Preacher: Pastor (Dr) Otive Igbuzor
Text: Luke 8: 8; Luke 18: 28-30 Date: 12/5/24
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Introduction
God’s first command to man was to multiply. The command reflects God’s desire for abundance and increase in every aspect of life.
Gen 1: 26-28 26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (KJV)
Man was made to rule, be fruitful and increase in number. Increase can either be through addition or multiplication:
- Addition: 2+2+2+2+2=10
- Multiplication: 2x2x2x2x2=32
God is God of multiplication. Multiplication grows faster than addition. But multiplication is not merely a mathematical concept but a spiritual principle that can transform the life of believers.,
Secrets of Multiplication - The Seed Principle (Luke 8:8): When you sow only one seed, it multiplies to a bunch of seeds. Jesus taught in the parable of the sower that when a seed falls on good soil, it multiplies -in a hundred times what was sown.
Luke 8:8-Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” (NIV)
We can sow seeds of faith, love and kindness and we will reap in multiples. - Faith as mustard seed (Matt 17:20): Jesus declared that if we have faith as small as a mustard seed, we can move mountains.
Matt 17: 20- He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (NIV)
Similarly, our faith can multiply exponentially when nurtured and exercised. - Miraculous Multiplication-Feeding the Multitudes (Matt 14: 13-21): God can multiply things miraculously. Jesus demonstrated the principle of multiplication through the miraculous multiplication of loaves and fishes.
Matt 14: 19-20-And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. (NIV)
Similarly, when we offer our meagre resources to God, He can multiply them beyond measure. - Multiplying Talents (Matt 25: 14-30): In the parable of the talents, Jesus illustrates the principle of multiplication.
Matt 25: 21-His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (NIV)
If you do not use your talents and gifts, there will be no multiplication. - Multiplication starts in the heart with faith (John 6:6): The idea of the possibility of multiplication starts from the heart.
John 6:5-6 -When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. (NIV)
It is by faith that a farmer sows a seed expecting it to grow. It is with faith that Jesus fed the multitude. It is with faith that servants used their talents. Many talents go to the grave ununsed because of lack of faith. - Whatever is dedicated to God gets multiplied: Hannah dedicated Samuel to God and God blessed her with more children
1 Sam 2: 20-21- Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the LORD give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to[c] the LORD.” Then they would go home. 21 And the LORD was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD. (NIV)
Dedicate your life, resources and time to God and you will see multiplication in your life.
Challenge
Do you have faith? Do you believe in the power of God to multiply? Do you have anything-life, resources, time and ministry to dedicate to God?
Luke 18: 28-30-28 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” (NIV)
Do not fear? Leave everything and follow Jesus. Commit everything to God to multiply. God will make you to experience multiplication in Jesus’ name.
Conclusion
God’s first command to man was to multiply. The command reflects God’s desire for abundance and increase in every aspect of life. God wants us to experience multiplication. If you want to experience multiplication, sow seeds, have faith, believe in God’s miraculous power, use your talents and dedicate your life and everything you have to God.
Prayer Point
• Father, open my eyes to the secret of multiplication