GOD CAUSES INCREASE "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God GAVE THE INCREASE. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that GIVETH THE INCREASE. " (1 Corinthians 3:6-7) -- Tomorrow:
The Apostle prayed for those to whom he had ministered the Word. He was not content to leave them to human disciplines, or scientific methods of interpretation: i.e., hermeneutics. He knew it required considerable Divine activity to bring us into Christ in the first place.
1. We could not come to Jesus unless the Father drew us (John 6:44,65).
2. God gave us ears to hear the truth (Deut 29:4; Luke 8:8 ).
3. We received the love of the truth that we might be saved (2 Thess 2:10).
4. The Holy spirit convicted us of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-11).
5. We obtained like precious faith, and it was given to us to believe (2 Pet 1:1).
6. Repentance was given to us (Acts 5:31; 11:18).
7. God opened our heart so we could respond to the Gospel (Acts 16:14).
8. When God revealed His Son to us, we confessed Him (Matt 16:16-17).
9. We were baptized by one Spirit into one body (1 Cor 12;13).
10. God raised us up from death in trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1).
11. Jesus turned us away from our iniquities (Acts 3:26).
12. God raised us up to walk in newness of life (Rom 6:4).
13. God put us into Christ (1 Cor 1:30).
14. God sent the Holy Spirit into our hearts because we were sons (Gal 4:6).
Having come into Christ, God's involvement in our salvation did not abruptly terminate. Nor, have we been left to our own. For this reason, the Apostle was noted for his prayers for the churches (2 Cor 13:7; Col 1:9-11; 1 Thess 5:23; 2 Thess 1:11; Eph 1:15-20; 3:14-20). One such prayer is of particular relevance in the subject under consideration -- God's increase.
"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment" (Phil 1:9). How refreshing to read of this petition. We see how spiritual matters require involvement with the Living God. It is not enough to know the facts, or even to have a love for truth and the people of God. The Kingdom of God demands increase -- increase that God alone can give!
How will love abound? Will it be by having stronger feelings toward people? While that may be involved, it certainly does not bring us to the heights for which grace adapts us. Paul prays their love would abound IN all "knowledge and judgment." Generally, these qualities are not associated with love--at least not in the minds of the masses. For love to "grow," or "abound," however, the soul must traffic in the realms of spiritual knowledge. There must be a participation in "the mind of Christ," so sound judgment and evaluation may take place. An acquaintance with spiritual realities is imperative if such growth is to be realized. The ability to choose the good and refuse the evil is essential to spiritual advance.
Because only God can cause "increase," Paul PRAYED the Philippians' love would abound more and more in knowledge and judgment! His efforts, though used by God in the process, were not the ultimate means of increase. He planted, others watered, but God alone gave the increase.
I find a strange and unbecoming absence of this perspective among the churches with which I am familiar! In all of the churches I have visited, I do not believe I have ever heard a public prayer petitioning the Lord for this type of increase. Perhaps that is why it is not often evident in professing believers.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant that my love might grow to increasing measures in all knowledge and judgment. Deliver me from shallowness.