John F Avanzini - What hundredfold means

What Hundredfold Means

... abundantly above all that we ask or think....

Ephesians 3:20

For many years, the Lord has focused my ministry on the hundredfold return. This emphasis began with a special anointing He bestowed on me during a very personal experience 1 had with God. It took place in the country of Nigeria. However, since that time thousands of believers on every continent have been effected by it.

During this life-changing encounter, God gave me specific instructions to speak the hundredfold return over the offerings of His people. To this date, I have done my best to be faithful to the Lord's instructions.

During the early years of this special anointing, many people asked, "What does hundredfold really mean? Is it simply one hundred times? Could it be 100 percent ? Maybe it's double. Brother John, tell us what hundredfold really means."

Hundredfold in Gods Word

Before attempting to answer this question, I think we should locate the places in Scripture where hundredfold appears. The Strong's Concordance shows that the word hundredfold appears seven times in the Authorized Version of the Bible. It appears in both the Old and the New Testaments.

The first time we find hundredfold in Scripture, Isaac is sowing seed at God's command. However, he is not sowing in ideal conditions. He is sowing in the midst of hostile Philistines and a raging famine (Genesis 26). The next time the word hundredfold appears, it's associated with King David's rebellious numbering of the people of Israel. These are the only two instances of the word hundredfold in the Old Testament.

In the New Testament, Jesus is the only one who uses the word hundredfold. It appears in Matthew and in Luke when Jesus describes the good ground in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13 and Luke 8). Our Lord once again speaks of hundredfold in Mark 10, when He tells of the reward that awaits those who give up possessions and relationships for the gospel's sake.

Isaac Sows in the Famine

One of the important things about the hundredfold return is that it fust appears in the Book of Genesis. According to most Bible scholars, when a subject finds its beginning in Genesis, it takes on special significance.

In Chapter 26 of Genesis, we find Isaac in a dilemma. There is a famine in the land. It is especially distressing because the Philistines have stopped up the great water wells that Isaac's father had dug.

For all the wells which his fathers servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.

Genesis 26:15

As the crisis worsens, natural thinking begins to affect Isaac's decisions. Like his father, Abraham, he is ready to go to Egypt (a type of world system) for help. However, in this time of shortage, God appears to him and discourages him from going to the world system for help.

... the Lord appeared unto him [Isaac], and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:

Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee: for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father.

Genesis 26:2 ,3

Keep in mind that Isaac is in a famine-ridden land. Nothing is growing for anyone. However, Isaac receives a promise that gives him an advantage over the heathen.

Let me draw your attention to a principle of Bible interpretation. In verse 4, we find a situation in Scripture called "duality." Duality occurs when the same words give two separate and distinct messages. Notice carefully what God says to Isaac.

... I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven....

Genesis 26:4

The primary meaning of this statement is that the seed of Isaac's loins (his offspring) will grow to be a great nation. However, I believe there is also a secondary meaning. God is telling him the famine will have no effect on the agricultural seed he is about to sow. If Isaac obeys and sows during the famine, he will experience a massive supernatural increase.

Notice the confirmation of this truth in verses 12-14.

Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him.

And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:

For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

Genesis 26:12-14

This is a beautiful example of God's ability to multiply back to the obedient sower in larger-than-normal proportions. In these verses we see hundredfold for the first time in Scripture.

King David Numbers Israel

The next use of the word hundredfold in the Holy Bible, comes to us from the Book of 2 Samuel. It is spoken this time by one of King David's most trusted associates. As he pleads with King David not to number Israel, Joab says:

... Now the Lord thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be , an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?

2 Samuel 24:3

At this point, Joab encouraged the king to trust God's promise that Israel would be very great in number. If David numbered

Israel, he would be basing his confidence on the strength of his army and what he could see in the natural realm. King David should have simply believed God's promise. God promised there would be more than enough Israelites for any enemy He asked them to defeat.

The punishment for numbering Israel was severe.

... the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beer- sheba seventy thousand men.

2 Samuel 24:15

With this brief overview of a most unfortunate event in King David's life, we find the second time the word hundredfold appears in the Word of God.

Jesus and the Sower

The first mention of hundredfold in the New Testament comes from the lips of Jesus. He uses it as He teaches the parable of the sower. This parable appears in three of the four gospelsMatthew, Mark, and Luke.

... other fell on good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

Matthew 13:8

... he that received into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Matthew 13:23

... other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold....

Luke 8:8

... these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty[fold], and some an hundredfold].

Mark 4:20

Hundredfold for the Gospels Sake

Our Lord once again uses the word

hundredfold when He describes the enormous return you can expect when you give into the ministry of the gospel. Hear Matthew's account.

... every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my names sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

Matthew 19:29

Mark gives more information in his account, for he includes our Lord's answer to Simon Peter's question.

Then Peter began to say unto him,

Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake and the gospels,

But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.