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Colossians - Lesson 1, Complete in Christ - Part 2
Colossians - Lesson 1, Complete in Christ
The Biblical Wheat Experiment
by Brenda Ervin
by Brenda Ervin
Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” These words from John 12:24 inspired Tecumseh, Michigan, mill owner Perry Hayden to take one of the biggest risks of his life, the Dynamic Kernels Wheat Tithing Experiment.
In 1940, 360 “sturdy Bald Rock wheat seeds” were planted in a plot of ground measuring 4 feet by 4 feet. The early steps of this epic test, officially named Dynamic Kernels, were bathed in prayer by Perry Hayden and his family. The initial goal was to see how much one kernel of wheat could produce over time. A devoted tither, Hayden’s main objective was to tithe from the produce of each harvest.
The first crop was successfully harvested, cut with a hand sickle on August 18, 1941. Family members harvested the 18,000 kernels and carefully separated them from the chaff – a process called threshing. “This first harvest provided 50 times the original amount of wheat,” said Hayden. “Enough to almost fill a quart fruit jar.” Out of the 50 cubic inches of wheat from the first harvest, 5 cubic inches were tithed to Hayden’s local church. Bolstered by the initial success, Hayden meticulously planned for the second harvest.
During this time, Detroit automobile manufacturer Henry Ford read an article about Dynamic Kernels and soon became personally involved. Born in 1863, Ford grew up on a farm and despite his international fame remained a farm boy at heart. He invested much of his life and resources in his love of agriculture, resulting in numerous innovations. Besides his many conversations with Hayden, he also loaned antique farm vehicles for harvests from his Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum. He also physically participated in Dynamic Kernels. During one harvest celebration, Ford, then in his 80s, cut the wheat with a scythe and delighted in sowing seeds in the field by hand at the next planting.
Often called the Biblical Wheat Experiment, God was indeed at work in many ways as goodwill and Christian fellowship spread across Lenawee County. The tithing aspect drew many Christian industrialists, and spiritual zeal increased as prominent manufacturers of the day were drawn to Perry Hayden’s vision. Among them, R. G. LeTourneau (world’s largest manufacturer of road and grading machinery), Harvey Fruehauf (Fruehauf Trailer Company), James L. Kraft (Kraft Cheese Company), and Kenneth S. Keyes (a successful Florida realtor). Dynamic Kernels continued to expand through the work of Hayden, Ford, and others. News of the success spread, and excitement skyrocketed as people all around the nation and world waited to see what God was going to do next in this southeastern Michigan farming community.
But in 1945, Dynamic Kernels was struck by an unexpected and disappointing blow. In a letter, Hayden learned that Henry Ford was ill and would not be able to participate in the fifth harvest and beyond. Without the use of Ford Farms’ tractors, trucks, and land, harvesting the fifth year’s wheat crop before it rotted in the fields would be challenging. Hayden was bewildered and disheartened. He had sacrificed for this God-given biblical plan. Now all of his work over the past five years seemed thwarted.
But Hayden was a man of faith, and when fear and faith collided, Hayden and his wife took their concern to the Lord. After much prayer, they decided to go forward. He set a date for the final harvest and planned for a “modified celebration.” When no hope could be found, prayers were answered.
In the middle of the night, the townspeople of Tecumseh were shaken awake by the rumblings of motors. Without explanation, a team of men and tractors from Ford Farms harvested the wheat. The Dynamic Kernels experiment was given another opportunity to reach its destiny. Challenges remained, however, since the wheat still needed to be stored and threshed. At a pivotal moment, both the Tecumseh and the Michigan Granges stepped in, offering to thresh the wheat and transport the 5000 bushels to a regional farm. The fifth harvest was saved.
Still, Hayden’s problems were far from over. Without the participation of Ford Farms, he would have to find much more land to plant the final wheat crop. He soon learned that Dr. Samuel Harrison, president of local Adrian College, was spreading word of Dynamic Kernels to farmers across the region. Why not ask these farmers to take some seed and plant the wheat at their farms, Hayden thought. The idea took off, and soon a total of 276 farmers from across the Midwest agreed to participate, all of them promising to tithe their crops to their own local churches.
On August 1, 1946, a parade of vehicles and farming machinery from all over the Midwest drove through the center of Adrian, Michigan, for the sixth and final harvest. While standing on the platform of the Adrian Fairgrounds, Perry Hayden quoted Romans 8:28 saying, “We know that all things work together for good for those that love God.” An audience of more than 10,000 watched as the 72,150 bushels of wheat was ceremoniously ground by two old stone mills. After the ground wheat was rebagged, a portion was set aside and loaded into a helicopter and airlifted to an Ohio baking company. Within hours, boxes of graham crackers returned and were duly handed out to the crowd. William Danforth, president of Ralston-Purina Company, was given the remaining wheat flour to be made into cereal, which would later be sent to war-torn Europe.
