WE ARE BLESSED TO BE FRUITFUL & MULTIPLY!

(References:  Genesis 1:27; 5:1 & 3; 9:1; John 15; Romans 8:29; Matthew 28:18-20)

I noticed an interesting thing about how God used “blessed” when I was reading in Genesis.  God created – then blessed – then said:  “Be fruitful and multiply…”

God created in His Image – His own likeness – blessed and said: “Be fruitful and multiply.”

Adam had a son in his image-in his own likeness!  This was Seth (Abel had been killed and Cain banished.)

Righteous Noah was blessed and told to be fruitful and multiply.

 “Then God said:  ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over…all creatures.’  God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.  God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply.”

“When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.”

Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.”

*This tells me that we aren’t blessed to keep the blessing for ourselves but to multiply it by blessing others to know the Author of the Blessing.  The reason we are blessed is to “be fruitful and multiply” in God’s image and likeness!

“For those God foreknew, He also purposed to be conformed to the likeness of His Son.”

Jesus illustrated this further in John 15 using the grape vine.

He said that He was the Vine – the main plant beginning with the roots.

The branches are those who are “born again of the Spirit” – those “abiding (living) in Him.”

Those who live in Him  and Him in them will bear fruit – His likeness.

Those who live in Him and live in The Word of God will bear more fruit –more Jesus.

This glorifies The Father (Gardner) and proves you are His disciple.

Living in Jesus and His Word means doing what He said. 

As we produce the fruit of His Spirit and obey Jesus’ words, we will bring others into the Vine.  This will be branches (disciples) produced from pruning.  (Pruning away the unfruitful branches causes them to produce new branches and bear fruit.)  We bear much fruit when we make disciples by sharing Jesus and His words.  This proves our love and produces joy until He comes!

Matthew 28:18-20

Jesus said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”