It is Time for Multiplication

Our Theme for 2021 is “Redeeming the Time.”

We want to be aware of the significance of the time that we live in, to hear God about what to do, and to respond in a way that aligns with what God is doing.

We started by talking about the Kingdom; recognizing God’s rule and authority.

Then we talked about the importance of obedience; actually doing what God would have us to do.

Last week we learned that we are all reporters and that sharing our testimony is the best way to spread the truth about Jesus.

In 1994 I decided to listen to my older sister who never let a chance go by to witness to me. I was in a bad place after just losing a good job to outsourcing and trying to get out of a relationship that was headed in a bad direction. I had custody of my young son from a previous marriage and was doing the best I could with not much success. Long story short we moved in with my sister and her husband and I decided to start going to church and gave my life to Christ. My life has never been the same starting with a beautiful new God loving wife in 1996 and a new baby boy in 1998 who has now grown up to be an awesome man of God. Our family has been blessed in so many ways that sometimes I can’t even believe. Thank you Jesus!

So what is the goal? It’s multiplication.

Does that mean growing the church?

Remember the teaching on the Kingdom? It’s much bigger than that.

I mentioned multiplication in the first message that I preached this year.

Remember i asked, “How many have led someone to Christ?”

Then I added, “How many know that the person that they led to Christ has led someone else to Christ?”

When someone that you led to Christ leads someone to Christ you have a third generation disciple.

It’s like saying that you are not just raising your children, but you are raising the parents of your grandchildren.

Your job is not just to convey your values to the next generation, but to inspire them to want to do so for generations to come.

When the church reaches out and leads people to Christ, that’s addition. But when we train and disciple those people to reach others. That’s multiplication.

Church growth is not enough, we want community transformation.

We want to see a movement happen that will change the world.

We want nothing less than revival.

This is what the first church looked like:

Acts 2:41–47 ESV

41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

That was addition - big numbers- but still addition.

But it set the stage for multiplication.

You have to walk before you can run.

Revival begins with a personal and corporate renewal.

Beginning with renewal.

During the past decades there has been a movement each decade which was born of the Spirit of God.

While many are quick to call it revival, some have more precisely designated most of these as renewal.

The distinction has mostly to do with the numbers of people coming to Christ which are not already part of the church.

Renewal is when people come back to what they are supposed to have known - seeking God in ways that they were not before.

Whereas revival is literally coming back to life from the dead.

Dictionary of Bible Themes 8145 renewal, of people of God

renewal, of people of God

The transformation by God of the lives of his people, whether corporately or individually, leading to the recovery of lost vitality and purity.

Renewal is a return to grace.

Psalm 85:1–5 ESV

1 Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. 2 You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. Selah 3 You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger. 4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us! 5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations?

Remember what grace means? It is literally God’s favor.

Renewal is remember that God has been so good to you.

Renewal is when gratitude rises up within you and you become motivated by thankfulness.

Renewal is being captivated by the majesty and the beauty of God.

It is standing in awe and wonder of who God is.

It is a state of worship where we give God the honor that is due Him.

And we in turn receive grace and empowering to become the people that God made us to be.

That empowering can take many different forms.

I have seen people laugh, cry, shake or fall over and be unable to move.

We call those manifestations of the presence of God.

It simply lets us know that something extraordinary is happening.

Manifestations in themselves are nothing. I want to know, “What is God doing on the inside?”

What God does on the inside when we receive His impartation of grace is what is really important.

The Bible Dictionary mentioned a return to purity.

Acts 2:43 mentions “awe coming upon every soul”

That “awe “ is literally fear (phobos), thought it can also be translated as reverence.

Psalm 85:2-3 talks about God withdrawing His wrath and forgiving sin.

I think the experience that is described here is the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

Renewal is a return to obedience.

300 Quotations for Preachers Revivals Are New Beginnings of Obedience

A revival is nothing else than a new beginning of obedience to God.

CHARLES FINNEY

When we see God’s goodness, holiness and grace we also become aware of our own hearts and where we are not good, not right or perhaps not even honest.

The result is a kind of terror or dread.

We don’t want anyone to know.

We are afraid, ashamed and compelled to hide.

When we recognize God as good and sin as the problem, we can use that experience to expose the real issue.

The appropriate response to conviction is confession - get it out in the open.

Conviction doesn’t feel good, but it is absolutely good!

And there is nothing better than knowing that your sin is forgiven!

God doesn’t hold it against you any more than the doctor would blame you for being sick.

He understands your condition.

He’s not there to hurt you, but he might have to in order to help you.

Renewal is a return to relationship.