From humble beginnings, a plot of land 4 feet by 4 feet, Perry Hayden’s dream produced a far more bountiful harvest than ever expected. Despite the challenges, Dynamic Kernels succeeded both in the field and in bringing people together. Consecrated to the Lord and depending on God’s grace, Dynamic Kernels remains one of the country’s most impressive displays of Christian fellowship.
Short video of same article.
Long video of same article.
Proverbs 3:9-10
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
2 Chronicles 31:4-5
4 He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion due the priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD. 5 As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, olive oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything.
Genesis 14:19-20
19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Genesis 28:20-22
20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear 21 so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the LORD will be my God 22 and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”
Mark 12:41-44
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Philippians - Lesson 16, Content In Every Circumstance
Below is a vision I had about Bob Jones 18 years ago. I was prompted by the Spirit to submit it to the KPS today. It is about the "spirit of hope" and America.
by: Alan Smith
Prophetic Vision of Bob “Hope”
May 17, 2001
As I was visiting Bob Jones the other day I was swept into the Spirit while Bob was sharing with visitors. I saw Bob Jones walking out of a U.S. Air Force plane. The plane had landed on an aircraft carrier. As he walked out of the plane there was a great multitude of service men and women around the plane anticipating what Bob had to say. I looked over the door of the plane and it said “Bob Hope”. I could not read the fine print in the vision. The Spirit said to me that Bob would bring “hope” to the army of God and to those that are in service to our Lord. Bob Jones turned as he was speaking and I saw the side profile of Bob head. His profile looks just like that of Bob Hope. His silhouette looked like that of Bob Hope. I new then that it was truly the Spirit of the Lord. A few days later I started looking for this plane. I put “Bob Hope” in a search engine on the Internet and this is what I found.
Notice the paragraph below in bold print. I believe that it also speaks prophetically about Bob Jones. That he will carry a message of peace, a message of freedom to the household of God and most appropriately, of America’s Hope. Also that Bob Jones words would visit the troops in some of the least enviable locations on the planet.
Spirit of Bob Hope
________________________________________
Comedian Bob Hope, whose 60-year career stretches from vaudeville stages through radio, motion pictures and television stardom, came to MTA Long Beach on April 22 for the formal naming of a C-17 Globemaster III in his honor as "The Spirit of Bob Hope".
"I like the idea of having a plane named after me. I've always been too cheap to have one of my own," said the 93-year-old comedian.
With the newly christened P-31 as a 174-foot backdrop and the Air Force Band of the Golden West playing "Those Magnificent Men and Their Flying Machines," the legendary comedian and his wife of 63 years, Dolores, drove past a crowd of several thousand employees and guests, waving and shaking outstretched hands.
Already a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal, Hope is the first individual to have a Globemaster III named for him. The honor, Secretary of Air Force Sheila Widnall told the audience, comes in appreciation for the many times Hope has entertained American service men and women on station around the world.
"The Spirit of Bob Hope," Dr. Widnall said, "will carry a message of peace, a message of freedom and, most appropriately, of America's Hope." She also noted that the new C-17 Globemaster III will "visit the troops in some of the least enviable locations on the planet."
Speaking before Widnall in paying homage to Hope were McDonnell Douglas President and CEO Harry Stonecipher, MTA Senior Vice President Don Kozlowski and Air Force General Walter Kross, who heads the U.S. Transportation Command.
In talking of the "selfless giving" and sacrifice of the Hope Family in having him away for long periods, Stonecipher said, "I tip my hat to the family of an old trooper who has been one of the best friends that American soldiers, sailors and airmen have ever had." Stonecipher also reflected, "What could be better than to name a great airlifter after a great entertainer who -- going back to World War II and the Berlin Airlift -- has traveled far and wide in bringing the gift of laughter to millions of U.S. GIs around the world?"
Kozlowski, likewise noted, "Not only are we about to deliver another McDonnell Douglas C-17 to the Air Force, but we get to honor a great American patriot at the same time. Just as Bob Hope set the standard in airlift."
Gen. Kross, during his remarks, spoke of his days as a young pilot flying McDonnell Douglas F-4s in Vietnam. There was, he remembered, "electricity in the audience" when Hope arrived at the base in Da Nang to entertain the troops. Kross also joked that "Bob's got more flying time than most of our pilots."
His commitment to entertaining troops began some nine months before America's entry into World War II, when he took his popular NBC radio show to March Field in California. He went on to be a USO mainstay throughout the war, and in 1948, at the time of the Berlin Blockade, he began his Christmas custom of putting on big shows for troops overseas and the wounded in hospitals, which he continued through the Korean conflict in the early 1950s, the Vietnam era and on into Desert Shield at the beginning of the 1990s.
