Sermon: Proliferate
by Chris Cumming
Recently I delivered to you a sermon entitled, “Assiduity”
where I encouraged all of us to give all actions, all burdens and all concerns
over to God. Specifically it was an encouragement to commit to
Almighty God.
It began this way:
The name of the sermon today is, “Assiduity.”
The word means:
1. Persistent application or diligence; unflagging effort.
2. Constant personal attention.
3. Devoted attention.
4. Constant and close application.
One wise person was quoted as saying the following:
“Assiduity, it means sit down until you do it. Commit yourself to your work and
study.
Clearly if one is to be persistent in application or diligence and invoke
constant and close application, he or she must be committed. I found this
word, “assiduity” intriguing and wondered if there was a related Bible verse.
Turn to Proverbs 16.
Proverbs 16:3
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
~end quote from that sermon.
In the sermon, “Assiduity” I focused primarily on this verse Proverbs 16:3 and
the first word of that verse, “commit.” I spoke to a spiritual procedure that
derives from this verse. I described this “commit” procedure this way:
1] Increase the number times a day or week in which you refer your actions and
concerns over to God. You must develop into an individual who has reflexive
action [kneejerk reaction] to rolling
over [committing] all actions or
concerns to God.
2] Allow the experience to establish your thoughts for the next action or
concern. When you see God taking action in the situation, coupled with your
diligent immersion in the Word of God, your thoughts are established for the
next situation.
Assiduity is about the word, ‘commit.” Today I want to discuss the third
word of this verse, “Works.” In my previous sermon we spoke at length about
committing all our actions, burdens and concerns over to God. He wants you to
roll them over to Him. My purpose today is to encourage all of us to commit all
of our works over to Him.
Let me use those two points of procedure I gave you from Assiduity for this
additional procedure from Proverbs 16:3.
1] Increase the number times a day or week in which
you invoke works before God. You must develop into an individual who has
reflexive action [kneejerk reaction] to
rolling over [committing] all works to
God.
2] Allow the experience to establish your thoughts for the next work you
invoke. When you see God taking action in the situation, coupled with your
diligent immersion in the Word of God, your thoughts are established for the
next work you do.
Each time we invoke a spiritual element, such as a fruit of the Spirit; what I
call Godly principles, we are doing a work. All spiritual works are carried out
in the physical, mental and emotional situations of our life. God’s Word is
commanding us and encouraging us to invoke spiritual works into every aspect of
our lives. Nothing is too trivial to God and there is no situation too common
or mundane for us to invoke or do a work. The admonition of this sermon is to
the expanding of spiritual works into every area of our lives. To do this, we
must begin with a discussion of “abounding.” What does the Word of God have to
say to us about abounding?
ABOUNDING
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in
the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in
the Lord.
Philippians 1:9
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in
all judgment.
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all
sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
Colossians 2:6-8
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been
taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the
tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
The only way to abound in spiritual works is to look for more opportunities in
your life to manifest them. Notice verse 8 in what we just read. There are
those in and around the church who may seek to spoil you; ruin you spiritually
by seducing you into believing false concepts. Let me remind you of two which
we have spoken to before:
1] Holding Your Position or Standing Still.
Every aspect of the Salvation Process is about forward movement. There is no
standing still in the Salvation Process. You are either moving forward or
backsliding in the wrong direction. I believe Patton said it best in one of his
speeches to his troops during World War II. He, with great power and tone of
speech declares: “I do not want to get any messages that we are holding our
position.” “Let the Hun do that.” “We are advancing all the time and have no
desire to hold our position.” It is the same with the soldiers of Christ, which
you are.
All spiritual processes of God involve and command forward movement and
progress. Notice one of my favorite verses describing the Salvation Process.
Turn to 2 Corinthians and chapter 3.
2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are
changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the
Lord.
We are in constant movement as we go from glory to glory and this phrase, “glory
to glory” is specifically speaking to our invoking the power of the
Holy Spirit in the form of works or fruits of the Spirit.
Now to the second example of vain deceit and philosophy:
2] “I am doing the best I can.”
This is one damnable concept. Firstfruits never do the best they can. They
allow God, through Christ to do the best they can. It is right there in
the last phrase of 2 Corinthians 3:18: “even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
Firstfruits invoke the fruits of the Spirit by that Spirit [the power of God].
