In this article by the help and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, I will be bringing to you another perspective as regards the subject of abundance and scarcity. Having built a background on this subject in the previous piece, it then gives me an opportunity to go straight to the points to be as brief as possible although the Holy Spirit has so much to say.

So, this piece would be a discuss on understanding the dynamics of abundance. The keys I will discuss in this piece may not necessarily be a contradiction to what I have written earlier but to bring a balance and further broaden or deepen our understanding concerning abundance and God’s intention for us at such a season as this.

So, the dynamics of abundance and scarcity is primarily a function of spiritual understanding. These concepts may be economic problems but have spiritual offshoot and explanations. When there was famine in Egypt, economics terms and theories didn’t have explanations or solutions for them. 7 years of famine and 7 years of plenty were explanations given by Joesph in what we later realized and understood in Psalm 105:16 that it was God that broke the staff of bread and called a famine. I would like you note like I reiterated in the last article that it is possible that God called a famine, but the people of God ought to have a different experience from what is prevalent. This is one of the ways God makes His people separate and distinct from other nations.

It is possible that the reason behind what we experience in our nation is God calling a famine and breaking the staff of bread. The Bible says God’s ways are past finding out and His understanding is unsearchable. But these ways were made known to Moses and to the prophets and has also been revealed or made available to us by His Spirit. The Bible says there shall come forth a rod from the stem of Jesse and a branch shall grow out of His roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding. So, God is bringing His church to the days He promised as of old, the days where the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills; and nations shall flow to it.

This understanding is the wisdom and power the church and every believer ought to have or possess at such a season as this in order to have a different experience by leveraging on the opportunities and window God has created to exempt His people at such a time as this. So, the understanding/revelations that make room for abundance would be discussed under the following headings and I implore us to read with an open heart. And I pray the Lord grant us more understanding in Jesus name.

• Number One: Leaders and nations must understand the intent of labor.

A leader, a nation, an institution, a destiny comes to the experience of abundance by coming to the place of understanding the intent of labor. What does this mean? It means that the intent of labor or Gods intention for labor is not to weary man, but to give man satisfaction and fulfillment. If you can understand this your experience will be different. The Lord said to me; minister before Me and I will give you bread. So, the Spirit of wisdom said to me; you find bread and abundance of it by ministering before the Lord. This is how dynamic Gods ways are and they may be contrary to the norm. Our work or labor may be different, but it must be shown or instructed by God or should be patterned according to our purposes and callings. What does this mean? There must be separation of labor according to the order of perceived potentials and capacity, giftings, graces, or talents in order to get maximum productivity.

When you look closely at a nation like Nigeria, how many of her citizens know the kind of labor they are called to do? What I am saying in essence is this; Abundance is meant to be a function of fulfillment in life and not a function of weariness or trial and error. Abundance is a function of operating from the place of rest and not from the place of toiling outside of purpose. Jesus said look at the lilies they neither toil, labor nor spin, another translation as they don’t work or make their clothing, and yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like them. So, what do the lilies do? They just show forth their beauty, this is their purpose; they show forth the praise of Him that created them and what they will eat or drink should be left for the creator to worry about.  Jesus said is your life not worth more than these things? What you will eat or drink? It is to fulfill purpose.

Every man is designed with an inherent capacity to operate with the mind of Christ or in the class of God. The Bible says it is vain to rise early to sleep late at night only to eat the bread of sorrow. This is worth pondering. The nature of your labor directly or indirectly affects or determine the extent to which you will labor and the degree to which you will experience abundance and increase.

The Bible says God put the man in the garden to tend and keep the garden. So, the general scope of the man’s labor is to tend and keep. This means that labor is never designed to take man away from God but to bring man close to God. Labor is designed to be a function of fellowship and inspiration and not to figure out things by himself. Because Only God that gives the man the work must strengthen and inspire the man to accomplish the work. Labor is meant to be done firstly in the garden and secondly by knowing the specifications of the work in the garden.

When leaders understand this, such a nation, institution, will experience exponential increase and development. The kind of labor God desires or intended for man was to make the man align and partner with God in the work or while working.

So, inherent in every labor or work of man is the showcasing of one or more of the multifaceted dimensions of God. Either wisdom, understanding and creativity or craftmanship etc. The Bible says it is not by power nor by might but by My Spirit says the Lord of hosts. The Bible says God rested from all His work on the 7th day. What did He do? He was creating. The labor of every man must never be outside of his purpose and calling and outside of the leading or partnership with the Holy Spirit. This is what inspiration is about.

Jesus said, come all yeah that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. There is a labor in Jesus and a labor in the world. But inherent in the labor of the world, there is no rest. Only in Jesus that man can find rest.

