My heart breaks when I hear reports about all that has been lost during the past few months. It may take months and even years to tabulate what people have lost so far in 2020—lives, safety, time, togetherness, school activities, pay, peace, a sense of security—the list could go on and on.

But I have good news for you, based upon God’s Word:

Regardless of your losses or the circumstances and reasons for all these damages, we know that ultimately the enemy of your soul is entirely committed to stealing everything that is good from you. Jesus Himself confirmed this when He said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10, NKJV).

The Message Bible says it this way: “A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”

It’s Time For The Lord to Restore

I’m totally convinced that we often miss what God desires for us. Abundance is promised for God’s people, but we have become so nervous about discussing prosperity—totally afraid that we may be criticized or looked upon negatively by the world or other believers.

The Scriptures are clear!

Jesus said that He came to destroy the works of the evil one. He came that you would have an abundant life, better than you could ever dream!

God promised these covenant blessings:

Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house, And his righteousness endures forever. (Psalm 112:1-3)

We are told, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 2).

As part of His covenant, we were given this promise:

You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. (Deuteronomy 8:18)

The English word for power in this promise comes from the Hebrew word koach, which implies supernatural power, strength, and ability to gain substance and create wealth.

Abundance, as a covenant blessing, is the will of God. Yet throughout history, the evil one has continually sought to steal the effectiveness of believers by selling us on the idea that poverty is God’s will and that abject poverty is even more godly. Too often that poverty mentality has crippled the church.

Something must change for us to fulfill the Great Commission. Yes, salvation is absolutely free, but the cost of taking the life-saving and miracle-working message of the Gospel gets more expensive with each passing year.

To do all we are supposed to do, God wants us to bless believers so we can bless more and more through the preaching of the Word.

But how, in an age of pandemics, turbulence, uncertainty, and loss, do we learn to make the divine connection between our need and our seed?

What is involved in taking back all that’s been stolen from you?

Three Proven Scriptural Keys of Restoration

Are you ready to take back what the thief has stolen from you?

Do you want to move out of the evil one’s thievery, mayhem, and destruction and into God’s supernatural harvest?

Here are three keys straight from the Bible:

• Focus on the Lord, no matter what circumstances you now face. Make Him your Source: “I lead you into the ways of righteousness to discover the paths of true justice. Those who love me gain great wealth and a glorious inheritance, and I will fill their lives with treasures” (Proverbs 8:20-21, TPT). Our Lord Jesus promised, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33).

• Fill your heart with Scripture, even when the storms of life are swirling around you. We are told, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:8). Even when the world’s systems are failing, you can prosper. Scripture, hidden in your heart, protects you in every area of your life!

• Obey, whether anyone else around you does! Step out in faith: “If they obey and serve him, the rest of their lives will be successful, and the rest of their years will be happy” (Job 36:1, NCV). Obedience is a powerful key in the kingdom of God. It’s what triggers the harvest, regardless of any losses you have experienced.

As a believer, you have the legal right to stand on God promises, such as those found in Psalm 112:1-3, John 10:10, and throughout the Bible. You have the legal right to be blessed beyond measure.

When the thief comes to “steal, kill, and destroy,” you can be blessed with an abundance that defies his plans. You can be blessed with ideas.

No curse can touch you! In fact, we are told, “You have as little to fear from an undeserved curse as from the dart of a wren or the swoop of a swallow” (Proverbs 26:2, MSG).

As a covenant believer, you are protected:

Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. (Psalm 91:9-11)

The psalmist adds this for emphasis: “I will greatly protect you. I will set you in a high place, safe and secure before my face. I will answer your cry for help every time you pray, and you will find and feel my presence, even in your time of pressure and trouble” (Psalm 91:14-15).

Do you want to make the divine connection between God’s covenant promises, His everlasting protection, and your own steps of faith? Read on…

Miracle at the Wailing Wall

When you begin to move into the kind of faith that focuses on God, fills your heart with Scripture, and makes you obedient in your action, God gives amazing favor, no matter how pressurized and troublesome the times are in which you find yourself.

Let me share a personal story…

I’ll never forget the time back in 1997 when our ministry had been hit with a lawsuit that could have completely ruined us. I was in Israel, and I called my lawyer, asking him to go before the judge to ask for a gag order on the case so we could have a chance to prove our innocence before it hit the newsstands.

The charges were spurious, yet I knew from bitter experience that regardless of the facts, we could quickly be tried, sentenced, and destroyed in the media and the minds of people who didn’t know the facts.

“It’s impossible,” the attorney said. “A gag order like that isn’t going to happen. This judge is extremely tough.”

“Ask,” I told him. “I’m praying and believing. Just make an appointment and go ask. The case has no legs, but we have to have the gag order in place to have time to share the truth. Once the story gets in the news, even when we win in court, the damage will be so great that we won’t be able to survive.”

After that conversation, I went to the Wailing Wall in Israel, surrounded by people, and I prayed, “Lord, I know I can’t buy a miracle, but I believe in this ministry and I believe in Your promises. I’m going to sow $10,000 right now. I’m stepping out in faith, regardless of what happens, but I’m asking You to turn things around and give us favor with this lawsuit and gag order.”

I had barely gotten my prayer finished when my cell phone rang. (This was long before the days of the nice little sleek instruments that fit in your pocket like today. This was a massive phone with an antenna and all.) I grabbed it and answered.

“I don’t know how,” the attorney said breathlessly as I listened with wonder, “but you did it. The judge not only put a gag order on it, but he also completely dismissed the case!”

Right there at the Wailing Wall, still holding my bulky cell phone, I began crying and praising God. I could hardly believe that I hadn’t even gotten the chance yet to actually sow the seed I’d promised. But God saw my obedient heart and my desire to step out in faith.

And He will see your compliant heart and willing attitude, too!

Supernatural Favor

Obedience!

We are told:

“All these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if thou obey the voice of the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 28:2, ESV).

The word overtake actually gives the idea of somebody running from behind and tackling you.

Are you ready for God’s blessings to literally chase you down, tackle, and overwhelm you? Satan has come to “steal, kill, and destroy,” but God wants to pour out His blessings and abundance upon you.

It’s time to take back what the thief has stolen from you! All of us have lost things, opportunities, money, relationships, and even family members that have walked away from God. But He can restore all of these things (Joel 2:23-26).

God is ready to help you recover it all, but you must sow seed ahead of the rain and harvest.

The covenant blessings found later in Joel 2 are preceded by a call to give offerings to God (verse 14). It’s a clarion call to make the divine connection between your need and your seed. If you want a harvest of blessings, you must first plant seeds.

Real John 10:10 abundance is coming to the body of Christ, and you can trigger the outpouring in your own life by making that divine connection to plant your seed.

Covenant believers are givers, so today as you sow into the Kingdom, remember that what you sow declares your faith.

Are you ready to take back what has been stolen from you? Are you ready to be done with debt? Are you ready to overcome your losses?

If so, these days of pandemics, uncertainty, debt, and lack can be over for you. You can see harvests that are multiplied with such power and intensity that even dormant seeds can spring back to life as you step out in faith!

Sow your seed toward the Gospel, believing for God to overtake you with a bountiful outpouring, protection, and blessings.

Prove your faithfulness to God. Make the divine connection between your giving and His favor. Then watch what He will do.

Best of all, the thief is going to have to give back what was stolen from you! Remember Job—God turned everything around and even gave him twice as much as what the evil one had stolen (Job 42:10).

Begin today by planting your generous seed then speaking restoration into your life:

“Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble” (Psalm 107:2).

You can have everything restored that you have lost—plus more!

With great expectations for you,