Blessed To Increase
Gen. 1:28; 26:1-4, 12-14; Ps. 115:12-16.
Bishop David Ibeleme
We were created by God to increase or grow.
We are living organisms and one the features of every living organism is growth.
If it’s alive then it should grow.
If it’s not growing it must be dead or it is dying.
We’ve been given eternal or everlasting life, so God expects us to grow.
He has put things in place to ensure that we grow / increase.
The ingredient for growth or increase is part of our spiritual DNA – Ps. 92:12.
Jesus said “I have ordained you to bring forth fruit” – Jn. 15:15-16.
To Ordain = Tithemi (Grk); to place, to position, to appoint, to set forth, to purpose and to settle.
“I am Blessed” is not just a cliché.
This ingredient for growth is called the Blessing of God – Eph. 1:3.
Many have “commonised” the blessing not realizing that it is the key to making it on planet earth – Gen. 1:26-28.
To be “Blessed” is simply being “Empowered to Succeed”.
This means you cannot succeed as God’s child without being blessed.
God taught Israel the power of the blessing.
It governed Abraham’s life – Gen. 12:1-3.
He passed this on to his son Isaac – Gen. 26:1-3.
This concept was then passed to the generations that followed.
No Child of the nation was ever “released” without being blessed.
No King and no Priest ever took office in Israel without being blessed.
Israel would do absolutely nothing unless they were assured of the blessing of God.
Not only has God included the blessing as part of our spiritual DNA, He has also committed Himself to bless us continuously.
This is because He is ever mindful (His mind is full) of us – Ps. 115:12.
Three (3) Dimensions of Growth or Increase.
1. Spiritual growth – with respect to our lives / character – Jn. 15:1-3.
It covers our maturity in Christ and bearing the fruit of the spirit – Gal. 5:22ff.
We will attend to this in greater detail at a later date.
2. Increase in Goods; this is growth or increase with respect returns on our investments – Gen. 26:12-14; Mk. 10:29-31.
This guarantees us that the law of sowing and reaping will work on our behalf – Mk. 4:1-20; Gen. 8:20-22; Ecc. 11:1-6.
We are guaranteed returns on our investments, be they spiritual or secular.
Increase and multiplication are promised to us as we obey the laws of sowing and reaping – 2 Cor. 9:6-10; Prov. 3:9; 11:24-25.
3. Church growth; this covers returns on our evangelistic efforts – Jn. 15:15-16.
The Church is a living organism and has been ordained by God to grow or increase continuously – Acts 2:41, 47; 4:4; 5:14; 6:1, 7.
This was evidenced in the early church as shown by the scriptures above.
Any local church that is not growing will eventually “die”.
Believers that are not actively involved in evangelism will be weak spiritually.
Cherish Your Role – Eph. 4:15-16.
You were designed by God to bear fruit – Jn. 15:1-8, 15-16.
Your personal growth is tied to how take part in personal evangelism.
Evangelism helps us maintain our attitude of compassion – Jn. 15.
If you are actively involved in Evangelism you will walk in love.
You won’t have time for gossip and strife.
It will help you nurture others – what you teach you eventually retain.
Evangelism also helps you to stay purged – Jn. 15:2-5.
Once you are bearing fruit God will take on the job of dealing with the flaws in your life which you cannot deal with on your own – Jn. 15:1-3.
Stay Connected – Jn. 15:1-4.
You cannot backslide whilst you’re actively involved in evangelism.
However you cannot evangelize unless you abide in the vine.
To flourish and grow you must stay connected – Ps. 92:13-14.
Copyright © 2008 by Rev. Dr. David Ibeleme
Victorious Faith Ministries, P.O. Box 4378, St. Ann’s, Trinidad. W.I.
(868) 625-6863 / 625-1449 / 623-1020 (fax)
E-mail : vfmwo@hotmail.com; davidibeleme@hotmail.com
Website : vfmwo.org