1 Corinthians 3:16
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth
in you?
1 Corinthians 2:10-13
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth
all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in
him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of
God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but
which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Now let us speak to the subjects of growth, increase and abounding.
2 Peter 3:18
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To
him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Amen to that.
Notice the commentary on, “But grow in grace.”
But grow in grace - Increase in the image and favor of God; every grace and
Divine influence which ye have received is a seed, a heavenly seed, which, if it
be watered with the dew of heaven from above, will endlessly increase and
multiply itself. He who continues to believe, love, and obey, will grow in
grace, and continually increase in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, as his
sacrifice, sanctifier, counsellor, preserver, and final Savior. The life of a
Christian is a growth; he is at first born of God, and is a little child;
becomes a young man, and a father in Christ. Every father was once an infant;
and had he not grown, he would have never been a man. Those who content
themselves with the grace they received when converted to God, are, at best, in
a continual state of infancy: but we find, in the order of nature, that the
infant that does not grow, and grow daily, too, is sickly and soon dies; so, in
the order of grace, those who do not grow up into Jesus Christ are sickly, and
will soon die, die to all sense and influence of heavenly things.
There are many who boast of the grace of their conversion; persons who were
never more than babes, and have long since lost even that grace, because they
did not grow in it. Let him that readeth understand. ~Adam Clarke
2 Peter 1:2-3
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God,
and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain
unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to
glory and virtue [emphasis mine].
Notice the commentary on being multiplied:
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you - By a multiplication of grace may be
meant a larger discovery of the love and favour of God; which though it admits
of no degrees in itself, being never more or less in God's heart, yet, as to the
manifestations of it, it is different, and capable of being increased, and drawn
out to a greater length; or else an increase of the internal graces of the
Spirit of God, as to the actings and exercise of them; or a larger measure of
the gifts of the Spirit, for greater usefulness among them; or a clearer view,
and a more enlarged knowledge of the Gospel of the grace of God, and the truths
of it; and indeed, the word grace may take in all these senses: ~John Gill
Let me restate what the commentary is saying about this idea of multiplication.
We take spiritual works and:
1] increase them.
2] find more opportunities and areas to invoke them [“drawn out to greater
length”].
3] invoke more fruits of the Spirit.
4] gain greater insight and clarity regarding each fruit…each work.
Ephesians 4:13
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of
Christ:
This verse is speaking to our primary process within the Salvation Process. We
are becoming like Christ. Immersion in the Word of God [the mind of God],
is taking us, “unto a perfect man” which is defined as being in the stature of
the fullness of Christ
2 Corinthians 8:7
Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and
knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in
this grace also.
2 Thessalonians 2:17
Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
Notice the commentary on, "stablish you in every good word and work":
And stablish you in every good word and work - that is, in every good word of
God, or truth of the Gospel, which contains good tidings of good things, so as
not to waver about them, or stagger in them, or to depart from them; in practice
of every duty, so as to be steadfast, and immoveable, and always abounding
therein; good words and good works, principles and practices, should go
together, and the saints stand in need of stability in both. ~John Gill
2 Timothy 3:16-17 ...speaking to how we prepare to do good works
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Titus 2:14 ...speaking to our attitude for good work.
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and
purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Titus 3:8
This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm
constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful [exercise
thought] to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto
men.
The “good works” here refer not merely to acts of benevolence and charity, but
to all that is upright and good - to an honest and holy life. ~Barnes Notes
On exercising thought, begin here:
Philippians 4:8-9
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are
honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in
me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Firstfruits diligently think on these things and then do them.
Titus 3:1
Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey
magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
Here is the commentary on, "be ready to every good work."
To be ready to every good work - “To be prepared for” (ἑτοίμους hetoimous);
prompt to perform all that is good. A Christian should be always ready to do
good as far as he is able. He should not need to be urged, or coaxed, or
persuaded, but should be so ready always to do good that he will count it a
privilege to have the opportunity to do it. ~Barnes Notes
The name of the sermon today is, “Proliferate.” The admonition here is to
increase and broaden the scope of doing good works in all things physical,
mental and emotional. Notice the meaning of the word, “Proliferate”
Proliferate
A sermon about the Godly principle of love and how it should be applied to
everything in our life...every action, every thought, every person.
verb (used without object), verb (used with object), pro·lif·er·at·ed, pro·lif·er·at·ing.
