Restoring the Image (Part 27) - Reproduction: Creative like the Creator

God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth." (Genesis 1:28)

Dawson Trotman in his message, "Born to Reproduce" talks about the natural and healthy design of man to reproduce after his own kind. He makes the point that it is instinctive for men and women to procreate. But, he also argues that man was designed to procreate physically and spiritually. I agree wholeheartedly.

In the beginning God gives Adam and Eve their first command to "be fruitful and multiply" (Gen 1.28). Mankind got off to a good start physically during Noah's day but were spiritually bankrupt to the point God regretted creating man (Gen 6.1-6). It is clear the command was meant to have the spiritual component as well. Over 6 billion people later, we still struggle to obey God completely by reproducing in both the physical and spiritual aspects of the image of God.

It's important to notice that God starts over with one man, Noah. God continues to restart the spiritual reproduction chain with one man as the centuries pass: Abraham (Gen 12.1-2), Moses (Ex 3.10), David (2 Sa 7.7-16), Elijah (2 Ki 19.14-21), all the way to Jesus who was the ultimate man and model (Ro 5.14-15). Then, Jesus exhorts His followers to continue the process of spiritual reproduction from beginning (Mt 4.19) to end (Mt 28.18-20, Ac 1.8).

Although Jesus is the pinnacle of restoration and spiritual reproduction, God continues to use the "one man" principle to build and reform His Church (Mt 16.18, 2 Tim 2.2). It is the responsibility of that one man to reproduce himself in his likeness.

Here are some critical questions concerning spiritual reproduction: Who bears the image of Christ as a result of your investment in their life? Are you training someone else to reproduce? As Dawson Trotman use to ask, "Where is your man?"

You can listen to the message "Born to Reproduce" by Dawson Trotman at Discipleship Library by clicking on the link below:
Discipleship Library

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