Be fruitful and multiply

We have a large eucalyptus tree in our front yard. Whenever we are in drought, the tree sheds a layer of yellow creamy spore that covers the ground. Because it is under stress, this species endeavours to guarantee its survival through multiplication. The tree drops its spore to ensure further germination. We can learn from the eucalypt. Fruitfulness and multiplication always come in times of affliction.

We know that the Lord commands blessing by His word. He brings a word to us, for us, and about us. When the word is coming to us, it is mostly a still, small voice as it was in Elijah’s day. We read, ‘And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still, small voice’. 1Kings 19:12. It may be in a still, small voice, but when He brings a word to us, it has within it the capacity for growth and multiplication.

In the book of Genesis, there is a very positive statement regarding the Israelites when they lived in Egypt. ‘So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions there and grew and multiplied exceedingly.’ Gen 47:27. God was active among them. However, as time went by, the Egyptians began to feel threatened by the Israelites. Accordingly, they sought to suppress and afflict them.

This is not necessarily a negative thing. When we are under threat, like the tree, we are going to throw our spore! The Scripture records, ‘The more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew’. Ex 1:12. The book of Acts speaks of the Israelites in Egypt and says, ‘When the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied’. Acts 7:17. Here we see the timing of God.

In the history of the modern Christian church, it is now some decades since the Pentecostal renewal. Like the Israelites, we wait to see what God will do. There have been times of revival when we saw the Spirit move, and then other seasons when we waited. Nevertheless, we need to continually look for the time when the promise is drawing near. One of the primary indicators of the promise drawing near is affliction or tribulation because of the word.

Affliction is just that extra ‘stress factor’, that compounding factor that is going to take you beyond simply sprouting new growth to bringing forth multiplication. If God is putting pressure on you, squeezing, correcting, refining or processing you, lift up your head and rejoice, for the time of the promise is drawing near. In every season of your life, the Lord not only wants to see you grow, but He wants you to multiply. Whatever you are, He wants more of you. The Scripture says of Jesus and His kingdom, ‘There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace’. Isa 9:7. Eternity is not just where we land and then stop. It does not simply say there will be no end, but rather ‘there will be no end to the increase’.

David Falk

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Feature Articles
November 2008

Understanding your way

The words of eternal life

Every good gift

The song that counts

Be fruitful and multiply

A man who prays

Amazing grace

The secret place

Perspective on tribulation

Bearing the yoke

The problem of evil