WELCOME TO THE LAND OF MORE AND MORE, Part 5

“I trust to come unto you, and speak FACE TO FACE,
that our joy may be full”
(1 John 1:12).

Yes, I keep on finding more and more MORE Scriptures and there will be more after this devotion too! I am sure you are getting to understand that this kingdom of God in which we live is a MORE AND MORE kingdom. Isn’t that wonderful? We never have to have a moment of stagnation.

MORE EFFORT AND DILILGENCE

Matthew 25:20 NKJV: “He who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents’ look, I have gained five MORE talents beside them.” Because this man did not squander what God had given him but worked hard to gain more, he received his reward of “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (v. 21).

We know what happened to the man who only received the one talent. Instead of doubling his one talent, he buried it. What did his master say? “Take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For everyone who has, MORE will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness” (verses 26-30).

God expects us to develop the talents He gives to us. God’s ways are the opposite to man’s ways. To those who work hard and gain more, God gives more. He knows they will value what He gives them. To those who do nothing, He takes away even what they have for He sees they despise what is given to them, even as Esau despised his birthright. Read Genesis 25:34 and Hebrews 12:15-12.

MORE ENLARGING

1 Chronicles 4:9, 10: “And Jabez was MORE HONORABLE than his brethren and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow . . . And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and ENLARGE MY COAST, and that thine hand might be with me, and thou wouldst keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.”

The Bible says that Jabez was MORE HONORABLE than his brothers because he wasn’t satisfied with the status quo. He wanted to expand his territory. In other words, he wanted to take more territory for God and His kingdom. This should also be our attitude.

Isaiah 54:2, 3 is an exhortation to Israel, but it also comes to us personally: “Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.”

This Scripture is a vision for a big family. As God sends more precious children into your home, you may have to enlarge your home. Our homes have got bigger and bigger as the years have gone on.

MORE FACE TO FACE FELLOWSHIP

1 Thessalonians 2:17 reveals Paul’s heart toward the Thessalonians believers: “But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored the MORE ABUNDANTLY TO SEE YOUR FACE with great desire.” Paul not only thought about them in his heart. He longed to fellowship with them face to face. This should be the attitude of all believers to one another.

Again in 1 Thessalonians 3:8 he told them he was so happy that they were “always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you.”

1 John 3:14 states: “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.” If we don’t love the brethren and long to fellowship with them, can we confess that we are a true believer?

Of all the animals that God created, He chose to call us His sheep. Repeatedly He calls us His "flock" because sheep always stay together in a flock. A sheep cannot function independently. A sheep that is separated from the flock is sad and irritable. When the sheep is found and put back with the flock it becomes contented and secure again. God intends us to have a flock mentality. He wants us to fellowship together to encourage and inspire one another, He wants us to sharpen one another to guard one another from getting off on the wrong track doctrinally.

A person with an independent spirit has the goat mentality, and remember, the sheep belong to the shepherd. It is the sheep who will sit on his right hand; the goats will go away into everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:31-34, 45, 46).

The apostle John had the same attitude toward the believers as Paul. He says in 1 John 1:12: “I trust to come unto you, and speak FACE TO FACE, that our joy may be full.”

Again, writing to the “well-beloved Gaius” in 3 John 1:14: “I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak FACE TO FACE.” Also read Romans 1:11, 12; 2 Corinthians 7:13-15; Philippians 1:25, 26; 1 Thessalonians 3:10; and Hebrews 10:25.

PRAYER:

“Dear Father God, I am totally amazed to find that everything in Your Word is about “more and more.” You do not want me to be stagnant, average, and boring. You have provided an abundant life for me which is Your life living in me. Please draw me by Your Spirit into the abundant life You have provided. I don’t want to live in the shallows. I want to live in the fulness of Your divine life. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION: