The disciple who believes he is causing increase in the Kingdom is usually misguided by pride. "I (Paul) planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the increase".1 To give increase (Greek: didomi- give; auxano - increase, to grow) is a function only of the Father and Creator. He causes everything to grow or die. He controls; nature does not. He controls nature. Nature has a process of regeneration, and God gave and controls that process.2 (see C.S. Lewis 'Miracles' on Naturalism)
As a worker in the Kingdom we can see these principles:
1. The Word of God increases.3
2. We grow "in every way into Him".4
3. The whole believing world grows.5
4. The church grows with "a growth that is from God".6
5. Our flesh grows.7
6. A people, or nation grows by God.8
In each situation it is God who gives the increase, it is not a determination of man. We can be sure that we are growing in God's grace in all of these areas if we are loving and abiding disciples. It would then be a normal process.
Both natural and spiritual growth is something we can do little about. The Apostle Paul said that he planted, and another watered, but the process is eternal. A seed must be planted with care and in good soil. Then it must be watered carefully. And at this point it is a process of God. No matter the skill of the farmer, God will or will not give increase. There is no force or power to cause otherwise. We are seeders and feeders.
God is the Giver of every gift.9 He gives us seeds and soil and water, and it seems reasonable He will give the increase.10 In giving us the Lord Jesus as King and Savior, He was making provision for and sin and provision for His Kingdom to grow.11 All things natural borrow from things spiritual, but not all things spiritual borrow from things natural. This shows the extreme need to be born-anew (or literally born from above) in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Flesh dies but the Spirit lives forever.
Disciples soon see that in the Kingdom, God honors and increases no work of the flesh. He increases that which is honorable to His Son. He honors faith in His process. He is Lord of the Harvest.
Additional Scripture References:
Matthew 6:8, Matthew 13:32
Mark 4:8
1. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7
2. Isaiah 55:10
3. Acts 6:7, Acts 12:24, Acts 19:20
4. Ephesians 4:15
5. Colossians 1:6
6. Colossians 2:19
7. 2 Corinthians 10:15
8. Acts 7:17
9. James 1:5
10. 2 Corinthians 9:10
11. John 3:16
