Be Fruitful and Multiply

By: B. Hunter, arranged by M. Allen

 

FILING INFORMATION:

98019

SUBJECT: evangelism, personal work

Preached Originally:  03/22/98 - Rapid City, SD

 

I.  Introduction.

A.     Our 2nd personal work class will be held this Thursday evening.  We had a very good turnout two weeks ago.  Hopefully, many of you will be able to make it out this week.

B.    We wish to continue some thoughts on personal work tonight.  This is a need we need to be conscious of.  We should understand that Christ expects each and everyone of us to be personal workers.

C.    Hope you will be able to take notes, follow along in your Bible, and listen to the thoughts that are expressed tonight.

1.    let us use this as an opportunity to bolster our confidence in this area.

D.    Text:  Gen. 1:26-28.  Gold tells mankind to be fruitful & multiply.  This command given to physical man.

1.    very first physical command that God gave man.

2.    Commandment that mankind has fulfilled very well…over 6 billion people on face of the earth today!

3.    In fact more people living today than that are in the grave!

E.    Likewise, the 1st commandment given to spiritual man under the kingdom of Christ was to be fruitful and multiply.

1.    Mt. 28:18-20 - same idea as in Gen. 1:28

2.    Paul wanted Timothy to know the importance of spiritual growth/reproduction when he wrote 2 Tim .2:2

3.    Approximately 2 million members of the Lord's church today in the US.  They are who/what they are as a direct result of someone heeding the command of Jesus in Mt. 28; Mk. 16; etc.

a.    we are all indebted to someone for leading us to Christ.

F.     Why are Christians today, on the whole, not being fruitful and multiplying spiritually?

1.      because many just don’t care about the lost and what will happen to them.

a.    may sound harsh, but it is the truth of the matter.

b.    Prov. 24:11-12 - God will see through the excuses we offer up.  We are responsible to teach/preach/warn others of the need to obey God.

2.      We must see the need/importance to teach.  Every man that sees that need must see it for himself.

a.    Heb. 4:12 - Here's our weapon.

b.    We need to teach, patiently, kindly, frankly, and with love.  Brethren, there are NO excuses.

c.     What more grievous sin than for the Christian to let a neighbor/friend go to hellfire w/o even attempting to win the person's soul.

d.    Ezek. 3:17-19

G.    What is it that hinders us in spiritual reproduction?  Exactly the same thing that hinders men in physical reproduction.  For example:

 

II.  Some Never Get Married & Therefore Never Reproduce Legitimately.

A.    Unless a union first takes place we cannot reproduce.

1.    we are to be united with Christ.  In order to have a spiritual union w/Him we must spend time with Christ.

2.    Jhn. 15:5 - unless we unite with Christ as we ought, there will be no union.

B.    The church - "The Bride of Christ" is made up of saved people.

1.    2 Cor. 5:16-17 - when one is born again (heart, mind, soul) in UNION with Jesus - a person will do what is necessary to find others who want to become Christians.

2.    Rom. 7:4 - as long as we are separated from Christ we cannot reproduce.  Same true for a woman who wears a man's name, but if she is separated from him she will not reproduce.

3.    Jhn. 3:5 - Born of the spirit…our work doesn’t stop here.  Rom. 8:14 - says we must be LED by the spirit.

a.     we must walk in constant companionship and harmony with Jesus Christ - day in and day out!

C.   Preacher interviewed 29 fruitless members of a stagnant church.

1.    all:  same answer: never led anyone to Christ.

2.    Asked 2 questions:  ask yourself the same:

a.    do I truly believe my own personal study, prayer life, and meditation is pleasing to God?  (only 1 out of 29 said yes.)

b.    Their answer:  (rest of 28) said "just too busy."  As soon as everything else taken care of they would do what they needed to w/God.

c.     Is my devotional life better today than one year ago?  What about 2, 5, or 10 years ago?

1.    If not do you actually feel that it will be better 2, 5, 10 years from now if no changes made?

2.    Remember, Satan wants you to TOTALLY crowd out Jesus from your life.

D.   Begin praying to God to lead someone to Christ today!

1.    see why many people are barren spiritually?

2.    Many so busy that they never take time out to "be still and know God."  Psa. 46:10

 

III.  Some Never Reproduce because of Disease or Physical Impairment.

A.         Some diseases cause men/women to be unable to physically reproduce.

1.      A JW Kingdom Hall in the South reports that the average member spends 10.9 hours/mth in personal evangelism  (That's 2.7 hrs. wk.)  That represents just about everyone in the organization.

a.     not much time left to watch TV, engage in recreational activities.

b.     We able to find time to play golf, tennis, fishing, hunting, camping, needle stitch, etc.,  Spend 10-12 hrs., wk doing this - think nothing of it.  Where is our desire to save souls?

2.      Do what we want to do.  We need to find time for soul-winning.

a.     4 JW's in one month did 87.7 hours of personal work.  That an average of 20.4 hrs/wk.

b.    Remember, they hold down jobs to live.  They aren't supported financially from their religious organization.

c.     If we averaged the soul-saving time for our congregation from last month, would your personal time boost the average or lower it?

B.         Spiritually, the only disease which impairs the soul is SIN.

1.    many out there who can't reproduce spiritually because of sin in their lives.

2.    Sin can cause us to lose the desire to save souls.

C.        Why the lack of desire?  Too many other things that we feel interested in.

1.     some have desire to save souls but refuse to give up some sinful activities and people around them see that!

2.     we often lose our influence to lead others to Christ by:

a.    Impure speech.  Paul wrote: Col. 4:5-6

b.    Lying/cheating/loafing on the job.

c.     Being irresponsible/unreliable in general.  1 Cor. 11:1 - Paul said we need to be an example to others as he was.

D.        Result: can't lead anyone to Christ.

1.      can't lead someone to someplace that you yourself haven't been.

 

IV.  Some Never Reproduce Because of Immaturity.

A.    God has arranged it so that little children cannot reproduce.  They are not yet capable of taking on the responsibility of raising children.

B.    People are little children spiritually.  Some this way after having been Christians for 10-20 years.  This is because they have never grown spiritually. 

1.    they never developed, never matured, never grown up in Christ.

2.    Must be married to/with Christ in order to bear fruit with God.

C.   Jhn. 15:16 - in God's family for purpose of spiritual reproduction.

1.      born physically to reproduce physically.  Born spiritually to reproduce spiritually.

2.      Remember comparison of Gen. 1:28 to Mt. 28:18-20

D.   We need to grow up spiritually and reproduce as God has instructed!  If the Christian not leading souls to Christ then something is wrong!

 

V.  Conclusion.

A.        These three reason are results of why many do not reproduce spiritually today.

1.    our soul not really in union with Christ.

2.    Sin has killed desire to lead others to Christ

3.    You are immature and haven't grown up in Christ yet.

B.        Let's start working for the Lord and begin reproducing souls immediately!

C.       I N V I T A T I O N