The Ministry of Multiplication (Isa. 54:2, 59:21)

[disciple]

Chapter 11: The Ministry of Multiplication
(Isa. 54:2, 59:21)

- Isa. 54:2—God’s goal for us (expand your influence for Christ) & the plan to reach it (“let THEM (others) stretch forth the curtains”). Pattern: educate your vision, expand your life, extend your outreach, establish your “home base,” & expect disciples to enlarge your ministry
- Isa. 59:21—God’s words passed on through 4+ generations (you, your children, your children’s children, from now until forever)

I. The proven principle of multiplication
- God expects us to impact the world through our spiritual fruitfulness & multiplication, just as it has been/is being peopled (Gen. 1:28)
-Spiritual multiplication: God’s planned vision & strategy for reaching the present world population & all future generations through those we invest in now; one maturing Christian building another believer until he in turn is building other reproducing believers
- “A leader who develops people adds; a leader who develops leaders multiplies.” John Maxwell
- Multiplication was modeled by Jesus, Paul, & early church. 2 Tim. 2:2—example of 4-generation disciple making & the command to “invest”

II. The great potential of multiplication
- Jesus was too smart to start large; we are usually too stupid to start small
- Dominoes compared to multiplying disciple making: 1) must be done relationally according to established rules, 2) begins with the biggest possible double (greater than all others), 3) next investment must be like both the double & the next “generation,” 4) participants must invest all they have or lose it
- In 9 months of pregnancy, 1 cell multiplies itself x120 trillion—church is the Body of Christ, each cell of which is expected to multiply itself many times
- Pattern of spiritual multiplication (1 Th. 1:4-8): proclamation of the Gospel, demonstration of Christ’s life by the disciple maker, other people follow the disciple maker, disciples trained to multiply through future generations (Paul>Silas/Timothy>>Thessalonians>Macedonians/Achaians/others)
- Penny illustration of multiplying’s potential v. addition

III. A powerful picture of multiplication (Abraham’s example)
- God’s promise to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3, 15:1-5)
- “Abram” = “father of many” (contradiction between his name & his history)
- Abram’s attempt to multiply through the efforts of his flesh (Gen. 16:1-4). We are often spiritually sterile & take refuge in the artificial productivity of our flesh (I’m a church member, read my Bible, good person, etc). God dismisses our best efforts when we offer them as a substitute, just as Ishmael was sent away.
- Isaac’s birth required a miracle, & there must be a miracle of God for multiplication to happen through us (Heb. 11:12)

IV. The possible results of multiplication
1) Failure—reasons people don’t multiply (no union, don’t want to, disease, immaturity)
- If Hitler had been with Isaac on Mt. Moriah, he could have eliminated all Jews; Cain’s killing of Abel eliminated 1/3 of potential population
2) Success—All God needs is 1 person with the constraining love of Christ in his heart, a passion for disciple making in his mind, & a practical strategy for fulfilling his passion (Gal. 6:7, Isa. 60:12)