Jesus asked His disciples at a point when they decided to go back to their fishing business, have you caught anything yet? Think about this question very carefully. Nations and leaders that have not yet understood the intent of labor and the value of categorization of crafts or work with the aim achieving fulfillment and satisfaction ahead of productivity and output.  Jesus said to Peter, cast your net on the other side: after Peter had expressed his frustration. He said, "We have labored all night and have caught nothing". The nighttime is the best time to fish this is a timing every fisher man is aware of.

This shows that labor without Jesus is futile. It is not by power nor by might it is by the Spirit. Peter continued by saying, but at your word we will lay down our net and by so doing they had a net breaking experience. This is God surpassing their expectations with abundance. If Jesus had stopped here then there won’t be a need to emphasize this point. Jesus then said don’t be afraid from now on I will make you fishers of men. There was a redirection of labor. The Bible says the labor of a fool wearies them all because they do not know how to go into the city. Until you know how to labor, until you know which labor, there won’t be a possibility of abundance.

• Number Two: Understanding the essence and power of 'the' blessing.

Isn’t it true that a plant growing close to an oasis in the middle of a desert has nothing to do with the dryness of that desert? Have you seen how nourished are the plants that grow on an island and plants that grow in the desert? The reason is because they are surrounded by an unlimited supply of water. The blessing makes a man look like an oasis in a desert. Just as this is true for an oasis, and island so is the power of the blessing and the presence. It has the capacity to pre-condition, condition or recondition your atmosphere or climate and environment for a different experience and reorders or forces other things that are meant to negate your life to comply or work for your favor.

When you are close to an island or an oasis, it doesn't matter the scorching of the sun, the heat, the dryness, or any other opposing factor existing in that season, it doesn’t consider recession or down times. This is the power of the blessing. Be sure you are blessed, make sure you carry the blessing.

Understanding the dynamics of abundance is as good as understanding the essence of the blessing. Wherever you find abundance, fruitfulness and increase, you will find the blessing, you will discover that the blessing has already been set in motion. This is the secret behind prosperity. Isaac didn't just prosper by instructions, the blessing to prosper was there, it was passed down to him by his father Abraham, he only became exceedingly prosperous because his prosperity was built upon the instructions to sow in that season. How did I know this? It takes a level of prosperity to sow. Therefore, there must have been a quantity or quality of seeds he has that God instructed him to sow. What does this mean? It means that he received from Abraham his father the blessing of whatever he does shall prosper. So, by the virtue of that he became the envy of nations. (Think about this)

You are blessed to increase; you are blessed to be a blessing but before you increase and be a blessing you must first be blessed. Hope we are not confused? This is simply the dynamics of abundance. The Bible says without any contraction, the less is blessed of the better. This is what shifts a man into the realm of what is called ‘blessed beyond measure’, affluence, abundance, power and wealth. The Bible says look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you, I called him alone and increased him. (Isaiah 51:2). That increase is the evidence of the blessing. And the reason You are blessed is also that you can be a blessing. God said to Abraham through you all the nations of the earth shall be blessed. One of the major characteristics or indices for the blessing is fruitfulness, abundance or multiplication. When God desired that Adam and Eve experience abundance, He blessed them. It was not enough that they were in Eden, the blessing was a necessary criterion. The Bible says, "Then God blessed them and said; “Be fruitful and multiply”. In the context of the blessing, look through these three indices and you will acknowledge that you are blessed indeed.

1. You are blessed with ideas and inspiration for witty inventions. There is a Spirit in man, and the inspiration of the almighty gives him understanding. This talks about God filling you with the Spirit of wisdom and craftsmanship. This is the blessing that enables you to create like the creator both with words and skills of the hand. This is a form of excellence that puts you at the top of your craft where kings demand for your services. For example, Joseph in Egypt, Daniel in Babylon, Solomon and queen Sheba, David playing herps for Saul and even Jesus. Bible says Nicodemus came to consult with him at night. He said master we know that you are a teacher sent from God for no man can do these things except God be with him. The gift of a man makes way for him, it makes him stand before kings and not mere men. Abundance is a product of inspiration. this is the secret of working or production with ease.

2. You are blessed with seeds. This talks about hybrid seeds that are better and yields more. Gods’ blessings come with a seed it is up to you to either sow or not. Abundance comes to those who sow seeds. Those who sow sparingly will reap sparingly and those who sow bountifully will reap bountifully. The seed is usually not the problem, how and where to sow is the problem. And on the flip side, what is the essence of wealth without a seed. So, God blessed with both inheritance and inheritor. The inheritance is the blessing the seed is the inheritor. God gave Abraham the child of promise to inherit not Eleazar of Damascus and not Ishmael the child of the bond woman.  

