0938 Hitting a Homerun - Lest They Multiply

LEST THEY MULTIPLY

Three Keys to Longevity in the Lord

Regularly experiencing the presence of Jesus Having a reservoir of God’s word Not giving up on your calling Parents that quit no matter how justifiable their reasons were, that hurt their kids. What parent sees as a reason, kids see as an excuse. Why do people go to hell? Why do you let that happen? How many people are going to burn in hell because you are burned out.

Vision produces purpose. Purpose results in discipline.

Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19 Follow. Forsake. Fish.

But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them. Exodus 1:7

Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; Exodus 1:8

Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.” Exodus 1:9

But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel. Exodus 1:12

Multiplication is Promised and Commanded.

Creation is commanded to multiply Genesis 1:22

Man is commanded to multiply Genesis 1:28

Noah is commanded to multiply Genesis 9:1

Angel promises to Hagar to multiply her descendants Genesis 9:7

Abraham is promised multiplication exceedingly Genesis 17:2; 22:17 Age of 70, 220 years, they multiplied to 70 people

Isaac is promised multiplication Genesis 26:24; 28:3

Jacob is commanded to multiply Genesis 35:11

Jesus performs a miracle of multiplication Matthew 14:13-21

Multiplication is God’s definition of faithfulness Matthew 25:25

Number of disciples multiplied rapidly Acts 6:7 Pleasure - Procreation - Parenting.

Having kids is healthy norm, yet special. Requires sacrifice but adds meaning. Parenting is not for those who have nothing going for them

Stop seeing discipleship as ministry for those who are good at nothing else.

Multiplying in Misery.

God blessed them and said be fruitful and multiply (ideal)

Enemy burned them and said lest you multiply (reality) Parents don’t wait for promotion to have kids Parenting happens in imperfect circumstances. Beauty of birth diminishes the pain of suffering

It requires emotional maturity to multiply in misery.

Jesus promised us suffering not safety

5 Pillars of Chinese Church: Pastor in Shanghai, 2k believers. 100 millions of more

1. Devoted to the word of God

2. Deeply devoted to prayer

3. Expected every believer sharing gospel

4. Regular expectation of miracles

5. Embraced suffering

Believer comes to the cross. Disciple gets on the cross

Believer retreat to safety. Disciples embrace suffering.

Believer comes to church. Disciples are the church.

Believer cheer from sidelines. Disciples are in the game.

Believer reads the word. Disciple lives it.

Believer is all about believing. Disciple is all about being.

Believer is comfort driven. Disciple makes sacrifices.

Believer talks. Disciple makes disciples.

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:3

“Reluctance to face pain is your greatest limitation. There is no growth without change, no change without loss, and no loss without pain.” “The best leaders had to endure more pain and many people could never have more influence because they don’t have a big enough leadership pain threshold if you are not hurting you are not leading”

― Samuel Chand, Leadership Pain: The Classroom for Growth

Enemy uses 5 “B”s to stop births:

1. Bad experience (Bad marriage. Bad kids. Bad disciples) If you don’t multiply you will not see Moses. Joshua.

You still have best future in spite of your bad experience

2. Burn out sacrifice without self care trying to change instead of love negativity

3. Burdens of life (weight us down)

4. Busyness

5. Boredom (fear and laziness stopped)

Move from believer to disciple

Move from changing to growing

Move from retreat because of suffering advance in spite of it.

Move from hitting the ball to hitting a home run

Move from maintain to multiplication

What Do I Now?

Receive the calling of Jesus for you If you need to give up on you ambition for his mission do it Set a goal that you will be a disciple maker Commit to a process of growth