Conditions for Multiplication I

Fulfilling Conditions for Multiplication

Pressing On

Genesis 1:28

This year we have looked at the importance of expectation, revelation,  manifestation, confirmation, demonstration, and gestation in determinng progress in a believer's life. Today we begin a series on multiplication. God has called us to be fruitful and multiply. Adam and Eve were assigned to steward Gods creation on earth. Their responsibility involved subduing, taking care of, replenishing and multiplying themselves and resources under their care. God expected them utilise the plants, animals, land, water, minerals and other creatures in sustainable ways (Genesis 1:28; 2:9) for His glory. Humanity's mission is to multiply godly people and godliness. What God gave was for food but also as seed and they multiplied so it lasted and increased. You were created with the fertility or ability to grow, improve, and increase whatever God entrusted to you. God has placed something in your hands. His premise for solving your problem is your willingness, wisdom and faith to do something with what you have (1 Kings 17:12; Exodus 14:16).

As a church, God is ready to multiply our numbers, resources and influence (Acts 6:5). He wants to break every curse and shortage that holds us back. Are we ready? We have to meet certain conditions. I will highlight five.

1) Condition of LIFE

Before God said multiply he gave life. Living things have natural ability to multiply. Dead things multiply worms and termites not themselves. God gave life first and saw that it was good. He is interested in multiplication of life not just statictics. He doesnt want to multiply defeat, bondage, lack, hopelessness, fear and sorrow. He wants us to find life in Christ and enjoy it.  you multiply whonyou are and what you have. The primary possession is life through right standing with God and the fullness of his Holy Spirit. Paul's secret was allowing Christ to live through him (Gal 2:20; Phil 1:21)

2) Condition of MATURITY

God is calling us to maturity (Heb 6:1; 2 Pet 1:5,6). Babies can not be expected to multiply. You grow through  nurturing your relationship with God through obedience based on spending quality time in His word and prayer. Like a branch you can't produce apart from the vine (John 5:4). Paul demonstrated marks of maturity in Phil 3:12-14.

- He looked around - he was honest about is restricting and difficult prison chains (Phil 2:19-3:1a) but maintained a positive attitude of faith and hope in God. He could have cursed God and complained. What are your chains. Our God opens prison doors. Paul saw the opportunity to share Christ in an unusual place and in unusual ways.

- He looked inward - He was honest about his inadequacies and hopelessness apart from God. He wrote, 'I count not myself to have apprehended:....either were already perfect'. He had nohing to boast about save Christ his unfailing source of strength. His grace is perfected in our weakness. He was not pretending to be super man. Do you humble yourself in order for God to lift you up.

- He looked backward  - He refused to allow the victories and set backs in his past to hold him back in any way. He determined to use the past to push him forward. He said, ' but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind'. He also said, 'But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.' What in your past tends to pull and hold you to it. Its time to le go of the past.

- He looked ahead/forward. He purposes in his heart and directed all his strength to reaching forward to those things which are before. The future has enough waiting to wipe out the sorrows of the past and to make the victories in the past nothing in comparison.

- He looked upward/heavenward. Moving to future completion of your God inspired assignment is also pressing towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Prize and crown are waiting in heaven. Paul exhorts the Collossians to fix their hearts not on earthly things but on things above where Christ is seated in heaven.

3) Condition of UNITY

Paul said, 'stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel' (Phil 1:27) 'endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace' (Eph 4:3). God commands his blessing in the place where brethren dwell together in unity (Psalm 133, Phillipians 2; Ephesians 4; Genesis 11). Luke recorded in Acts 2 that before the Holy Spirit came the disciples prayed in one accord. Without cooperation and harmony Gods work is hindered. Christianity is about how well we relate with one another and with God yet we talk increasingly less about relationships in favor of titles and material things. Before God commanded Adam to multiply he created a helper (Gen 2:18). To excel you need the strengths of others (1 Cor 12).

Harmony among people depends a lot on inner peace with oneself and with God. Inner conflicts breed outer conflicts. A troubled soul creates trouble in relationships. Having peace with God is a legal provision that dies not guarantee peace in your soul. The later depends on how you respond to Gods provision.

Paul often prayed for mercy, grace and peace. Peace includes absence fears, restlessness, anxiety, worry, stress (spirit of sound mind), uncertainty, discontent, despair, hopelessness, impatience, anger, disquiet, Guilt, regret, bitterness and other stormy emotions no calmness (storm). Phillipians 4 outlines how to maintain peace in ones life.

- Peace is shown by joy (4:4,5)

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

- Peace is produced by prayer (4:6,7)

Blessed is the Person who trusts in the Lord. 'Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.'

- Peace is nurtured by meditation on God word (4:8,9)

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace will be with you.

- Peace is preserved by contentment (4:10-13)

If you compare unwisely you will despair. 'Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatever state I am, with that to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.'

Still to come:

4) Condition of MANDATE

5) Condition of SOWING

6) Condition of THANKSGIVING

We will look at other conditions for multiplication next week

Messages by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa