Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she became jealous of her sister; and she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die.”  Genesis 30:1

At the core of Rachel’s cry was a very natural desire for increase.  The desire for increase is native to the culture of the Kingdom of God.  An attitude which adopts contentment with mediocrity and apathy in spiritual barrenness is antithetical to the very nature of Gods Kingdom.  Jesus said “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR come and NEST IN ITS BRANCHES. The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.“[1]  The very nature of the Kingdom of God is increase, and everywhere that the Kingdom of God is received in grows and ultimately takes over.  Isaiah spoke of the increase of the messiah’s government saying “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”[2]  Our King and His Kingdom are forever established in increase by the will of God.

The Increase of the Gospel Globally

We first see the remarkable increase of the Kingdom in the global expansion of the Gospel.  What began with one man named Jesus, then grew to twelve, then seventy, then five hundred at his ascension, then 3000 at Peters first sermon, then Judea, Samaria, Asia Minor, Europe, North Africa, and the world.  In spite of edicts, persecutions, and deluding influences; the Gospel spread and invaded the world without firing a single shot.  “The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.”[3]  Like the first glimmer of daybreak announces the fullness of a glaring noon time sun, so the Kingdom of Heaven enters undetected, and increases to a glaring revelation of the divine objective.  Paul spoke of this to the Corinthians saying “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.“[4]  That ever increasing knowledge of Christ in every place is Gods will and it is accomplished through us.

The Revelation of Divine Increase

Absolutely everything that God establishes increases, and that is a powerful truth which we must appropriate by faith.  We must walk daily in the revelation that increase belongs to us as we do Kingdom business.  If you are a Pastor then you should believe that God will give your congregation increase on every level, for the advance of the Gospel in your city.  If you are a campus missionary, then you ought to believe that God has granted you the souls of your classmates and expect to see increase of for the glory of God.  If you are a Christian businessman you ought to expect that your business will increase for the progress of the gospel.  If you are a Christian in the market place, you ought to expect that God has given you the wisdom and insight to impact the market place for the Kingdom of God.  Increase is the inherent destiny of Kingdom citizens, and the revelation of that fact is an imperative in our day.  I am persuaded that the only times the church fails to advance is when it fails to walk in faith and the assurance of its Kingdom agenda and Kingdom increase.

If you haven’t noticed by now, I’ve used a word a half dozen times which is the key to kingdom increase at any level.  The increase of the Kingdom of God cannot be built, manufactures, or cajoled it must be “received” by faith.  Jesus said “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.“[1]  And furthermore the write of Hebrews stated that we have “received a kingdom which cannot be shaken.”[2]  The Kingdom of God must be received by faith in the heart of a believer which takes for granted that increase is the will of God and the pattern of Gods work in the world.  “Faith” is the coin of the realm, and increase is the agenda of our King.

[1] Matthew 13:33

[2] Isaiah 9:7

[3] Proverbs 4:18

[4] 2 Corinthians 2:14

 

[1] Mark 10:15

[2] Hebrews 12:28