1. to grow or produce by multiplication of parts, as in budding or cell division, or by procreation.
2. to increase in number or spread rapidly and often excessively.
1. to grow or reproduce (new parts, cells, etc) rapidly
2. to grow or increase or cause to grow or increase rapidly
Related words: breed, burgeon, engender, escalate, expand and generate.
Let us discuss just two fruits of Spirit. I went to the Internet and found a
web site entitled, “Got Questions.org” and found the following.
Honesty
Question: "What does the Bible say about honesty?"
Answer: Honesty is truthfulness. An honest person has the habit of
making accurate, trustworthy statements about life, self, others and God. An
honest person represents himself just as he is and tells others the truth about
themselves. Honesty is not “expressing everything that goes through your mind.”
That’s transparency, and a person can be honest without being transparent.
However, no one can be consistently honest without a commitment to the truth.
Honesty will, at times, hurt someone’s feelings, but that does not mean that
dishonesty is preferable.
Dishonesty is reproved in Scripture. God does not accept a person who “practices
deceit” (Psalm 101:7), and Jeremiah 9:5 says of a wicked society, “And they will
deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught
their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. .” Speaking
the truth, or honesty, is a mark of healthy human interaction.
Psalm 101:7
He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies
shall not tarry in my sight.
A person who knows the truth but (for whatever reason) says differently is a
liar. The Bible emphasizes the importance of making true statements about God.
To purposely misrepresent God is a serious offense. A liar is defined, first and
foremost, as someone who denies that Jesus is the Christ (1 John 2:22).
“Trusting in lies” is consistent with forgetting God (Jeremiah 13:25). And those
who claim to know God but contradict Him, add to His words, or refuse to follow
or accept His commands are also called liars (1 John 2:4; 5:10; Proverbs 30:6).
1 John 2:22
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist,
that denieth the Father and the Son.
Jeremiah 13:25
This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD; because
thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.
1 John 2:4
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the
truth is not in him.
1 John 5:10
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that
believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that
God gave of his Son.
Proverbs 30:6
Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Honesty as a character quality is a sign of the Spirit’s work in a person’s
soul. God cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18); therefore, His presence in a person gives
rise to truthfulness. God’s people are honest.
Hebrews 6:18
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we
might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the
hope set before us:
Humankind is not naturally honest (Psalm 116:11). Dishonesty has worldly
rewards–lying can often bring financial gain, power, or temporary satisfaction.
But the rewards come at a price. Dishonesty leads to more and more wickedness
(Proverbs 17:4). Lying to fulfill worldly desires ultimately results in the loss
of everything a person has, including his life. Those going to the lake of fire
will include “all liars” (Revelation 21:8). “What good is it for a man to gain
the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36).
While it is sometimes tempting to lie, misrepresent ourselves, or downplay
uncomfortable truths in an effort to avoid conflict, dishonesty is never good
for relationships. Speaking dishonest words in order avoid conflict is flattery
(Psalm 12:2). Again, at times honesty will hurt the feelings of others. It’s
inevitable. Remember the words of the wise: “Wounds from a friend can be
trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses” (Proverbs 27:6). A friend is willing to
wound with the truth; sweet words, if lies, are the enemies of our soul.
Psalm 116:11
I said in my haste, All men are liars.
Proverbs 17:4
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty
tongue.
Revelation 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part
in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Psalm 12:2
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a
double heart do they speak.
Proverbs 27:6
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
That said, honesty should always be accompanied by gentleness. An honest person
is motivated by love. Above all, the honest person is concerned with telling the
truth about God and fostering the spiritual growth of other people (Ephesians
4:29). Those who follow Jesus, the Truth (John 14:6), will speak the truth in
love (Ephesians 4:15).
Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good
to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto
the Father, but by me.
Ephesians 4:15
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the
head, even Christ:
The next fruit I could speak to is love but that subject could easily take up
several sermons so I will speak to one single aspect or form of love:
compassion:
Compassion
Question: "What does the Bible say about compassion?"
