Grace and Peace to you brethren. I'm thankful to the LORD for another opportunity to share His Word with you. Today we'll be looking at productivity in the Kingdom Church. Please follow up line by line for better comprehension. Be blessed.
But getting saved isn't the end of Christianity. Salvation isn't an end in itself but a means to an end, but actually the beginning of the Christian journey. A child does not experience the fullness of life just by being born into the world. The birth of the child is just the beginning of the series of other processes that will culminate to his transformation into a man.
The child is expected to grows up to a stage where the parents no longer do everything for him. He must learn to take responsibilities and carryout tasks without the aid of the parents. The child becomes a man only at the stage where he can fend for himself, for others, be able to answer for the parents, make and take care of his or her own children etc.
Same applies to the Kingdom of God. Productivity in the Kingdom Church is indispensable for every true Christian.
Meaning of Productivity
Productivity simply means the making of many replica of a particular thing. In other words, we can say it's multiplication and multiplication comes through reproduction.
When we got saved, it's likely that someone led us to Christ. What that Christian did was reproducing another Christian, and when that happened, the mantle automatically fell on us to do same to others. Immediately after salvation we're babes in Christ but are not expected to remain at that stage. We're expected to grow up to take responsibilities and also reproduce in the Kingdom (see 1 Peter 2:2).
The kingdom of God advances through the process of reproduction. God is a Reproducer. He snatches us out of fire; out of the world and sin. He anoints us with His Holy Spirit and deposits spiritual gifts in us. He replicates Himself in us and sends us into the world. Contrary to what some think, the phrase "go into the world and multiply" doesn't really apply to making children here and there. It is applicable to making disciples of all nations according to Matthew 28:18-19.
That is why the Anointing, spiritual gifts and talents we receive at salvation or afterwards aren't for fancy but for a purpose, and that purpose is reproduction.
God doesn't save us so we become bench warmers in His Church. He didn't save us just so we move on with other affairs of our life while awaiting rapture or His second coming. If that were to be the case, He would catch us up to be with Him immediately after we get saved, since there's nothing else to do on Earth.
The prayer which our LORD Jesus Christ prayed to the Father for the Church in John 17 has a lot to tell us:
John 17:15 KJV
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
The LORD did not pray that the Father takes us out of the world (immediately) but to preserve us in the world. But why? That's simply because each and everyone of us have assignments to complete while on Earth!
Being productive in the Kingdom doesn't mean being a regular church-goer. That we're always the first person to arrive at our denomination for the day's service doesn't make us productive Christians. Few questions we should ask ourselves are as follows:
● What is actually our service to God outside the four walls of our denomination?
● How are we putting our gifts and talents to use in the Kingdom Church?
● How many souls have we been able to replicate and usher into the Kingdom?
● How many Christians have we been able to bring to maturity in Christ?
Jesus Christ reproduced the disciples. Peter replicated and ushered 3000 souls into the kingdom on a first attempt. Apostle Paul brought Timothy and many others in the early Church unto maturity in Christ. We can go on and on with this list. They were all productive, and the same is expected of us.
Why Christians Must Be Productive
● We're called to service in the Kingdom: The harvest is great but the labourers are few. Ministry isn't one man's business. God is hiring. He needs vessels He will fill and use to bring His will on Earth to completion.
Luke 10:2 KJV
Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
Serving God shouldn't be out of compulsion; it should flow naturally out of our love for Him.
● Rewards are attached to our service and productivity in the Kingdom: Salvation is a free ticket to Heaven but our service to God on Earth is what will earn us rewards in Heaven. It is those that labour in the vineyard who will receive wages. We can't receive payment from a company we don't work with.
Matthew 20:1-2,4 KJV
For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. [2] And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. [4] And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
● God hates unproductivity: I believe we're familiar with the parable of talents (see Matthew 25). We saw what happened to the unproductive servant. We don't want that to happen to us, I believe!
How To Become Productive in the Kingdom
For Christians to be productive in the Kingdom, there are certain things they must put in place or get rid of. They are as follows:
1). Be Filled With The Spirit: Without being filled with the Spirit of God, we can not be productive in the Kingdom. The Holy Spirit is God in us and God uses our vessels for service in the Kingdom through the Holy Spirit. The ability to serve as required comes from how much of the Holy Spirit we are filled with. Zeal for service also comes with Infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Philippians 2:13 KJV
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
If you've not been baptised in the Holy Spirit, ask the LORD. Also know that one time Infilling of the Spirit isn't enough. Ask for more on daily basis.
2). Discover your gifts and calling and put them to use: Some of us don't know the spiritual gifts God deposited in us or where we are called to function in the Body. One of the reasons being that we're satisfied with being ordinary church-goers. All Christians are called into ministry. If they take that serious they'll discover their gifts and callings.
Jeremiah 33:3 KJV
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
3). Be A Student of the Word: Effectiveness in ministry also comes by being a student of the Word. The Word of God is one of the primary tools in the vineyard. Souls are saved and transformed by the Word. Get the Word as much as you can!
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
4). Self-Discipline: With self-discipline, we can always do what is required of us at the right time. Not until someone pushes us to or God frowns at us.
5). Get Rid of Slothfulness: Laziness is a sin and a barrier to productivity in the Kingdom. While our LORD walked the Earth He worked day and night. At night He prayed while the disciples were busy sleeping and snoring. We have a thing or two to learn from that.
Apostle Paul is another good example of someone who gave no space for Slothfulness. We can judge the impact of his ministry only from his writings! Productive saints in the Kingdom don't allow laziness to catch up with them.
Romans 12:11 KJV
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Hebrews 6:12 KJV
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
6). Consistency: Be consistent, in praying, studying the Word and in everything you do to build you up for ministry and for the Kingdom.
7). Avoid Procrastination: It's a brother to slothfulness and always a thief of time. We're called to redeem time.
Ephesians 5:15-16 KJV
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, [16] Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
We don't want rapture to catch us less-ready, while we were still procrastinating on what we're suppose to do for the LORD.
WRAPPING IT UP
Christians who chase after money, certificates, houses, cars and every worldly thing first before deciding to serve God always amuse me! At the end of the day they're occupied with their striving after vanity to the point of having less or no time for God. That's the most dangerous life one can live! And I ask, if God didn't send them on Earth, would they exist to chase after all those things? If we are truly of God and we love Him, our first priority in life should be to do everything that is required of us to please Him.
2 Timothy 2:3-4 KJV
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. [4] No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
My prayer for you is that the LORD equips you for maximum productivity in His Kingdom in Jesus Name, Amen!
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