Addition is good, for example 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12; That’s OK and certainly better than nothing, BUT what about 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 = 81? That’s multiplication!! Often we think bigger is better, for example a leader may talk about having a church of 500 then over time it grows to 1200. That’s growth, but let’s not mistake that for multiplication.
Let's look at how Elephants reproduction: The are only fertile four times a year. One baby per pregnancy. A 22 month gestation period. Sexual maturity at 18 years. Maximum growth potential in 3 years from 2 elephants to 3!
Now let’s look at Rabbits reproduction: Almost continuously fertile. Average of 7 babies per pregnancy. 1 Month gestation period. Sexual maturity at 4 months. Maximum growth potential in 3 years...from 2 rabbits to 476 million!!
The DNA of Jesus, His disciples and Abraham is one of Multiplication!
Jesus spoke about multiplication often. For example, look at forgiveness, 70 x 7. Also what about when Jesus mentions 30, 60, 100 times!! Matt 13:23, Mk 4:8. The feeding of the 5000 men (probably 13000 people in total) is a story of multiplication.
Of course look at the promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Gen 1:28 / 22:15-18, Deut 1:10-11. My life verse in Eph 3:20-21, “God is able, to do exceedingly, abundantly more then we could ask, think or imagine…”
Let’s not forget Jesus’ Commission in Matt 28: “Go, make disciples of the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you!”
Often I see leaders wanting to build larger churches. After all, healthy things grow! But an apple tree will always be an apple tree, it will never be an oak tree or a poplar tree. I can pray & fast 40 days and 40 nights, but it will never be an oak tree!! But it is able to multiply! In fact if the seeds of one apple tree could all be planted, we would have an orchard, and in time orchards! That’s multiplication.
Even nature declares multiplication. So if you’re an apple tree, be the best apple tree you can be and do what you are meant to do: multiply!
So with the resources you have, how can you multiply?