Answer: The Hebrew and Greek words translated “compassion” in the Bible
mean “to have mercy, to feel sympathy and to have pity.” We know that, according
to the Bible, God is “a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding
in love and faithfulness” (Psalm 86:15). Like all of God’s attributes, His
compassion is infinite and eternal. His compassions never fail; they are new
every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Psalm 86:15
But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and
plenteous in mercy and truth.
Lamentations 3:22-23
22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions
fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, exemplified all of the Father’s attributes,
including His compassion. When Jesus saw His friends weeping at the grave of
Lazarus, He felt compassion for them and wept alongside them (John 11:33-35).
Moved with compassion for the suffering of others, Jesus healed the large crowds
who came to Him (Matthew 14:14), as well as individuals who sought His healing
(Mark 1:40-41). When He saw the large crowds as sheep without a shepherd, His
compassion led Him to teach them the things the false shepherds of Israel had
abandoned. The priests and scribes were proud and corrupt; they despised the
common people and neglected them, but Jesus had compassion on them, and He
taught and loved them.
John 11:33-35
33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came
with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
35 Jesus wept.
Matthew 14:14
And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion
toward them, and he healed their sick.
Mark 1:40-41
40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and
saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and
saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
When asked what was the greatest commandment, Jesus responded that it is to love
God with all our heart, mind and strength. But He added that the second
commandment “is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:34-40).
The Pharisee had asked Him which single command of God is the greatest, but
Jesus provided two, stating not only what we are to do, but also how to do it.
To love our neighbor as ourselves is the natural result of our loving devotion
toward God.
Matthew 22:34-40
34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence,
they were gathered together.
35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and
saying,
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and
with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
First John 3:17 asks, “But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his
brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how
dwelleth the love of God in him?” Originally made in His image, man is to
exemplify God’s traits, including compassion. From this it follows that “If
anyone says, ‘I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that
loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not
seen?” (1 John 4:20). The Bible is clear that compassion is an attribute of God
and of God’s people as well.
Honesty and compassion are just two of the fruits of the Spirit we need to
proliferate in our lives. There are more for you to consider and study at the
end of this text. So, in addition to your Assiduity prayers of putting all of
your actions, burdens and concerns into His hands, begin or continue now to put
all your works into His hands.
Now get out there and Proliferate!!
ADDITIONAL READING AND STUDY
Here is a list of known principles of God or fruits of the Spirit of God. This
is followed by a definition of what a principle is.
Compassion
Courage
Encouragement
Fairness
Faith
Forgiveness
Gentleness
Giving
Goodness
Growth
Honesty
Human Dignity
Integrity
Joy
Longsuffering
Love
Meekness
Nurturance
Patience
Peace
Persistence
Potential
Process
Quality
Service
Temperance
Trust
Truth
What is a Principle?
Principles are guidelines for human conduct that are proven to have enduring,
permanent value. They’re fundamental. They’re essentially unarguable because
they are self-evident.
One way to quickly grasp the self-evident nature of principles is to simply
consider the absurdity of attempting to live an effective life based on their
opposites. I doubt that anyone would seriously consider unfairness, deceit,
baseness, uselessness, mediocrity, or degeneration to be a solid foundation for
lasting happiness and success.
Although people may argue about how these principles are defined or manifested
or achieved, there seems to be an innate consciousness and awareness that they
exist.
Principles are deep, fundamental truths that have universal application. They
apply to individuals, to marriages, to families, to private and public
organizations of every kind.
Principles are not practices (works). A practice is a specific activity or
action. A practice that works in one circumstance will not necessarily work in
another. When principles are internalized into habits, they empower people to
create a wide variety of practices to deal with different situations. To invoke
a principle is to put it into a practice (a work).
Principles are not values. A gang of thieves can share values, but they are in
violation of the fundamental principles we’re talking about such as honesty.
Principles are the territory. Values are maps. When we value correct
principles, we have truth……we put on Jesus Christ.
All principles are Spirit. They are the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians
5:22-23). God and Jesus Christ ARE principles. God and Jesus Christ are
Spirit. The more we invoke principles the more we become like Christ. You
are, in essence becoming like and preparing to be a member of the God Family.