house of God. Come to the throne of grace.
This Sunday is the Sunday of release. Come to the source, come to the throne of grace. That is how grace can be released in your life.
The carrier of grace
Philippians 1:7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
Connect to the carrier of grace. Why? Because this time is the time to reap what/where we did not sow as God says in Deuteronomy 6:11, “And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;”
I want to let you know that we are in the season of grace. People will be angry, but you will enter houses you did not build. So, you need to come to the throne of grace. That is where you will find grace.
We are not in the season of toiling. Peter says, “Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net”.
Be free from toiling in this season in Jesus’ Name. Come to the throne of grace. Connect to the carrier of grace.
The man of God standing before you carries grace. Your connection to the carrier of grace releases grace in your life.
The Covenant
Remember. Mephibosheth enjoyed grace because of the covenant between his father and David. The same way, your personal covenant with God is the channel of grace.
Covenant with God to win souls, to serve God with your gift, to tithe, to give offering, etc.
Those are the channels God has put into place for you to enter the grace.
We will look at it with Ruth. Even if she entered in the season of Barley Harvest, she had to do something in the field.
The question is … What are you doing in the house of God?
Finally, give your life to Christ if you haven't.
CLOSING PRAYERS
You can lift your hand and say Lord I give you my life. I give you my heart. I want to live for you alone. Jesus I come to you today.
Hallelujah thank you for your grace.
Thank you for the Barley Harvest season in which we are the season of grace.
Father thank you because you are making me to enter into what I did not labour for.
That is what happened with that man of God called Mephibosheth. He entered in what he did not labor for. He was not qualified but he entered. He was enjoying the blessing of the father.
He did not labor for what Saul worked for but he is the one enjoying oh God.
Father thank you because of the cross. You are the one who died on the cross.
I will enjoy good health. I will enjoy wealth. I will enjoy prosperity. I will enjoy advancement. I will enjoy success. I will enjoy every blessing that you have died for me. You died me so that I will enjoy the blessing.
Today I connect God to the throne. I connect to the carrier of grace. I covenant with you God so that I will enjoy the grace. I want to enjoy the grace in this season.
Where you say yourself in your word. I send you to harvest where you did not labour. I will harvest where I did not labour. I will harvest where I did not labour.
Not to say that I will never labour. I will labour. Yes. And on top of my labour I will harvest where I did not labour. Because of the source of grace. Because of the power of grace. In the name of Jesus. The son of the living God.
I pray for you today that this grace is living your life in Jesus name.
God is releasing grace in this season.
Hallelujah. The very harvest blessing is your portion this time. If you are in Christ it is for you. In Jesus name. In Jesus name. Businesses will come to you in Jesus name. The things people have worked for will be handed over to you by grace.
Receive it in the name of Jesus Christ. The son of the living God.
Hallelujah.
When you're around and give thanks to God. Because it is done. Receive the grace to be serious with your covenant with God. Receive the grace to serve God in the in the house. Receive the grace to come in church.
Where there is a rain of grace for you to enjoy grace. Time has come for to to to reap what what what we don't labour. We find it in the throne of grace not in ourselves. In Jesus name.
Hallelujah.
We are starting to fasting tomorrow. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday for the beginning of the month of October.
The Barley Harvest Blessing will be your portion. You will get things you did not work for. Whether the devil like it or not it will be your portion. In the name of Jesus Christ.
I bless you in the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit. So shall it be at the blessed and glorious day. In Jesus name. Amen and amen. Hallelujah. Go in peace and come back on Sunday with the testimony.
PASTOR TD KASUKU
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