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God's objective has always been to multiply in the earth. He started in the natural earth with Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve, the first natural family, failed because they sinned. God promised to redeem them through the promised SEED. (Gen 3:15) Through the woman He brought forth a SEED, Christ, who would multiply churches and disciples in the Spirit. First the natural is revealed, then the spiritual reality is revealed. This is how God shows us things. (1 Cor 15:46).
Jesus' prime objective is to MULTIPLY DISCIPLES in these days. Preach the Gospel of the KINGDOM. Single people, married couples, and entire families can all participate in God's Main New Testament FOCUS.
This is why marriage and family is optional according to Jesus and Paul.Matthew 19:12 KJV
For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
Jesus is saying here that some people are willing to stay single and without children in order to advance the Kingdom of God, and that is a valid path in life to take if done for Jesus.
Paul continues this thought from Jesus with his own writings:
1 Corinthians 7:7-8 KJV
7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I.
Paul wishes more people were single/childless like him, but also recognizes that marriage from Genesis 1:28 is also a gift. Both godly singleness and godly marriage are gifts from God. Singleness is "this" manner of gift and marriage is "that" manner of gift according to Paul.
Believers can choose to marry a godly spouse, or they can choose to live a godly single life. God's Family is spiritually connected in Christ. The spreading of the Gospel of The Kingdom can be done by any believer, regardless of their marital status or family size.
Ephesians 3:14-16
King James Version
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
In the Old Testament the commission was:
Genesis 1:28
King James Version
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Note here that the word "dominion" is very important. God wants mankind to have "dominion" on the earth and that has not changed. This word is actually related to "Kingdom". The "dom" in Kingdom is from "Dominion".
Now, in the New Testament, Jesus has given us a GREATER Commission, the GREAT COMMISSION:
Matthew 28:19-20
King James Version
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew 24:14
King James Version
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
And the result is spiritual multiplication.
Now we are simultaneously fulfilling both Gen 1:28 AND Mat 24:14 if we follow Christ. In Christ we have DOMINION, or a KINGDOM.
Luke 12:32
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
A Kingdom is a country and a nation, NOT a religion.
1 Peter 2:9
King James Version
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
The Bible is God's constitution of the Kingdom, NOT a religious text. It's no different than Canada's constitution. It's a lawbook to describe the rights, freedoms and responsibilities of God's Kingdom Citizens.
Joshua 1:8
King James Version
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
If you believe in Jesus, you are "born again" and can enter the Kingdom today! You can be a citizen of Heaven, while on earth!
John 3:3-6
King James Version
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
So in order to become a Kingdom Citizen, you must be "born again" meaning "born of the Spirit of God."
How do we do this? John explains:
John 1:12
King James Version
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
So Jesus has come on earth, in order that we may believe on Him, receive Him in our hearts. If we do this we will immediately be born of the Spirit and be given the power to be sons of God.
That's spiritual multiplication within the Nation or Kingdom of Jesus.
First, there was natural multiplication. Now, in addition to that, God has added Spiritual multiplication.
1 Corinthians 15:46
King James Version
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
This Bible principal is from 1 Corinthians 15:46 and it's called "first the natural, then the spiritual."
God's emphasis in the Old Testament was natural multiplication.
Now, in the New Testament, according to God (Jesus), the focus has shifted to SPIRITUAL multiplication.
Natural marriage and natural multiplication of children should continue of course. But in addition to that, God has shifted gears and added spiritual multiplication.
The New Testament covenant means pressure is no longer on believers to get married and have kids. If they desire to, the Bible allows for it. In fact Scripture encourages marriage and child rearing.
But the main focus of urgency of Christ in the New Testament is actually SPIRITUAL multiplication. Here's the proof:
Hebrews 6:14
Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
The Jews in Jesus' day thought that natural multiplication was enough. The fact that they were natural descendants of Abraham should be enough to make them acceptable to God ... right? Wrong.
Jesus tells them that natural lineage through Abraham is not enough.
John 8:39-40 KJV
39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
In other words, if these Jews were actually "of Abraham" Jesus says they would have accepted the words of Jesus. Jesus calls Himself a "man" that has "told you the truth." Jesus makes it clear in John 8 that natural lineage is NOT what saves a person. One must believe in Jesus to be saved.
So back to Hebrews 6:14. This verse is referring to God's promise to Abraham. First God multiplied Abraham in the natural. And His Seed is ultimately Christ. It must be spiritual multiplication because the natural Israelites rejected Jesus. This doesn't mean the Jews could never get saved. They can. But it will require them to accept Jesus as their Messiah.
Abraham's natural multiplication is therefore NOT the end focus. Natural multiplication was crucial, or else there would be no lineage at all through which Christ could come! There had to be a natural line. This is a fact. But it can't stop at natural lineage. It must progress to spiritual multiplication.
It all leads to the spiritual multiplication of Abraham's SEED, who is Christ.
