"Today, I want to speak to you about a divine calling that every redeemed believer must embrace: the calling to be Redeemed to Replenish. This calling is rooted in God's original purpose for mankind, as seen in Genesis 1:28, where God said, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over everything that moves on the earth.'
First, I want us to understand that God's command to replenish is not just a command but also a promise, because it comes with His blessing. Genesis 1:28 begins with, 'And God blessed them.' The blessing is the divine empowerment; the grace is given to us to fulfill His purpose. His blessing enables us to restore, refill, and renew what has been depleted or broken.
Replenishing is a comprehensive calling, it involves restoring our spiritual lives, healing emotional wounds, nurturing relationships, and actively working to rebuild what the enemy has tried to destroy. When God commands us to replenish, He is calling us to be active participants in His divine restoration plan.
God Reenacts His Blessings: Genesis 9:1-3
To see how God reaffirms His blessing and His plan of replenishment, we look at Genesis 9:1-3. After the flood, God blessed Noah and his sons, saying, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.' This is a reenactment of His original blessing to Adam and Eve. It shows that God's purpose for replenishing and multiplying is eternal and ongoing.
In Genesis 9:1, God is essentially reenacting His blessing to humanity, reaffirming that His plan to fill the earth and steward it is still in effect. It’s God's way of re-establishing His divine order after a reset, showing us that His blessings are renewals opportunities to restore His original intent.
The Cycle of Replenishment: The Five Key Steps
There is a divine cycle involved in fulfilling God's purpose of replenishment. This cycle includes five vital steps, which I want to highlight clearly:
The First Step: Find the Lost
The journey of replenishment begins with seeking out those who are lost. Jesus Himself said in Luke 19:10, 'For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.' As redeemed believers, we are called to mirror Christ’s mission by actively going after those who are hurting and lost spiritually.
This means praying for the lost, sharing the gospel, and demonstrating Christ’s love through our actions. Replenishing begins with outreach; finding the lost, rescuing them from despair, and bringing them into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
The Second Step: Flock the Found
Once we have found those who are lost, the next step is to bring them into the community of faith, fostering a safe, loving environment where they can grow and flourish. This is about gathering them into the flock.
In John 10:27, Jesus said, 'My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.' We are called to create a welcoming environment in our churches and communities where new believers feel accepted, loved, and valued. It’s our duty to disciple them, help them grow in faith, and build bonds that reflect Christ’s love.
The Third Step: Feed the Flocks
Feeding the flock is about spiritual nourishment. Just as a shepherd feeds his sheep, we must provide teaching, discipleship, and encouragement to help believers mature in their faith.
In 1 Peter 2:2, the Apostle Peter urges us to long for the 'pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.' Providing consistent, nourishing spiritual food helps believers develop a strong, resilient faith.
This involves Bible studies, prayer groups, mentorship, and other opportunities that foster growth and maturity. When we feed the flock, we are equipping believers to stand strong and be effective in their walk with Christ.
The Fourth Step: Feel the Flock
Feeling the flock involves showing genuine compassion and empathy. It’s about bearing one another’s burdens, supporting each other emotionally and spiritually.
Galatians 6:2 says, 'Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.' This step emphasizes the importance of community, creating a church where everyone feels loved, valued, and supported.
When we feel the flock, we actively demonstrate Christ’s love through acts of kindness, listening, praying, and comforting. This builds a community where everyone experiences God’s grace through genuine relationship.
The Fifth Step: Field the Flock
The final step in this cycle is to empower believers to fulfill their God-given purpose. This means equipping them with gifts, training, and opportunities to serve.
In Ephesians 4:12, Paul writes that Christ gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, 'to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.'
We are called to send out laborers into the harvest; whether in ministry, outreach, or daily life so that the cycle of replenishment continues. When believers are empowered to serve, they become active participants in God’s restorative work, helping to replenish the earth and expand His kingdom.
Typology of Replenishment: Acts 1:8 and Genesis 11:1-9
To understand this divine cycle of replenishment further, we can look at typologies, patterns that reflect God's ongoing plan.
First, Acts 1:8 says, 'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.'
This verse shows us that the Holy Spirit empowers us to be witnesses replenishing the earth by spreading the gospel and extending God's kingdom. It’s about going beyond ourselves, actively replenishing lost souls at every level locally and globally.
Second, Genesis 11:1-9 recounts the story of the Tower of Babel. The people sought to make a name for themselves and reached into the heavens, but God intervened by confusing their language and scattering them.
This story typifies the importance of divine guidance in replenishment. When humans attempt to build without God's blessing, their efforts become futile. But when God's blessing is upon His people, their efforts to replenish and steward the earth can have divine success.
In both stories, we see that replenishment is not just human effort but divine empowerment through the Holy Spirit and God's blessing. God re-enacts His blessings, guiding His people to fulfill His original purpose.
Conclusion
Brothers and sisters, as those redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, we are called to be active in God's divine cycle of replenishment. We are to find the lost, bring them into community, nourish their faith, support them with love, and empower them to serve and all of this is rooted in God's ongoing blessings and His reenactment of His promises through us.
Remember, just as God reaffirms His blessing after the flood in Genesis 9:1-3, and as the Holy Spirit empowers us in Acts 1:8, God is always ready to renew His blessing upon us as we participate in His divine purpose.
So today, I challenge each of you: ask the Lord how you can be part of this cycle. Who needs you to find them? Who needs your love, support, and encouragement? How can you serve to help replenish what has been lost?
Let us go forth, redeemed and empowered, to fulfill God's purpose of replenishing the earth with His love, His grace, and His salvation. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen."
