The God of Increase - Open Heavens 16 February 2017: Thursday daily devotional

Topic: The God of Increase [Thursday 16, February 2017]

Memorise: Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase. –Job 8:7

Read: Genesis 1:26-28 (KJV)

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Bible in One Year: John 16-17, Isaiah 38:20-40:5

MESSAGE:

In the beginning, although the Almighty God had the vision of man filling the whole earth, He decided to actualise it through the law of increase. It is amazing that the whole world came forth from one man and woman. Our God is a God of increase. If you want anything that will increase in life, you have to source for it from the Almighty God, and use His approach and not that of the world to actualise it. Whatever is from the Lord will always stand the test of time. If God gives you an idea, He expects it to bring increase to your life. If God gives you a blessing, He also expects it to increase. When Adam knew his wife, a seed was planted in her which became a tree (Genesis 4:1). This is the more reason why you need to draw close to God so that He can sow a seed in your life that will become a reference point to generations yet unborn. If you sow to your flesh, you will reap destruction, but if you sow to the Holy Spirit, your increase will be till eternity(Galatians 6:8). The fact that God wants you to increase does not mean you can do things that contravene His commandments to get his increase. The fact that God wants increase does not mean He allows polygamy. God has never been in a hurry to populate the earth, therefore His design is one man, one wife. Sex with anyone other than your spouse means you are throwing your most precious seed into the wrong soil. An adulterer is a person in bondage! Such a person lacks understanding of the fact that he or she is sowing seeds that only lead to poverty, destruction and eventual shame. There are some men whose children are out of school due to non-payment of fees, and yet they are sowing their seed into the lives of concubines. Such men are already on the path of destruction unless they come to the saving grace of Jesus. If you are involved in this, you better ask God for mercy before it is too late.

God is the One who gives increase after a seed has been sown; therefore we must always remember to give thanks to Him for all the successes He brings our way (1 Corinthians 3:6). If you are excelling in your chosen field, give God the glory. If things are working out for you in your career, give Him the glory. While some people grow rapidly in the things of God, some do not. One variable that determines this is the level of hunger in their hearts. There must always be a hunger in your heart to be better than what you are now. There is a better you in the mind of God, and so, refuse to remain small. Continue to develop yourself by acquiring relevant skills. Increase your knowledge base so that your earning capacity can also increase. If things have not been working out in your life, do a self-appraisal. In other words, check yourself. Soak yourself in God’s word and occupy your mind with passages of Scripture that can address your area of stagnation. You will increase in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point: Father, let my increase begin today.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.

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