3. You are blessed with the presence. There is such an experience in "the blessing" called may the Lord be with you, may the Lord guide you were ever you go. May the Lord cause his face to shine upon you. These words are simple words, but they carry weight in the Spirit. When you knock on the gate of prosperity, you will be asked; do you have the clearance? That clearance is the blessing. Think about these things, ponder on them very carefully. Behind every true prosperity for a man, marriage, nation, institution, economy, family; you will find the presence of God as an indispensable factor. In fact, the presence of God and the blessing are intrinsically intertwined. You can’t find a blessed man without the presence, and you can’t find the presence without the blessed man. As true as there is fullness of joy in His presence so is the fullness and abundance of all things for a man that carry the presence.

• Number Three: Understanding the power of discovery and the importance of processing what you have discovered.

The Bible says in Proverbs 25:2, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and the glory of kings is to search out that matter”.  Deuteronomy 29:29 says the secret things belong to God, but the things that are revealed belongs to us and our children forever. This talk about the power of revelations and the relevance of branding and packaging. The difference in the experience of scarcity and abundance is a function of light or what has been revealed to you. So, it is one thing to discover, it is another thing to brand and package what you have discovered. Package here talks about the presentation. How attractive are your products? Good products with bad packaging does not make a product sell. Products or discoveries are good but branding or packaging draws people to it first before the efficacy of the product can be experienced by people.

• Number Four: Understanding the roles of intercessors.

Who are intercessors? And what kind of prayers should intercessors pray? An intercessor is someone who acts as a mediator or advocate, specifically intervening or standing in the gap on behalf of others, either for families, nations, churches, ministries, etc. usually through prayer, supplication and groaning in the Spirit. So, what do intercessors pray about?

Intercessors pray for rain

As a leader of a nation, a ministry or church, a people, tribe, community or society; before you consult those who know the theories, philosophers, magicians and astrologers, first consult a genuine intercessor. Elijah said to the king; I hear the sound of abundance of rain. This is was a time of famine and drought, I had not rained for about three and half years. For every nation, every land, institution, there must be those must hear the sound of abundance. Nations prepare for war, famine, or take the required posture because they took heed to the sound of intercessors. Whenever you find a land barren and dry is because there are no intercessors. The servant of Elijah came back the 7th time and brought feedback to him saying; I see something like a hand, like the fist of a man rising from the sea.

The interpretation and confirmation of that was I hear the sound of abundance of rain. Bible says Elijah was a man of like passion, he prayed, how did he pray? Earnestly, effectually or effectively and fervently that there would be no rain, and he prayed again that there would be rain. How many men in this generation are desperate to hear the sound of abundance. Sounds are unique and every intercessor must find their sound so that they can bring rain or abundance to every territory, generation, tribe, family, nation, institution or marriage or leadership God has sent them to.

God is looking for men that will stand in the gap, Jesus said the harvest is plenteous but the workers, the laborers are few, then see what he said; pray that the lord of the harvest will send more laborers. So, the task and responsibility is for intercessors to pray. When there are no intercessors, there would be scarcity of men. There would be harvest but no laborers to go into the harvest.

Intercessors pray for messiahs and deliverers

The Holy Spirit opened my eyes to something very profound, He led me to a Scripture in Luke 2 verse 25, it says; “And behold there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout waiting for the consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon Him. Again, in Luke 2 verse 37 the Bible talked about a woman named Anna a prophetess. Who served God with prayers and fastings day and night. The Bible then mentioned something, there was another set of people in that verse, it described them as all those who looked for redemption in Israel.

So, I realized these categories of people prayed differently from the people of their generation and their expectations was in alignment with the will of God. They prayed for redemption, they prayed for the savior, they prayed for carpenters, deliverers and craftsmen across the body of Christ. Meanwhile in their days there were Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees who were going to the temples and synagogues who were also praying. 

This is the reason why intercession is not a religious gathering; it is a spiritual office and responsibility given to a people to enforce the will of God over a territory or destiny and make His kingdom come.

Intercessors pray for revival over a land, over a territory: for the visitation of God through the outpouring of His Spirit.

The disciples of Jesus were in the upper room praying in one accord. And when they were filled with the Spirit, they received the empowerment to turn the world upside down. Intercessors understand that the Spirit of the Lord is responsible for abundance in a certain territory, ministry, family or nation. They understand and interpret prophetic calendar. Peter being full of the Spirit said what you see was prophesied by propehet Joel that in the last days I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh. The Bible says in Isaiah 32:15, "Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest." This is a renewal, a new experience brought about by the outpouring of God's Spirit. The "Spirit" refers to the Holy Spirit, and the outpouring symbolizes a divine intervention that brings abundant transformation, healing, peace and restoration to a barren or desolate situation.

