The MORE of God
Text: 1 Corinthians 2 (In following footnotes)
“And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demon- stration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; 9 but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught
by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolish- ness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he
who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
The Mystery of God’s Plans
God’s Provision - following examples:
Feeding Israel manna in the wilderness Feeding the 5000 with five loaves and two fish
God’s Protection - following examples:
Daniel in the lion’s den Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace
God’s Power – following examples:
Lazarus in the grave Calming the storm with a word
Not understood in this age
Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts”
The possibilities of God’s plans
THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN
AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD,
AND WHICH HAVE NOT ENTERED
THE HEART OF MAN,
ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED
FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.
Footnotes:
If you have seen it, God has more
If you have heard about it, God has more
If you can desire it, God has more
If you can imagine it, God has more
If you love Him, He has already prepared the MORE for you!
"For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, Nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him.”
The potential of your future is:
Revealed by the Spirit
Freely given by God
Beyond human comprehension
Spiritually understood
Footnotes:
Paul continues to write:
“For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. NOW WE HAVE RECEIVED, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things (the more) freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit.
Getting the more of God
IT IS NOT ACHIEVED:
IT IS RECEIVED
Footnotes:
AGAIN:” Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,” The Spirit is the acting agent of our experiencing more of God. He is the one who reveals to our heart and mind the recognition of God’s activity in us and around us. He is the agent of God’s activity in us and around us. Like spiritual gifts – you cannot earn or manufacture a gift of the Spirit, they are received. I can no more make my self a faith healer, than I can make myself speak in other tongues that I have not learned
So how do we receive the “more” of God?
Receiving th more of God this year
Believe there is more
Trust that He has prepared more
Thank Him for the more
(& do it in advance)
Wait expectantly for the more
Watch attentively for the more
Walk obediently in the more
Footnotes:
By faith believe there is “more” of God than you are experiencing.
By faith trust that God has prepared His “more” for you.
Prayerfully thank God for the “more” that He will bring this year.
Wait expectantly for the “more” God will bring you this year.
Watch attentively for the “more” in your circum- stances.
Walk obediently in the “more” of the daily oppor- tunities He brings.
What “more” of God do you want to experience this year?
Ephesians 3:20-21
“Now to Him who is able to do far MORE
abundantly beyond all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”