More and More

Passage

"Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God". 1 Thessalonians 4:1 (NKJV)

Pondering

Today I spoke at one of my church member's Christian workers gatherings at her work place. My topic was that God want us to excel more and more in four areas. These for areas came to me as I studied the occurences of the term "More and More" in Scripture. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word "Yasap" (strongs 3254) is the closest match to this term. In Greek the closest match is "Mallon" (Strongs 3123).

Instead of sinning more and more (see 2 Chronicles 33:23;26:14; Hosea 13:2) we are to:

1. Minister more and more.to (1 Thess 4:1) and For (1 Thess 4:10) God
2. Open up more and more to God (Psalm 71:14) in praise.
3. Receive more and more from God (Psalm 115:14)
4. Experience more and more of God (Philippians 1:9) (the word knowledge in Scripture is always used more in terms of knowing a person in relationship than mere factual head knowledge).

These four things spell M.O.R.E!

We should be growing more and more in each of these areas. Is our ministry to the Lord in personal worship and prayer getting more nd more, going deeper and deeper, soaring higher and higher and reaching further and further? Are we ministering more and more to others according to our gifts and callings? Are we opening up to God more in our daily walk of praising him, lifting our hands higher, raising our voices louder with greater and greater passion? Are we receiving more and more of God's abundant provision day after day? Are we experiencing more of the Lord's immense three in oneness - His awesome power, his majesty, his salvation and his love?

"MORE LORD!"

Poem

More of You in my life Lord,
More of all that is in Your Word.
Let me never be satisfied with where I am Lord,
But press on into what I've not seen or heard.

Prayer

"Lord, I know that all I've experienced of you is not even a drop in the ocean, but a splash in the stream that leads to the river that runs into the ocean! Take me into more of all you are and have so that I can minister more and more to and for you, open up more and more to You, receive more and more from You and Experience more of You every day. Take me deeper, higher and further into You. Amen!"