Good morning,
This morning I am going to continue my pressing into our IRCO 111.1 covenant. Multiplication is a critical aspect of discipleship. Multiplying disciples is at the core of being a Christian. It is the DNA Jesus instilled in his disciples. This same DNA was instilled in you when you accepted Christ as your Lord. But here is the question you must ask yourself: Am I a disciple worth multiplying? God does not want to multiply all disciples, but those who are his true disciples. God does not want to multiply mediocrity. You must examine and improve your personal prayer life and level of discipleship before you can step into trying to examine and improve your community. God desires to multiply those who exhibit Immediate Radical Costly Obedience (IRCO)
Immediate: Luther, “Delay is the sharpest arrow in the enemy’s quiver”
Radical: Rooted in Christ, you will stand out to the world.
Costly: not matter what is required.
Obedience: “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.” (John 14:15) “Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and take up residence with him.” (John 14:23)
Throughout Scripture, God’s multiplication of disciples was achieved through those individuals who exhibited Immediate Radical Costly Obedience (IRCO).
One example is Abraham. God chose Abraham to be the source of multiplication and blessing because he exhibited IRCO.
· Gen. 12:1-4.
· “I” Abraham immediately leaves
· “R” Because of God’s calling
· “C” he leaves behind his comfortable life and everything he knows.
· “O” He obeys God
“Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.”
· Gen 17:9-11, 22-23.
· “I” that very day
· “R” Because “God said”
· “C” Circumcision required putting his whole life and heritage to risk.
· “O” He obeyed what God told him to do.
“And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you…. When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all those born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him.
· Gen 21:8-14.
· “I” He arose early in the morning”
· “R” Based on what he heard from God
· “C” it costs him his son
· “O” he obeyed
“And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing. So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.” And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son. But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named. And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.” So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.”
· Gen 22:1-3.
· “I” “He rose early in the morning”
· “R” Because God told him
· “C” he would sacrifice and lose his only son.
· “O” Still he obeted God.
“After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him”.
Open your Bible and read through these four stories in Genesis. Then take time in prayer to reflect. If you love God, you will obey what he commands, and his commands are not burdensome. They are not legalistic or negatively obeyed, but obeyed out of love. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt 19:29-30)
How is your love for God being expressed in your life through IRCO?
Please share you thoughts with us in the comment box below.