Is there really MORE?

 Many times in the Christian circles I am exposed to, or involved with, I hear people, preachers and speakers calling out for MORE!  But is there really anymore?

I believe as the Michael W Smith song says, that God has given all that he has to give. (http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/michaelwsmith/thestand.html)

“I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the ONE who gave it ALL
I'll stand
My soul, Lord, to you surrendered
All I am is yours”

Is God holding out on us?  Did he not give us the life and blood of His only begotten Son? Didn’t he give us and fill us with His entire, complete Spirit?

It seems to me that to cry out for, call for, ask for or beg for MORE is to imply that God is holding back.  This is the same suggestion (lie) that the serpent used in the garden (Genesis 3:4&5) that God was holding back, holding out that man’s eyes would be open. That God was withholding information about the nature and character of good and implying that there was good he was also withholding. And not only good but evil. Adam and Eve surely had no information about what evil was.

In my search of the Bible I can only find a Generous, a Good, and a Giving God.  THERE IS NO MORE FOR GOD TO GIVE (that I can find).  But some may quote the Gospel of Luke 2:52, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”  But a close look at the word increase is the Greek word prokoptō, which means:

1.      to beat forward

1.      to lengthen out by hammering (as a smith forges metals)

2.      metaph. to promote, forward, further

2.      to go forward, advance, proceed

1.      of time: the night is far spent

2.      metaph. to increase, make progress

The word increase is not to get more but to lengthen and advance.  As an engineer I like the analogy of blacksmith hammering out a piece of metal to form something useful.  Victoria prefers the analogy of a lump of pizza dough. Pizza dough needs to be pressed out and formed into shape gradually.  As you press it out, it wants to spring back so you need to keep working one small area at a time. And if you work too much in one area, you can break through and if you do you can gently press the dough to fill in the hole.

The builder in me came up with a different analogy.  Imagine you are given all the materials and tools you need to build a mansion.  Everything in piles but you need to get the plans. But you still need the skills (you need to learn how to do framing, plumbing, wiring, concrete, etc ).  It is our good fortune that the Holy Spirit is committed to teach us all things and be our helper in all things. (Again God has already given us all things.)

But I can also suggest there is MORE, MORE surrender, MORE growth, intimacy with Jesus and, MORE like Jesus.  So, I suggest MORE is from me (us) 'NOT' the Lord. To paraphrase a friend, "We often have the perspective that it is God who needs to act when it is US the whole time that needs to respond to God.

James helps us understand how MORE works. (My paraphrase) Take as big a step towards Daddy as you can and Daddy will take a BIG step towards you! [James 4:8 Approach ye to God, and he shall approach to you. WYC]