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Sermon: Proliferate
by Chris Cumming
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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.
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