In this year of fruitfulness and abundance, it is important
for us to understand that God’s original purpose for creating and making man is
for us to be fruitful and multiply to enable us replenish the earth, subdue it
and have dominion over all of God’s earthly creation but man. See Genesis
1:26-28; 9:1-2.
To be fruitful means producing good or helpful results or to
be productive; to multiply on the other hand means to increase or cause to
increase greatly in number. The definition of multiplication describes
abundance which means a very large quantity of something. It also means the
condition or state of having a copious quantity of something; plentifulness. It
also means plentifulness of the good things of life; prosperity.
Like we saw earlier, God’s intention for us is to be fertile
– spirit, soul and body producing good or helpful results or be productive in
great quantity or in abundant measure.
From our text in Genesis, we can gather that we would only be
able to exercise dominion when we are productive otherwise, we cannot fulfill
divine expectation. The order is 1. Be fruitful; 2. Multiply; 3. Replenish the
earth; 4. Subdue it; and 5. Have Dominion or rule over the earth and everything
in it except man.
When Jesus Christ came, He reiterated this truth when He said
in John 15:8:
“Herein is my father
glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples”.
From this text, it is evident that when we fulfil our
destinies by being abundantly productive, God is glorified. Jesus also further
affirms this truth in John 15:16 when He said we have not chosen Him but that
He has chosen us and ordained us to go and bear lasting fruit. He also affirms
here that fruit bearing is an incentive to God to answer our prayers. Thus
fruit bearing and in abundance is our destiny from God.
As we fulfill our destinies this year, we must understand
that a very significant truth that Jesus Christ reveals to us in John 15:5 is
that we cannot accomplish anything without him. In other words, we cannot
fulfil our destinies and nothing is possible for us without Him. For a clearer
understanding of this, let us see John 15:1-5:
“I am the vine and my
father is the husbandman.
Every branch in me that
beareth not fruit He taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, He
purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Now ye are clean
through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Abide in me, and I in
you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no
more can ye except ye, abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are
the branches; He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much
fruit; for without me ye can do nothing.”
From this text, it is clear that abundant fruitfulness is
impossible without a living relationship or a constant connection to the Lord
who likens our relationship with Him to the relationship between the branches
of a plant and the plant. Once there is a disconnection of the branch from the
plant, the branch dies. In the same way anyone who refuses to stay connected to
the Lord would die out as a result of unfruitfulness and if one is part of the
branch and fails to bear fruit which usually results from carnality, the father
will personally disconnect such a person from the Lord’s body. Consequent on
this truth here, it is clear that no better prophetic word would kick off this
year than this: January; our month of
glory. The glory of God speaks of His manifest presence that reveals who
God is and His ways to us. The Oxford Advanced Learners’ Dictionary Defines
Glory as:
·
High
renown or honour won by notable achievement.
·
Magnificence
or great beauty; a thing that is of great beauty, impressive, or worthy of
praise. For example, the splendor and bliss of heaven.
·
Praise,
worship and thanksgiving offered to God.
In Exodus 33:12-23, we read:
“And Moses said unto
the Lord, see, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let
me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name,
and thou hast also found grace in my sight.
Now therefore I pray
thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know
thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy
people.
And He said my presence
shall go with thee and I will give thee rest.
And he said if thy
presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.
For wherein shall it be
known that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? Is it not in that
thou goest before us? So shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the
people that are upon the face of the earth.
And the Lord said unto
Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken; for thou hast found
grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.
And he said, I beseech
the, show me thy glory.
And he said, I will
make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord
before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show
mercy on whom I will show mercy.
And He said, Thou canst
not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
And the Lord said,
Behold there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock, and will cover
thee with my hand while I pass by:
And I will take away
mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts; but my face shall not be seen.”
From this text, it is evident that the glory of God refers to
God’s person. When He is with you, His presence goes everywhere with you. The
good news for us believers in Jesus Christ is that God now resides in us
because Jesus Christ died to take away our old sinful nature and give us a new
spirit which is conducive for God to dwell in. see Ezekiel 36:26-27; 2Cor.5:17,
21 and Colossians 1:27.
Our text in Colossians 1:27 makes us understand that when we
invite the Lord Jesus Christ to dwell in our hearts, we would have the
potential of carrying the manifest presence of God everywhere. Whether or not
you actually demonstrate this grace would depend on your willingness to pay the
price. More will be said on this in subsequent epistles.
The experience of Moses by the Red sea in Exodus 14 when the
sea parted for him and the children of Israel to walk on dry land while it
destroyed their enemies is an example of what God’s manifest presence can
accomplish in your life. If you want this kind of grace, it starts with the new
birth experience. If you are yet to make a commitment to the Lord and want to
do so now, you can say the following prayer out loud meaning it with all of
your heart and you shall be saved and can begin your destiny journey!
Heavenly Father,
Have mercy on me a sinner. Today, I
believe that Jesus died for me and you raised Him from the dead for my
Justification. I therefore declare that Jesus Christ is my Saviour and Lord and
from today, I renounce the fatherhood of Satan and embrace Jesus Christ as my
Saviour and Lord. Thank you for this father in Jesus’ name!
Amen.
Congratulations! For more information
and resources that would help you grow in this new life, please visit our blogs
atwww.flourishinggirl.blogspot.com andwww.kingdomheirsministries.blogspot.com and follow us
on twitter at alero_nanna and on face book onwww.facebook.com/flourishinggirl . Remain on top
of your challenges in Jesus’ name!
