Multiplication vs. Division
In school, we learned about multiplication and division. Being proficient in these math concepts was needed to move on to the next grade and to function in our everyday lives.
I remember a tutor I had named Joyce. She helped with kindness and patience so I could grasp this new level of math. I vividly remember being in her home and sitting at her dining room table. She helped me and impacted my life.
Do you remember a teacher or tutor who helped you?
It’s funny how teachers and subjects stay with us forever as they’re a part of who we become.
But multiplication and division are spiritual concepts too.
I believe that local churches and leaders must learn these so they move to new levels in reaching people and so they thrive spiritually too.
God multiplied His people and made them into a great nation.
“And may the Lord, the God of your ancestors, multiply you a thousand times more and bless you as he promised!”
Deuteronomy 1:11
God also multiplied the church and He’s still doing this today.
“Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.”
Acts 9:31
Everything God touches has growth. This is because He is life and when He impacts something, the life of God causes it to flourish.
We see this in creation, reproduction, family generations expanding over time, and His church.
Jesus is saving people and right now, Christianity is the fastest growing faith in the world, especially internationally.
God wants to multiply His church because He wants to save more people. This means we must receive His desire and take part in what He’s doing.
God multiples; the devil divides.
His tactic hasn’t changed and where division is, the devil is there.
We have to remember this and refuse to allow division in our churches. We must protect the unity, so the vision can move forward.
Vision with unity can see multiplication. Vision with division will see heartache and strife.
We’re called to multiply! We’re called to grow! We’re called to lead people to Jesus!
Sadly in America, more churches are walking in division and they’re shutting down. This is NOT the plan of God and it grieves Him.
So, what will you be in His church, a multiplier or a divider?
Let’s multiply! People need Jesus.
Here are two ways to multiply.
1st – Be a leader who makes leaders.
Yes, you can do this. Good leaders teach others how to lead. They share knowledge and empower them with responsibility. They don’t micro-manage. They don’t have to be the ONLY ones that know how to do something. They don’t let insecurity dictate their empowerment of others.
This is huge! Unfortunately, too many leaders don’t lead others to lead and instead make followers. This can bring addition, but it does not bring multiplication.
To multiply, we must lead leaders and empower them to do it. This is what Jesus did with the disciples and this is what we can do and whatever role we have at the church.
Our arms are open for others to be included and then with process and clarity, they can become a leader.
This is our time to multiply so I encourage you, whatever role you have at your church choose to be a leader of leaders. Empower, delegate, give responsibility, and be a team player.
The time is now and people need Jesus!!
2nd – Remove division.
We can remove division and protect what God is doing. We do this by being peacemakers versus being peacekeepers.
Meaning, we choose to talk to people instead of talking about people. We embrace conflict as an opportunity to go to a new level in that relationship. We promote a healthy culture of talking through offense versus letting it fester into division. We refuse to let people spread lies and gossip about the pastors, the leaders, or the church. We choose to lead people to confront the issue versus using the issues for division.
These things are massive for a church to remove division. This is what pastors need from leaders because vision will be choked out when division is allowed to operate.
Therefore, we choose to remove it! We choose multiplication and see what God can do to reach people!
We have one generation to reach a generation. The time is now.
So I ask you again, will you be a multiplier or a divider?
Our families can be saved, our neighborhoods can be saved, our communities can be saved, our cities can be saved, and our nation and other nations can be saved.
With God, nothing is impossible!
PD
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