"They say I do so much for the GIs," Hope once told reporters, "but they don't know what it does for me."
Posted on May 22, 2019 Prophetic Words
by: Lana Vawser Ministries
MANY PROPHETS ARE BEING HANDED NEW RAM’S HORN AND THE BATTLE IS OVER THE NEW SOUND THEY ARE TO RELEASE
The Lord spoke to me that many prophets in the body of Christ have been under some intense attack recently. The Lord showed me many prophets who have been in deep battles and despair behind closed doors. There have been some deep private battles that many prophets have been facing that only the Lord has seen. Many prophets have been fighting for their lives recently and fighting to continue to stand, but feeling strongly that they want to run and hide in the cave like Elijah did. (1 Kings 19)
When the Lord showed me this I heard the Lord say “Many prophets are now being handed new ram’s horns with a new sound that they are to release into the earth. The battle has been over the new ram’s horn and the new sound that I am going to release through them. Many of My prophets are taking a new seat of authority. They are moving in greater accuracy and purity of the revelation I am releasing and they are SWAYED NOT by man and by the approval of man. These prophets have been responding to the invitation I have been releasing to “come out” from any form of mixture, any form of impurity and any form of “building” that is manmade. These prophets have responded to the call to come deeper into My heart and their hearts are truly for what I am saying and to release My pure word without mixture and agenda.”
THESE RAM’S HORNS BEING SOUNDED WILL SHAKE NATIONS, BRING GREATER ALIGNMENT AND MAKE WAY FOR THE REVELATION OF MY GLORY AND POWER
The sense surrounded me strongly that these “ram’s horns” were not coming cheaply. These “ram’s horns” were not being given out to anyone and everyone. For the Lord’s eyes were roaming the earth looking for the prophets who are living behind the veil. Those who are living in the place of purity in seeking His heart and not seeking to build a platform or ‘name’ for themselves and making their ‘name loud’ amongst the nations.
I heard the Lord say:
“I am giving these “ram’s horns” to those who truly minister to My heart. I am releasing these “ram’s horns” to those who minister to Me behind the veil. Those that truly seek to know My heart, seek to release My Word without agenda and do not change or conform to society, structures or impure cultures or expectations within My Church. These prophets are arising not bound to “systems” but arising in the purity of strength in My Word and who I am and completely committed to releasing My Word whatever the cost.”
“These ram’s horns that I am releasing to these prophets are prophets of RIGHTEOUSNESS. They stand for righteousness and they walk in righteousness and purity. As these ram’s horns are blown a NEW SOUND is being released into the body of Christ and into the nations that will bring a shaking to prepare the body of Christ and the earth to see My Glory in a way that has not been seen before. These prophets are arising with swords in their mouths, with My Word in their mouths that carry such weight, that will bring a cracking open in the earth and the body of Christ in such a significant ways to see My Glory ushered in.”
I had a vision and I saw these prophets are coming forth with words that will PURIFY the Church. These prophets are coming forth carrying My heart, they are carrying the Word of God at their core, the Word of God like fire in their bones. These prophets are coming forth not with words of death, they are coming forth with words of LIFE.
The Lord showed me that these prophets are coming forth with words that may correct. These prophets are coming forth with words that will challenge the body of Christ. These prophets are coming forth with words that call the body of Christ out of any impurity, out of any mixture and into purity and maturity. The words surrounded me strongly “purity and maturity”. These prophets will be coming forth with words of warning to not bring fear and not based in fear or impurity, but true warnings of the Lord to prepare the Church and move forward in offense and victory.
These words of warning will come forth so that the people of God will not be overcome. These words of warnings will come forth so that victory and healing will be seen in nations and that the enemy will be overturned. These words of warning will come forth in the body of Christ out of His love so that the enemy will find no entry point within God’s people and so that the Church walks in purity of heart, in the Lord’s ways and His plans for what He is about to release.
Then I heard a strong warning of the Lord to the body of Christ.