Galatians 3:16
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Galatians 3:29
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
So according to this, Christ the Seed is multiplied every time someone believes Jesus. That's how God fulfilled His promise to Abraham. Every time someone believes in God's Son Jesus, Abraham is multiplied in the Spirit of God.
Multiplication has shifted to a spiritual focus. Natural multiplication is still important, but it cannot save anyone. Only belief in Christ Jesus can save us and truly cause the Seed to "multiply".
Romans 10:9
King James Version
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
So this promise to Abraham is fulfilled in the Spirit. God has always wanted multiplication... both naturally and spiritually. But the main focus now is spiritual multiplication. This is not to discount family in the natural. God still wants people to marry and have kids in the natural. But its not His will for everyone, or else Jesus would NEVER have given the option for people to "make themselves eunuchs" (meaning stay single for the Kingdom of God.)
And Paul would never have given singleness as an option. He himself would have to get married. But he didn't. So then, if God is wanting multiplication, from the beginning of Genesis until now, how is this multiplication happening?
The Bible shows us spiritual New Testament multiplication made possible by the death burial and resurrection of Christ:
Acts 6:1 KJV
And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
Acts 6:7 KJV
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Here we see God's Word, the Holy Bible, emphasize the main form of multiplication that God focuses on now.
Here the Word of God itself is "multiplied" when the disciples share it with new converts.
Acts 12:24 KJV
But the word of God grew and multiplied.
And God wants many churches too. Churches are His body parts, part of the corporate Man, Christ Jesus. They are His holy spiritual sons and family.
Galatians 4:6
King James Version
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
God always wanted a family. The way He achieved this is through faith in Jesus. When we believe Jesus, God makes us sons who get the "Spirit of His Son" abiding in our hearts.
He wants to see the churches multiplied like in the book of Acts:
Acts 9:31
Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
Acts 15:41
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
Acts 16:5
And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
See, God's desire for family has never changed from Genesis until now. But because of mankind's sin, God sent Jesus His Perfect Son to pay for our transgressions. Through belief in the perfect Son, Jesus, we become sons through the spirit of adoption.
So then multiplication is now primarily achieved through God's Spirit, churches, and discipleship.
Natural family is still important to God of course. Many times, the believer is best off to get married and have natural children.
1 Timothy 5:14 KJV
I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
But God has prioritized the spiritual family even above the natural one.
Jesus makes it clear we must love Him more than natural family.
Luke 14:26 KJV
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
So that word "hate" in the Greek in this context means literally to "love less". We must love our family less than Jesus. We must love Jesus more than anyone or anything else. That is discipleship in its simplest form.
We must love Jesus more than...
...getting married and having kids
...staying single
...the ideas of the world
...our parents, kids, or spouse
...our own ambitions and goals.
Jesus must come first. And when you put Him first, you will have His peace and joy. Your path will look different than the paths of other disciples. Some believers get married. Some stay single. Some have kids. Others do not have kids. No matter your condition, seek to walk with God in the way God called you, NOT in the way others THINK you should walk.
God's call is what really matters. In the middle of Paul's chapter on singleness and marriage, Paul makes a big point that no matter what condition you find yourself in, you should walk with God in the way He called you:
1 Corinthians 7:17-24
King James Version
17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
Seek Godly multiplication, which can be achieved no matter what your marital status is.
Multiply God's Word, His news about the Gospel of the Kingdom (government of King Jesus). Make new disciples. Build up the churches. There is plenty of work in the kingdom to do. Instead of putting pressure on each other to do natural things (stay single, get married, have kids etc etc) we should edify one another in the things of God and not worry about the personal affairs of others. We should mind our own business and encourage each other!
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 KJV
9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
And we should multiply the fruit of the Spirit in our own lives too. Spiritual multiplication is just as much about our own personal growth as we abide in Jesus the Vine.
John 15:1-2
King James Version
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Paul adds to this statement of Jesus by elaborating on what this fruit actually is:
Galatians 5:22-23
King James Version
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
It's "fruit of the Spirit" or the nature of Christ growing with our minds and hearts. God wants every believer to multiply this fruit within themselves... by abiding in Jesus the True Vine. Rest in Christ and He will work this spiritual fruit in you.
So there you have it. We should multiply ("increase") brotherly love in God. We should multiply disciples, and multiply fruit in our own spirits. We should mind our own business.
Are you a married couple? Then serve Christ and do your own business.
Are you a married couple who also has children?
Then serve Christ and do your own business.
Are you unmarried/single?
Then serve Christ and do your own business.
All households (of any size) have equal value to God.
Regardless of circumstance, we are individually called to walk with Jesus and serve Him as He leads by the Spirit.
ALL believers can MULTIPLY THE SEED, who is Christ in us. All of us can share His Kingdom (multiply God's Word). And all of us can multiply God's fruit by submitting to Christ the Vine.
God bless!
-Pastor Curtis
Assistant Pastor,
churchonthego.ca