The difference between the experience of abundance, fruitfulness, and scarcity is in the degree to which the Spirit is poured out. The Bible says Jesus had the Spirit without measure. And wherever He went, He was doing good. In acts 10:38 how God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power. In the verse we read the Bible says until the Spirit is poured out. So, a land can remain barren, dry or experience the possibility of fruitfulness to the degree of how much the Spirit is poured out. 

• Number Five: Understanding the power of thanksgiving.

The Psalmist said I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in heart, I will enter his courts with praise. It has been said over the years that the practice of thanksgiving creates room for more. But much more than that, thanksgiving gives the receiver a sense of contentment and the giver a sense of fulfillment. The practice of thanksgiving is in layers. If you can thank God for the little, you can thank for the much. If you can’t thank for the little, you can’t thank God for the much. Every leader in abundance or desires to live in abundance must understand the efficacy of thanksgiving. And must practice the act of thanksgiving. Jesus gave thanks for what was little, and it was multiplied so much so that there were 12 baskets of fragments. Jesus simply said Father I thank you because you have heard me.

Thanksgiving is the protocol to the father’s heart to do what you want him to do. As much as you can ask for multiplication you can also multiply by giving thanks. If you don’t thank for the little more will not come. So, you thank God because, He made you a benefactor of His mercy, for His provision and protection, for making you escape the snare of the fowler on a daily basis, for upholding you by the word of His power. Abundance is not far from those whose hearts are grateful.

• Number Six: Understanding the power of value

The Bible says wherever the carcasses are, there the eagles will gather. (Matthew 24:28) When you become a man of value you have become a man who lives above scarcity. And value is a product of growth. Nations who are given to growth and development are nations that will not experience scarcity but abundance. Do you know that men gravitate towards men who have values and men who can offer value? These words may sound similar but may not mean the same. While offering value is about the tangible benefits you provide to others. In essence, it is about what you do for others that makes a difference or is helpful to them.

Having values is about the beliefs and principles that guide your actions. It talks about ethics, excellence, and virtue—honor, love and respect. It refers to mannerisms or the way you do things, behave, treat people. It talks about benefits, solutions, or positive outcomes you provide to others—be it customers, colleagues, or society. And applies to leadership, business, customer relationships, or service delivery. These values are what serves as guiding principles, ethics, or beliefs that shape how a leader or organization behaves and makes decisions.

Having values as a leader are very foundational and usually have long-lasting influence on people.

Having said this, it will interest you to know that beyond offering value, it is also important that you have values, this will determine whether people will gravitate towards you or not, this will determine whether you will be given or not, this will also determine whether you last on that job or not. This is what the Bible calls inner beauty—the gently and quiet spirit, being broken and meek. This is true value.

Sam Chand once said your character will keep you longer on the job more than your skill. Where skill and competence fail, character will be potent.

So, true value will always insist that the life of a man does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. Tue value is when you prefer to be honest rather than to cheat or cut corners. The understanding that true value is found in human dignity, contentment, virtues, faith, and eternal life rather than in material possessions or worldly achievements.

True value can be expressed or reflected in the following ways.

1. Having respect and honor for human worth and dignity

In Genesis 1:27 the Bible says; "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." We are made in God's image and likeness, and He has given every person intrinsic value and worth. Psalm 139:13-14 – "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

2. Choosing to be spiritual over being material

In Matthew 6:19-21, the Bible says; "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"

Jesus teaches that spiritual or true values such as faith, love, and righteousness, are far more valuable than material wealth. Matthew 16:26 says "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?"

3. Realizing that God’s love and grace is the ultimate value

Jesus is the ultimate expression of how much God values humanity, He offers eternal life to anyone that believes in Him. It is this believe and acceptance that makes for abundance of all things.  In John 3:16 the Bible says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." This demonstrates the immense value God places on people, even when they are undeserving, showcasing His grace and love. This is the reason why Apostle Paul will say I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, for the life I now live in the flesh, I live it by faith in the son of God, who loves me and gave himself for me. Then He would say for God is able to make all grace to abound towards you, that you having all sufficiency in all things may abound unto every good works. When you come to this realization God begins to make all grace sufficient for you, He begins to give you library and do for you exceedingly and abundantly.

