“In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit.” Isaiah 27:6 NIV
The original mandate of God for man is fruitfulness. This is the Blessing, and His first pronouncement on man in Genesis 1:28, “God blessed them and said to them, be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Man lost the Blessing through the sin of the first Adam, and came under the curse of death. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the second Adam came, died and paid the penalty for the sin, thereby
Q – I believe that Jesus died for me, I study my Bible and I listen to various services on TV and online and have received much knowledge by doing so. Do I really need to go to Church to be a Christian?
A – “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV
“but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
Ephesians 4:15-16 NKJV
The Christian race cannot be run alone, therefore the Bible clearly enjoins believers in Hebrews not to forsake the assembling together of one another. This is done by coming together in church, where there can be fellowship, edification, instruction, support, encouragement, etc.
The book of Ephesians pictures believers as the body of Christ with him as the head. The whole body works together and supports each order in order to grow. Everyone has something to give, so no one should isolate themselves.
Q – The Bible states that God does not desire that anyone should perish but also states that the majority of humans are going to hell. Why did God create humans knowing that many would go to hell?
A – “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
II Peter 3:9 NKJV
““Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”
Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV
God’s original plan for man was a being created in his image with whom he could have enduring fellowship or communion. While the devil tricked man to get him out of this union, God had made provision for man before he fell to restore him back into fellowship. Revelation 13:8 describes Jesus as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Before man was ever created, Jesus had agreed to come and ransom him when he would have fallen. So God’s desire is as stated in 2nd Peter, that he is not willing that any man should perish, but that they come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, through repentance. However, it is not up to God alone because he has given man a will to exercise choice. Man needs to be able to make an informed choice based on all evidence before him, to choose life and live.
The only place in the Bible where it states that many people are heading for destruction is in Matthew chapter 7. This is a warning not to head in that direction. The final charge that Jesus gave to believers before ascending to heaven in Matthew 28, is for them to go and make disciples of all nations, in order for many to be be saved. The job is for all believers.
the Blessing to man. Anyone who believes in Him and in this provision, should enjoy it. The church is the body of those who believe, and the Israel of God in this new dispensation, the New Testament.
These are the days that our text is referring to. The church was birthed 2000yrs ago, has budded, blossoming and now established, as the Lord promised in Matthew 16:18, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” While every member of the church individually should be experiencing fruitfulness in every area of life, spiritually, physically, materially, and financially, collectively, she should also fill the whole world with fruit.
First, the gospel must be taken to all the nooks and corners of the world, and you and I should play our part in this as instructed by the Lord in Matthew 28:19-20, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The expression of this in New Covenant church is the Global Missions.
Secondly, we should live as salt and light in the world. “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:13-16
Finally, according to Romans 8:19, “For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.” What are we waiting for?
By Rev. Femi Omisade