The Psalmist appeals to God’s special relationship with His people.

Psalm 85:4 CJB

5 Restore us, God of our salvation, renounce your displeasure with us.

That’s a bold move, but one that God delights in - to remind God that He loves you and that you are His.

It’s kinda like when you are angry with your child and they suddenly smile at you.

You think, “Don’t do that right now; I’m trying to be angry!”

The anger is not the point; it is to have a change in behavior.

Anger pushes people away, repentance draws them near.

When we respond to the Holy Spirit’s conviction with a change in behavior that is repentance.

It’s more than just feeling sorry for sin.

It is moving toward God, not away from God.

You will find that having a relationship with God means that you can be honest with God about where and when you are struggling.

God will give you ideas and strategies for doing the right thing.

God lifts you up when you fall down, but you don’t stay down and you don’t hide from God.

Renewal is about becoming the person that God intended you to be; but that’s not all there is...

When does renewal become revival?

Renewal restores; but revival breaks out!

It is one thing for Christians to have an encounter with the Holy Spirit that calls them to greater holiness, greater devotion and greater faith, but revival is not about what happens on the inside but on the outside.

It is literally the dead coming to life.

Revival is when your friends, neighbors and relatives start asking questions like, “What happened to you?”

Before you know it, you are leading other people to the Lord.

If God has done such amazing things in your life, how can you keep that to yourself? You can’t!

This is where your testimony comes in; you want to be ready.

How many of you started working on your testimony?

How many have practiced and are ready to share the Gospel with somebody?

How many of you found an opportunity to talk about Jesus and the difference He makes this week?

Psalm 85:6–9 ESV

6 Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? 7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. 8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly. 9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.

That’s how revival starts.

People get renewed in their faith.

They hear God speaking to them.

The Holy Spirit pours out grace; and they obey.

And people can’t help but speak of the great things God has done.

That’s putting it simply. A few more components of revival are:

Prayer - not just prayer but fervent, passionate prayer.

Hunger for the Word - The Bible comes alive and people eat it up.

Miracles and Signs - People see answers to prayer that encourage them all the more.

Repentance and reconciliation: When we forgive each other relationships are healed.

Unity in the Body of Christ: We break down the normal social barriers and get radical about loving people, especially God’s people.

Revival takes us out of the box.

Our normal ways of doing church get interrupted by what God is doing.

Programs and structure are there to give some order to things, but the movement of God’s Spirit cannot be contained; it overflows the structures.

What you have is a movement that takes on a life of it’s own.

You can’t control it; if you do you will kill it.

You must release it and trust God to do His work.

Ying Kai, the Chinese church planter says that you have to trust the Holy Spirit to lead those you train. The Apostle Paul started more churches than anyone else we read about in the Bible. But the longest time he stayed in one place was Ephesus for three years. When he appointed leaders in each church, these were young believers. Paul trusted the Holy Spirit to guide them and He would write to remind them of this.

Renewal restores the church; revival transforms communities.

I love it when God moves in our services.

But until what God is doing in the church flows out of the church, its not complete.

The Kingdom of God is not found within the four walls of the church; it cannot be contained.

The Kingdom of God becomes visible (is manifest) when the church goes out into the world.

It is one thing for the church to become obedient to God; it is another for the world to come into obedience.

Transformation happens as a result of obedience.

Healing is the body coming into obedience to to God who created the body to function.

Releasing people through forgiveness restores our souls and minds; so much anxiety and tension could be resolved if we forgave as God forgives us.

Family restoration happens when we submit to one another and truly love each other the way God loves us.

Communities are restored when people begin working together instead of battling over their petty arguments.

Crime goes down in communities where revival is happening.

People are reported to have come under a spirit of repentance, seemingly spontaneously, because the spiritual atmosphere is changed.

There are even stories of the land being restored; animals and crops thriving under a new atmosphere of godliness and peace.

I believe our nation can be restored if we will learn what it means to be “one nation under God.”

Revival spreads like fire!

Why do we use fire to describe revival?

Because it starts small but grows big.

Because it seems chaotic, but it has a purpose.

Because it can be so out of control that it takes on a life of its own.

Actually, its a Biblical metaphor for God’s visible, physical presence.

You had the pillar of fire which guided Israel through the wilderness.

The fire of God fell on the altar which Elijah built on Mt. Caramel.

The fire of God fell again at the dedication of Solomon’s temple.

I think using fire to describe revival reminds us that this is bigger than us.

Unless God shows up with His Presence, nothing significant is going to happen.

Ying Kai reminds his trainers that the Holy Spirit is the one doing the work. Apparently “conviction” in Chinese is the same as the work “ to attack.” He tells them to “Let the Holy Spirit do the attacking.” Just be ready to show them how to respond.

