PRAYING FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD AND " . . . and . . . " This is, what is called, a coordinating conjunction. That is, the word "and" links together two things that occur simultaneously, or are of equally significant value. Not only, therefore, does Paul pray the Colossians will be "fruitful in every good work," but that their fruitfulness will be accompanied by another condition. INCREASING " . . . increasing . . . " The word "increase" appropriately describes the nature of the Kingdom of God. Increase, or growth, is not only a sign of life in this world, it is also a characteristic of spiritual life. It is the nature of life from God to increase, and to do so in exponential measures. THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD " . . . in the knowledge of God." This is a parallel to Peter's exhortation, "But grow in grace, and IN THE KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet 3:18). It is also what Paul prayed for the Ephesians. "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM" (Eph 1:17). -- 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 22 of 32
" . . . and increasing in the knowledge of God."
Other versions read, "growing in the knowledge of God" (NIV), and "learn to know God better and better" (NLT). Let me again emphasize that this is the manner of the Kingdom.
God Himself "gives increase" (1 Cor 3:6-7). It is not something that occurs occasionally, but is itself an evidence of His hand at work. In matters relating to the body of Christ, the "increase of the body" in spiritual qualities is the aim of every spiritual gift (Eph 4:16; Col 2:19). The Lord causes His people to "increase and abound in love one toward another" (1 Thess 3:12).
In the present religious world, this is a different way of thinking, yet it is the standard way of thought in Christ Jesus. I do not know of a "church growth" plan or organization in existence that does not emphasize numerical growth. In fact, the words "church growth" have come to be synonymous with an increase in attendance or church membership. The modern American church s driven more by a financial budget than the Spirit of God, and is therefore keenly interested in numbers. But such mundane objectives cannot be found in the prayer to which we are now submitted. Nor, indeed, is there the slightest hint of such an objective in Apostolic writings.
Properly seen, "increase" has to do with obtaining more of what salvation brings. It is realizing a greater harvest of what God Himself has planted. Thus believers are urged to "grow in grace" (1 Pet 3:18). Behold now the area in which Paul prays for kingdom increase.
Right here we soar beyond the limited confines of institutionalized religion. As of 2003, I have been personally and intimately involved with the work of the Lord for over fifty years. I have been exposed to all manner of local congregations, ranging from small to very large. I can easily count the number of congregations that were increasing in the knowledge of God. In fact, the very terminology is strange in an institutional setting, and does not fit well with the emphasis of the average church. You will be hard pressed to find a single person who even will know what you are talking about if you refer to "increasing in the knowledge of God."
Of all of the Christians I have known, a very small percentage of them give any evidence of increasing in the knowledge of God. Many of them have been speaking about the same things for decades, without a single enlargement of their view, or any new or fresh perspective. Their understanding of God, Christ, and salvation appear to be static and motionless. They know absolutely nothing about the day dawning and the "Day Star" rising in their heart (2 Pet 1:19). Expressions like "abound yet more and more" (Phil 1:9; 1 Thess 4:1) and "increase more and more" (1 Thess 4:10) are not even in their vocabulary. This is a spiritually abnormal condition, and is in sharp contradiction of the revealed purpose of God. It cannot be justified, and there is no satisfactory explanation for it.
I am not suggesting that this is a condition characteristic of all Christians. I do, however, affirm that it IS characteristic of the body of religious people with whom I am most familiar. By the grace of God, I have come into fellowship with a significant number of brethren in recent years who are NOT so characterized. When we meet together, there is always a freshness that comes from increasing in the knowledge of God. Such precious souls are not known for their institutional identity. For them, Christ is the true Object of their affection, and knowing Him is their goal.
I will wax bold and say that institutional camaraderie will render a person incapable of increasing in the knowledge of God. As soon as a person increases in the knowledge of God, a distance begins to form between that individual and institutional religion. Cold institutionalism will not abide a vibrant fellowship with God, and an increase in the knowledge and understanding of Him. Many of you know the truth of this by hard experience.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the privilege of knowing You. I ask for grace to remove myself from any and every influence that takes such knowledge from me, or discourages its increase.