PRAYING FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD " . . . that ye might be filled . . . " -- Tomorrow:
"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness." (Colossians 1:9-11, KJV)
Devotion 11 of 32
The word "filled" means to make replete, to cram full, and level up: to fill to the full and cause to abound. (STRONG'S)
First, this indicates that man, the God's "offspring" (Acts 17:28), have remarkable capacities – capacities that need to be filled from heaven. This particularly has to do with the capabilities created when we are born again. Apart from Christ, men become "FILLED with all unrighteousness" (Rom 1:29a). The mouth can become "FULL of cursing" (Rom 3:14), and the heart "FULL of envy, debate, deceit, and malignity" (Rom 1:29b). The unsanctified tongue is "FULL of poison" (James 3:8). Peter spoke of some religious leaders whose eyes were "FULL of adultery" (2 Pet 2:14). Solomon spoke of the wicked being "FILLED with mischief" (Prov 12:21), and being "FILLED with his own ways" (Prov 14:14). There have also been evil men "FILLED with envy" (Acts 13:45). The extent of man's capacity for evil cannot be measured. It is like a bottomless pit. One man of note, the Gadarene demonic, had enough demons in him to enter into 2,000 swine (Mark 5:13). The capacity of a person to house influence outside of himself is staggering.
However, in Christ, men are made new, and given the capacity to be filled with good things from God. This capacity is infinitely more than believers are prone to think. It is doubtless much larger than the natural man to house iniquity and evil influences. Grace expands the human capacity. That is why there are frequent references to large measures of Divine benefits. In Christ, we are "enlarged" (Psa 119:32; 2 Cor 6:11,13) – enabled to receive much from God. This is part of becoming "a new creature" (2 Cor 5:17).
God is glorified when the capacities He has given to us are filled to the brim with His blessings. This is the aim of all valid ministries – to bring the people to the point where they are "filled with all the fulness of God" (Eph 3:19). That is a revealed intention, not a mere human conclusion. This being the case, God is not, and cannot, be glorified by a people who know little about Him, and possess little from Him. It is possible for a people to grow content with supposedly small portions from God, but such a contentment is pure delusion.
I have long lamented the minuscule spiritual appetite that is promoted by Western Christianity. Not only is it wrong, it contradicts the whole nature and intent of the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. In my opinion, it is highly unlikely that God will even work in such an environment. I understand this cannot be received by many people. However, the fruits that stunted spiritual appetites have yielded appear to justify such a conclusion. Ignorance, shallowness, brevity, and general disinterest are all the children of unbelief. They have nothing whatsoever to do with God, His grace, or His salvation.
Here are some of the things with which believers can be filled.
1. Faith and power (Acts 6:8)
2. Good works (Acts 9:36).
3. Goodness (Rom 15:14a).
4. Knowledge (Rom 15:14b).
5. Comfort (2 Cor 7:4).
6. All the fulness of God (Eph 3:19).
7. With the Spirit (Eph 5:19).
8. The fruits of righteousness (Phil 1:11).
9. The knowledge God's will (Col 1:9).
10. Joy (2 Tim 1:4).
11. Mercy and good fruits (James 3:17).
There is also such a thing as the "full assurance of understanding" (Col 2:2), "the full assurance of hope" (Heb 6:11), and "the full assurance of faith" (Heb 10:22). Jesus also spoke of being "full of light" (Matt 6:22).
There is a remarkable satisfaction in our day with elementary introductions to spiritual things. One could hardly associate the average church fare with any form of "filling" or "fulness." At best, people are growing accustomed to a smattering of Divine provision.
We must rid ourselves of any tendency to associate the things of God with sparse measures. There should be a growing discontent with a "little" from God (if, indeed, there is such a thing), and a growing appetite for an abundance. In my judgment, spiritual growth cannot be realized without this "hunger and thirst for righteousness" (Matt 5:6). Only those with a "hunger and thirst for righteousness" will, in fact, be "filled."
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, remove from me any tendency to be satisfied for anything less than Your fulness.