“As these prophets come forth you, do not stone them. Do not stone these prophets because they are arising with words calling you into greater purity. Do not allow hatred to fill your hearts against these prophets because they come to challenge the places of mixture and impurity and call you forth into holiness and righteousness. Do not stone these prophets because they are coming forth and calling you out of the places of bondage, the places of impurity and the places of self promotion. These prophets are arising with such purity in their mouths and in their hearts to see self promotion broken, healed and cleansed in the body of Christ. They are arising now with a weighty word from My heart in their mouths that will break down ‘man made systems’ that are not built in Me. They are not built by My hand. For out of My love I am shaking ALL THINGS that are not founded in Me, that are not built in Me, for as My Glory is revealed, as My fire comes and falls, those things that are not built in Me will NOT remain and will NOT be able to carry what I am releasing. The pure and new wineskin will carry the new wine and the fire I am releasing. My people, you MUST be willing to be purged and purified. You MUST be willing to be challenged by My Word. You MUST be willing to receive My Word of correction. These prophets will be recognized by their purity, by their love, by their love for Me, the One and Only God, Jesus Christ. They will carry the smell of intimacy. They will carry the smell of the love of My Word. You will know them because they look like Me. They are coming forth with weightier words and words that will challenge and purify, but they come forth with words that do not CONDEMN. Do not mistake correction for condemnation. My people KNOW the difference. For condemnation is not of Me. Out of My love I correct and these words will come forth in correction to draw you closer to Me, to bring you deeper in intimacy with Me, it will mature you and purify and prepare you to carry what I am releasing, but you must have eyes to see and ears to hear what My Spirit is saying.”
THESE PROPHETS SOUNDING THE RAM’S HORNS HAVE BEEN ALMOST TAKEN OUT BY THE ENEMY BUT NOW THEY SHALL OVERTURN THE PLANS OF THE ENEMY LIKE NEVER BEFORE
The Lord showed me that these prophets who are receiving the new ‘ram’s horns’ have been almost taken out by the enemy, the enemy has tried in so many to take them out, but there is great breakthrough upon them now and they will now go forth and overturn the plans of the enemy like never before. They are arising stronger than ever before.
The spirit of Jezebel has attempted to kill these prophets but the Lord has caused her efforts to fall to the ground, now these prophets are arising like never before to OVERTHROW Jezebel. They are the Jehu’s.
They are arising in the strength and empowerment of the Lord like they have never experienced. They are arising now moving in greater governmental authority than they have stepped into before. They are now arising in this breakthrough living in a place of hiddenness in Me that the ‘old tricks’ and ‘ways of the enemy’ that have worked previously to keep them down, no longer work anymore. They are being lifted higher into a greater place of rest.
I heard the Lord say “Where the arrows have been thrown at these ones for so long to keep them down, I am now lifting them above the arrows so the arrows will not touch them and they are begin given arrows of greater revelation from Me and My Word that are fire tipped arrows to be sent straight into the enemy’s camp to destroy and undo his works and the enemy won’t even see them coming.
There is a deep hiddenness in intimacy with Me that these prophets are entering into that the enemy will not be able to see them and touch them. There is a deep rest these ones are entering into after the long battle that they have endured for so long. In the battle and in the fire they have been purified, they have been strengthened and matured to carry what I am now releasing.”
AS THESE PROPHETS RELEASE THESE NEW SOUNDS THINGS WILL BE REARRANGED AND CHANGED
The Lord showed me that as these prophets released these new sounds in the earth that the Lord was speaking, as these words came forth, I saw things changing and rearranging in the body of Christ. As they released these words I watched the hand of God shifting and reshaping things in the Church.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9
I felt the heart of God strongly.
“Change is not a bad thing. I am making room for the new. Do not fight the shift and the change that I am bringing. I am bringing it forth so that My Bride can move into her destiny. Do not fight the flow, but go with My flow. Do not attempt to hold onto the old, but embrace the new. It is not something to fear, it’s something to embrace. For if you embrace the shift and the changes that I am bringing you will see the demonstration of My power and the greater revealing of My Glory like never before.”
As this shaping and rearranging was taking place as these words were going forth I saw a compass and the arrow was being brought back to “TRUE NORTH” and at true north it said “JESUS”. The sense surrounded me strongly that these prophets are coming forth with words to realign the body of Christ, to realign things that have come out of alignment and out of focus, it’s coming back to JESUS, Jesus as first love, His ways and His Word of ultimate priority.
“There will be great vindication and demonstration of My confirmation and power upon the words that these prophets release. I will confirm their words with signs and wonders in the natural.”
“It’s time for the body of Christ to move into greater maturity, humility and yield to Me in deeper ways. It’s time for My Church to return in greater ways to the purity of My Word. It’s time for My Church to come back to the foundations. It’s time for My Church to return to Me as the first love and leave all other loves, gods and mixtures behind. It’s time for My Church to truly arise and shine in purity, looking like Me to see the greatest harvest they have ever seen begin to come in.”
Philippians - Lesson 15, How to Handle Worry
Philippians - Lesson 14, Standing Firm in the Lord
Philippians - Lesson 13, The Cross and the Christian
Philippians - Lesson 12, Where's Your Confidence?
Philippians - Lesson 11, Goals & Things
