Multiply

Multiply

Do you seem so busy in activity yet it seems like nothing of real significance is being done? I believe many of us are doing much good, yet not getting very far. Time seems to just go by so fast, day by day, appointment after appointment, meeting after meeting, event after event, but compared to the book of Acts so little kingdom advancement follows. We live in such a complex world, we have so many distractions, so many things to take our focus away from the will of God. Sometimes I want to escape to get away to a place where I can live more simple. Where I can have hours of prayer and worship, studying the bible, writing books, plenty of time with my family. Yet I think what hope would that give the world. Can I live in a complex world like most everyone else and yet fulfill the will of God? Can I remain focused against all distractions and obey God's voice in the midst of all the noise? Is God bigger than this world? Does the world have to continually consume me? Many of us desire to obey God's will and make commitments accordingly but don't follow through. I have had a few individuals seek me for discipleship, which is great, yet when I ask them to find the time when they can follow through with this commitment, they don't get back to me. I want to believe that the Great Commission discipling the nations can take place here in America by making disciples who make disciples.

How can we change this world? We can't, but Jesus Christ can. All we have to do is follow His example. He took twelve men and turned the world upside down. The first key as we learned in the previous chapter is to be fruitful. It is the fruit of the Spirit, the nature of God, that draws others to Him through us. Now are call is to disciple them. To show and tell them what we have received and learned and in so doing multiply ourself. This is done through relationship. Our chief aim must be this pursuit of being a disciple of Christ and discipling those He gives us. That is what being a good steward is all about, using everything God has given us, material things, spiritual gifts, and natural talents, for the purpose of discipleship. The Kingdom of God is within us, so the Kingdom can only advance through personal relationship, where discipleship can take place, where what is in one life can be shared with another. This is what it means to seek first the Kingdom of God, then all things will be added unto us. God will increase us when we are faithful over the little He has given us. If we are not increasing year by year we are in disobedience, we are not following through with His greatest command the Great Commission which will naturally follow if we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbor as ourself.

In this fast paced society where we want to see quick results, instant gratification, we are going to have to go against the grain. I have witnessed so many ministers think so highly of themselves because of the crowd they can draw, the places they have been, the gifts that they have, but if I asked them who they are discipling there would be no response. Some of them even have the worst of character. The bible says to judge everyone by their fruit. We are not judged by our gifts for they come without repentance. It is our character that really matters, for our character is what draws others into relationship in where discipleship can follow and multiplication take place. John 15:8 says when we bear much fruit we are His true disciples and we bring much glory to Him. We might be pleasing man, but are we glorifying the Father.

Challenge: Let's examine our ways this week, is discipleship our chief aim, are we true disciples of the Lord, are we seeking the kingdom of God first in our lives? Like Jesus let's ask the Father who He has given us and begin to be obedient using all He has given us, our time, talent, material things, and spiritual knowledge and gifts to disciple each one, being fruitful and multiplying ourselves in which God will bring the increase and the kingdom of God will advance in our land.