Looking for the Blade

By Bishop Keith A. Butler

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Luke 8:15

Patience is the virtue that allows the vine to bear fruit that is ripe and mature. If you plant an apple tree, one day in late summer the buds will become little green apples. God intended that we function in sufficient patience to allow the vine to bear her fruit when it is ripe! Apples taste best when they are ripe and mature.

When a farmer plants a seed in the ground, he goes to bed, and he gets up day after day after day. He doesn't go to the field after three days, say, "I don't see anything; the seed must not be any good," and dig up the seed. No. He has enough patience to wait until that seed starts to sprout. That seed didn't start growing the minute the farmer saw a shoot. It started growing the moment it was placed in the ground.

The seed is the Word of God, and the ground is the human heart. When you speak words of faith, something begins to happen. The seed is planted, and as you remain constant on the Word of God-going to bed and getting up, thanking your Father that the need is met-one day you'll see a blade that has popped up.

Many battles have been lost just before the blade broke the ground. That's the time of greatest pressure, because satan is a spirit being and can see what is happening in the spirit world. He knows the answer to your prayer is right around the corner. When everything is going crazy and you are wondering what is happening, that's a sign that you are close to seeing the manifestation. That's why you remain constant on the Word of God-the answer is coming!

Prayer for Today

Father,
Thank you for the Word which provides the seedbed for my faith. Give me faith to believe you for harvest, to wait until the blade breaks the ground and I can see signs of answers to my prayers. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Selah: Think on These Things

• Psalm 40:1
• Isaiah 33:2