4. When you value virtues

The value of virtue creates or make room for abundance. The Bible says in addition to faith, add virtue. Proverbs 31:10 says, "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." This Scriptural verse emphasizes on the value of a virtuous life, comparing the worth of noble character to precious jewels and this is what gives a man a good name. Proverbs 22:1 says, "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold." Personal integrity and reputation are far more valuable than wealth. When you have a good name, it is a system that creates abundance.

5. When you stand for equality and the value of every person

Galatians 3:28 says, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." This verse highlights the equal value of all people in God’s eyes, regardless of social status, ethnicity, or gender.

• Number Seven: Understanding the dynamics of closed heaven.

Scarcity and hardship is an evidence of a closed heaven. Abundance or surplus is evidence of an open heaven. When heaven is open towards you, there will be ease, there would be favor, instead of been rejected you are accepted, when heaven is open over you little effort will be required to get a job done. 

As soon as John the Baptist brought Jesus out of the water during baptism, the Bible says the heavens were opened and the Spirit of the Lord descended as a dove and alighted upon Him, and a voice said, this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. I noticed two things here: the alignment and synchronism between the Holy Spirit and the word, and the confirmation of the ministry of Jesus and that of John the Baptist.  But this is where I am going, understanding the dynamics of closed heaven.

What opened the heaven for Jesus was a similitude of baptism, the washing of the water, which we could also call the remission of sin. And this is made possible by the fulfilment of all righteousness. Jesus said to John the Baptist, suffer it to be so for now for it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. So, what are the things that could determine either open or close heavens for a leader, a nation, a people, a race, a tribe, community, marriage or institution?

1. Righteousness vs rebellion and sin: The Bible says, righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach. Elijah emerged in the days of Jezebel and the prophets of Baal. He said thus says the Lord before whom I stand, there shall neither be rain nor dew except at my word. And so, scarcity, famine began. But the righteous will flourish, they will be satisfied in the time of famine.
2. The washing or the forgiveness of sin— Ephesians 1:7 says, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.” In 1 John 1:9 the Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
3. Brokenness, humility and repentance. The Bible says, if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, I will hear from heaven forgive their sins and cleans their land. (emphasis mine) God does not look away from one who has a broken Spirit and a contrite heart.
4. Tithes and offerings. These acts provoke abundance in strange ways. God said test me in this and see if I will not open the windows of heaven. There is something called devourers. You are not the one that is meant to rebuke devourers, it is God that rebukes devourer for your sake and what moves Gods hand in that direction is tithes, offerings and giving according to the leading of the Spirit. If God will restore all that the locust and caterpillars have eaten, then be a giver.
5. Waiting in prayer. The Bible says those who wait upon the Lord. The renewal of strength and the exploits follows by this act. The disciples prayed in one accord in the book of Acts and suddenly there was a sound from heaven, an outpouring by the Spirit.
6. Understanding the nature of God. God is gracious and merciful, and His compassion fails not. The Bible says it is by His mercy we are not consumed. The Bible says He allows the rain to fall on both the righteous and the unrighteous.

• Number Eight: Understanding the mysteries of the kingdom.

The most potent way to command abundance is to understand or being able to comprehend kingdom mysteries, and the wisdom behind them. The mystery of the kingdom refers to deeper, hidden truths or secret about God's kingdom. Truths that are not immediately obvious to everyone but are revealed to those who seek and are spiritually attuned. Jesus said it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom. So, mysteries are not known until they are given. And the experience of abundance is made available to those who know or are given certain mysteries.

It is the assimilation of these mysteries that translates into experiential knowledge. This is how knowledge becomes power. The mysteries of the kingdom tells to the nature of God's rule, the surprising ways His kingdom operates, the inclusion of His salvation plan, and the unfolding of His ultimate purposes for humanity and the world. These are not hidden in the sense of being impossible to know, but they require spiritual insight, faith, and a heart open to God’s revelation.

A man who knows the mysteries of God or the ways of God is a man in abundance. The Bible says He made known His ways to Moses, and His acts to the children of Isreal. The children of Israel knew only the acts. But much more than the acts of God, the ways of God is far more paramount. The Bible says God speaks to Moses face to face as a man speaks to his friend. And this comes by knowing God personally. The result of this is that you shall be strong, and you shall do great exploit. This is why Apostle Paul keeps praying that He may know Him. in Ephesians 1 verse 17 Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesian church that God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory may give to them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. the eyes of their understanding being enlighted; the benefit of it is that they will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the exceeding greatness of His power towards us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.

When these mysteries are revealed and appreciated, the experience that follows are awesome and amazing.

Thanks for the gift of your time, Apeh Francis Abah!
Feel free to share your thoughts or testimony in the comment box below. I promise to respond as soon as possible!