But God is delighted to show up, we only need to provide the right conditions.

He will do the convicting; we need to help people know how to respond and receive forgiveness.

Sustaining revival for generations.

Psalm 85:10–13 ESV

10 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. 11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky. 12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.

Revivals are short-lived unless they become a lifestyle.

Revival tends to be emotional, messy, exhilarating but chaotic.

It tends to be the kind of thing that tires leaders out.

Long meetings, deliverance, people with issues harassing you.

Is it any wonder that most revivals only last for a few weeks or months; occasionally for a year or two.

One of the keys to a lasting revival is the ability of leaders to multiply themselves.

Bethel is an example of a a long-lasting revival.

It started under Bill Johnson; but look how many leaders have been released out of the Bethel movement:

Chris Vallotton

Danny Silk

Beni Johnson, Brian Johnson, Jenn Johnson

Sean Feucht

Not to mention other ministries which have been spawned out of the movement.

Even in our Hopewell Network, the only reason we are still here is because people like John and Sandy, Lester and others were released to carry on the ministry.

For these people, and many others revival became their way of life.

Notice the terms that the psalmist uses to describe this lifestyle:

Steadfast love

Faithfulness

Righteousness and peace kissing

Just like the fire analogy, the raging flame eventually dies down, but where the wood is solid, the coals will produce burning embers that last through the night.

The key to sustainability is consistency.

Remember I said that, “you are not just raising your children, but you are raising the parents of your grandchildren.”

People sometimes ask me how I raised kids who turned out so well.

First of all, I’m just as surprised as you are, and humbled.

But I don’t think my focus was so much on my kids turning out well as it was on making sure that i was honestly dealing with my own issues so that “seed” would not grow and multiply in them.

Looking back, I have learned that consistency is perhaps the most important factor in raising children well.

You cant tell them to do something if you don’t do it yourself.

You cant tell them one thing one moment and then another thing without explaining to them the difference.

You can’t be constantly changing the rules or moving the goal posts or you will frustrate them and they give up trying.

Most of all, when I do change my mind, especially if I made a mistake, I need to admit that to them and let them learn from my experience.

The best way to lead people in following Christ is to follow Christ.

You don’t have to be perfect or super-spiritual; in fact, it’s best if you are not.

You just need to be one step ahead of them in your spiritual growth and maturity.

Ying Kai has no choice but to utilize new believers as church planters. The movement is growing too fast not to. Typically a church planter will be attending a small group where he is learning the Bible and the Christian life while he is also leading a group himself. The group that he is attending is just a few lessons ahead of the group he is leading.

Lasting ministry requires character.

Bill Johnson wrote a book about a decade ago called, “When Heaven Invades Earth.”

There is a chapter in that book on character, that when I first read it, I strongly disagreed with his position.

He was arguing that in the American church, we generally wait too long to release people into ministry.

We throw too many obstacles in their path, expecting them to be fully mature before we allow them to do anything.

I now understand that, on one hand, Bill was right.

People need to share the gospel from the time they are born again.

People can disciple, teach and encourage others who are almost as young in the Lord as they are.

They can even heal the sick and prophesy.

But character is still important.

While it doesn't’ take proven character to minister for the Lord, it does take character to sustain a growing and lasting ministry.

We have plenty of examples of people who have failed at some point in ministry.

Many of them are people who already have been vetted for their character.

At some point their ministry became bigger than what their character could sustain.

That’s why it is essential that we continue to grow in our private obedience as our public witness becomes more visible.

Psalm 85:13 NIV

13 Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.

On Monday we were snowed in and our driveway was not going to be plowed until it was all over. The dog needed to be walked, but the snow was to deep for him and I didn’t have appropriate footwear to wade through the snow. I shoveled a narrow path out to the curb so we both could walk out to the street. That hard work of shoveling made the necessary job of walking the dog easier.

Your obedience to God will make it easier for you to show someone else the path of obedience.

Their obedience will make a way for others.

And that is how multiplication works.

Questions for reflection:

Are you experiencing personal renewal? Is your walk with the Lord vibrant and growing in obedience to God? Are you grateful, thankful and in awe of God? What would it take to get there?

Have you ever experienced revival? Have you seen the Spirit of God break out in ways that were difficult to understand or explain? Have you seen conviction spread like wildfire? Do you hunger for that? What if we all longed for that more?

Are you seeing people added to the Body of Christ? Are you willing to be part of that movement; to guide someone else to greater obedience? How will you know when addition shifts gears to become multiplication?