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”
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]
Hi Fred,
ReplyDeleteA subject we've hashed out before... Good insight. The people are a revelation away from a fuller level of CHRIST revealed in & through them. From believer to heathen... Love you, Lee
Amen, are only a revelation away from a fuller, closer, deeper level of life in Christ. Wish that had been my thought but now that you said it to me it is.
DeleteHi Fred, I agree God has given us all things in Christ, blessed beyond measure, yet there's a hunger for more and whether it is God who rewards our diligent seeking for more, or we discover what has been sitting in front of us all the time, it is the same to me. Love it bro thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteTo 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
ReplyDeletehi fred
ReplyDeletehi fred its john. the challenge for leaders in this hour is to model the truth with their mouths! to change a religious culture we need to model by are mouths and actions. we will eat well by the fruit of our lips. Holy Spirit is going to bless leaders and the body that embraces aligning there mouths in worship and the word! thats why he said keep my sayings! when it comes to feeding im going to align with the word and revelation i have! we have a responsibility to this! for leaders we need to step out out of being man pleasing and pay the price for the desires of his heart! as for me i will be saying extend lord through me! i tell ya i find my self correcting my bad habits because of thr culture im in. i wont sing songs that are not in line with truth! or lines of songs that are off! Holy Spirit is pushing my buttons not man!
ReplyDeletehi its john. extend lord extend lord! we are the extention here on earth! we need to live in the place of releasing the revelation given so we can extend further in authority. im talking about his presence. so there is extend and recieve! so lets teach people to extend his presence by the sword in their mouths!
ReplyDelete"Blessed Are Those who Hunger and Thirst for RIghteousness for they shall be filled" (with MORE) Matt. 5
ReplyDeleteI believe that we are "complete In Christ" as the scripture says and everything He is going to do for us He has already done "In Christ" (Finished Work) Now it is our assignment to work out what He has put in us through the ingrafted incorruptible seed within and by the power of the Holy Spirit.
John the Baptist said "I must decrease that He might increase..." ( MORE)
Apostle Paul said "work out thy salvation with fear and trembling..." II Cor. 4 Paul basically says the MORE I die the MORE He lives...
It's not either or but both and....I want More of Him and Less of Me ! More Lord !!
well said
Deletedo think perspectives are important. do believe what we are really talking about is the manifestation of his presence. seeing how we all agree that its finished. he has already given us every thing. so the challenge is to teach the body to speak the language of the kingdom. modeling revelation changes the culture and extends the kingdom through his presence in the earth. he is desirous for us to agree with his perspective not ours. john love to all.
ReplyDeletealso it is good to sort out the difference feelings and truth. when a lot of this plays out its when Holy Spirit increases his presence and we feel it in our flesh. so we say more lord. feels good. but the truth is there is no faith in that. the higher road is to feel nothing if your dead you wont feel anything. you will look with spiritual eyes and see christ moving and touching those around you. so look out through these eyes and touch those around you. so extend through me in the earth as i move about in kingdom.
ReplyDelete