Laws Of The Harvest

When God gives a vision, He will also give a strategy. A vision and strategy are key components to reaping a harvest in our life. We can have many harvests: our health, marriage, family, career, finances, the ability to save souls and make disciples.

1. A Vision

“When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, 2 when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. 3 After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. 4 And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. 5 He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. 6 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind. 7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream. 8 In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him. 9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. 10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. 11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. 12 Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. 13 And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.” 14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.”

Genesis 41:1-14

A vision comes from the Word of God. This is where we get a Word from God for every situation. Pharaoh was given two dreams (word from God) but he did not understand the dreams. Soon Joseph was brought in to interpret his dreams (vision). Joseph had the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit gave him the interpretation of the dreams.

The Holy Spirit will give us dreams and when we get a dream from God it is a very powerful thing! Never lose your dream and be very careful who you communicate those dreams to. We must be mindful who we tell our dreams to, because some people may try to shrink, mess up, or deflate our dreams. We have to have dreams–big God dreams because we are dreamers!

2. Strategy

“It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.  33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”  37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”  39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”

Genesis 40:28-39

Just because Pharaoh had a dream, and it was interpreted, it wasn’t enough. What came next was a strategy. God never gives a dream without a strategy to follow. If we don’t follow a plan or a strategy, we can live a frustrated life. We can have a dream of greatness but never work toward that greatness. We need a vision and a strategy from God. They come hand in hand.

If we have a dream to marry a woman/man of God then we are to be obedient and diligent to become a woman/man of God ourselves. If we have a dream of a great marriage, then what is our plan? Are we reading any books on marriage? Who is mentoring, or discipling us? Who are we accountable to?

We can get very excited about a big God dream because dreaming a dream doesn’t need help. However, if we want to move into fulfillment, then we have to move into strategy. Strategy will require other people to jump on board for that dream to be accomplished. This is the very reason people don’t fulfill their dream/vision, because they don’t have a strategy and if they do have a strategy, they don’t know how to work it.

Joseph tells Pharaoh what will happen; however, God had revealed to Pharaoh in advance what He was about to do: God had given him a dream, a strategy.

This fourteen year strategy (7 years of prosperity and 7 years of famine) set up Egypt and God’s people to survive!

Thank God for vision and strategy.

Final Thoughts

Our vision requires action and a partnership with God!

We use our faith, exercise our faith, then release our faith in prayer to receive the dream and the strategy.