Season Of Increase

Season Of Increase

The focus word for today is ‘Increase’.

Focus verse for today is Deuteronomy 1:11 says, ‘May the Lord, the God of your ancestors, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised!’

Declare today - “Multiplication and increase surround me today; every seed I sow bears abundant fruit”

Increase Begins With God’s Promises

In the book of Genesis, right after creation, God blessed mankind with increase. Increase is not merely an ambition, it is rooted in God’s promise. It’s not just wishful thinking, but it is rooted in the promise and Word of God.

Genesis 22:17 says, ‘I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies’

It’s God’s desire for mankind to increase and this is a promise that God has given us. To increase is to follow God’s instructions and to experience his promise. This is because all species are blessed with the capability to multiply. In fact, this is part of God’s master plan. The promise to Abraham is to give him countless descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky or the sand on the seashore.

Increase is a promise from God.

Psalms 115:14 says, ‘May the Lord cause you to flourish, both you and your children.’

Isaiah 54:2-3 says, ‘“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. 3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.’

For context - the Lord is giving this promise to a barren woman. She does not have children, but despite her circumstances, God tells her that he is going to give her an ‘increase’ in her life. God tells her that her situation is going to change. Receive this in your life.

God’s promise is the blueprint of increase.

Increase Is Both Quality and Quantity

When we hear the word ‘increase’, we often relate that to an increase in number. However, in God’s eyes, increase can happen both in terms of quality and quantity. I’ve heard many people say that, in a Church, it is important to have only good and holy believers, rather than having many who attend the services. God looks at both. God desires numbers as well and not just quality. God cares about numbers and a proof of that is the book of Numbers. It is written in the Word of God, that he looks for the lost sheep even if the other 99 is safe and secure. At the same time, quality is equally important and that is weighed by our attitude and growth in character. As we get closer to God, our character must also reflect this. We should imbibing the fruit of the Spirit in us and in our character. Expansion and influence must increase.Multiplication and impact in our ministry are also other attributes that supplement quality.

Proverbs 4:18 says, ‘The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.’

Colossians 1:10 says, ‘so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God’

Increase Requires Alignment With God

We will experience an ‘increase’ in our lives, only if we live in alignment with God, speaking to him, consulting with him and being in a close relationship with God.

Deuteronomy 28:1 says, ‘If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.’

Matthew 6:33 says, ‘But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’

John 15:7 says, ‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.’

Being in alignment with God is much like a train and the track. If the train moves along the track, then it moves forward safely and steadily, but if it falls out of the track, then heads for calamity. In the same way for us to be fruitful and prosperous in our lives, it is important to be aligned with God at all times.

Increase Must Be Stewarded Well

When we do experience an increase in our lives, it is important that we handle it well and steward that increase as per Godly principles. God only increases what is well-managed. Luke describes the core principle of managing money well.

Luke 16:10 says, ‘“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.’

It’s similar to when an employee is on probation where they are given several works and responsibilities. If the employee is deemed fit and responsible for the work given, then they are elevated to the next level.

Matthew 25:21 says, ‘“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!’

The context of this parable is that a master gave his servants gold coins to multiply them through business or other pursuits. In doing so, the expectation is that they multiply the given amount and bring in more income. Each of the servants were given different amounts and at the end of it, some doubled the given gold coins, and another did not invest their money, rather left it as it is, to be returned when asked. At the end of the day, it was the servants who multiplied their coins and invested them wisely that were given more responsibilities and deemed good stewards of money.

1 Corinthians 4:2 says, ‘Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.’

This month of April, let’s aim to be good stewards of what God has entrusted with us. Stewardship determines our level of increase.